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Out of Step

Minor Threat

1983

Out of Step

Album Summary

Out of Step is the sole studio album by American hardcore punk band Minor Threat. It was released on 45 RPM vinyl in April 1983 through Dischord Records. Although Out of Step has only been released on CD in limited quantities, it has been repressed on vinyl as recently as 2010, and all tracks from the album are available on Minor Threat's 1989 compilation album Complete Discography. It is considered as an elementary piece of the punk rock (specifically hardcore punk) genre and has been cited by many critics and magazines as one of the best progressions for the history of rock music, which specifically helped shape the path of many genres of underground musical currents (alternative music). Its influence is notorious in future bands that would boost the youth crew movement, also in other genres such as grunge, post-hardcore, 90's skate punk and thrash metal, as well in the development of the New York hardcore music scene and aesthetics style. This album’s increased complexity in songs, with more elaborate riffs and arrangements, is its main distinguishing factor compared to the band’s previous recordings. The bass octaves retain the dynamics of the guitar line. For this album Brian Baker became second guitarist and Steven Hansgen joined the bass. The lyrics of the majority of the songs reflect self-reflection, youth frustration, personal problems and difficulties with friendships, in contrast to that of Minor Threat's first recordings (which contained a politically critical message and as opposed to drug use).

Wikipedia

Rating

2.85

Votes

5582

Genres

  • Punk
Reviews
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Fri Nov 20 2020
5

One of the best punk rock albums of all time, bar none Most of the songs are filled with absolute anger and range I REALLY recommend you, the reader, listen to this

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Fri Nov 05 2021
4

Classic hardcore punk! For my money, though, one of their compilations would be a better pick because it'll feature stuff from their self-titled and "In My Eyes" as well. All three releases are short enough that the compilations make for a better-suited experience overall, but I can't complain too much. Anyway, it does everything about punk so well. It's got attitude, edge, energy, and not stick around for more than 30 minutes. What's more punk than that? Also, Cashing In is an all-timer closer. Great record.

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Tue Dec 07 2021
4

Ah, Out of Step. This album was my anger management therapy back during my teen years. I still come back to it from time to time when I'm in a particular kind of mood. This is really the epitome of a perfect hardcore punk album, full of wonderful little nuggets of burning intensity. It's brutal, blistering, raging, snotty, and entertaining as hell. Not a bad song on here. Fave Songs: Betray, Cashing In, Out of Step, Think Again, Sob Story

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Fri Mar 12 2021
5

i have been waiting so long for this album to come up in the rotation. fuck yes.

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Fri Sep 16 2022
5

H A R D C O R E ™️

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Tue Dec 15 2020
4

This was a lot cooler than expected... I always figure this early HC stuff is just amateur noise, and it kinda is but it's catchy enough that it doesn't matter. better than black flag 4/5.

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Fri Jul 02 2021
5

Most of the way through Out of Step, I had a grin on my face. It has all the aggression you could want in a hardcore band, but the stop start rhythms, angular compositions, lack of cliches, turn on a dime performances, and thoughtful, angry lyrics give some nourishment for the soul and intellect as well. It doesn't hurt that, for hardcore, there's actually quite a bit of variety in the grooves and tempos. If I have a minor complaint, it's that I couldn't understand all the words, but that's kind of a given in hardcore.

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Wed Oct 20 2021
5

The amount of pioneering Minor Threat accomplished in their short time together is amazing. Bigger fan of the first two 7”‘s but this album slaps hard. Fave Tracks : “Out of Step” “Betray”

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Fri Sep 16 2022
5

If you ask me, this is THE quintessential hardcore punk album. Not the greatest of all time, perhaps, but the most core to the sound and ethos... but also, maybe the greatest lol.

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Fri Oct 23 2020
4

Still super fresh US hardcore punk

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Fri Jul 09 2021
4

intense and straight forward straight edge hardcore with all the elements for hardcore punk fans.

