I Against I

Liked it better than I anticipated, but still was looking forward to it being over by the end. Definitely an interesting sound. 3/5

Let's see what can I find positive to say about this? It was relatively short! Also, every once in a while one of the songs would start to sound good. It usually didn't last long, but there were a few glimpses of semi-goodness. I guess that's about it. 2 stars.

I thought this was a really interesting Album, all the songs were really good with my favourite being Re-Ignition, which is a banger of a song. Otherwise not much to say give it a listen.

Short and sweet. This is bloody great. I'm a fan of punk anyway and like, this is pretty great. I think it does lose form a bit in the second half but sod it, not a bad song on here. Would recommend Stand out songs: - Re-Ignition - Secret 77

26th July 2023 Listened on the journey into the office. Back home and hung with Dougs in the evening. Short sharp blast of punk with a reggae twist. Can see the origins of Green day in here. 2.5 if I could.

В 2019 мне бы понравилось, 4/10

Still not sure what to make of Bad Brains. It’s a bit of early hair metal guitar and riffs, without melody or chorus refrains. The vocals are a bit of Danzig that morphs into the lead singer from Overkill. It’s weird. 2/5

It's okay. That's it. Some tracks are better, some worse.

Did not think reggae and punk would mix but I actually enjoyed the experience

Better than most 80s rock.

Noisy and messy in an unfocused way. I can’t hear the riffs. I did prefer the second half of the album, but still a bit mid ‘80s unfocused heavy rock, but thankfully not thrash or just industrial.

nope

Slaps so hard. Hardcore is my favorite subgenre of punk, and this album is an iconic example of it. Mixing in the reggae/funk elements adds so much to it.

Makes for an interesting punk album with it's distinctive 80s vibe in several songs

It was a very different-sounding punk album for sure. I did enjoy the listen through but don't need to come back to it.

You know how you have A list celebrities? This was like D list celebrity-esque metal.

I ALREADY RATED THIS YOU IDIOTS

stupendous. dreadlocks and mohawks! 5 stars.

Crescent fresh

Going to go against the reviews here and say that Rock For Light and Bad Brains are fantastic albums, ultra hardcore meeting reggae. This not so much I'm afraid, seems a bit of a watering down of the hardcore and a dilution of the reggae. Sorry.

Their best album? It is the only one I know (apart from the Banned in DC compilation), but I would not be surprised if it is true. It is a bit of a mix between hardcore and some kind of funk metal. Very strong songwriting, so much better than all the numerous bands it has inspired - on which I am usually less keen.

Not really digging the vocals, but the band sounds sick.

Interesting and accessible metal album. Not really my taste but nice to listen to.

Listened to this album a few times, it's good and influences bands today but the self-titled is so much better

I can hear a lot of what people like about other more famous bands in this and I couldn't really tell you the difference between either one.

I actually listened to this for the first time a few months ago when I went through a brief whole hardcore punk phase. These guys were at the forefront of that movement that lives on today. I Against I has some crazy vocals that evoke Faith No More vibes -- looked it up and apparently Chuck Mosely (of FNM) was in Bad Brains, but 4 years after this album. Love the riff on Re-Ignition. Feels like the Offspring with balls. All around, I dig the vibe of this album and respect it for what it is. Bad Brains aren't my favorite of the hardcore scene, but this is a great album through and through.

Singer reminds me of Jake Cinninger. Pretty meh album. Not bad though.

I like the heavy instrumentals but the style of singing throws me off at times

Not really my shit but I definitely felt myself bobbing my head to a bunch of songs. Can see definite influences with this one.

This review is not sure that punk can be enjoyed carte blanche. In researching the album, the history and personal experiences of the band itself are interesting, but whether or not they inform an enjoyable musical experience that is necessary prior to passing is debatable. Part of making punk meaningful is making it sound like something someone may want to listen to in the first place. Sure, the album is rather diverse in its sounds that go beyond punk, and for that there is respect in adding some diversity to the genre. If it is just for the album itself and the circumstances during its creation where "Sacred Love" is essentially phoned in from the local pen vocals, well that is just a spectacle and not enough to score highly.

Most of this album did not sound like what I expected from Bad Brains. Like they'd been listening to a bunch of metal and/or Duran Duran.

Better than I remembered it. Caught myself bobbing my head and grinning a few times.

Classic punk/hardcore album. If you’re into that kinda stuff (I am) then you’ll probably love it. Has a couple of their hits on it. I tend to forget this album was released in the 80s but some of these songs definitely remind you.

ugh

Starts strong, ends a little weak.

Easiest 2 stars of my life

This is such an interesting album. Idk how i would describe it if someone asked me to describe it but for some reason i found myself saving a bunch of songs

Good one to hear. I’ve always know of Bad Brains but never really explored. Happy I have now.

Really refreshing punk music — I’ve put my punk listening on pause for a while and this reminds me of what I’ve been missing and then some. Increasingly frenetic and firmly on the pulse in the nation’s capital. The kind of punk album I’d put in a Time Capsule for Martians to listen to to get a taste of the US that has a fair balance of our rough history as well as impressive creative exploits made in spite of and because of it. The message of Bad Brains’ music is influenced by the musicians’ Rastafarian faith, so it’s more positive than other hardcore groups. I appreciate that because I like hardcore music but don’t like the lyrics usually. Secret 77 is a bop.

Not really my sound for its lean towards metal

If you're going to listen to a Bad Brains album, this wouldn't even be in the top 3. They have some great albums, but this isn't one of them.

My problem with Bad Brains is that there were some better bands around at the time (Husker Du, anyone) and a number of the bands they influenced are significantly better. Although this album only clocks in at just over 30 minutes I'd had enough half way through. You know what you're getting, and you get it.

not bad

I've only heard the name Bad Brains, but I was unfamiliar with all of the music from I Against I. The music sounded like it would come from a band called Bad Brains - metal, but… not typical metal. The vocals slipped between a more typical metal delivery, to mellow melodies. The music was not really something I might choose for myself, but there was enough there for me to be willing to listen to something else from the band. It was an interesting (and generally enjoyable) listening experience. Rounding up to 3 stars because the listen was something different than usual. ("I Against I" almost sinks the album below 3).

