Customer Reviews

Team Goon

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

 

 

D.I. was formed by Casey Royer circa 1982. Royer was most well known as the drummer in the Adolescents. (Note: Check out the photo on the cover of the Adolescents' Welcome to Reality EP. Look very closely at the bible Casey is holding.) Prior to that he also drummed for the Detours (along w/ Rikk Agnew) and Social Distortion (along w/ Frank Agnew.) The name originally stood for Drug Ideology, but before long Royer was saying it stood for all kinds of things: Drunk Idiot, Dead Indians, Doggy Intercourse, Dumb Idea and my personal favorite... Direct Injoyment. [sic]

The first D.I. record was a 12" 5 song EP (featuring the cover art seen on this CD) released by Revenge Records in the summer of 1983. The tracks were Richard Hung Himself, Guns, Venus De Milo, Reagan Der Fuhrer, and Purgatory. (4-8 on this CD) The line up was Casey on vocals, Fred Tacone on bass, Tim Maag on guitar, and Derek O'Brien on drums.

Contrary to popular belief, D.I. was never an "Agnew bros. project", they simply ended up in the band eventually because of their relationship w/ Casey. In 1985 their second record was released, a full length LP titled Ancient Artifacts. Though they had a new line up (Rikk and three members of Almost 21: Alfie Agnew on guitar, John 'Bosco' Calabro on bass, John Knight on drums,) a few of the songs on the album were recorded by the original EP line up, which is probably the reason for the title.

The remaining tracks on this CD were recorded circa 1987 by the 2nd line up, hence the different style and sound; the original EP was quasi-goth punk, while the 2nd line up material had more of the generic "So Cal hardcore" sound. I've always liked the original line up's material the most.

DI, probably the best punk band ever to come out of California, are often overlooked and underrated in favor of more popular and somewhat inferior bands such as the Descendents and Black Flag. This, their debut album, is probably their best, along with their second album Ancient Artifacts. This one contains the classic tracks Nuclear Funeral, Richard Hung Himself, and Guns. The reasons for the band's greatness are former Adolescents Casey Royer and Rikk Agnew, probably the best punk guitarist in southern California at the time. Casey Royer himself was probably the best vocalist, even though he used to play drums in the Adolescents. DI had the greatest longevity of any punk band of their generation, as far as having a good, steady sound. They released this album in 1983, Ancient Artifacts in 1985, Horse Bites Dog Cries in 1985, What Good is Grief to a God in 1987, Tragedy Again in 1989, and Live at a Dive in 1992. All of these albums are classics. The band didn't start to really decline until their next album in 1995, State of Shock, which featured a totally new line-up and a completely different sound. Casey Royer was the only original member left. But all their other stuff is great, so if you're just getting into them get this one first, then get the rest in order. You won't be disappointed.

Most punk records sound the same all the way through. Some of the songs are better and some of them are worse, but the basic sound is pretty much the same with the exception of a few tracks. Team Goon breaks the norms. Some of the tracks are dark, almost gothic and creepy, while the other tracks are straight to the point simple punk rock.

With that being said it is all good and it is all unified under the name of D.I. This ep, however, seems to be a relic of a different time. A time when you could without even a modicum of subtlety ask why the world's leaders are such liars. A time when you could just accuse Reagan of being "our fuhrur" and so on. With that being said, none of these simplistic unsubtle traits are bad, in fact they are preferable to most music.

Yet, what D.I manages to do in their mixed and unsubtle musical onslaught is make each and every song catchy. They manage to take their guitar and with each power chord imbed a line from a song in your head. Certainly this catchy trait owes to the simplicity and repetitiveness of the lyrics, but hey how many bands are out there that fail to even get that one rudimentary point down.

In short, D.I is one of the catchiest bands that I have ever heard and listening to one of their records, whether it be short like this one or longer like Horse Bites Dog, each song becomes a listening experience and the entire record is something you have to follow and not zone out. The songs grab you and keep you there rather than let you drift off and set your mind to other matters.

Took a while to ship, but hubby was glad to find a copy of this old album.

This would have been a Five Star review, except (as the title says) there aren't enough tracks. Just as I was really getting into it, it was over. Which was incredibly frustrating, since I LOVED these tracks! Oh well.... I guess I've got to get some more D.I. releases to get my death rock fix.

For a California punk band this is amazing. I have nothing against California punk bands, I'm just saying. A weird mix of Black Flag, the Don Charley Kill Gang, NOFX, Adolescents, Anti War, No Shucks, T.S.O.L., Bad Electric, Millions of Dead Cops, SubHumAns, Descendents, the Adicts, Bad Religion, the Boonies, Agent Orange and Anti-Flag. Though short, this record is thoroughly enjoyable. Best songs include "Nuclear Funeral" and "Reagan Der Fhurer," mixing humor and politics, the catchy, if mindless "Uncontrollable Urge," "Guns" which I assume is satire, since I saw Casey in a Crass shirt with 'anarchy & peace' on it, and D.I.'s greatest triumph, the brilliantly painful sendup of suicidal teenage pathos, "Richard Hung Himself." For an even greater version, get the Punk and Disorderly comp, or I guess "Caseyology." 'Swinging in his room, Richard won't come out to play...cuz Richie hung himself the other day.'

I bought this CD for "Richard Hung Himself;" without a doubt, that song is a classic. As a side note, you can see DI play that song "live" in the movie "Suburbia."

There are a lot of good songs on this CD. Another stand out is "Guns." It's a fun collection. I don't consider DI a stand out punk band, but they did have some talent and are worthy of some attention.

If you like the Adolescents, I believe you'll enjoy this CD.

I saw these guys a while ago in L.A., and it was the best show I have ever seen. I wish newer bands played like this still.

All these new supposedly "punk" bands....here's a litle taste of the reality for you! D.I. is one of the best bands ever to bless ones ears.

This was one of my favorite albums in high school, back in the 80s. I would describe D.I. as 80s surf punk. As another poster stated, this album has "Richard Hung Himself" on it, which was featured live in the early 80s movie Suburbia (not to be confused with a 90s movie of the same title.)
This album also features Reagan der Furher and Nuclear Funeral, which are great Reagan era songs. I highly recommend this album, as well as all of D.I.'s 80s albums. Oh, and Uncontrollable Urge is a great song, but this is something added for CD, it was not on the vinyl album, but it is a great song.
It is different from a lot of 80s punk...it's not really violent, though may have some violent themes, not a lot of swearing. I'd say it's more in the range of fun punk bands like M.D.C. & the Dead Kennedys. The music is fast paced and Casey Royer is a great vocalist. The other poster also mentioned that if you like the Adolescents, you will like this band, well, that is true...Casey Royer was the singer for the Adolescents, as well. I hope this review helps.