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Thu Jun 24 2021
4

A 21 minute album, what a breath of fresh air. This is the kind of punk I like: high energy, high angst, and a surprising amount of talent in the (otherwise garage-quality) instrumentals. Crazy that this is Minor Threat's only album, considering I recognize the name, and perhaps even crazier that this was released in 1983. The influence that this had on rock for the next decade or two thereafter is palpable. Favorite tracks: Look Back and Laugh, Sob Story, No Reason, Out of Step. Album art: Simple but effective. A black sheep out of step with the herd. Plus the crude illustration of the black sheep opposed to the fine drawing of the rest captures the nature of punk music itself really well. 4/5

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Wed May 26 2021
4

Was loud and fun

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Wed Dec 01 2021
4

I never listened to Minor Threat in High School even though I was into punk rock - if I did this album probably would have changed my life.

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Thu Dec 09 2021
4

Solid hardcore punk. You can feel their youth frustration. Love the cover art and how short the album is

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Fri Jan 07 2022
4

There have been some stinkers for me this week so I'm excited to see this album pop up. I need some energy, and I've heard Minor Threat was a huge influence in the early punk scene in the US. This didn't disappoint, it's a pretty short album with 9 songs that are around 2-3 minutes each. The album comes in fast and hard, and blasts by, this almost reminds me of early Thrash metal in a way with how the instruments and played. The singer is yelling and swearing, and generally pissed off then you hear about the straight edge life and the lyrics of Cashing Out were awesome. I had fun with this one, would definitely listen to it again.

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Mon Apr 18 2022
2

Yet another hardcore punk album that is exactly the same and has only it's short runtime going for it

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Wed Jan 27 2021
1

I get it, but I don't like it. Not a melody to be found. Glad it was so short.

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Mon Jun 14 2021
1

This is the music you make when you have a singer with no singing abilities, a drummer who’s just learnt the 4 4 rock beat and guitarists who’ve not moved past the most basic of power chords. It’s the absolute maximum needed for making punk...and this contribution is the at the lower end of the spectrum. Give it a miss...1 Star!

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Thu Jul 08 2021
1

It sounds like one song on repeat. It was very monotone. There are many many way better punk albums - why is this even on the list?

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Fri Dec 24 2021
5

This is an album from my youth. Ian MacKaye being a big hero of mine. If I listened to it today without hearing it in my teenage years I don't know what I would rate it. Because of its influence on me its a easy 5.

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Fri Feb 04 2022
5

Frantic and short. so short in fact (21 mins) I listened to the compliation of their initial EPs called "First Two Seven inches" just to clock an extra 19 mins! Proper punk

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Wed Jun 15 2022
5

very cool. Brian Baker!

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Fri Jul 29 2022
5

My father always said, the best 45 minute punk album is 21 minutes long.

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Thu Aug 25 2022
5

Loved it! Early punk is always a fun listen

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Wed Aug 24 2022
5

OMG can't begin to guess how many times I've listened to this! Punk was massive in my community as a kid, and I naturally gravitated to the older, more simplistically brutal early stuff like Minor Threat.

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Thu Sep 08 2022
5

It's Minor Threat, isn't it, of course it's brilliant, concise and fully rargh. Feeling hyped off the back of it! It created a whole subgenre of punk and inspired loads of kids, even years later, to live cleaner, more ethical lives. And it's got jokes too! Though compared to the earlier stuff, this album is bloated at about 3 minutes a song 😉

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Fri Nov 04 2022
5

very good album, a classic

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Thu Nov 17 2022
5

Great album. Went by in a flash.

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Thu Jan 05 2023
5

"The 'core is gettin' soft..." Wish there was more like this ... So good.

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Thu Feb 09 2023
5

Fuck yeah

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Thu Mar 09 2023
5

Wow, first Two Nickels on the Dime and now Out of Step - it’s Hardcore Week. I’m here for it. This album is such a beautiful bridge between punk and grunge. Love both of those genres - I really like this album.

