Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I don't know man, I'm going to be generous with my rating here, because respect and all, but this ain't for me, and feels quite dated in 2025. Being that I'm the same age, I can't say I don't relate. I wanted to enjoy this more, but at least it's only half an hour. I have Songs in the Key of Life, which, no matter how good, is going to feel like an eternity in comparison.
Thoughts before listening: Bad Brains get a TON of respect and praise within the punk and hardcore communities, but I always had a hard time getting into them. Its hard to understand their lyrics and the melodies get buried with the speed in which they play their songs. I understand thats a selling point for hardcore punk, but it kept me from latching onto Bad Brains the way I did more melodic punk bands like Bad Religion, the Ramones, and the Descendents. Review: So I feel like the bulk of my exposure to Bad Brains has been to their first album Banned in DC which can be a tough listen due to the sloppiness of the songs and shoddy production (similar production issues plague a ton of 80s punk releases) This album however is a better experience. The songs are slowed down quite a bit and the melodies aren't getting buried. HR still uses his yelp that I don't always love, but he's also singing a lot more here. They are melding their different styles really well with punk, hard rock, and reggae influences sprinkled throughout the songs. This is a 4-star album to me.
Fun experiment, but wont' be coming back to it
Another one that sounds pretty ahead of its time. Not a sound I enjoy however
ok
Just noise. Ouch.
Not hardcore. Not punk. Not Bad
Heard of them before but never heard their music. This was great!
4/10.
My first thought about this was that it sounded a bit like the Offspring, or rather the Offspring sounds kind of like this. It's just not quite as dynamic or memorable. It didn't sound like the hard-core punk I was expecting, barely even punk at all really. But it was OK.
I thought I’d like it more, but I wasn’t that bothered. Maybe I’ll listen again. Never heard of them before
Eh
Some good punk
pretty bad ass EP.
It's not a perfect album, but it is one of the most influential punk albums. Bands as diverse as Anthrax, Rage Against The Machine, Beastie Boys, Guns N Roses, Green Day, Nirvana, No Doubt and countless others have cited this album as an influence. It's considered a seminal classic for a reason.
A little more nuanced than most punk which is cool, but most of it still had a hardcore sound which is more abrasive than I would've liked
Seminal Washington D.C. hardcore punk that would go on to influence everyone from Pantera to Living Color, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine & endless others. Essential in all ways.
This was exactly what I needed to hear today. I've been sleeping on these guys.
Cool sounding. Not my style
4.5
I'm good. Thanks though..
Groovy, and the solos are incredible. Doesn’t have the same raw aggression as their self titled.
DC's very own Bad Brains have always been one of my favorites, if not my favorite, of the city's early hardcore scene (sorry Minor Threat). Their self-titled debut is about as fiery and fast, yet as skilled as early '80s hardcore could get. This album, while more melodic, slower, and metal adjacent (I guess sort of post-hardcore in many ways), I've always appreciated for completely different reasons. 'I Against I' is one of the band's best songs and sort of harkens back to their more straightforward DC hardcore sounds (with the structure almost mirroring that of 'Banned in DC'). While a song like 'Let Me Help' has a lot of the guitar work you'd expect out of '80s metal, especially with that guitar solo, but again, with a larger appreciation for vocal melody. Songs like 'She's Calling You' and 'Secret 77' are sort of funky as well - with these prominent basslines; these remind me a lot of what Fishbone was doing around this time. And while they tone down the straight-up reggae cuts on this album, their appreciation for the Rastifarian culture is still put on display on a few of the songs here, especially on 'House of Suffering' So yeah, I really enjoyed this, maybe not as much as their straight hardcore debut, but it's a solid switch-up nevertheless.
This is fine, I guess. Not very special.
This album actually surprised me, never heard of them before didn’t know what to expect. It was alright though
kinda fun but kinda amateurish in sound. i liked the instrumentation better than the vocals, which left something to be desired. even the instrumentals i felt i would have liked better if they had more oomph. the album threads the needle between punk and metal and i think that's an interesting area to explore, but i feel like the execution of doing so was not my favorite.
Heavy metal is Not for me
Takes me back to my college days.
Another example of "right band, wrong album" except even more so than Hüsker Dü. Like seriously the self titled album is right there. I relistened to it after listening to this and yea its so much better. That being said this is still a solid album its just so obviously the wrong album. Favorite track: I Against I
"KOM MEE, we gaan een album opnemen!" "Maar ik kan geen instrument spelen of zingen?" "Maakt niet uit, doe alsof je lekker overdreven schreeuwzingt en dan voegt een of andere mafketel dit vast wel toe aan een 1001 albums die je echt moet luisteren voor je doodgaat lijst!" Jezus, wat is het begin van dit album dramatisch, ik was al een recensie aan het schrijven voor een 1. Maar eerlijk, de 2e helft herpakt zich best wel goed, met betere menging van alle genres die Bad Brains in 1 album wilt verpakken. Want dat het niet alleen maar punk rock is, dat is duidelijk. Er zitten momenten van standaard rock bij, stukken reggae(?) en hoorde ik zelfs wat rap? 2e helft van het album haalt het voor mij omhoog naar een 2e ster. Nog steeds niet iets wat ik graag aan zet, maar niet onluisterbaar. FAVO: She's calling you
I'm giving an extra star here, signifying the fact that this band matured and grew, and built something, while less impactful, more meaningful.
There was a time when I tried to convince myself I was "kind of into hardcore punk". That time is over. I'm not. Probably never was. Maybe I'm kind of into the idea of hardcore punk. I'm definitely into dancing the night away in some wild moshpit every now and then. But the music that's being played is definitely secondary then. I'm sure these guys' hearts are in the right place, and the musicality and chops are certainly there. But if I never listen to this again in my life, I'll be just fine.
Pretty good punk/metal with a little hair band mixed in. I don't think I have heard them before but I really like it. Definitely a different kind of vibe from the standard in those days. I'm sorry I didn't hear this earlier in my life, I'm sure I would have gone crazy over it when I was young.
Not sure I'd ever heard this, and probably thought it was too punk for my liking, but damn, very good. High 3s.
It helps that I have a soft spot for the DC punk scene
Man, just imagine how good some of these old SST records would sound if they were recorded better.
I like my rock with identifiable tunes and melodies Didn't hate it but not going to be listening to it ever again A kind 2 because it's not a 1
Did not know what to expect but this was a pretty fun surprise. Dynamic, energetic, groovy and all other things that makes metal great. I usually prefer more melodic and epic stuff but this tics tons of boxes.
Another surprise for me. Not my style of music, I don’t listen to any hard rock, but I found this band to be quite simply fun. I don’t know that they will be a regular listen for me but glad to have stumbled upon this.
Rating: 6/10 Sounds like some decent heavy metal, nothing too memorable but good overall.
Very interesting, if not always very enjoyable. A real rough and ready mix of hardcore, metal, rock, reggae and proto-hip hop. The musicianship on display is very good, and although it's a little bit one-note for me (that note being 'shouting'), I was able to appreciate it much more than the cover and the artist name suggested.
32 minuutjes oude hardcore punk. Deze gaat er verdomd makkelijk in moet ik zeggen, ondanks dat ik zowel de band als de nummers niet herken. Af en toe hoor ik zo'n gitaarstukje wat me een beetje doet denken aan Turnstile of een geluidje wat doet denken aan Deftones en dat is dan blijkbaar genoeg houvast voor me. Een heel klein beetje Red Hot Chili Peppers achtige funk zit er ook wel in. Voor een hardcore plaat vind ik deze dus vrij toegankelijk en dat is alleen maar goed. Helaas staan er niet één of twee nummers op waar ik extra enthousiast van word en wordt het album tegen het einde toch een klein beetje saai. Ik hou het daarom op 3 sterren.