Great album, pretty fresh and raw. Some of the earlier tracks were a bit heavy but I've listened to the second half of the album over and over. She's Calling You, Sacred Love and Return to Heaven were stand-out tracks

Dunno what to say other than this wasn't my bag. Maybe the singing style as I am becoming more and more open to punk. Glad it was only 30mins...

A band on my radar but can't say I know them that well. Was pretty cool though

Never heard of this band. A little punk. A little Metallica-ish. First few songs too screamy for me. Secret 77 almost sounds like it could be a The Police song. I liked their pop-ier stuff.

This was not what I expected from the cover art. I liked it… not too 80s

Something lovely about speed metal. Will listen to again

Hell yeah! Not as heavy as their earlier stuff but it still goes! They slowed down the tempo and kept it heavy

3.5

brings me back to high school...

This is two separate albums. Side 1 is a very hardcore sound with ska and punk influences (or a sound that influenced punk and ska, as the case may be). Side 2 feels more a traditional hard rock sound, which I enjoyed more.

HL: "Secret 77", "Sacred Love", title track Moderately enjoyed it- actually listened to the whole thing twice today (short album), but got stuck appreciating it as a genre-bender without really getting moved or riled up. Having vaguely heard of Bad Brains as a hardcore punk band, it did exceed expectations. May 2, 2023

5/10. Not bad, I don't see myself returning to this, though.

Enjoyable guitar and bass work. 7/10

Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Yeah it’s quite raw and has immense sounding drums Favourite song: Track 8 - Sacred Love

I can't say I'd heard of Bad Brains before, so I wasn't sure what exactly to expect. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise - an absolute rush of punk rock with some funk and reggae elements. This was an interesting and energetic album throughout, and I've gotta say I really enjoyed this one. Favourite: I Against I

This is what I would listen to if I were cooler. Alas, I am lame as fuck, so I must give this a 3/5. Recording vocals over the phone from prison? That's crazy.

Fierce.

This really bounces between being kinda cool and being kinda ridiculous. The closer 'Return to Heaven' definitely swings this more towards the latter.

My favorite jazz fusion turned hardcore punk band. There’s some really great songs on I Against I. There’s some really weird and borderline terrible stuff on it as well. This is just all over the place. But it never fails to entertain.

Enjoyed this. Ten years ago I’d have given it a 4 but I’m not as much of a fan of this sort of thing now. But a good album nonetheless. Another that has obvious long reaching influence. The singer recorded the vocals to Sacred Love over the phone when in prison. Unique, if anything!

That was a crazy mix of punk, heavy metal and reggae, short enough to not get stale. Very 80s film soundtrack-y and reminded me of the very limited faith no more I've heard. Recording vocals over the phone while charged with marijuana distribution is about as punk/reggae as it gets so they definitely lived the ethos.

Fun in the background but rather forgettable.

Thought this album was alright, short enough that it didn't overstay its welcome. It had an interesting heavy punk reggae style to the songs which I enjoyed. Although the production sounds a little rough compared to modern standards. Highlights I Against I House of Suffering

Not what I was expecting. Thought bad brains were much more hardcore punk than this? Apparently that was the case, but this album wasn't so much. I enjoyed some of it though. I against I and house of suffering were the best tracks. Maybe there will be other albums on the list

It's pretty good. Straight ahead thrashy punk for several songs, gets interesting at Reignition. I think I missed the boat with these, I'm not that into it now I'm older. Then you read about all the homophobia and shit, which further dampens my enthusiasm. But it's not bad.

Classic D.C. hardcore band but this album is far from that sound. The album got some great songs like "I against I", "Re-Ignition" and "Let Me Help". Bad Brains got great energy through the tracks and the songs have a varied style as they mix in reggae and heavy metal. Overall it's a pretty cool album.

Not bad, but other than "Re-Ignition" and the odd guitar riff, nothing really stood out for me.

I was hoping for more from this band, but the album was mediocre.

This was a great way to kick off the day! History of hardcore right there.

3/5. Really appreciate the mix of genres but it’s not a repeat listen to me. Not lower for the obvious infuence and innovation this album provides.

Decent

Mix between punk and reggae

This was rad as hell

This grew on me as it went on, but not something I’d return to.

I feel this album was completely mediocre. Nothing totally amazing but it was nice while listening to it. Not much to say!

Definitely a precursor to / contemporary of a lot of bands I liked (Living Colour, Rage). I remember hearing these guys 30yrs (!) ago while I was in "guitar hero" mode and being impressed by the playing. And although it's no longer the kind of music I particularly enjoy much, this album is a nice example where the old/dated production makes it very listenable (think about if this exact band/record were recorded today - the loudness/compression would be mind-drilling). There's actually a bit of air and space amidst the punk/metal sound. I wasn't sure how to feel while first re-listening, but actually I liked the album more as it went along - overall a nice surprise in that it was more enjoyable than I'd remembered/expected - some unexpected variety in pacing and I love the guitar sounds - with the downside being that the songwriting wasn't quite there overall. Still a fun hard rock - punk listen (and I don't like punk). 6/10 3 stars.

Didn't really enjoy this

The second I heard the opening track I knew I'd be really liking this album. I don't have a huge review of this album, I just enjoyed it a lot. It's exactly the sound I'm into and it was cool to hear it from an artist I'd never heard of before.

I hear Tenacious D. I hear Faith No More. I hear 90s Metallica. And yet, not a metal band. A fun magic trick.

Hittade inget bra med denna.

Spikey US heavy rock/punk with an edge of funk (but not in a shit RHCP way) It didn't do much for me but it was an interesting listen.

Funky but repetitive

3 stars or maybe more. Not something I really wanna listen to, but its easy listening when I'm thinking about other stuff.

The guitar riffs in that album were solid. The thing I didn't like was the singing in some of the songs. It didn't tie very well for me with the more metal-y riffs. Other than that, quite a solid album

My late, great Grandma Helen always told me that the turkey needs to be "moist, like my pussy whenever I watch that Patrick Swayze dance." She would have despised this album. I hope she never was exposed to it during her lifetime. This album probably killed her now that I think about it.

