Customer Reviews

This Is the Voice

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I actually rate 5 stars to the band, but only 1 star to the CD quality. I bought this CD because I own the album (33RPM record (yeah, I'm old)) but I wanted to listen to it on CD. The music on this CD is great (the band is great), but the quality of the CD is very poor. You have to turn the volume way up and it still isn't very loud and/or clear - obviously not a fault of Agent Orange. I think the producers could have done a better job re-releasing this on CD. Buy it to listen to Agent Orange, but beware of the poor quality recording.

This is just an outstanding album by a great band. The introspective and positive lyrics are worth the price of admission alone. The songs are catchy without being cheesy. I loved it when I was 18 and I like it even better now that I'm 30. Its got a driving 'punk' kind of feel but the musicianship is top-notch and the production is clean(thats why I put punk in quotes!). Check it out!

You have to understand something important about the TIME when this was recorded. The mid-eighties were ugly for punk. Lots of bands were hurt by "big sounding" production (Youth Brigade, GBH, The Exploited and FEAR to name a few) and Agent Orange were one of them. Punk was maturing at this point and many bands thought this sound was the way to go. While this isn't as powerful as their early Posh Boy material, it's still an important album with some great songs. The production may turn you off at first, but give it a chance. It's a great record nonetheless.

This is hands-down the best Agent Orange album. Unfortunatly, the label really screwed up on the mastering of this disc. It is almost unlistenable in it's current form on this CD. It's not the production,(I have it on LP and CASS as well) it's the mastering. I would recomend getting "Sonic Snake Sessions" instead. It has the original recordings from this disc all remastered. You will have to pay a higher price, and considering the mediocre bonus tracks (an EP and a not so hot live album) it does kinda feel like a rip-off. But hey, you have no choice.

Living in Darkness has a raw power to it that leaves your ears and mind tired (a good thing).

This album would do the same if not for the poor sound quality. Same driving guitars and catchy sound. THe problem - the sound is distant. Similar to PJ Harvey's CD Chronology - Dry (raw, piercing sound, which rates a top 5 CD in my collection) to Rid of Me (which is so distant and non-motivating it makes you wonder what was going on in the studio).

This is still one of my favorite CD's (where Rid of Me is not). If you have a good sound system and can crank it up, it still rates as a great CD that is a classic of my collection.

This record is DARK! It's aggressive yet pretty melodic. It's really PUNK in a different, almost kinda weird/awkward way. You have to listen to understand. Lyrics are DEEP, introspective, very personal, and have a very positive vibe in general. Not your typical punk rock record and maybe not for the typical punk rock fan (It doesn't sound like anything else) . Agent Orange went above and beyond in here, I mean...this record takes you places, creating different moods and emotions in the listeners head in just about 35 minutes. In one word, this record is AMAZING! If you surf, i recommend you play this record when driving to the beach just before an epic session.

Old School Agent Orange. A great album. Used to have it on cassette when it first came out. Sounds better on CD.

The songs are great and all well performed. The sound quality issue is all about volume, which is a serious issue though--why does it have to play at half the volume of all my other music? The volume is way low even by 80s standards.

agreed the sound quality leaves much to be desired, but the songs are great. interesting guitar work, bangin' drums, cool lyrics and lots of energy. while much different from their earlier work for posh boy, this music is more creative and infectious but not exactly what many would consider pure punk (example "in your dreams tonight" - which is still an extremely cool song). the only song on the album i don't like alot is "i kill spies", otherwise every song is orginal and an excellent listen.
PLAY LOUD AND ENJOY!

Great album, great band. Yes, it's old. That is a good thing.