Весьма странный хардкор панк. I Against I показался мне альбомом демок, песни на котором недоделаны или же в плане мастеринга были сделаны не под жанр панка. Песни с альбома не запоминаются, пластинка остается в памяти как 30 минутный отрывок из ранних альбомов RHCP, во время записи которых к ним на студию ворвался Курт Кобейн и навел гранжовую шумиху поверх недопиленных демок. Гитарист на протяжении всего альбома не может найти подходящий мотив, вечно подбирая мелодии. В один момент может заиграть интересная наработка мелодии, но тут же она сменяется другим серым рифом, и такой цикл повторяется многократно, превращаясь в часть дискографии столь странного жанра. Если уж первые альбомы RHCP не были представлены в списке 1001 альбома, то и этот альбом группы Bad Brains здесь странно видеть. Сырые 1,5/5 (2/5).
This was a pleasant surprise! I enjoyed it a lot.
Der erste Titel war schön - weil sehr kurz. Wurde leider im Rest des Albums nicht mehr erreicht.
Sound reminds me of something a bit like... I think The Cure is who I'm thinking of? Decent listen, very 80's feel to it. 3.5
This is punk rock, bitch!
Nope
Not bad! I think I'd like their hardcore punk stuff before the reggae influence came in.
Boring
Cool guitar, melodic songs are better
Bad Brains is insanely cool. This album doesn't have the raw edge of self titled, but instead leans more into metal. A hugely influential band deserving to be listened to by everyone who gives a shit.
This wasn’t my thing
Global rating UNDER 3? INSANE. This album rules!
I Against this album.
Difficult album to rate. I don't really like the voice but really enjoyed the abrasive guitar riffs. reminded me of Les Berurier noir 3.5
As far as I know, this band is very important for hardcore punk. And now I get why. This record is packed with raw energy. I liked it a lot
It is better loud but still only 2 stars or D+ for me.
It's good. Enjoyable, some of the vocal work was a bit annoying, same with some of the cheesier guitar bits. Creative project, though, I like it. 4/5
I think this album is the very definition of a 2. It was a cool concept: reggae mixed with punk/grunge, but I couldn't get into the vocalist AT ALL. The solos ripped tho. There were some good moments, but overall I felt very eh on this album. Liked Songs: "Intro" , "I Against I" , "Secret 77" , "Hired Gun" (LOVED this one)
I had no expectations going in, but holy shit. I Against I and House of Suffering are both really good hardcore punk (and borderline prog?) songs. Re-Ignition sounds so much like a Coheed and Cambria song that I can't believe this album came out in 1986. The influence that this sound had on the first several Coheed albums is so strong, I can't believe I had never heard of this band before. I definitely hear some Faith No More on Let Me Help. The rest of the album was also very good. 4
Albums that you're supposed to love because so many people go on and on about their influence and cultural cachet ... or how important they were in their misspent youth. Whatever.
i maybe vibed a little but really quite generic
Not familiar with the band … not for me.
An awesome surprise. Never heard of these lads and from the cover art and wiki summary I didn’t have high expectations. But it’s really fun and hard and funky and a bit cheesy. I don’t give out many 5 stars to albums I’ve never heard of before but this one can join that elusive club.
I hear some hair metal. Queensryche. Crue in some of this. 1986 of course.
I got nothing….
It came out the gates fighting, but by the end of this short album, it had become a far more subdued affair. Not as ground breaking as I was hoping for, but not a bad album. A high 3 stars from me.
Good not greeat
Interesting album, hardcore punk with some metal-like guitar playing and a reggae influence as well. The title track is fantastic, love the energy and intensity, from reading about Bad Brains it sounds like this was a real signature sound. Close to giving this a 4 but I don't have a strong desire to replay. It's a good 3 for me though
I found the music a bit too aggressive and the vocals were lacking
From the photo I was expecting some reggae influenced punk but apparently not. Not for me.
Heavier than I was expecting. Didn't stand out on a first listen.
I liked their first album much better
Very awesome punk album
Good intro to punk.
A little too much metal mixed in with the punk for my tastes, but Bad Brains was a great punk band.
I really don’t like punk but it did have some good riffs. I was too tired to listen to the lyrics today. Rating: 3
Got me into a bit of a flow and was fun to listen to. Some high energy songs. Didn't stand out enough to go above a three.
Interesting but not good. Impressed with the talent, but don't like the genre.
nice
Hardcore, metal, punk, reggae. A very interesting concoction. I enjoyed their rock and metal riffs mixed with funky bass lines and that powerful snare. Not overly keen on the vocals all of the time, but I could pick out many different influences and styles that mingled quite nicely. Some tracks you could hear RATM, sometimes elements of Dog Eat Dog and even at times some Faith No More. Is it weird that I could hear some INXS in there (I think I’m going crazy). Can’t say I liked every song, but they were all energetic. Quite liked “She’s Calling You”. Wasn’t what I was expecting. For me a low 4, but a 4 nonetheless. Might venture into some of their other stuff.
I’m convinced the author of this book would think to himself, ‘hmm, perhaps I should aim for greater representation. Shall I dip into the vast history of hip hop? Shall I pick one of the great jazz albums? I could, but I only like post-punk and new wave… fuck it, I'll just include a black punk band. Yyyep that’ll do. Anyway, had elvis costello released anything new since I started this train of thought?’
Was ok. Didn’t dislike it, but wouldn’t seek it out to listen to again any time soon.
Hey, punk! Oops. Punctuation matters. I meant: Hey! Punk! I feel like this is what the Clash would sound like had they been American…and slightly less innovative. I hear this band had a more diverse sound over their career, so I might check that out some day. But today is not that day.
This is heavy metal light, and I kind of liked it, although I can’t remember any of yesterday’s songs. 3.5
Appreciate the influence it must have had.
I can see their influence on future bands. Mike Patton seems to have picked up a few tricks from the singer, too. Not bad, but too punkish-for my liking. Just doesn't hook me.
a lot better than the average punk album, it’s fun cool and different so yesss x i love let me help and she’s calling you sooo much
Intense, I like it. Wish it could be even faster and more aggressive, you can't never get enough of this type of music yk. Riffs are cool. Vocal is not that exciting. Still like it, for listening to core is always pleasing. maybe a 3-3.5/5. Love the little weird effects on "She's Calling You", wish it could be more.
Cool
This is brilliantly original and, reading about the band, I expected to love it. I do love elements of it (guitars, funk, some thrashy moments), but I'm not a fan of the vocals and some of the more American-style punk sound is less my thing. So 4 stars with the caveat that I can completely understand why lots of people give it top marks!
I really like the bad brains. I do like their early more hardcore related stuff better but I always disliked the reggae songs. Since there are none on this record it’s pretty awesome!
I don't have any strong feelings either way about this.
Not my jam.
A combination of metal and punk. Really didn't like how the singer pronounced reignition. Not my thing but there's definitely talent there musically, less so lyrically and vocally
Blind album, know the artist. Didn't expect much and didn't get a lot. Decent listen and glad I tried it.
This seemed like a typical punk album. Not really my taste but decent.
Seriously, the album I needed on a low energy day. House of Suffering is one of the best ‘new to me’ songs I’ve heard on here in a while.