I didn’t listen very closely but nothing snapped me out of ‘this is some 80s era rock musics’

Hey this is great. We need more Black punk music. Silly fun angry fast and rocking. And it's barely half an hour! Checks basically all my boxes.

Great Punk album; definitely adding some of the songs to my hardcore playlist

First I love the S/T album probably would have been my pick for the list. However this album really went in a different direction, probably more Metal at this point, the reggae is subtle. The only issue with this album is it's a bit enven. I against I, Re-Ignition are amazing but Secret 77 and Return to Heaven are a bit weak.

Not nearly as good as their first 2 records. I’d be interested to know why this is the one that was selected for 1001. There are some good tracks on here still, but lacks the speed and energy of earlier BB.

I was not as familiar with this one as i was with their self titled album. Good, you can hear them starting to branch out from pure hardcore. Worth another listen.

I was not familiar with this album at all. And it also wasn't what I expected. But I found that I was really enjoying it, and will listen to it again!

I have heard about Bad Brains a lot over the years but have never gotten around to listening to them. Right off the bat, this is good but is aging as poorly as the rest of 80's metal. But, this is awesome. It's thrash. But punk as hell and it hits hard. Everything on this is so clean and punchy. Some of the vocals are silly looking back almost 40 years. But this album is great. I loved it and will be following Bad Brains on Spotify.

An album that's great for driving, with high energy and the vocals not really mattering. However, once you actually sit down and listen, it does seem to lack any nuance that was on similar albums from the era. Certainly good if you just wanna jam, but runs out of steam quick on an already short album.

Weird- seen the T shirts so many more times than heard the band. Interesting sounds

Even for punk rock this feels like a mess

Perhaps the most metal sounding punk album that I've ever heard.

punk isn't my bag but this is good stuff

This has been on my "List" for several years now. I've listened to the ST a few times but I heard this album was a departure into a new sound so I was excited to finally check it out. As a big fan of the Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile it was very cool to hear what is very likely the inspiration for the development of their sound. Blending hardcore + punk + 80s pop. There are these moments in tracks like "Secret 77" where H.R. sounds like Bowie or Billy Idol. But then there are tracks like "Let Me Help" and "Return to Heaven" that remind the listener that this is indeed still some heavy shit. I love the experimental nature of this album. There was a part in "She's Calling You" where H.R. sings about "vibrating cosmic waves // spirit electricity" and there is this phasey feedback noise they played with. That's really cool! I am a big fan of when bands get to this point in their career where they can start trying new and different things, where they can push the boundaries of their genre or their "sound" and soar to new creative heights. Giving this one a 4/5 because I feel like the Bad Brains team made something unique with this one when you consider their past material. But in addition to making something unique they also managed to make it all killer, no filler (in my opinion). Each song was interesting to me (perhaps the novelty may wear off at some point) and kept me wondering what I'd hear next!

I Against I is as a big a leap as any hardcore band I can think of made in the mid-80s. The fact that Bad Brains are so influential to begin with, compounded with the fact that this 1986 album finds them branching out from their D.C. roots and experimenting with different sounds and ideas, makes them all the more so. The sheer number of guitar solos on this record is astounding—for a hardcore act—not to mention the funk vibes in numbers like “Secret 77,” the 80s-goth-ballad-y vocals on “Sacred Love” (reportedly recorded over the phone from prison where H.R. was serving time on marijuana charges), and the many moments that seem to predict everything from alt rock to neu metal to radio-ready pop punk in the decade+ to come. The proficiency, tenacity, and musicianship exhibited in all these genre-bending musical directions (and misdirections) is just gravy on top. “I Against I” has been covered by Jeff Buckley, Lamb of God, and Denzel Curry. I mean, what!? If that’s not influence I don’t know what is. Am I still more partial to the band’s iconic debut? Probably. But if you’re in need of more evidence that this band was great and wise beyond their genre-boundaries, you’ll find it in I Against I. An absolutely essential hardcore (post-hardcore?) work and every bit deserving of its place on this list.

Didn’t have an amazing time, but I didn’t have an un-fun time either. And I’m starting to dig hardcore, and dig this album the more I listen to it. Bad Brains may be a band who requires several, orthogonal exposures to it before it settles in your brain. I’m coming around to it. Some of the grooves are seriously cool, and I like the proggy hardcore sound. The guitar sound is pretty amazing. I had a big moment with 90s metal bands like Megadeath… this seems like it shares some lineage. There are parts I like a lot. However, nothing getting around the fact that some of the songs are a little meandering or hard to follow. I know of Bad Brains from their other, self-titled album, which I just think is more fun sounding and maybe showcases them better. Also the mixing feels kind of… boring? Not “fun,” like their last record. More scooped and a little empty, which to me doesn’t suit the record.

My conflicted feelings about Bad Brains aside (detailed below), this is an excellent rock record. I've deliberately called it rock because I Against I shifts the overall focus from punk to rock. There's no denying that the threads of rock, metal, funk, punk and reggae are intertwined and interlocked in their sound. But both this album and With a Quickness are free of the genre constraints of typical punk. Despite my love of their S/T and Rock for Light records, I Against I and Quickness are sonically more interesting for leaving the punk cliches behind. Shame about the casual homophobia and other lyrical missteps typically brushed aside with "HR was a product of his time and place" not only because it mars the legacy of a great band overall but also because it makes certain songs irritating. It's worth asking though if Bad Brains are given the same amount of latitude when it comes to this kind of thing as other bands of their era. It seems to me that folks like to come at Bad Brains a little extra for it. The conflicted feelings remain.

3.5

Pretty weak. Felt like soft hardcore.

J'aurais mis 2.5 si on me laissait le faire...

cette aventure est semée d'embûches

Wow! Another band that I wasn’t aware of. I do love a punk band with a driving guitar. I also love that these are a bunch of black guys pushing the punk boundaries. It’s not just three chords and shouting – it’s a fusion of styles with great tunes and fantastic energy. I couldn’t always understand the words but loving the feel of it. ‘Sacred Love’ and ‘Return to Heaven’ were standouts for me.

