GI

4 Stars

It's punk! It's definitely punk. Punk isn't my normal jam, but this is a pretty good album. If this were playing at a party, I would ask what it is and listen intently for at least a song or two. The quality of the production sounds better than I would expect for a 1979 punk album. The songs are not all the same three chords at the same tempo and same energy. Too bad this was the only full studio album by the band.

Sounds a bit old hat now, but just cause they were innovating. If you watch the penny marshall? doc - decline etc I think - its a wonder anyone depicted, but of course particularly darby could manage to get something workable out of a studio. Pat smear, who of course my generation knew from Nirvana/Foo axes, is pretty good, seems somewhat more together. Regardless cool. More beyah!

Varmaan ollut taas mullistava levy aikanaan. Ei nyt uponnut oikein. 2,25/5.

The USA answer to Nevermind the Bollocks. We win.

Favorite Track: Lexicon Devil

Screaming banshee from the first note. Pure garbage for me.

bati cabeça até machucar o pescoço parabéns ao pessoal de ALTÍSSIMO nível

10000000% minha pira!!!!!!!! hardcore punk ABSURDÍSSIMO. um dos primeiros, inclusive. um soco na cara de tão cru, apesar de bem produzido. as guitarrada, a bagunça sonora, os grito, tudo lindo demais. ficarei obcecado!!!!!! vale demais ver os vídeos deles ao vivo. pensa num show BAGUNÇA, com os membros da banda drogados demais pra fazer qualquer coisa. e o crash sendo o maior de todos, guiando o show mesmo doido demais. absurdo o que eles aprontaram em L.A, foram banidos de um tantão de lugar por quebrarem tudo. muito bacana, linda história, que deus tenha a rapaziada que faleceu aí.

This is #day446 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… revisiting this one after getting Group Sex by Circle Jerks. This record does exactly what it's supposed to. It's loud, raw, and in your face... What else would you expect from hardcore punk? P.S. I totally forgot Pat Smear was on this one. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day447.

Now wash your hands.

coming soon to the New Cross Inn

Not a genre I'm that keen on but can appreciate it must have been an important album for punk. Didn't realise the Nirvana/ Foos guitarist started out with Germs either.

Definitely more in the influential rather than enjoyable category. I like punk, but would it kill them to keep time a little?

Now where's that Domestos !?

Poor effort, when compared with other bands from the era

Not my thing.

The music is fine but holy shit the vocals are so so annoying

I’d never heard of the Getms before, I like the punk genre I’d give this a high 3 star

Unnecessary.

StraightHardcore- Punk from '79. It is considered as the first of its kind.

Had to listen to this one with lyrics haha, love the energy, went on a deep dive of the band, not very familiar with Germs. Of course Pat Smear, I remembered the drummer from a memorable scene in Bathtubs Over Broadway, the bassist had the most talent I’d say. 3.5

- Kein Lied hat einen Aufbau, es fängt einfach an und geht dann mit derselben Melodie einfach durch - Alle hören sich gleich kacke an - Als Topsong das erste Lied da ich kein Unterschied zwischen den Liedern höre und mir keins gefällt - Kann sein die Lyrics sind gut aber die kann man mit dieser komischen Singstimme kaum erkennen

As a big fan of early punk music, I’m not sure what this is. It seemed to have no direction or melody with a voice that sounded like some dad screaming at his kid. I’m not really sure why this is popular and I’m uninterested in finding out.

This one is a low 2 for me. Everything I dislike about most Hardcore Punk music, only saved by how killer some of the riffs are. This guys voice is just nails on a chalkboard. I know that’s the point of “REAL” Punk Music, but it’s just not for me. If he didn’t sing at all, this would be an easy 3 for me, but his annoying wailing just ruins it entirely. Wouldn’t return to this one sadly, but it’s not a 1. I kind of thought it was going to be a 1 for a while. It’s almost a 1. I kind of want it to be a 1 low key. It didn’t exactly grow on me, but the more I could drown out the sound of the singers voice, the easier it became to appreciate the guitar and other, better aspects of this album. My favorite song on this one was “Our Way”. Gracefully, this one is 38 minutes long. The perfect length for an album. I also really like the album art. It’s simple but very cool. Stands out.