Never heard this before but I hear so many more recent bands in it, ridiculously influential. A brilliant listen
Not the Bad Brains album I expected or would have personally chosen, but you know what? Hell yeah. Hell fuckin’ yeah. Inarguably one of the first alternative metal and funk metal albums, sure, but what I find more interesting is how obviously influential it’s been to hardcore and specifically post-hardcore up to this very day. Like, I was a big fan of Glassjaw back in the day; Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence is just a straight-forward version of I Against I with problematic attitudes about women and more emo-tinged vocals. And I think because I could immediately note the bands who took clear inspiration from this record, it helped me appreciate this more. Instead of making Bad Brains sound dated, this makes those other bands feel cheap and unoriginal. And I Against I is so deeply original. Sure, it’s got a clear alt metal/funk metal angle, but it always preserves the band’s hardcore punk roots, and blends the two together in a way that is so unique that I can’t think of any other band who sounds like this before or since. Even the copycats couldn’t replicate the specific mixture Bad Brains is working with on this record. I’ll 100% need to sit with this to let it grow on me– and I do wish we got at least one of I Against I’s predecessors on this list– but this is an instantly great album, and one I know I’ll be revisiting frequently.
Yeah nah, not for me. I can see what they're going for but I don't understand why this album is on this list?? 1.5/5
I prefer the more raw hardcore of their self titled debut to this album's slower performance and more polished sound with glossy 80s production and a weird chorus effect on everything. That said the funk bass and shredding guitars rip unabashedly hard and this is them pushing well beyond the edge of the overly reductive/restrictive hardcore formula they'd already perfected.to craft a more eclectic hard rock sound that grunge and alt rock bands would be ripping off for the next decade+.
Sound a lot like all the other 80s metal albums, very similar to the style of Metallica for example. Despite all this, some songs stood out to me with their great guitar riffs and interesting drum parts. 3/5
Don't know what to give this, didn't really stand out in anyway and just all bled into one big mess. Not too offensive but another low 2.
The guitar is good. Everything else is bad.
ive never heard the sophomore bad brains record so idk if it at All bridges the debut and this but im not sure what could tbh FHJSFHJSF, even seeing the genre tags i dont think i was prepared, cuz tbh any way u scratch it this is just incredibly striking and creative music. its a forerunner to a genre or two but it fundamentally stems from authentic creative decisions...the picking and choosing of elements from punk and funk and metal into something aesthetically cohesive ...catchy and immediate but also meaty and stewing in its own emotions. and ofc just v v v enjoyable...riffs and melodic ideas often go crazy even when theyre just midtempo stompers. its hard not to imagine mike patton taking a bunch of notes from this and maybe his projects pushed these things even more Out There but (with all due respect) certainly never as fundamentally radical on any level
One of the first punk records I ever bought. I like Rock Against Light better but this is still a classic.
Good find, haven't heard of bad brains before. Favorite track: she's calling you other picks: i against i , reignition
It was alright
DC punk royalty.
Truth be told I am biased. My uncle really liked bad brains and I always wanted to be like him. I had a bad brains Obama t shirt in 2008. This is definitely the most i've liked bad brains. Theres some great melody and rhythm between the breakdowns and hardcore. I think this album's greatest strength is its creativity and I'll probably keep listening to this album and get more accustomed to some of its bitterness.
Well, it's an 80's hardcore album. It was ok, better than a lot of the slop you hear from the era but not terribly indistinguishable from a lot of other bands. I do like the odd reggae references here and there and the track where the lyrics were recorded over a jail phone is pretty cool. I wonder if that or the hip hop albums where they do that came first.
Man, I love a good hardcore punk album. Shit is just in and out so quickly. It saves me so much time in a day. I've been curious about Bad Brains for a while. I think this album showcases their range and skill as a band well, but I could also see how this would be a band that could only truly be experienced live because what they do can't be replicated in a studio. Regardless, this band has a really cool sound that seems to have influenced a lot of other bands 4/5
A sharp, spiky, paranoid album. Very much “post-punk” in a way that I prefer to a lot of actual post-punk albums. Really like the sound here, atmospheric, mixing heavy and light textures together. Best song: I Against I
i’m generally not a punk fan but these guys do some cool stuff here
No for me
Great, tight drumming but outside of that it wasn't really my thing. I mean it's fine, but nothing jumped out at me and can't say I fell in love with it. The singing wasn't great and almost as if they have the wrong frontman. 5/10.
This is great heavy punk
For some reason, I always thought Bad Brains were a ska band that had passed me by. They are not. This album felt quite punk in places, and then very Faith No More in others. I liked the vibe of this quite a lot. The sound of the guitars had me rocking out and having an all around good time, and the vocals weren’t too overproduced or smooth which went very well with the music. I guess I like Bad Brains now!
Real punk isn’t just overdriven guitars, power chords and screaming. It’s about challenging preconceived notions, whether politics, music, art or society. This album is one of the more refreshing takes in punk.
Intro n/a I Against I 3.3 House of Suffering 3.4 Re-Ignition 4 Secret 77 3.4 Let Me Help 3.3 She's Calling You 3.3 Sacred Love 3.4 Hired Gun 3.5 Return to Heaven 4 Score: 3.511111111
Always fun to revisit Bad Brains. Used to love this band when I was younger and I still really enjoy them to this day. They seem to be one of the more talented bands to come out of the hardcore punk genre. The album is produced very well and sounds excellent even by today’s standards, I was kinda shocked by how good it still sounds. Awesome album.
This album kicks ass. I mean, you're tellin' me, not only does this album give me some of that hardcore sound I like, but also that heavy metal sound I love? With some of the hardest, rippinest guitar I've heard from one of these 1001 albums in a hot second? (Also, apparently "rippinest" is a word according to Google Docs.) Sign me up; sign me all the way the hell up. And it really doesn't get any more complicated for me than that. I could say all the words I want and pad this out, but, yeah, the long n' short of it is this album rocks and is awesome. I'll tell you, too: even though I wouldn't point to necessarily anything here as the definition of "hardcore punk" (I still have "Deadfall" by Snot for that), I can't recall any album I've heard before that's made me wanna check out the genre as much as this has. I mean, if this is the kind of stuff they're putting out when they're branching out to touch on other genres, I can only wonder what they sound like when they're pure hardcore. For what this album's worth, though, in case you couldn't already tell: it's a hard 5. I've said I'll put a lot of albums on again, but legitimately, I will probably spin this thing again whenever I'm in the mood for this kind of punk and shreddery. Again: this album just kicks ass. And, honestly, most of the time, that's kind of all I want. (Also, between "Deadfall" and one of the songs on this album ("Re-Ignition"), I wanna play GUITAR HERO: WARRIORS OF ROCK again. Goodness, I gotta go dig the ol' hunk of plastic out...)