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Wed Mar 22 2023
5

Ja Minor Threat, je zet het niet snel op maar ik denk dan meteen aan hun hits en een beetje aan Fugazi. Dan heb je de 5 sterren zo te pakken

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Thu Apr 29 2021
4

OG Punk Rock (80s)

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Wed Jan 20 2021
4

Great! too short but definitely listening to again.

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Fri Jan 22 2021
4

It had me from the very first notes! This album is great! I love punk rock!

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Mon Jun 07 2021
4

Very good. But not as great as their first two EPs. The title track is one of my favorite Minor Threat songs. 7/10

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Mon Feb 08 2021
4

Yes

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Wed Feb 10 2021
4

Bängeri Hardcore punk

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Fri Feb 19 2021
4

At first I thought it was just a punk album, but seeing that it was one of the first bands to set the trend it gave it a new meaning to it, for what it meant it deserves some kudos

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Mon Mar 22 2021
4

Pues mucha furia en este disquito de paaaaank. Vi, según dicen los que saben, que fue muy influyente y pues lo entiendo. O sea los rifs, la batería, todo me suena a lo que luego sonaban bandas no necesariamente panks. Yo creo que las que me gustaron fueron "It Follows", "Think Again" y "Out of Step", porque luego sí se siente uno bien en discordancia con el mundo (?). 8/10

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Mon Mar 22 2021
4

Divertido y conciso, dan ganas de prenderle fuego a una iglesia.

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Mon Jul 12 2021
4

Dawno nie bylo po punkowemu, to tym razem z grubej rury wjechal minor threat, hamerykanska banda rodem z waszingtonu D.C, grajaca muzyke hardkorowo punkowa, album z 83, wiec z czasow gdy kultura punkowa byla jeszcze dosc egzotyczna, zwlaszcza w stanach, bo poczatki to jednak wyspowanie, ale jak slychac od pierwszych do ostatnich sekund materialu jest hardkorowo, sama plyta jest raczej dosc krotka, bo 21 minut, ale bez zadnych zapychaczy wypelniony wymyslnymi rifowaniami na gitarkach, dynamicznym basem, ktory dotrzymuje tempa temu co jest szarpane na gitarach, do tego drumsy ktore sa dobrze spozycjonowane w tyle sceny, a na tym instrumentalu prawdziwie punkerskie wokale pana Iana Mackaye tworza calosc z ktorej czuc energie hardkorowego punka, jesli chodzi o kontent liryczny, to plyta skupia sie bardziej na zaglebianiu sie we wlasne problemy, taka autorefleksja nad wlasnymi problemami, relacjami z innymi, czy szukaniem sensu w zyciu, a takze bezposrednie zwroty do sluchacza jak na zamykajacym traku cashing in, ktorego nie bylo na orginalnym vinylaku, ale jednak spotifajowa wersja go zawiera, sama nazwa plyty czy okladka naprowadza na podobne skojarzenia, tytulowy kwalek out of step mowi o tym, ze wokalista czuje sie nie na miejscu, tym razem nie z powodu bycia zbyt punkowym anarchista na barykadach, czy na spelunowych libacjach, ale raczej z powodu czystego trybu zycia, oszczedzajac zdrowie i czas zeby porobic cos bardziej kreatywnego, zachowujac przy tym mozliwosci czystego myslenia, wiec material krotki, ale pozytywnie napakowany, wiec na plejke wrzuce 3 traki, tytulowy out of step, look, back & laught i zamykajcy cashing in, a plyta do kolekcji zplusowanych leci

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Mon Mar 22 2021
4

Como que el punk crudo y rudo nunca ha sido muy mi onda, no conozco tantas bandas ni sé nada de la escena. Escuchando este álbum, pues no hubo nada que me hiciera pensar en la gran influencia musical que de seguro tuvo esta banda (que no conocía), pero ya investigando vi que al parecer sí. Con todo esto lo único que quiero decir es que no tengo las bases para evaluarlos jajajja, pero al parecer fueron chidos.