No thank you, please.

Possibly the most hardcore and heaviest non-metal album on the book. Germs take punk to its extreme with short, noisy, angry and politically charged songs. Technical prowess and songwriting aren't the point here, but that doesn't mean I didn't miss them occasionally. (What do you mean Belinda "Heaven Is a Place on Earth" Carlisle played drum on this band at one point?!) Key tracks: Land of Treason

Style over substance

Crazy influence on the whole music scene. Distinct voice from Darby. Punk rock at its rawest.

2.5/5

Respect their game but not my thang!

Love it

3.5

very, very solid punk record. pat smear is so awesome

That sure is a punk album from the 70's.

Was hoping to hear something I might love but alas....not for me. 2/5

Punkk not my vibe but worth another listen when I’m feeling that

As another reviewer wrote, this is definitely punk, but not good punk. I got quite far into the album, but then I couldn't take it anymore and stopped listening. Terrible. 1/5

2/5

I generally like hardcore punk, however this feels like 40 minutes of mostly the exact same song. Just not much unique about it.

Punk is my favorite genre. And this is a great punk album.

Pretty cool early punk

Classic nihilist punk from LA. This still rocks.

Ugh bad

Not my bag. Want it to be but it isn’t.

Im not into punk but this was a powerful blast of what I think all punks should be aware of.

This is hard music for people that only listen to radio

Aggressive, fast, raw - but there is nuance at times! Excellent early hardcore.

хуйня. (грубо говоря)

Energetic, grew on me the whole time. Still didn't love it. Unfort

Teenage punk pas fou

I liked the background story about this album more than the music itself, which was maybe just a little too raw. The fact that the fans had never heard the vocalist sing before, as he did his best to avoid doing so, makes a lot of sense now. Two stars.

Idk just expected a little more

Who does this genre appeal to?guitarist and bass player should’ve swapped instruments

Быстро, и преимущественно по делу. Лучшая песня - Communist Eyes.

excellent

2.5

Straight punk rock

Me likey

I previously commented on a punk recorded review that my teenage punk phase was apparently just that, a phase. I stand by that comment

Yet another punk album that I just found to be grating

4/5. Hell. Yeah. I have no idea what he was saying about but I'll drink to that. The fact that they were able to throw down 1-2 minute long songs for most of the album and then deliver a 9-10 minute fever dream shows the potential this band could have had. It's loud, chaotic, and punk to the max. I can't say it's perfect because of what this influenced after but for what it is, it's excellent and important. Best Song: Manimal, Lexicon Devil, Dragon Lady, Communist Eyes

Zero

It’s okay.

Raw, energetic, and old school, The Germs were pure punk rock.

As someone super into Punk music, Germs never really did it for me. Important to get to alot of the other hardcore West coast teams later like Circle Jerks and X but Germs is always kinda meh. 6/10

Like DaDaism, punk had a political and artistic statement - it had its moment, but like DaDa it wasn't really a genre and had nowhere to go. Notice, the punk bands worth listening to started incorporating more and more of the traditional musical techniques they "rebelled" against. These guys never got the message - the biggest question was who would barf first, me or the vocalist. This is mostly junk.

minus 3 out of 5

i didn’t know this was punk when i put it on i just played it blindly, i wasn’t feeling like listening to punk but there we go, a comment put this quite well “one of those influential but not interesting ones” it sounded okay but not very interesting

Lorna Doom is the star, with able support from Don Bolles. Pat's wall of noise is kept low in the mix so it doesn't detract from her melodies. The challenge is ignoring Darby's bratty ranting. GI ends with 10 minutes of filler that presumably took 5 minutes to write in the studio. Clearly, they were in a rush to get an LP out before the fad was over, but a 28 minute album would have been fine. The band's sound and the dry production were clearly modelled on just such an album, released by Ramones over two years previously, but that one also had good ideas and good songs. Where GI tries to expand on the template, it mostly irritates. The sampled speech on Media Blitz is a nice touch, but the aforementioned mess of Shut Down (Annihilation Man) and the phased cymbals on Our Way show they ought to have stuck to Their Way.