I remember this band and album but never listen to it until today. This would have been my jam back in the day. Today, it's a bit all over the place. I like HR's vocals most of time but they don't seem to fit over the music. He leans toward a whiny and nasal sound that may have been popular (or accessible to us whiny, nasal dudes) but it's rather annoying. I think the musician are great but don't think this the producer's best work. Ron Saint Germain numerous artists with success but this album doesn't make it for me. It could have been better. I'm still surprised that I never listened to them before... my friends have failed me.

The singer’s voice gets on my nerves - is it an accent, an affectation? The music, the speed, the volume, is fantastic. I really like the genre and if I had time, I would probably investigate this band more.

This is pretty cool stuff. I never listened to Bad Brains, not sure why. I always liked the name. I guess I was expecting this to be a bit more straight-ahead punk, so I was pleased to hear there was quite a bit more going on in terms of influences and genres. After the over-the-top production of Def Leppard, this was a 180º turn to a much more streamlined recording. Still sounded good, it wasn't raw, but didn't sound like there were many overdubs. I bet this is just what this band sounded like in the studio. I let the album spin twice, but neither listen was super intensive. I liked what I heard, but this is generally a little too frenetic and noisy to hit my sweet spot. An easy three+, could be a higher rating with more listens, but I guess it won't get there as I don't see me seeking this out again. Glad I got to hear this, though. Good brains says i.

This was my first exposure to Bad Brains, though I've certainly heard of them. Frankly, I don't know that I've ever heard any of the DC hardcore bands. I wasn't sure what to expect but I certainly wasn't expecting this. I think it's probably great, though I was having a hard time wrapping my head around what I was hearing exactly. The music kept changing and the singer was all over the place, stylistically and also range-wise. Plus, I couldn't understand 80% of what he was saying. But the band was tight and they were doing some interesting thing. I don't know that the production quite served the music, though I'm not sure I can put my finger on why or how. So I'm giving this a 3 because I don't know what else to give it. (Afterwards, i went and checked out a couple of tracks from their first album. That was a little more what I expected. Not sure I could have stood a whole album of that but whatever.)

Nope Well…with the exception of Stereo 77

Interesting.

I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this. Interesting and pleasantly short.

I enjoyed it.

Metal alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.

Surprisingly good. I really liked it and will probably have to check out their other stuff sometime soon

It was an ok album. It was a punk album with some reggae tones. It was a relatively short album which helped it. I have no desire to listen to it again.

I read "hardcore" and thought "on no haven't we suffered enough...". But gee willikers its just a good rock and roll album, thank Lennon for that. Sydney indie scene throwback; this reminded me of Drop Bears and early Spy v Spy v, if anyone is out there floating through the cyberspace and gets those references. Solid rhythm section, good vocalist who uses his range to good effect, and a great guitarist, not quite Gang of Four but worthy. There's nothing "punk" or whatever about this, they are just a good solid rock combo, what's not to like? Good tracks: House of Suffering/Re-Ignition/I Against I/Sacred Love. Good stuff.

Wish I’d heard this in the late 80s or early 90s!

Really enjoyed this. Never boring. A variety of musical approaches. Not stale after all these years.

Is this one of those ones where you had to be there? I like the more punk tracks, like'I Against I', but the more metallic songs are technically accomplished, but I find less compelling. Do I need it a bit rougher edged? Do I want some more intense attitude? Is it just paler in comparison to what I was expecting? I was expecting something wilder. I can hear that this predates Living Colour by a year or two. Hired Gun could totally be a Living Colour song. But not quite as catchy.

Soild punk album with a good mix of met and some reggae. Hadn’t listen to bad brains before but this deserves a place on the list.

I know this is one of those bands where's you lose any credibility if you have anything but glowing praise for them, but this sounds like Megadeth if they did this kind of music. And Megadeth blows.

It was alright. It was pretty much what I expected. I feel like hardcore punk always sounds pleasant enough, but not enough for me to really enjoy it. Although this wasn’t actually that hard.

Here he is: Mike Patton‘s vocalist inspiration! From yodel to rock-a-billy over chords grinding explosions. The bass gets slapped real hard as come the breaks. A hard candy which delivers a hot-spicy taste. But that‘s it. 2.2

Bad Brains is a unique hardcore punk band that has a lot of unique history. This album highlights their unique forays into other genres as they tried Reggae and harder Metal sounds, but it doesn't stand out from the rest of their discography. Instead it makes you want some of the more genre specific Punk records where they are at their best.

Well, I've never heard of these guys before. I guess what they're doing sounds more 90s than 80s so I can imagine that they're that influential type that nobody outside of the music industry has ever heard of, but apparently inspired everyone else to make music that is both good and popular. Nothing wrong with this album - it's not too long, not to short. And does sound ahead of its time.

Nope

A fun punk rock album that I would certainly listen to again.

Did not enjoy at all

Better than I expected

Not what I was expecting at all. seems a complete fusion of so many genres it doesn't really matter what it's listed at.

Favourite song: Sacred Love

good but repetitive

Nope. Not interesting to me at all. Didn't understand it or like it. Occasionally reasonable guitar riffs but vocal melody lines dull and vocal style not appealing.

Metal alternativo. Ni fu ni fa.

Alternative metal.Rollo.

No redeeming features

Just a bit boring

Disorganised mess

Do you like Pearl Jam? If your budget doesn't stretch to Pearl Jam, why not try Bad Brains? All the nutritional content of Pearl Jam without the inconvenience or cost? Maple Jar

I enjoyed the music, less so the vocals.

So I mean, there's nothing wrong about this but I still don't see why this would be in the top 1,001 albums -- maybe I wasn't listening closely enough or it had some big impact I'm not familiar with. It was fine

4.5

Not for me thanks

Not my favorite style of music, so it kind of started behind the 8 ball. I wouldn't say it's bad, but I struggle to get really any enjoyment out of harder punk rock. 3/10

Fine. Nothing special. Middle of the road. Not long which helped it a lot.

Probably the first Bad Brains I listened to. Regrettably I didn't properly get into the band until my mid-30s. I wish 13 year old me had better taste and better access to music. I had forgotten how melodic and almost metal this album was. Almost Misfits in places too. Worlds apart from their first album but listening to that straight after I Against I makes me appreciate how much they had grown in their sound

Surprised that this is the bad brains album selected for 1001. Not one that I'd listened to before. 3.5 stars

Para conhecer mais de hardcore.