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Fri Apr 16 2021
4

Quite enjoyed it. Possibly because very short

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Mon Jul 19 2021
4

A really solid punk album, but the latter half gets a little repetitive for me. There are some fun, creative tracks on here, though!

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Fri Jul 30 2021
4

А ведь отличный альбом. Возможно, первый хардкор-панк альбом в моей жизни, пусть и миньон. Ранее думал, что хардкор-панк - это то, что выходит, когда злая молодёжь не умеет играть митол. То есть нечто неполноценное. Но тут ощущается некоторая целостность, самобытность. Интересные композиции, яркие хуки, славное качество записи. Басовые партии радуют, в основном тем, что я их слышу, не вслушиваясь. Гитарные партии для панка тех лет также звучат довольно продвинуто. Вокал на себя одеяло не перетягивает, просто гармонично достраивает композиции. На самом деле мог бы поставить 5. Но задумался, хотел бы я кинуть альбом на плеер? На самом деле нет. Даже дальше знакомиться ныне особенно настроения нет. Но не признать заслуг не могу. Они там ещё вроде за отказ быдлятских привычек топят, такое одобряем. И обложка вполне годная.

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Fri Jul 30 2021
4

качево отцы валят. Это, конечно, ещё не Фугази, но Маккей уже ебёт всё и вся своей необузданной агрессией. Запоминающихся хуков, конечно, не особо завезли, но здесь и не про это. Просто лютый угар, дичайший гитарный рёв и годные кричалки с редкими, но солидными проигрышами. Не пятёра, конечно, я всё-таки не особо большой фан хардкора, но на 7/10 вполне по эмоциям отбилось, вживую вероятно это вообще пиздец был.

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Thu Sep 16 2021
4

Didn't know Minor Threat would be on here very happy to see it 😁 never really given them time of day but yeh, OG punk so mint. Turns out this is their first album, so, before the Straight Edge track. Not as good as the 2nd album. 4/5 for being OGs

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Thu Nov 18 2021
4

Pretty solid rock anthem.

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Thu Dec 30 2021
4

Love listening to early genre music, because it sounds so basic but you can hear where every subsequent band found at least part of their sound. Imagine Green Day listening to this and then making their early EPS.

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Fri Jan 21 2022
4

Now this was fun. Listened to it while making myself some lunch and the record was almost done by the time I sat down to eat. Some classic fast, high-energy punk stuff. Can't go wrong with it.

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Fri Jan 21 2022
4

Aye it's fun, it's good, not biggest fan of vocals, but guitar work's quality.

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Wed Feb 09 2022
4

Heavy but short punk

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Fri Feb 11 2022
4

Listening to this was like going to a theme park and instead of going on the big thrill rides with massive queues, you visit the rollercoaster that's smaller and more simplistic but fun anyway. 22 minutes seemed short when first inspected but its the perfect amount for this punk rocket of an album.

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Fri Feb 18 2022
4

Really liked this. Not sure why.

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Wed Feb 23 2022
4

I like this album a lot, but it doesn't have any of my favorite Minor Threat songs. I prefer the other version of Out of Step, and in general, the material on the Minor Threat and In My Eyes EPs. One of those or one of their compilation albums would've been a better choice IMO.

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Wed Apr 06 2022
4

This was fun. Not the biggest fan of punk vocals sometimes, but this album had some rocking tunes and was fun through out it's very short length. Given I've gotten some really long albums recently, that's a huge plus.

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Thu Apr 07 2022
4

Amazing how you can make an album under 22 minutes long and it still feels perfectly satisfying. Also, whether Ian Mackaye likes it or not, I do detect a hint of what would become emo here...