Very promising start as a 4. Will end up there. Wild and raw and fast and loud. In your face punk. Great for MAGA rallies

At last, an American band that actually knows what Punk should be. Still sh*te tho.

Punk and Hardcore Punk are not my kind of music, but I must admit that the music was good and well-produced as far as I can tell. Lyrics and vocals, though, are annoying.

Interesting that it was the first full length punk album. Like "Our Way". I doubt I'll listen to it again.

I'd give this a 3.5. Maybe it should be higher, but I just don't really like punk music that much, especially this style. I can appreciate their work, for the genre, though, and it's definitely not bad to listen to.

Stooges worship at its finest - makes me want to kick someone in the head then kill myself. Lexicon Devil's the best song to come out of SoCal hardcore not written by DKs. I <3 u pat smear

Where's my skateboard

Lexicon devil goated

Truly something

Not really my thing but I can definitely appreciate what they were doing here and glad I at least listened. Manimal was pretty good.

Pat Smear on the guitar. Germs, Nirvana, Foo Fighters. Absolute legend. Foundational hardcore album. A full length frenetic frenzy of fun. Fucking sick. Just so, so good. Simple as. 5/5

Lots of energy, lots of anger in here. Does a great job of communicating emotion. Vocals did a good job of complaining for 40 minutes without feeling too whiney. Guitar is kinda schnasty. Hardly casual listening though, this raised my heartrate. Happy to have experienced this one, and might be a revisit in very specific circumstances.

too punk for this guy. I was watching the clock waiting for the end

While I appreciate how novel this must have been for the time, this was not easy on my ears. A pretty tough listen.

Energifyllt punkalbum. Förstår att det är viktigt rent historiskt också.

# Album Name: GI # Artist: Germs # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Nahhhhhhhhhh mate. Not for me. Wasnt the worst thing ive heard on here. but still. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No

Not my jam. I get it might be influential for punk but it is not good or enjoyable to listen to.

Interesting not my cup of tea

Highlight Song/s: Communist Eyes, Land of Treason, Lexicon Devil and Our Way Wow, this album is just completely brutal. So so nihilistic. There is just not an ounce of hope to be found here. The other instruments matching the ferociousness of the vocals adds a lot to the album.

Okay, this is sharp, short and punchy. Risks just blending into one distorted mess but I guess this is punk rock! All songs 2 minutes with just enough structure to keep something of a distinctive melody. I guess this is the style but I really do wonder, if you’re a punk fan, how you separate and choose your favourite song?! Kinda get it and over it, easily, by 50% through. Maybe I’m missing something but it’s just okay and of a certain context. That’s not for me or how I appreciate albums. (2.5)

-not bad. very intense even by punk standards -not my absolute favorite that i’ve heard from the genre but it’s always nice to find new interesting bands i wasn’t familiar with before -considering this is their only album i think it’s a great legacy to leave behind -Favorites are Communist Eyes and We Must Bleed

Yeah punk rock. That's what this is.

Buen album, entrete protopunk

Not her for whatever this is

Well, I like music that sounds like this, and this is a pretty generic half hour of it! The instruments sound better than I would have thought.

I get why this is on the list, but it didn't really do anything for me. I like this kind of music, but this sounded a little samey to me, even with a relatively short runtime.

hated

Bad

This album is turning me into a republican. I find myself thinking these guys need to get out of their mother’s basements and get a proper job. It’s ok to give up on your dreams.

I've liked me some punk bands in my day, but this is just too much to get behind. They really lost me at the 10 minutes of noise punk at the end. I appreciate that this inspired greater bands, but I'm glad leaving this one behind

M'n tweede album van vandaag en ik heb hier wel zin in eigenlijk. Een lekker ouderwets punk album, maar dan wel op zo'n manier opgenomen dat het lekker klinkt, wat bij mij soms nog wel eens een valkuil is bij punk. Dit is niet schel. Zonder afbreuk te doen aan het rauwe punkerige is het ontzettend clean qua instrumenten. Alle instrumenten zijn goed te onderscheiden van elkaar. De basgitaar doet heerlijk mee, de zanger is niet té kut (al valt daar natuurlijk over te twisten) en de gitaren en drums rammelen ook lekker door. "Lexicon Devil" ken ik. Ik moest even Googlen maar waarschijnlijk heb ik die gehoord in GTA V. Stop de tijd. 4 sterren, ondanks dat ik aan het einde toch wat moe ben.