I've only really heard one track from Bad Brains before this, so I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but it's pretty damn good, regardless of my partial bias towards more rock and metal-based albums on the list. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
I’m at a 3.5. This is the part where I try to talk myself into either direction. There’s definitely a good number of positives – this is a really energetic album, and that part is undeniable. Most of the instrumentals here are pretty good, if a little bit homogeneous by the end of the 32 minutes that this album takes up. I can hear the blended genres throughout, and the inspiration that this album gave to a few bands is pretty apparent. When the vocals and lyrics click, the album really rolls, in a good way. I think it only really rolls about 60% of the time, though. The other 40% of the time isn’t bad at all, but it just sort of suffers from not feeling as captivating. That 40% suffers from one major issue, at least for my tastes – a few songs just kind of fizzle out. The instrumentals keep rolling, sure, and their energy sticks around, but you can really tell when they sort of ran out of ideas to go with a certain concept, but just said fuck it and recorded anyway. A guitar solo is usually there to try and really distract from the lack of lyricism / mildly repetitive vocal endings, but my brain is too attentive to lyrics and whatnot to let that sort of thing go. It’s a pretty flashy album, in terms of its soundscapes, and I really do love that aspect of it. I just wish the lyricism was there to go with it. I guess I’m going down to a 3 then – it’s a pretty recommended 3, for the standout tracks at least, but this album just doesn’t have enough of a consistency past the first 4 tracks to justify bumping it up to a 4. I totally recognize that this could be a 4 or even a 5 for someone else, though, and I do think it has a place on the list. It just sort of lost the luster for me, and its cracks started to pop up soon after. I still liked it though -- this fucking rips. It sounds rad as hell, and it's a fun album, but it just doesn't overcome enough for my tastes. Hence, the 3. It could easily bump back up though.
Appealed to my 70s upbringing
With I Against I, Bad Brains embark on a heavier metal sounding trajectory that does away with the fast and furious punk furor that they were once synonymous for, crafting a way forward from here on. Favorites: I Against I, House of Suffering, Re-Ignition, Secret 77, Let Me Help, Sacred Love.
This is a good jam. Punk and metal, just the right mix.
Maybe not as strong as their debut, but good fun
I'd only ever really listened to the self titled album. This album benefits from much better production and starts really strong. The title track and re-ignition are standout tracks. There are a few bits of filler in there, but generally a good album from an iconic band with an important place in the history of east coast hardcore and black punk generally, often name-checked by the Beastie Boys.
Great album. Smoother and more consistent than some of their other albums, but it still has intensity and really speaks to a group of people and a generation that were making their own voice. It is still revolutionary as no one can really replicate what Bad Brains were doing, especially for the place and time.
3.75 Respect their influence on so many bands. Overall, this album was a miss for me with some bright spots.
Is this hardcore? Am I a hardcore fan? I don't know but I dig this album and look forward to exploring further. Faves: Re-Ignition, Sacred Love
Hardcore isn't really my thing so I haven't really checked out Bad Brains before - this is great! Not really hardcore, more alt metal - I can definitely hear the influence they had on Faith No More. (As an aside, is there any hardcore hardcore on the list? The Minutemen album didn't sound very hardcore to me either? 🤷) Anyway, good stuff - liked the experimentation. Fave tracks - "I Against I" and "Re-Ignition" are great. "Sacred Love" is probably my top pick. "Return to Heaven" is cool too...
## In-Depth Review of *I Against I* by Bad Brains Bad Brains, the legendary Washington D.C. hardcore punk band, released their third studio album, *I Against I*, in 1986. This album marked a significant evolution in their sound, blending elements of punk, metal, and funk while reflecting the band's complex internal dynamics and cultural influences. This review will delve into the album's lyrics, music, production quality, themes, and its lasting influence on the music scene. ### ****Lyrics The lyrics of *I Against I* are a reflection of both personal struggles and broader social issues. The title track encapsulates the internal conflict that can arise within individuals and communities. Lines such as “I against I” suggest a struggle for identity and unity amidst chaos. The song's powerful delivery by frontman H.R. (Paul D. Hudson) combines raw emotion with a sense of urgency, characteristic of Bad Brains' lyrical style. Other tracks like “House of Suffering” explore themes of pain and resilience, drawing on Rastafarian influences that permeate much of the band's work. The juxtaposition of heavy themes with energetic music creates a compelling contrast that invites listeners to engage deeply with the messages conveyed. ### ****Music Musically, *I Against I* represents a departure from the band's earlier hardcore punk sound. It incorporates mid-tempo rhythms and intricate guitar work, showcasing the virtuosity of guitarist Dr. Know (Gary Miller). The album features a fusion of styles: - **Hardcore Punk**: Tracks like “House of Suffering” maintain the band's hardcore roots with aggressive riffs and driving beats. - **Funk Metal**: Songs such as “Re-Ignition” exemplify the blending of funk rhythms with heavy metal guitar work, creating a unique sound that would influence future genres. - **New Wave Elements**: “Secret 77” introduces atmospheric textures reminiscent of new wave music, further diversifying the album's sonic palette. The musicianship is tight throughout; Darryl Jenifer’s bass lines are prominent and powerful, while Earl Hudson’s drumming provides a solid backbone to the tracks. The interplay between guitar solos and rhythmic sections showcases an impressive level of technical skill. ### ****Production The production on *I Against I* is notable for its clarity and balance. Produced by Ric Ocasek (of The Cars fame), the album benefits from a polished sound that enhances its musical complexity. Unlike their previous albums, which often had a rawer edge, this record presents each instrument distinctly: - **Guitar**: Dr. Know's guitar work is crisp, with solos that cut through the mix without overshadowing other elements. - **Bass**: Jenifer’s bass is loud and proud, contributing significantly to the album's groove-oriented tracks. - **Drums**: Hudson’s drumming is both powerful and nuanced, driving songs forward while allowing for dynamic shifts. However, some critics have noted that certain tracks feel overly dry or lack reverb, which can detract from their intensity[1][2]. Despite these minor shortcomings, the overall production quality is regarded as one of the album's strengths. ### ****Themes Thematically, *I Against I* explores several key concepts: - **Conflict**: The title itself suggests an ongoing battle—both internal and external—reflecting personal struggles as well as societal issues. - **Unity vs. Division**: Many songs grapple with themes of togetherness amidst chaos, echoing Rastafarian philosophies about community and identity. - **Resilience**: Tracks like “Sacred Love,” which features H.R.'s vocals recorded from prison due to drug charges, highlight themes of perseverance despite adversity. These themes resonate not only within the context of Bad Brains' history but also reflect broader societal tensions during the 1980s. ### ****Influence The influence of *I Against I* on subsequent music genres cannot be overstated. It is often cited as a precursor to funk metal and has inspired numerous bands across various genres: - **Funk Metal Bands**: Groups like Living Colour and Faith No More have acknowledged Bad Brains' impact on their sound. - **Hardcore Punk**: The album’s blend of styles laid groundwork for future punk bands to experiment beyond traditional boundaries. - **Alternative Rock**: Elements from *I Against I* can be traced in the works of later artists who merged punk ethos with other genres. Critics have noted that while some aspects may feel dated today—such as certain production choices—the core energy and innovation remain timeless[2][3]. ### ****Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: The fusion of punk, metal, and funk creates a unique listening experience that was groundbreaking at its time. - **Musicianship**: Exceptional performances by all band members showcase their technical prowess. - **Production Quality**: A well-produced album that enhances its musical complexity without sacrificing energy. #### Cons - **Vocal Delivery**: Some listeners find H.R.'s vocal style inconsistent across tracks; his delivery on certain songs may not resonate with everyone[1]. - **Dated Elements**: Certain production techniques may feel less relevant in contemporary contexts[3]. - **Lack of Reggae Influence**: Unlike earlier albums, *I Against I* does not feature reggae tracks, which may disappoint fans expecting this aspect. ### Conclusion In conclusion, *I Against I* stands as a landmark album in Bad Brains' discography and in the broader landscape of rock music. Its innovative blend of genres, thoughtful lyrics, and high-quality production make it a significant work that continues to influence artists today. While it has its drawbacks—particularly in vocal delivery and some dated production choices—the overall impact remains profound. As Bad Brains navigated their personal struggles during this period, they produced an album that not only defined their legacy but also paved the way for future generations to explore new musical territories.
