Customer Reviews

Suicidal Tendencies

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the most underrated bands, but respected no matter what, the Suicidal Tendencies brilliant debut album is an all time classic that shows what real punk rock is, and what real hardcore is. "Institutionalized" remains an all time classic song of vocalist Mike Muir venting so much its unbelievable, while "I Shot the Devil" and "I Saw Your Mommy" are just great punk/thrash songs that you can easily get into. The Suicidal Tendencies are without a doubt one of the most influential bands in the past 15 years, and they make pretenders like Blink 182, Sum 41, and Green Day show how its really done. I strongly recommend picking up this classic as soon as you can, this is what real punk rock is all about.

Reguarding your Editoriol Reviews, per amazone.com's David Sprague on Suicidal Tendencies first album release, erroneously credits Rocky George and Mike Clark's guitar playing for being instrumental in part for the albums success. However, the original and actual guitar players on that album where bassist Louiche Mayorga and guitarist Grant Estes.

This is Suicidal's first album (released in 1983, the same year as Metallica's "Kill 'Em All"), and as one listens, one can hear why, 22 years later, Suicidal Tendencies is still respected as one of the best crossover bands that grew out of the incredible union of punk and thrash in the 1980's. On this album, Suicidal exhibits more punk attitude than metal, but the addition of phenomenal solos to scorching punk tunes like "Two-Sided Politics" makes for a highly entertaining album. Mike Muir's vocals can be a bit repetitive at times, but one would be hard pressed to find a more energetic and cathartic singer. One of this album's best features is its production; it was engineered by Randy Burns, notable for his work with Megadeth on 1986's "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" album, and the overall sound is raw, abrasive, and punk-like while retaining a clarity beyond comparable bands at the time. This combination of low-fi DIY spirit and musical clarity allows all of the punk attitude to be dominant while letting all of the instruments have an equal share of the spotlight, none overpowering any other within the mix.

The best songs are "Suicide's An Alternative/You'll Be Sorry," "Two-Sided Politics," "I Shot the Devil," "Won't Fall In Love Today," "Institutionalized" (a true classic), "Memories of Tomorrow," "Fascist Pig," and "I Want More." Really, the only bad song is the last, as it seems to have been included on the album as filler. Also, the song "Subliminal," which addresses the subject of subliminal messages on television, contains funny and odd sound clips that continue underneath the instruments throughout the song.

Overall, an excellent and influential album.

hey,dave sprague.those "arcs of guitar" you mentioned, were not the works of george & clark. they were those of a lone axe weilder by the name of grant estes (the man!).you must've been reviewing still cyco...if so do yourself a favor , hear this album.i'm a huge s.t. fan & this one started it all.this band was voted worst band of 1982 by a handfull mags of the time (so i hear).i would like to thank them.there is no such thing as bad poblicity.

Definately better than their "remake" attempt. Don't get the Still Psycho album, get the real deal. And don't just listen to the "two great songs" on this album. All of the songs are worth a listen. This is in your face song writing. Two Side Politics still was true well after it's creation (replace Reagan with Bush or Clinton or any future president). "I Want More" is very poinent and still true today. "Subliminal" was very key in its time when the government started experimenting with subliminal messages in their films. All great stuff. Get this and "Join Army". This is pure ST before they turned to straight Metal. Granted, they still have great albums and songs but it's got a different edge to it.

Suicidal Tendencies remains a comma in a footnote in the history of rock, but they wrote one song, "Institutionalized," which should forever imprint their legacy. There are a few songs which capture the zeitgeist of their decade: "White Cliffs of Dover" in the 40's; "Heartbreak Hotel" in the 50's; "The Times They Are a Changin'" and "My Generation" in the 60's; "Stayin' Alive" in the 70's; and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in the 90's. The song for the 80's could be "Institutionalized." This punkrock paen to teen angst got sporadic airplay on alternative radio and the band still draws its loyal cult especially in native Southern California, but its canon remains relatively unknown and underappreciated in rock annals. But it will always have "Institutionalized." Twenty years later, I still hear it on KROQ, and I suspect its longevity will in itself increase its importance. But it is the lyrics, arrangement and musicianship that preserves its legacy and enduring relevancy. It is unlike any other rock song in history. Like very few songs ("Seven and Seven Is," "Like a Rolling Stone," and "Purple Haze," come to mind), it explodes out of the speaker. The lyrics are at once humorous, urgent and profound. The brilliantly performed narrative channels J.D. Salinger, Jack Kerouac and Lenny Bruce. The musicianship is amazing, especially the drumming.

Singer Mike Muir and his band have never capitalized on the potential that was demonstrated on "Institutionalized," though many songs in their catalog are vibrant and dynamically performed. But they're still on the road, which is saying something for a band that never compromised its relentless, punk style. If you want to own an important piece of rock history, own any album on which "Institutionalized" can be found.

This record was their first and as far as i'm concerned. . . . their best. The amazon review is incorrect regarding who played guitar on it though. Nothing agains rocky or mike but Grant Estes played ALL guitars on that record. Those other guys did the remake and it's not even close. Don't waste your money. the original kicks azz and was the total precursor to sooooo many bands today it's not even funny. Mike's insane lyrics spoke to a generation trying to find itself and Grant's guitar work was groundbreaking for that genre of music. NOBODY had solos in punk at that time. This record was ahead of it's time and still holds up today. check it out, you'll play the siht out of it like i do.

This has to be the best punk, most hardcore album ever made. From the psychotic cackling at the opening, to the nonstop assault of sound, to the most real lyrics about angst, aggression, and how f!@# up the world is, this album stands above all other punk/hardcore, especially the pop crap that's been mainlined into the teeny-bop mainstream. G.G. Allin's lyrics may be more evil and demented, the Dead Kennedys may be more political, but nobody else touches the musical rage of this CD. The later Suicidal albums are definitely disappointing in comparison, and sound like an attempt to go in a much slower and more studio direction.

If you want to hear real punk, get this CD.

Essential listening. Nothing can touch it. For those who were born around the time this album came out, or who are only familiar with "Institutionalized", do yourself a favor, and get ahold of this album. It's barely 30 minutes long, and goes by real quick. It will also leave a long lasting impact on your outlook of music, among other things.

If you like old-school hardcore punk like Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat, then you should definatly give this CD a look. This CD is about 20 years old now, but it sure doesn't show it. ST's lyrics are a depressing yet energetic look at how the goverment sucks, how they feel suicidal, how it sucks to be controlled and repressed, and basically how life can really suck sometimes. The things that ST sung about in this album still apply to today. Even audio-wise this CD sounds excellent. Anyone else who listens to older punk knows how some CDs really do show the limitations of their recording studios in their time. The best songs are "Institutionalized", "I Saw Your Mommy...", "I Want More", and "Suicidal Failure".