First Demo Tape [EP]

Minor Threat

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 17, 2003)
• Original Release Date: June 13, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: Dischord
• ASIN: B00009EFV2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #144,835 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description
It was early 1981 when Washington D.C.'s Minor Threat made their first trip to the studio. The band recorded all of the songs that they had written in the short time they had been together (three or four months), but were apparently unsatisfied with their performance & never bothered to do a final mix of the tape. Instead they went back into the studio a month later & recorded what would become their debut, the 8-song eponymous 7 inch EP. The unmixed tape of the first demo was discovered when Dischord started work on the 'Twenty Years of Dischord' box-set. Ian MacKaye & Don Zientara (of Inner Ear Studios) mixed the tape in December of 2001, but the release was shelved by the label while work was being done on the box-set. These recordings have only been available previously as low quality rough mixes on bootlegs. Tracks include, 'Minor Threat', 'Stand Up', 'Seeing Red', 'Bottled Violence', 'Small Man, Big Mouth',

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The beginnings of a legend, July 9, 2003

By	Rob Noxious (In body, Buderim, QLD, Australia. In mind, New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

As the story goes, Ian and Guy were digging through the archives of Dischord Records to put together the "20 Years of Dischord Comp" and found this, Minor Threat's first demo tape, still unmixed after twenty or so years. They have mixed it, packed it in a gatefold CD sleeve, and made it avilable to all you Minor Threat fans.

The songs are almost just like you remember them, with two exceptions. Lyle's guitar tone is amazingly better; it actually sounds like a guitar now and not a buzzsaw (not to slag the other versions). This is how a Les Paul Standard is supposed to sound. The other thing is Ian's vocal performance. It seems that in the month between when MT recorded this and the sessions for the Minor Threat 7", Ian practiced a lot and altered his style a bit. Sure, it still sounds like Ian, but there's not as much energy, not as much anger. But it doesn't make too much of a difference, and even if it does, it's not intended to be perfect. This was recorded only three to four months after the bands formation, and you can tell that great things are to come. And trust me, being part of a scene myself and seeing many bands, this is as good as a four-month-old band gets.

The packaging is also really cool. It's a simple gatefold CD sleeve, but it's got quite a few pictures and a short history of the tape. Also, singing backup for this was none other than Henry Garfield, who would later change his last name to Rollins. Inside, there's a picture of Henry at the sessions, and he's wearing a dress! Come on now, if Henry Rollins in a femenine white dress isn't worth $... sent to Dischord, I really don't know what is.

So to all the Minor Threat fans wondering if they should buy a CD of songs they've already heard, just get it. It's super-cheap and the music is great; another worthy chapter in the legacy of the best hardcore band of all time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good EP, April 1, 2006

By	Music fan (Albany,OR) - See all my reviews

This ep is good my favorite song on it is Guilty of being white
this ep was also released on 7", buy this it is good.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice enough, but what's the point?, April 6, 2004

By	MaratsBathing "Sail" (NY) - See all my reviews

Minor Threat is arguably the greatest and most important band in hardcore. Their songs and riffs are truly timeless and their influence on music is still felt to this day. They are one of my favorite punk/hardcore bands of all time, so I was quite excited when I heard that they were releasing an old demo tape of their's for a nominal price. I bought it shortly after its release, eager to hear Minor Threat's earliest days.

However, I was somewhat disappointed with my purchase. The tape's nine songs are undeniably classics, but a much better version of every one of them is already available on Minor Threat's Complete Discography, a one-disc compilation containing every song the band ever wrote. There is absolutely nothing new or different music-wise on First Demo Tape, except for Ian's vocals, which are considerably less aggressive, angry, and exciting than the ones on Complete Discography. I wouldn't even recommend this for completists; anyone who owns Complete Discography has already heard First Demo Tape many, many times.

First Demo Tape makes a pretty good, very cheap introduction to Minor Threat for new fans, but other than that, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, save rabid MT fans.