Decent album.
Rock/Metal/Punk, not too loud, not too anything really. Not too bad, not too good. I suppose if I was in a bar back in the day I wouldn’t have minded this playing in the background. Somehow the blending of the different genres didn’t quite work for me. It wasn’t excellent enough at any one of them to make it memorable.
vocals are a bit too punk/heavy for me, cool instrumentals tho
I against I against I against I against I against I.. Some standout tracks, but falls short as a whole for me personally.
I was surprised by how poppy this was, given I have heard another Bad Brains record that was very punk. This was enjoyable varied.
This was so sick ? Favs: I against I, Re-ignition, She’s calling you, Hired Gun
Albumi #122, 02.12.2024 Bad Brainsin kolmannella albumilla otetaan askeleita hardcorepunkista kohti funkkia, soulia ja reggaeta. Hyvä albumi. Ostoslistalle.
It was ooooookkkkkkkkkkkk
Found the voice to be a bit too grating even for the genre
The thing is: Bad Brains is a separate consciousness with its own natural order of things. The energy is constrained only by medium. The chaos charging at you is built out of love, the aggression out of an idealism of positivity. The consciousness is waiting for open minds and hearts--like all transformative art. This is how I can to understand Bad Brains later, and understand them now more than ever. This was not the first impression of Bad Brains. That came courtesy of College Rock Radio stalwarts WOXY, slipping in the St. Germain produced 1986 album I Against I eponymous single wherever the constant onslaught of lame jangle bands and the Stone Roses permitted. They made a video, too, that made it on the MTV College Rock late night show. I was pretty "meh". It didn't suck, but it didn't flip my wig, either. It seemed very well produced, orderly, mid-rangey with eighties drum sounds, but not terribly dangerous or interesting, definitely not life changing. It fit in pretty well with the kind of Red Hot Chili Peppers funk rock of Southern California. I probably imagined they were from California. In short, I wasn't in a hurry to buy it. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Some years later, after a totally life-affirming mid-nineties Fugazi gig, and the obsessive weeks where I consumed whatever I could find pre-internet about MacKaye, the Bad Brains blipped back into my confused radar. Really? That totally inoffensive, very well produced, orderly, mid-rangey with eighties drum sounds, but not terribly dangerous or interesting, definitely not life changing, "meh" California band? Curious. A few weeks later, a dude my sister knew divulged two pieces of critical information which prompted me to explore immediately and re-assess: 1. Bad Brains are, in fact, a DC band. Legendarily so. 2. Check out their early shit. This is how shit was in the Queen City pre-internet . Second hand information is what you worked with. Had the internet been around, I would have been transformed a lot earlier. Bad Brains ROIR is the exclamation point, the standard for all American Punk, Post-Punk, Hardcore that isn't called the Ramones. Absolute chaos that is actually supremely well-structured on a quantum level. And oh my God, the Reggae and Dub is so spot on it, one would be forgiven for thinking this was on a Trojan release somewhere. In fact, ROIR, to my ear-thinking, is recorded like any great dreader than reggae, emphasis on low end, emphasis on space, not to fussy or busy, perfect for the 1-3s of the form, and brilliantly, perfect for the rampaging 4 on the floor when the Bad Brains decide to uncork the fucking life-energy of the universe on shit like "Big Takeover". On every level, and in every facet, this is life affirming music. Sadly, this album does none of this. St. Germain's 80s funk production and well recorded, well compressed, well lifeless metaloid guitar sound make this less life affirming and more lifeless husk of what this band could be. Gang of Four proved that actual Commie Funk can sound amazing, but that's not what you get here. This is designed for white suburban kids who fancied themselves "Alternative", and since nostalgia is the drug of choice, would no doubt appeal to white suburban kids duping the late Eighties Alternative thing. It didn't move me much then, and these years later, it is still "meh". I know better. Maybe the silver lining is this might be Bad Brains training wheels, and hopefully, people work backwards to the center.
I'm a hard-core fanatic and love Bad Brains though this album isn't their best maybe to some but it was cool to listen to for the first time in decades. Which is why I'm here.
could i write poetry to this? y
This is a tough album to categorize. Simply calling it "Black Punk" would not be accurate. The production gives it an 80's Metal sheen. It definitely had some songs that were pretty good. However, I would probably pass on this album in favor of something be Fishbone, Suicidal Tendencies, or Faith No More.
Thus is so far removed from what I like about music, I don't know what to say.
I was listening to a lot of music in 1986 but have never heard of the band or the album. None of the songs sounded at all familiar and after listening to the album three times, none of them left the faintest impression other than being unobjectionable hard rock. I feel bad about this and want to like the album but I don't understand what it's doing on the list.
I listened to an NPR podcast a while ago about Black Punk, and I really felt at home with this album. It had all the elements I liked and a little more. I felt like I heard a lot of classic melodies in this album!
I liked it.
More 80s metal than the hardcore punk I’m familiar with from them. Not bad.
More than just a punk record, Bad Brains flirt with funk and soul to great effect too. Genre melding that works.
Dope
Perfectly fine Probably won't remember I've listened to it in two days time, but it's good.
0/100 not for me
I'm not sure how, but I completely missed Bad Brains. I really enjoyed this and will be listening to more.
I've been aware of Bad Brains influence for years but never got around to listening to them. Was pleasantly surprised by this album, it's the first on this list that I've wanted to listen to twice for a very long time. It still sounds up to date and fresh.
5/10… heavy punk / hard rock
Interesting sound. Sparkly guitar sound, not as raw as their debut album, but still good songs
4.5
Classic cracking listen . Spans genres, created an iconic riff with Ignition. Highly recommended
Genius :) just unhinged genius - love love love
If Prince joined Alive in Chains. I’m here for it.
Such a weird and out there album for these guys. Sort of bounced off me but definitely a lot for the fans to chew on
almennt ekki mjög skemmtilegt, en titillagið er snilld og tvö önnur fín. gef þessu 3,5 til að minna á síðari áheyrn.
alright! i liked it, but i think i went in expecting a faster album, so i was taken by surprise by the sludgier pace. more metal than punk imo, which has never reaaaaallly been my favorite. still enjoyed it, but didn’t walk away thinking it was a masterpiece.
Interesting combo of genres but it mostly sounds like punk to me. Recording a song from a prison call is pretty cool though. High 2.
fine but I feel like im never in the mood to hear this. kinda just tune out while I work music
5/10 - The first few songs were not too bad but Re-ignition was really getting on my nerves. The rest of the album was just sort was loud rockish. Decent but nothing insane.
Some real DC shit. Unfortunately I don’t care for hardcore but I’ll give it a 3 because it wasn’t bad
Well that certainly wasn't what I was expecting. This was weird in a not good way. Some of the guitar was fine but nothing else really was. Vocals get pretty weird and screetchy. 3/10 (1.5/5)
More aggressive than i recall
Undeniably influential and definitely progressive for the time. Not sure if it is something I enjoy.
not as punk as i expected but a good record
punk
I never heard of Bad Brains and, reading that they were a hardcore punk band to include other styles, I expected something different. There is much more metal than punk in this, but in a more sophisticated way. Most of this was kind of fun listening to, although I doubt that I will return to listen to it again.