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Fri Apr 08 2022
4

Hardcore punk comes to spit in your face again, but this one cares while it's pushing you over in the pit. It recognises that we've all been kicked down - it's time to help each other up. Best Tracks: Betray; Look Back and Laugh; Little Friend

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Mon Apr 11 2022
4

Pounding down a couple cans of lager while listening to this feels more than a little wrong, but perhaps calling this an album while clocking in at under 22 minutes is wrong too? It's been a busy weekend so I'm not going to complain about the brevity today. It does raise a good question about what constitutes an album and what separates it from an EP though. Number of tracks? Running time? Some kind of combination of the two? All that aside, I'm generally a fan of hardcore punk, and I have nothing but respect for Ian Mckaye. He might just be the most authentic punk that ever lived. Guess it depends on your definition of punk. To me it's more about idealism than nihilism though, so I'd vote for Ian Mckaye over Sid Vicious any day.

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Mon Jun 06 2022
4

A sheer blast of hard punk fun that respects your time. Favourites: "Betray", "It Follows", "Out Of Step"

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Sun Jun 12 2022
4

Cool

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Wed Jun 15 2022
4

Stevige punk! niet 100% van genoten, maar wel een goed album

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Thu Jul 21 2022
4

Fantastic example of hardcore punk, a genre I enjoy. Lyrics were hard to hear in some songs which is common with a lot of punk bands early recordings. I will be listening to more Minor Threat.

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Fri Jul 29 2022
4

very short album

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Wed Aug 10 2022
4

Solid punk rock.

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Thu Aug 11 2022
4

This is a timeless and influential album. I see the appeal! Sounds better through headphones. Best Songs: Look Back & Laugh, Cashing In, It Follows Worst Songs: Little Friend

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Sat Aug 20 2022
4

Favorite song: Cashing In.

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Wed Aug 24 2022
4

Top tier hardcore punk. Though compared with their early demos and eps this has lost some of the frenetic energy in service of more complex production and song structure - See the intro on Look back and laugh; a proper guitar intro? Feels weird in a minor threat song.

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Thu Aug 25 2022
4

Great raw early 80s punk rock. I'd never given these guys a listen so glad it came up in the rotation. Also never realized that punk could be good for background work music.

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Thu Aug 25 2022
4

Hair/glam metal dominated this period in the 80s and inevitably got caught up into listening to those bands. Then a friend introduced me to Minor Threat and other similar bands like Black Flag and I was hooked. I fucking love this album. Outstanding debut.

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Thu Aug 25 2022
4

Great classic punk album.

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Thu Aug 25 2022
4

I was introduced to Minor Threat my Freshman year of college by a bunch of straight edge friends. This brought back fun memories.

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Fri Aug 26 2022
4

Always relevant. Hard, tight, angry - and why not.

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Sun Aug 28 2022
4

Hardcore punk clásico. Un 4.

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Thu Sep 08 2022
4

Great basslines, emotional vocal deliveries, the straightedge ethos, and an energetic mix of punk and metal that became known as "hardcore punk." Classic album that holds up after 40 years and has gone to influence many bands to come. I enjoy later music in the genre more but it's hard to overlook the importance of this album in the history of hardcore.

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Fri Sep 16 2022
4

Really solid

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Fri Sep 16 2022
4

Banger, just what you need in morning traffic or when fighting after work

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Fri Sep 23 2022
4

Just a solid punk record. Doesn't stay longer than it needs to. Plus, Ian MacKaye gets a thumbs up from me in every form. Favorite tracks: "Sob Story", "It Follows"

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Wed Oct 05 2022
4

GOOD FUCKING PUNK! Without the 80s punk scene in Arlington, Virginia and Washington D.C., Nirvana would not have been what it was. The Foo Fighters wouldn't exist and music would be a different world than what we know now. I am a much bigger fan of MacKaye's work on this than I was on Fugazzi when that came up for me. Good album that I was happy to listen to.