Can’t believe I’ve never heard of these guys! Really cool blend of thrash, punk, alt rock, and funk. I can really see how these guys must have been huge influences on 90s bands.

Irritating.

An interesting listen, if a bit rough around the edges. Seems like they would have been amazing to see live back in the early to mid 80s. 3.5/5

Pretty decent backing but the vocalist tends to get annoying. Spotify played The Cramps after this album. My head started banging and my body got moving which tells me that Bad Brains are just missing out on some life.

Personally wasn’t the biggest fan, I think it was either “Sacred Love” or “Shes calling” ( or whatever they’re called ) was probably my favourite as I liked the guitar sound but not much beyond that. Wasn’t the biggest fan of the vocals or lyrics.

A classic foundational album for so much of the music that I love. Standouts: I Against I, House of Suffering, Re-Ignition, Let Me Help, Sacred Love, Return To Heaven

This album took me by suprise. Its not a genre i would normally listen to but it was good. Great guitarwork and amazing songwriting

I really want to like Bad Brains, but I cannot get into them.

I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. It’s probably 3.5 for me, but rounding up because for the genre I liked it more. Every song didn’t sound exactly the same which was cool.

I listened to this album a bit back when it came out and I know it's considered influential. Being a huge 80s punk fan I know I should love Bad Brains but it sounds dated and poorly produced (def not a in a cool lo-fi way). I'm sure in 1986 it was great.

Sometimes I forget how great this band is

I had never heard this before but quite enjoyed it. It's fun and very fast-paced - they start with a quick tease as the intro, but then get right to it. For basically a punk rock CD this has a fair amount of diversity of sound - witness how much the mood changes between the "closed" and "open" sections (sonically) of the title track, which is probably the strongest. And they can get heavy and sludgy on "Re-Ignition" or light and fun on "Secret 77", depending on what's required. Make no mistake, this is still punk rock - but it's fairly sophisticated punk rock. To me this really sounds most like Fugazi, but I think it compares well, certainly against early Fugazi, and probably against their overall catalog. I also think they're better instrumentalists than most of their contemporaries - their singer is good (not a world-beater, but good), with a very solid voice and decent range - and they actually have a couple nice instrumental solos, e.g. on "She's Calling You" especially, and also on "Hired Gun" (none that are going to make you forget Van Halen, but capable and fitting the sound well). Nothing is super-catchy, but I was nodding along the entire time. You can definitely hear their sound on the early Seattle stuff - in particular Mother Love Bone and early Soundgarden.

Some moments of okayness but overall a bit too dirty rock

Only ok, like mediocre punk mixed with the worst excesses of the 80s. A pale shadow of the music they love, but interesting nonetheless

I miss the days of when Bad Brains were full of vitriol and righteous anger.

very cool

had heard of bad brains before but never heard any of their music, i am immediately a huge fan, funk, punk & reggae is right up my alley

Great early hardcore punk!

Excellent hardcore punk, though it's clear it is a product of the mid 80s. I've always loved tracks 2, 3, 4 and 7 from the first listen however I think I may prefer the first two albums which include the odd dubby reggae number and where the production is more energetic and raw on the punk tracks. (4.0)

They can't keep in tune or decide on the time signature which wanders all over the place. Experimental punk rock reggae mix that didn't work for me most of the time. I can see that there would be a market for this just I am not part of it.

Pretty solid hardcore! It's fun listening to records like this and noticing how it's sounds matriculated into other, more mainstream albums I've heard.

I mean I wasn’t in to it but at least it was short

It's weird having this as the only Bad Brains album on the 1001 list, however it's still solid and quite underrated by most Bad Brains fans.

More varied than I recall but the lumbering stop/start riffage can get repetitive. Reaches towards texture at the end and front-loaded with more dynamic numbers.

This album is so tight that it made me pass out.

Flawless. I love Bad Brains, but I return to this album much more than any other. This album takes in so much timely influence and then spits out much more. H.R. delivers vocally. The confluence of hardcore with funk is perfectly executed. Just superb.

I've always struggled with Bad Brains even though people I deeply respect love this group. So, I always try to dip in and try them periodically. So glad I did. This was way better than previous engagements. She's Calling you was the highlight. Lots of very tight timing changes.

Ugh. Growing up two hours south of DC I heard about BB all the time and specifically the antics of the lead singer H.R. But I could never listen to them all the way through. Maybe I didn't try hard enough, or maybe this just isn't as hard as it once was because I made it all the way through and to my surprise, it's listenable. I suppose Bad Brains broke the stereotype of black musicians being permanently tied to soul, jazz, reggae or rap and probably influenced one of my favorite bands of the late 80's / early 90's Living Colour and Ice-T's Body Count among others. Happy to have rediscovered this with fresh ears. https://www.presspop.toys/products/4560247870461

Thank you, album generator, for forcing me to finally fix a gaping hole in my musical education. I've been meaning to check out Bad Brains for ages, especially since I moved to the DC area 14 years ago, but somehow have never to my knowledge heard a single song. And either I waited way too long to check out something so terrific, or the wait helped me to appreciate it all the more. "I Against I" is their third album, and apparently marked a bit of a shift and evolving of their sound, away from their hardcore punk roots. In trying to digest this album, and figure out what I think of Bad Brains, I listened to it 3+ times. (The second because a raucous carpool of 6th graders made the first hard to hear, and the third and other snippets because I increasingly realized that I loved it and wanted more.) At first I wasn't sure what to think of H.R.'s vocals. They were all over the place. And while there were some times where it seemed like he needed to reign it in a bit or stick to one style, the more I listened the more I realized there were multiple voices(?) I liked and most made up for the bits I didn't like. The guitars and the drums, though, I loved from the start. I was initially surprised, as I was expecting more of a punk sound from what I knew of the band. So the heavy metal and other influences took me on a ride that kept me on my toes. It certainly wasn't all perfect, but it grew and grew on me. I checked out their self-titled debut, and there was the hardcore punk I had been expecting. I liked it, but not as much as "I Against I." I waffled back and forth between 4 and 5 stars for quite a while. When it comes down to it, I think its a 4-star album. But a combination of the pleasant surprise, the missing piece, the breadth of influence, the passion and the joy, and finally, the comparison to other new-to-me 4s finally sealed the deal.