I could appreciate some of the instrumental riffs, but no. I hated the singing
Completely unaware of this band and record, it was a nice surprise. Not usually a big fan of punk, but this was hard, melodic, with funk and reggae and rock all in the same mix. Great stuff!
I first heard of Bad Brains when I was reading a knock-off biography of Dave Grohl when I was in college. I didn’t anything about the DC music scene, so I had no frame of reference for who they were, but as I’ve learned more about music, I’ve wanted to check them out since they’re so influential. I’ve been looking forward to this album for a bit, so I’m excited to fire this one up! This album wound up not being what I really expected, but I still enjoyed it. I was expecting a more straightforward hardcore punk album, but this album was a really unique blending of several styles. Merging reggae philosophy with and eighties hard rock sound made this album really enjoyable to listen to. The guitar playing was great, and I’m a sucker for that echoing guitar effect that was popular in the eighties, and this album utilized that sound to perfection. “Secret 77,” “She’s Calling You,” and “Sacred Love” were my favorite songs on the album, but I thought that the album worked really well as a whole. I could see myself listening to this again some day, and it makes me want to check out other Bad Brains albums.
This was an odd one. From start to finish, sometimes I thought I was listening to the Ramones, then I thought I was listening to The Clash and at one point, I thought I was listening to a slightly heavier Duran Duran! A little too punk for me
Another great surprise, and a lesson in don't judge a book by it's cover, or in this case an album by its typography! Bad Brains is new to me - but the sounds are right there in my wheelhouse! I really enjoyed this and it grew on me as I listened it over the course of the day. Hints of Def Leppard / Van Halen (except not as pretentious), Metallica, early Beastie boys, Green day, Pixies etc - I can imagine Bad Brains was an influence on many of the bands I really love! Even though I think its probably more like a 4.5 - I'm bumping it up to a 5! I'll be putting this one on rotation!
Rockin’! The guitarist has chops!!
A fun album that was part of the shift from punk to heavy metal
I mean, its fuckin Bad Brains, the preeminent hardcore band of their time, and they're going reggae and funk...
Actually not too bad, bit lighter and rockier than expected. Enjoyed Secret 77
That is what I am talking about. 5
This definitely wasn't for me. The first several tracks were unbearable, but the latter half of the album was listenable (though not enjoyable)
Nicht der schlechteste Rock-Sound. Mehr aber auch nicht.
Not too bad, good to listen to but I doubt I'd rush out and buy it
I'm not usually a fan of hardcore but I enjoyed this one. It sounds different from most hardcore bands, maybe because it's a kind of prototype of the genre. But also I think it avoids of a gimmicks that (to me) make these bands all too similar to each other. The simple fact they're not doing the growly hardcore voice on every track is refreshing. Thank you Bad Brains for challenging my conception of music that I didn't think I'd like.
This might be one of the best albums I hadn’t ever heard before! The hardcore punk mixed with some reggae vibes really fucking rules. It’s pretty blistering and sounds very tight. 4.3 stars!
it suffers from some 80s production, but overall not too bad
Nope. Don't like that.
Not really anything for me in this album. It's cool that this band was foundational to hardcore punk and heavy metal while also being Rastafarian and all-black, but unfortunately those genres don't really do it for me.
I am pleased this list made me listen to this album. I liked some of it. But while I liked how this album sounded, I didn't really think any of the *songs* themselves were good. On a second listen this didn't really get much better either. In fact, I'm going to switch this off right now.
Fierce and soulful
In the quest for the test to fulfill an achievement Everybody's only going to pursue themselves When the fact of the matter is they just don't care To extend a helping hand to anyone else So tell me why did you have to lie And try to make me all confused about the USA When the fact of the matter is you just don't care To comprehend or understand a single word I say I don't wanna have I go against I Well, I don't wanna have I go against I Well, let me tell ya The same old story, no factual glory I against I against I against I against And I say I don't like it and I know I don't want it I against I against I against I against I against This is a pretty great album. 4/5
When I read this is a punk band that began to touch on funk, soul, reggae, and heavy metal with this album, I got excited. Sadly it did not live up to that description. It was still mostly a punk album, and the touch felt more like they brushed against the other genres. It’s a good punk album, but disappointing for me when I expected more.
I Against I is pretty good hardcore/late 80s chugging metal with punk foundations, it's pretty tight overall if a little rough around the edges and doesn't quite know how to structure a song to its advantage. Vocals are interesting but not entirely my thing, but everything else is a solid effort for a decent 3.
This is decent in places - the title track in particular is good fun - but doesn't have enough to it to give it a really good score. There's a bit of old school metal in there, a bit of punk, it's definitely on the journey towards grunge type stuff and it's a decent mix. A little bit too meandering, but still a comfortable 3/5.
I was warned this may be a little much for me, but I didn't really find this to be that intense. I can't say this is really my thing, but I wasn't annoyed or waiting for the end. This was like punk meets heavy metal and thought the singer sounded a bit like Dave Mustaine from Megadeth. The beat from Re-Ignition reminds me of something from Fugazi, but can't figure it out. And Fugazi was the first band to play after this album on my Spotify. Anyway, though there were some decent beats and tracks, but really, this just isn't my listening pleasure. 2
4.5 Arguably the second-greatest album from one of the all-time greatest punk bands. Many will point to Bad Brains’ self-titled debut as their magnum opus, an album that, if you’re not familiar, is basically like audible crack cocaine. Largely because of that, of all the bands to have inspired hardcore punk, I think it’s fair to point to Bad Brains as among the most seminal. So, I’m pretty sure that’s why this album gets shit - Lord knows whenever a punk band softens their sound in the slightest or cleans up their production, a bunch of mohawks and battle jackets are going to start labeling them sellouts. And honestly, that is a fair accusation in the case of a lot of punk bands, but not here in my opinion - this really feels like an evolution of the group’s sound that still manages to stay true to their roots. Hell, I think there’s even an argument to be made that this album is better than their debut - everyone remembers its bangers, but no one remembers the reggae interstitials that totally break up the flow. Anyway, this album kicks off with an absolute bang with four of the best punk songs to ever come from the DC scene hitting you one-by-one in a row. Intro, well-named, does a great job of setting up the title track, and before you can even process what you’ve been thrown into, you’re hit with my personal favorite song on the album, House of Suffering. Thank you Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland for introducing me to the song - I really think it’s the band’s finest moment (The Bled’s cover from the game is decent but definitely inferior). The energy is incredible, but the song really goes from 10/10 to 11/10 when singer HR starts screaming out the lyrics like he’s in agony. If I had to point to my single favorite lyric delivery from any punk song, “And all the nations lying/While all our people crying” may be it. Mom, Dad, I found my Christmas karaoke song this year. Re-Ignition is an incredible follow-up from there, but then the album ever so slightly slumps with Secret 77. As much as I decried the “sellout” label earlier, I have to admit the song is borderline poppy. And that’s what ultimately keeps this album juuuust outside of the 5 range for me - while I really like the rest of what it has to offer, it never seems to quite match the energy of the first four tracks. There are still some great moments for sure (I absolutely love Sacred Love), but nothing quite scratches the itch the beginning of this album gives you. Still, through and through, fantastic album, and definitely a must-listen imo. In an effort of my own to keep the energy of this review going, here are three fun facts to cap things off: 1. The reason HR’s voice sounds distorted on Sacred Love isn’t because of a studio effect. He recorded the vocals over a prison phone while serving time for a marijuana charge. 2. Beastie Boys were huge fans of the band, to the point that the group inspired them to take on a “BB” name of their own. Bonus - Bad Brain’s name comes from a Ramones song. 3. HR is credited with having coined the term “moshing”. The term he actually came up with was “mashing”, but people misunderstood the word due to his accent, and moshing stuck.