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Wed Oct 05 2022
4

I like Minor Threat. While "Out of Step" isn't one of my most favorite punk albums but it's definitely a mood that I pull for now and again. More importantly, this step into hardcore punk spawned multiple whole subgenres and inspired an absolute TON of hardcore bands that I do love. The scene owes them a debt as does 20-year-old me. That's worth an extra star right there.

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Thu Oct 06 2022
4

Fuck yeah. Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game soundtrack music, which is a big compliment for me. Favorite track: Think Again

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Thu Oct 06 2022
4

Before today I hadn't heard of Minor Threat. This was a true hardcore punk album, and it did what all good punk albums do, it came in loud, fast, and heavy, said what it had to, and got out. The whole album consisted of 9 songs, and the total album play time was only 21 minutes. The lyrical delivery was fast, raw and angry. The bass playing was stellar on this record!! It is a shame that Minor Threat didn't stay together longer to create more content, because it is easy to see the influence that just the one studio album that they made had on future bands. Favourite songs: Betray (the part when they slow the tempo down in the middle of this song is awesome), "Look, Back & Laugh" , Sob Story Least favourite song: if forced to pick one, Cashing In (I just didn't like the lyrical delivery as much, but it is still a teriffic song) 4/5

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Sun Oct 09 2022
4

Balls to the wall punk music, classic for the era and genre. Clearly influenced many punk bands to follow.

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Wed Oct 26 2022
4

Hardcore punk clásico. Un 4.

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Thu Oct 27 2022
4

Solid album punk hardcore pioneer, better than most than followed

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Fri Nov 04 2022
4

Short songs, microphone distorsion and a guy screaming 4/5

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Mon Nov 14 2022
4

This is a perfect example of how a hardcore punk album should be. Fast paced, short, politically incorrect, aggressive and with an extremely cheap production. It's still not as good as "First Two Seven Inches" though

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Wed Nov 16 2022
4

Love minor threat- hadn't heard this one somehow. 4 stars

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Thu Dec 29 2022
4

This is a tight hardcore album with fairly simple music but very effective delivery. Every track is a bundle of angry energy that delivers exactly what it intends to. It’s not always pretty, but it is one of the most succinct and most important statements of hardcore.

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Thu Jan 05 2023
4

“A Minor Threat to good music.” This is what one of my college roommates said every time Minor Threat came up. His best friend, another roommate, loved(s?) Minor Threat. They used to go back and forth about musical tastes constantly. At the time, I only heard noise when Minor Threat was on. Relistening many years later, I’m impressed with how musical these guys are. The drummer is fantastic as is the bassist. The lead singer’s voice is pretty good with a gritty edge that fits hard core punk well. And the song structures are not just thrash some power chords and pound the drums as fast as possible, which is what I remembered, see Little Friend.

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Fri Jan 13 2023
4

Appreciated how short this was!

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Sun Feb 05 2023
4

Some good hardcore punk for when you need to get a little aggression out. An album that doesn't overstay its welcome by droning on about the same stuff for an hour. Twenty minutes in and out. Glorious. Maybe I was just in the mood for this sort of thing today (a wrong side of the bed kind of day), but I felt like yelling right along with the band.

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Thu Feb 09 2023
4

Why would you listen to the Out of Step album when the Complete Discography LP exists? Some of the best punk out there. CD is probably an A, Out of Step about a B

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Thu Feb 09 2023
4

Can't ever go wrong with Minor Threat, in my opinion. Liked this record as a kid, still like it as I careen gleefully towards my old-fart years.

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Mon Feb 13 2023
4

Short but sweet

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Thu Feb 16 2023
4

Everything a punk rock album should be.

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Sun Feb 19 2023
4

Good punk album

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Wed Mar 15 2023
4

WE DONT CAREEEEE. WE’LL STEAL YO MONEEEY. What a fun important album. love the whole diy hardcore punk movement

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