I dunno, maybe this benefited from being short and fast after a couple very long and slow albums. At least this wasn’t boring.

Secret-77 is by far the best song to me, and it’s just OK. I do not care for H.R.’s vocal delivery at all.

Solid rock, if unmelodious. Not something I’d listen to again, but not terrible.

This was really quirky rap/rock/metal. 4/5

2.5/5

Much more metal than I was expecting, but that punk ethos runs deep. Honestly, what's more punk than delivering your vocals over the phone from a jail cell? These guys are it, always have been, always will be.

This particular record is akin to a train of anger that is progressively slowing down to the station in a moody town. Enjoyable, but a little much in some cases.

I liked a few songs off this like she's calling you and I Against I. Maybe after a few more listens it would grow on me more. Gonna have to give it 3 stars bc I didn't dig it too much.

I no likey

Meh!

Above-average punk album.

I found it all rather ordinary

i just dont like the singer's voice

A disjointed cluster fuck

Another one of those bands on here who I've heard of forever but never listened to. This album is interesting, if you had told me this was some mid-80s proto grunge band from Seattle I would have believed it, based on some of the guitars and vocals. I didn't particularly love the vocals on this one and thought this seemed pretty weak compared to some of their contemporaries. But then I went further back and listened to their first couple albums and realized this one just marked a shift in their sound. It was good but I prefer the earlier stuff a bit better.

Not for everyone, but I enjoyed it

I didn't like this when it first started. It definitely improved. Not sure I'd listen to it again. I don't know what I was listening to in 86 but it wasn't this. If this had come out 10 years later I probably would have been all over it.

Bad Brains is too cool - hardcore, metal, funk? This is probably not my favorite album, but lots of respect for the band's innovations. 3.5 and rounding up.

The music itself was good but the singing style is not what I would like

More monotonous than hard-core. Maybe because of all we've heard in the years since, this sounds like your basic funky metal (and not all that heavy either). And, hey editors, where exactly is the reggae?

Never heard of these guys before. Great guitar parts, and tone... sounds way ahead of its time. Leaning towards punk in some songs.

A little disappointing. Energy and power are high, the singer's voice even reminds me of Simon LeBon, but the songs are just not there. Nothing to write home about. 2/5.

Ja, Bad Brains vind ik goed. Ik ben erg benieuwd naar het album Bad Brains van Bad Brains, misschien is dat nog wel beter.

Behoorlijk trots dat ik dit doorstaan heb, want echt goed vond ik het niet.

Blegh!

Dit begon als een behoorlijk niet te harden metal album maar na een paar nummers werd het een stuk toegankelijker en melodieuzer.

Ik heb dit uitgezeten en daar is ook alles mee gezegd.

Raw

Fav songs: - I Against I - She's Calling You

There’s elements of punk and metal throughout. They’ve absorbed a lot here.

Really was not what I was expecting...like palatable cross between metal and punk...but was expecting a lot more raunchy underbelly punk...

My co-judge and I accused each other of owning this, but I think we were both wrong, it's more likely that it was released while we were at CKCU and we heard it there. "Secret 77" (especially the vocals) and "Sacred Love" I can listen to. I'm not so enamored with the dives into speed-metal that dominate the front-end of the album. I usually like guitar solos, but I found Dr. Know's guitar a bit grating, especially in the first few few tracks.

Okay not sure I get why it's on this list

Not bad. Fairly simple production. This album/group are completely unfamiliar to me. Would listen again.

Wasn't a fan of the especially shouty songs, but generally not as bad as I thought it might have been. Was sometimes difficult to tell where one tune ended and another began. Not really my thing.

Quand même pour un album punk ca sonne vraiment bien selon mes goûts. Je m'Attendais pas quelque chose du genre. Un bon style 3.85

Not nearly as tight or exciting as their debut album, more so tainted by the general 80s tendency for repetitive vox and uninspiring, repetitive instrumentals (even by punk standards where the songs are under two minutes).

This may be the best Bad Brain release. Not quite the hardcore punk of their debut, they still played faster and more proficient than their punk forbearers. I remember travelling down to DC to see them and was blown away - especially by H.R.'s singing . While Dr. Know's guitar doesn't work for me as much when he stretches out as much as he does on this release, and it may be more metal than punk, but it is still damn good. I have to wonder if they would have received more mainstream play if they were a white punk band.

Not bad

This was probably a big influence on the Red Hot Chili Peppers and other similar groups but I did not love it. No great melodies on here.

The last time I listened to these guys I found nothing to interest me. That was in 1985. This time they sound great!

Punk was a mistake 1 The title track wasn't too bad

Una altra bona descoberta de la llista. Coneixia el grup, però no havia sentit res en detall. Hardcore embrutat i original d'una banda que, salvant les diferències, recorda als Fishbone de la década següent. Van influenciar, obrir portes, i deixar uns quants discos per recordar, però mai van aconseguir el favor del gran públic

I loved the guitars and drums, but the vocals were atrocious. Done with absolutely no concept for the songs.

Unremarkable album without any highlights or anything. Textbook 3 stars that is quickly forgotten again

No thanks… garage punk with a lot of energy, but then not really that special. Somehow repeating what was delivered with previous releases..

Found some tracks pretty interesting, and others uninspired. A blend of punk/rock/hardcore that kind of worked. I don't see myself revisiting.

Not what I expected - it’s a bit awkward - at times interesting but the vocals get in the way and I get hardpressed to find a song. I want to like it but I can’t.

I've never heard of bad brains, and the cover doesn't give me much to go on. Intro is pleasantly heavy. The title track I against I is original and moves right along and now I get it, this is punk. With a nice dose of metal and some reggae rhythms. To my ears a fresh original sound, but the energy is so uneven I'm left feeling a bit confused. They certainly have range but, I find myself surprised to be saying, maybe too much range? This should be right up my alley but I didn't end up loving it by the end. Best track: She's Calling You.

Not my type of rock.