Not what I thought it would be.
Didn’t mind it. Liked some of the guitar riffs.
A good album. 8/10, would listen again.
Wow - that was unexpected. I had not heard of Bad Brains before and now I am very glad I have. Some of the songs were a bit too heavy metal for my taste, but otherwise it was great, impressive music.
bad
neeee
This is #day47 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... coming back to this one for what must be the third time already. I decided to revisit it after getting the Circle Jerks record today, and it felt like the right moment to spin the Germs album I got a while ago. Am I in a hardcore punk mood? More yes than no. Either way, the truth remains the same: you're unlikely to find such a mix of hard rock, funk, metal, punk, reggae, and whatnot coming out of the mid '80s. The rhythm section is deliciously tight, and the riffs are next level. Guess I'm settling on a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day48.
Favorite Track: Re-Ignition
I couldn't connect with this at all. This pure Straight Man Music™. Nothing wrong with that, just not for me.
Some awesome grooves and guitar sounds on here, really enjoyed it
Good, but I ain't got time for this
First listen! The third album from this proto-hardcore punk group has really tight compositions and strong performances from everyone. You can hear their previous history in jazz and reggae in their playstyle as they diverge from the more familiar punk forms of playing. Standout track: Hired Gun
I liked the more melodic tracks better than the harcore ones.
I wasn't really into a hardcore punk mood, and I've never listened to these guys before, but I liked it! I want to come back to it for sure. The thumping guitar lines in I Against I song are awesome.
Not quite what I expected but having never heard of this lot had no preconceptions. Some of the rockier tracks struck a chord but overall I cannot say it was an enjoyable or memorable listen. 2/5 17/9/24
Great
Couldn't really get into this.
Absolute rubbish.
Jävligt udda album, men kul ändå. Kanske inte riktigt min stil dock
Awful. Complete driving. Really struggled to hang on to the end
okay garage rock sound. Probably won't listen again.
The importance of this band is understandable but the material is ultimately a bit weak, shame feel like there on the cusp of a good album here 2*
these dudes are awesome
Not my cup of tea.
got some mid 80s groggy murky punk music, with hints of new wave pop and even a bit of reggae here and there. song material is about identity, society, and confusion. the lyrical and musical content featured throughout is generally nice, especially for all you tried-and-true punksters out there looking for a few jams to mosh at. my favorite part of the album is absolutely the guitars. every single chug rattles your bones. there's a guitar riff that was sampled in a song by hive, all you newgrounds heads might recognize it.
Hoy toca disco de una banda que tenía agendada para su escucha consciente (cundo limpio el departamento que habito), así que me tomo la licencia de un pequeño spoiler. Punk crudo, con voces más melódicas y no tan rotas, que me recuerdan a Mike Patton (se adelantaron a Faith No More los tipos) y a Henry Rollins, más por el hardcore que por su voz. Buen trabajo de estos pibes.
This album hasn't made an impression on me at all. It's overall "fine", but the songs aren't very dynamic, and there's not really much that's making them stand apart from each other. It feels quite basic, and it's really murky. 2.5 rounded up.
I Against I grew on me as it went along. It is a very unique album, with a unique sound, though it can be abrasive at times. I can't say I've ever listened to metal, pink and reggae all in one before, but it is definitely creative. I'm also not sure I'd go out of my way to listen to this album again, but I'm glad I came across it.
Love Bad Brains. Great stuff. I wouldn’t say I Against I is as groundbreaking, original, or quite good as their self titled debut, but it still kicks ass. Their writing, instrumentation, and vocals are unmistakably their own. No big complaints or praises on the production, lyrics, or arrangements. Enjoyed this very much. 4/5
As cool as realizing Re-Ignition was sampled in a song on The Matrix soundtrack was, the rest of this just wasn't my thing. 2/5
I gave it a second listen after seeing all the love in the reviews and I still didn’t get too much out of it for now. Didn’t dislike it but pretty meh Rating: 2.8
Interesting mix of genres, kind of a hip hop alternative mashup. Glad it's on here!
I know this is an important, formative punk album, but unfortunately it didn't do much for me. I've been intrigued by the name and the cover for a while but it just didn't hit like I had hoped. Still, glad we got it. Favorite tracks: Secret 77, Sacred Love. Album art: Definitely an iconic cover, two faces close to the camera with some great, authentic hand-written font. Love the colors and the contrast. 2.5/5
3.5 good
This is a much more hard rock/thrash album than their excellent debut, to the point that it almost sounds like a different band. It is still a pretty good album, though.
WOW. I did not expect to like this as much as I did. Maybe I can thank the album generator for expanding my musical horizons lol.
Vocals lost me a bit - a lil too excitable for the music.
Groundbreakers
Rimelig hardcore 80’er punk, næsten lidt metal over det, meget energisk, men måske lige grov nok
Very strange, but in a good way! The wild guitar mixed with the interesting vocals really worked together. I enjoyed most of the tracks. 8/10 Would I listen again? Yeah probably
A solid one, maybe the most heavy metal punk can get where I'll like it. Parts not worlds away from Megadeth, but also never far from a cool Stooges kinda thing. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)
When it comes down to it, HR may be my favourite punk singer. And to be even more wild: is the title track the single greatest hardcore song? I think it might be. Anyway, an easy 5.
Some of these songs are downright laughable
What the hell was that?
This album sounds surprisingly amateurish, especially in terms of the vocal parts. The guitar and drum tones are so awful it becomes fascinating.
A pretty good album. Some songs were bops and I enjoyed the energy. Others were forgettable. Evens out to a 3/5.
Soft pass. At least to consider this record as "essential album material". Huge respect for Bad Brains for initiating hardcore punk in D.C, around the same time or even before Minor Threat and Black Flag did. And also a fair amount of respect for them trying to here branch out to other styles going from funk to metal and pop during the mid-eighties. The thing is, the production values of *I Against I* are downright *horrible*. To the point where that sickening, echoey sound on the drums (and also the background chants), along with the paper-thin one for the guitars, just ruin everything. Even Ric Ocasek's production for previous LP *Rock For Light* wasn't as cheesy as this. Besides, it seems to me that frontman H.R. often gave far more impressive vocal performances live than in the studio. Which is particularly noticeable on this 1986 album... So points for pointing the way towards the future of crossover rock at least. But not enough to put this on my own record shelves. If really you want essential Bad Brains records alternating between hardcore punk and dub-reggae, go to debut *Banned In D.C.*, or even earlier sessions for the demo *Black Dots*, recorded by future Fugazi sound engineer Don Zientara, and ultimately released in 1996. 2/5 for the purposes of this list. 7/10 for more general purposes (5 + 2) Number of albums left to review: 88 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 392 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 228 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 293 (including this one)
Two stars for their influence on the punk scene, but I did not like this record.
A really strong start, but I thought it got weaker toward the end. Maybe it was getting a bit fatiguing. (I listened to this a while back and put off rating because I couldn’t decide between 3 or 4 stars. I’ll go with 3, but worth another listen)
Never heard of these but a good sound with lots of energy.
3.5/5
1.5 - 2
Man, this sounds so good but I'm still not fully on board. I just don't have that one song, ya know? I need that one song. Anyway, I understand why people love them.
Startlingly good. I had no idea Bad Brains were this heavy, versatile or skillful. One of the best things I've listened to through this app, of late.
The self-titled and Rock for Light are better :/
Very influential record, but a lot of bands did it much better later. Bands like Sick Of It All, Refused, Turnstile, hell even Korn and Limp Bizkit wouldn't be the same without this record. But if you are used to listening to hardcore punk (I am), this is too tame. Especially the vocals. I don't really like any of the songs. I don't even think this is a good gateway into hardcore punk. Listen to some newer bands instead.
Bad Brains diversify their sound but maintain a punk feel. There’s more variety melodically, rhythmically, and tempo wise than their hardcore beginnings. It’s funkier, it’s a bit more metallic, the instruments interact more. It still has that charging forward like a bull feel and attitude, but they’ve grabbed the bulls horns - it’s more controlled, more restrained. I prefer their more chaotic earlier material, but this is still good. And this band still rips, and each member is still talented.
Really annoying to listen to. Probably some "notable punk album" again. Not as bad as "Germs" though.
Noisy. Meh.
Really interesting album. Different than I expected. Has more in common with 80s arena rock than punk music to me, very effective vocal performance as well.
ei löytyny raggaesta noh paljookaa..
This is Smashing Pumpkins meets Nic Hamilton. That Billy Corgan vocal with punk rock sensibilities. I have literally no idea what they're singing. I can't understand a single word LOL The intro to Secret 77 sounded eerily like the Rush song Test for Echo. "She's Calling You" is my favorite. The bass on these songs is just thunderous! "Sacred Love" reminds me of The Offspring. Some of these guitar solos really remind me of The Marbled Page. The irony is because I DIDN'T immediately like this one... I listened to it twice. The songs have sort of a half baked approach. Maybe that's just the Desmond Child in me, but I kept thinking man, with one more pass, this song could have had a real hook and even been a hit. But those are my goals and maybe not theirs. Anyway, vocally is Smashing Pumpkins meets my friend Nic Hamilton . There's suuuuuch a Billy Corgan sound but with punk rock sensibilities. I have literally no idea what they're singing. I can't understand a single word LOL The intro to "Secret 77" sounded eerily like the Rush song "Test for Echo". "She's Calling You" is my favorite off the album. Gave me a bit of a The Cult vibe. The bass on these songs is just thunderous! So much attack! "Sacred Love" reminds me of The Offspring, "Self Esteem". Some of these guitar solos really remind me of The Marbled Page. Overall, I appreciated the sheer amount of energy poured into these songs. The production was perfect for the songs. Reminds me how much clarity you can get from your mix when the arrangement is relatively simple. Wish I could say I connected with the songwriting more, but nonetheless this was a record I have a lot of respect for.
A bit generic.
Couldn't get into it.
I normally find punk/rock albums of this era a difficult listen, more due to production techniques and styles more than anything. Despite that, I did like this. A good variety of styles and sounds, if a bit flat sounding due to the production.
Classic, easy five stars
Classic. Great double feature with the Descendent's ALL (punk rockers discovered the metalhead guitar pedals). That said, I'm not crazy about the drum sound.
Kinda surprised at the lowish score here - I thought this was great. Immaculate vibes, incredible mix of different genres. Each song its own thing, the album moves quickly. I’ve heard of Bad Brains before but had never actually listened to them before! Glad I got to!
While I prefer their debut, this one was pretty good. :)
Nothing here to impress me. A couple toe-tapping moments like the start of the I Against I track.
What a beautiful discovery. When the album started I couldn’t stop thinking how similar it sounded to Nirvana. Reading a little about it, it seems it was greatly influential in the 90s. Weird that I hadn’t listened to this in my 15s when I consider myself a hardcore punker.
I really enjoyed this, kind of like if Metallica and Joy Division had a love child. Solid listen, reckon I wouldn’t give it another whack as no massive standout.
standard enough rock album, nothing stand-out for me.
Amaaaaazing!
Not bad, but they're definitely already past their peak here.
I like everything on here, except the vocals, if it didn't have punk vocals it would be excellent.
It’s ok
Enjoyable but probably a one timer for me
I liked this alright. Little cheesy.
A high 2, but a 2 nonetheless- I had moments I enjoyed throughout but never a full song. The sort of thing I might enjoy more if I heard it live while drinking something and jumping around with friends.
I was interested to listen to this album 30 years after I first heard it and probably 25 since I last heard it in its entirety. I don’t remember if I ever liked it. I know I was supposed to. I certainly claimed to. I had the t-shirt! And everyone wanted more black guys in punk. Well, not EVERYONE-everyone, clearly, but most of my crew in SoCal mid/late 90s did. There was the general culture-level weird racial (racist?) things about black guys being the coolest, and there was hip-hop, which was cooler and definitely more popular than punk, and there was this stereotypical, not universal, but also not entirely baseless, identification of punk with various kinds of white power. That was far less true inside punk, but I think we were defensive. And we wanted punk to be as demonstrably egalitarian as the early waves of it claimed to be. Bad Brains let us say, “See!” Whether they were any good was besides the point. Which is probably why, ultimately, there weren’t more black guys in punk. No one likes to be a token, but especially not anyone even remotely inclined towards punk ethos. And so, like so much guilt-driven liberal nonsense, we ended up reinforcing the strictures we wanted to change. Anyway, turns out to be a pretty cool album. I will listen to it again.
its not really my kind of music but i clearly understand the appeal and i think this bad has great technical capabilities. however, i do feel like every song is the same musically.
I'm not a huge fan of hardcore. Some tracks on this I kind of liked but others were hard to get through. I think this is a genre that's just better live.
Rippers
Not my taste!
I’d always been told Bad Brains were a uniquely creative take on punk and I was not disappointed. I liked each track better than the last.
Younger me probably would have liked this more. I just feel kind of silly listening to this type of stuff at this stage of life. Overall it isn't awful though. Wasn't a big fan of the vocal style.
I was impressed by this the more I listened. It’s not really a musical style I like but it is well done and unlike music that followed in its playfulness musically. Lyrically it is complex and pretty raw.
Short album! I'm interested to hear the earlier albums, because I'm not a fan of metal or even hard rock that is getting metal-ly, and I can hear some of that here. The allmusic bio indicated that was not on those earlier albums. I think I'd like them more. In any case, I can hear they're a good band. I just thought it would be better without the metal creeping in.
Nah
I really liked the mixing of genres present. I never thought that funk and punk could go well together but here we are.
Tyylikäs kansi, tyylikäs levy. Yllättävän gootti! Mutta vain paikoin. Vaatinee muutaman kuuntelukerran, haluan pistää korvan taakse ja oikeasti muistaa palata.
Ainutlaatuinen (lue: kummallinen) yhdistelmä heviskittasoundeja ja pehmeitä vokaaleja (myös raspisina). Biiseissä on ajoittain koukun tynkää, eikä tämä ole kuulematta jättämisen arvoinen. Mutta nyt debyytti kutsuu.
Wow...I did not expect that! Other than the Ramones, I've never been a fan of American punk. I guess it's what you grow up with. I was lucky enough to grow up during the original UK punk movement, and so I obviously tend to value that more. So, when I heard Bad Brains for the very first time today, I was very pleasantly surprised. The style and 'feel' of the sound was very much more aligned to 1970s UK punk (in my very humble opinion) and so I really enjoyed it. Thank you 1001 !
High energy, intense rock album. Short but sweet 3.5.