Was always aware of bad brains because of everyone having a sticker or a shirt. I can see why.

This must be how Def Leppard sounds to someone who doesn't like Def Leppard. Some sick guitar riffs but the vocals were just too harsh for me and something about the songwriting didn't click with me

I can see why it's influential and why people like it but it's not really for me.

Some interesting sounds - I didn’t get around it though

Leuke metal/punk. En TIL dat deze band aan de wieg stond van de Hardcore scene

Solid punk that grew into the 80s. Not as exciting as their first few albums.

Of all the Bad Brains albums, I Against I is not the one to list as 'must listen'. But since it's here, let's talk. This album is one of Bad Brains weaker sets, combining elements of pop, disco and some elements of DC Bounce. This is a good selection of a the punk genre in transition, too late for the great punk scene and a precursor of the 90s pop-punk that will be prevalent. 3/5.

Did not enjoy, felt like quite generic hard rock. Didn’t hold my attention.

Feels very similar to a lot of albums on here, probably cuz there's a lot of punk rock. Nice to know though.

Mmm...Punk Metal meets something else in 1986 (i'm not entirely sure what). All the boats had already sailed by then unless it's marketed for people who missed out. I was not impressed and bailed out after 3 tracks I'm afraid.

Not my cup of tea

Another heavy one, but enjoyed this more than I expected. Guilty pleasure. Sets up the scene for a lot of nu-metal/post-punk bands.

Generic Punk

First of a rant: the reason why I went to the Amnesia Rockfest in Montebello, Québec, back in 2013, was because that edition of the festival featured the most incredible hardcore lineup ever, including, among other big names, Discharge, Cro-Mags, and Bad Brains, three bands I absolutely wanted to witness on stage, and three bands who cancelled at the last minute; Discharge and Cro-Mags, who were indeed touring together, got blocked at the frontier, while, if I remember correctly, Bad Brains singer H.R. got severely ill of his throat. Well, I guess I was much less lucky than people going to that piss pool of a festival to see The Offspring or Marilyn Manson, damn it! (Hey, at least I saw Alice Cooper! I even cried then!)  I read somewhere, some years ago, that when I Against I was released every hardcore/metal/punk venue played the song Re-Ignition before shows, with the whole audience going "Whaaaaaa?" every single time as a consequence. It wasn't the first time Bad Brains got us all going "Whaaaaaa?". From the start Bad Brains was an all black band playing hardcore, a genre predominantly, if not exclusively up to that point, white . And the audience went "Whaaaaaa?" (Racetraitor was a hardcore band who were utterly outspoken about white supremacy and white privilege decades before our modern social scientists started even mentioning those topics. By their confrontational approach, they used to call "crackers" the kids in their audience. "Racetraitor" and "crackers" are both white supremacist terms, reconfigured within the context of their thought provoking stance. It didn't go down well. The band earned an awful backlash from all the social and political sides involved, and their credibility as artists and individuals was severely questioned. - Straight Edge was a lifestyle that promoted a no alcohol, no cigarettes, no meat, no drugs, no promiscuous sex, no coffee, and no pharmacological drugs way of life. Straight Edge was also one of the most violent forms of hardcore punk music around. - Racetraitor ideologist and leader said recently: "We’ve had one time that turned into a physical fight. In the end, everybody was kind of forced to talk about what we wanted them to talk about. They just couldn’t ignore us." - The band would soon break up, one of the members would become a lawyer and work in the international human rights, another one would join pop-punk band Fall Out Boy. - This is the world in which we were growing up) Bad Brains was also a band of very technically skilled musicians who had all studied jazz. And the audience went "Whaaaaaa?" Social justice was a key factor discussed in the hardcore subculture, and so were the Bad Brains, but they were also concerned as much with spiritual issues, promoting the "Positive Mental Attitude"; they also practised the rastafarian faith and played reggae. And the audience went "Whaaaaaa?" Ric Ocasek was an early fan of the group and he went on to produce their second album, a few years before I Against I was recorded. And the audience. Yes, you got it.  The crucial point of this album is that, up to this point, and also in all of their subsequent releases, hardcore and reggae where two different styles that were never really meshed together, probably in the intent of keeping intact the sacred, spiritual nature of the genre. A groovy as hell record, I Against I showcases a real battle of Bad Brains against themselves. All of their influences, from jazz to punk, to reggae, soul, funk, and anything else come together in a streamlined, flawless, smooth even, beast of crossover never heard before nor since. All of these ingredients are integral part of the songs in a way that is impossible to discern, dissect, or separate, as if everything was actually processed through a blender in an irreparable manner. Like life itself, like death itself. Like the remnants of a battlefield served on a plate. I rest my case. PS: If you haven't watched the documentary Afro-Punk, I suggest you do as soon as you get a chance. Peace out. 

Not my thing, but not bad. 6.5/10.

Bad Brains' third album "I Against I" is their best-selling one. The punk band experimented with genres of funk, soul, reggae, and metal on this album. They showed the world that "you can still be hard by playing slow". This album also influenced many rock bands and artists to come in recent years. I thought this album was alright to listen to while working, but it wasn't amazing to me either.

Didn’t enjoy this one much. Had a pretty rough sound. Didn’t find too much value here as it seemed like a lesser quality alternative album. 3.7/10

Not exactly my taste ^^

A fusion of a few genres, mostly hardcore punk and metal. Not bad

Ceci me laisse plutôt indifférent. J’en comprends l’intérêt.

Another album that I'm not sure about how it got a place on this list.

The Bad Brains is among my favorite hardcore punk bands. They shift away from reggae into a thrash metal influence that suits their style very well. Not just metal though: there's New Wave mixed in "Secret 77" and "She's Calling You" among others. This album, in particular, has been cited as a major influence on 90s artists to fuse different genres together, including Sublime and Rage Against the Machine. It's pretty short overall so nothing drags on, but that only helped me pin down the weak tracks. The first few tracks are amazing, I can't believe they're able to incorporate 80s thrash metal riffs so well with such an abrasive vocal style (oh wait, that's how I'd describe half of thrash metal vocalists). And there are other highlights tracks, but the rest of them are mostly duds. If you like the style, no problem, but they don't stick out that much. For me, the biggest examples were "Let Me Help," "Hired Gun," and "Return to Heaven." But I still enjoyed it from start to finish, and was short enough to bear through any shortcomings.

I wanted to like this more than I did. The different stylistic elements just didn’t come together for me, though I certainly didn’t hate it.

Wow! Raw and aggressive, in the way I kinda like it. Much better than I expected.

Guys shouting all the time? not the type of music that id like.

This thrash metal and hip-hop crossover album really seems like the worst of both worlds. The trash metal side is overly simplistic, chaotic and annoying, while the hip-hop side of the equation is badly performed and also annoying - maybe it's the reggae influences, a style I find badly performed and annoying almost by default. Every part of this mash-up is a mess. And the result is even more of a mess than the sum of its parts.

I Love. Bad Brains. Any hardcore kid worth his camo shorts (and I'd like to think I am) knows that what The Ramones were to punk, Bad Brains were to hardcore, a reignition (like their song, heh) of a genre that had grown bloated and moribund with mainstream exposure. Before they were getting banned in DC (also a song title, check it out) for their unrelenting, thrashy brand hardcore punk, Bad Brains were honing their musical craft as a band that played metal, funk and rhythm & blues. This is displayed in songs like House Of Suffering with its blistering drum flourishes and succinct guitar solo, something that was unheard of in punk, but that the Bad Brains harnessed with attitude and vitriol befitting the grittiest gutter punks. Individual virtuosity aside, what made the Bad Brains, and this work in particular, so iconic to this writer was their ability to be go from hard-driving, to groovy, to downright menacing all within a single album. This is a feat that would be commendable for any rock band, let alone one in a scene where bands are hardly known for musical range or diversity. Straight up classic. 5 stars, my guy.

Tunes were good without being special. The blend of genres was kinda interesting though, especially mixing metal-style shredding guitar with more primitive punk. Can hear the influence on a lot of 90s rock bands.

The reggae twist was subtler than expected but added a lot to the overall product. Delivers a lot in a single listen

Interesting punk album, not my kind of vocals

Not for me

ALL KILLER NO FILLER!! A singularly powerful album - retains the great intensity even when it slows down.

Rock and Roll!

RIOTTTTT

Already familiar with this brilliant album. Very pleased to know this is rated.

Like a weird buffet of your favourite foods stuck on your plate in odd combinations. Rock, punk, rap, funk, metal, and a bit of leftover late 70's/early 80's sneaking in now and again. I enjoyed this more than I expected to.

all over the shop & all the better for it

had no idea what to expect when hitting play, but enjoyed this from start to finish.

Hardcore punk pioneers. Musically very accomplished (for the genre), and interesting that the vocals for 'Sacred Love' were recorded down the phone from prison. However, it didn't really grab me. I generally like my hardcore punk to be a bit more light hearted and fun. 2/5.

De la canción Re-Ignition salió años después Ultrasonic Sound, de Hive. Y eso es lo único que le podemos agradecer a este disco.

I needed someone to guide me through appreciating this album, since I couldn't really do it by myself. There were moments where I liked the music, but I never got hooked into it. I liked "Secret 77" and I think I liked the gimmick of "Sacred Love" literally being phoned in.

I have never heard of Bad Brains before. I ended up listening to this album a few times...mostly because it was short and my settings have me on auto-repeat. After 4 or so listens, I thought it wasn't the worst thing, but there is not much there for me...at least nothing to bring me back to the album again.

Another album that lands in the "well, it's not _bad_ but why is it here exactly?" category. Thought it lacked pizzazz.

I didn’t love this, although it was interesting for the strange mixing of genres. The musicians are very talented. The band sort of slides around between metal, punk, ska and even a hard-edged 80s-pop-leaning sound (“Secret 77”). That made this more interesting to me than it would have been otherwise. I also liked little touches like the shouts in “Let Me Help.” I can see how some people would be very into this. But I am not those people.

Pretty standard punk album here, not as much reggae influence as I expected. Nothing exceptionally stood out either way.

6/10 not a big punk fun, this was pretty good tho I mean at the very least it’s impressive an album like this came out in 1986, so yeah, not bad but not amazing for my tastes

Is this one of those ones where you had to be there? I like the more punk tracks, like'I Against I', but the more metallic songs are technically accomplished, but I find less compelling. Do I need it a bit rougher edged? Do I want some more intense attitude? Is it just paler in comparison to what I was expecting? I was expecting something wilder.

A hardcore skeleton with all kinds of neat things hanging from the bones. I was unsure about everything but the energy in the first half; The second side brings that and a bunch of other musicianship as well.

It was okay but didn't really stand out to me. 0 recognized songs

Generic. Unremarkable. Best track: Re-Ignition

No es su mejor momento.

This album shocked me, I wasn't prepared for this level of melodicism from a Bad Brains album. The Bad Brains I know are loud and abrasive, without subtlety. I am glad to find this side of this legendary band. 4 stars

Pretty cool punk album. Interesting reggae twist. No complaints here

I didn't know this band: not bad. The best song of this album for me is "She's calling you".

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: House of sufferig, Re-ignition, Sacred love, Hired gun

Not to bad

A fun listen. Rocks hard, but not hard on the ears at all. Nice, compact, well-composed songs with a variety of musical influences. Fave Songs: She's Calling You, Re-Ignition, I Against I, Sacred Love

3/5 Not really exceptional, average

I generally cut punk albums a lot of slack. Pretty music isn't the point, right? But, dang. This album is a royal mess. It makes no sense, the production is trash, the songs are poorly written and poorly performed ... it's just not good. It's not good punk, it's not good hardcore, it's not good rock. It's just not very good.

4.3 - They've clearly earned their reputation for being amazing musicians - Bad Brains is head and shoulders above peer bands. The fact that Black Flag and other lesser bands get more accolades to me stinks of racism. Great to hear black rockers that put Washington, DC on the map.

I didn't enjoy this one really. 1/5 stars.

aight

Unexpected hard rock album

Not good. It just sounded like bad music.

It was alright, quite upbeat and listenable. 3*

This really grew on me. I'll give it a low 4, I think. It was a 3 until late last night.