Landmark punk/hardcore album but it's a tough listen if you aren't into the genre. Raw, gritty and loud.

Like most punk bands it could really benefit from getting a real vocalist - that said I enjoyed it, great energy, it's noisy and angry without being an overwhelming cluttered mess.

Detesto el punk mal tocado.

To call what Darby Crash did with his voice “singing” would be charitable at best.

Music like this I tend to appreciate more than enjoy, if that makes any sense. I understand the significance of Germs moving the genre of punk forward and being a part of the lionization of the LA hardcore movement, it just took me a little while to get into the same headspace of the songs. Once you lock in, though, you totally get it. I think Darby's unfortunate end really pushes this into the stuff of legend and embodiment of the music's worldview - but in my humble opinion that can only elevate the material so much.

Nice music but man I couldn’t understand him for most of the songs.

What a good old school punk album! I love hearing it! The germs were such a good band too!

Nothing like some 70s punk to get your day going… The standouts for me were Lexicon Devil and What We Do Is Secret. Personally, this isn’t an album I can listen to front to back without it feeling monotonous, but I could see myself enjoying a song or two if they came up on a playlist. I’m surprised that I had never heard of Germs before, because they feel like the Avengers of rock music. Produced by Joan Jett, Pat Smear on guitar, Belinda Carlisle joining in the later years… like damn.

I think I’m too square to enjoy punk. This had nothing to offer me beyond the other punk I’ve listened to. Give me the Ramones or the Sex Pistols, but a big skip on this.

No. It’s so loud. This feels like ear noise. I don’t hate it with every fiber of my being. This just feels like it was created during a time when people had a lot of feelings and didn’t know how to express them in a healthy way. Therapy is important

Incoherent, really difficult to get through. Just not at all for me.

Honestly really struggled to get through this.. not for me

A whopping 10/10 on the Tony Hawks Pro Skater OST scale. Probably about 2.5/5 on my scale. Each band member has one setting and they stick rigidly to it so it all just sounds the same. Fun though as a one off listen. Rounded up

Lexicon devil is good, shut down has a good baseline. Otherwise nothing remarkable for the non-punk fan

God, I’ve been so desperate for anything in my genre wheelhouse, I almost want to give this album a 4. I swear the album generator is punishing me. I appreciated that this was quick-paced and short, but the last song dragged on just long enough for me to dock it a point.

I get that these are the first of something, amd thats important, but it doesnt mean it is good. The new sound is a good one, but its done so much better by successive other bands that this just sounds weak.

raczej 3

Thank gods it's short.

alright, but i can think of better punk albums?

Legends. GI is OG.

Snarling hardcore. All attitude, lacking proficiency.

When this dropped, people in the LA area who had seen the Germs play live, often on the verge of collapse and with Darby Crash frequently refusing to sing on mic a lot of the time were surprised to hear a tight-as-virgin-pussy rock band with an incredible lyricist at the microphone. Darby died a year after this album dropped, but this album is eternal. A must.

Punk, aber nicht so meins.

Punky

#DÍA 38: 1001 Discos Que Hay Que Escuchar Antes De Morir (English Translation Below) Bueno… Definitivamente me está costando ser constante por distintos motivos, pero se intenta. Hoy me topo con el supuesto primer álbum de Hardcore Punk, un género que suelo disfrutar bastante. Germs fueron muy caóticos e incorrectos, llevando la música a ese extremo entre ser una expresión musical de protesta o ruído blanco y un completo antiacademicismo. Me puedo imaginar la influencia que tuvo este único LP de la banda, no solo presentando un sonido que luego, a mi ver, sería perfeccionado por otros grupos como Dead Kennedys o Bad Brains en los 80s y muy influyente para el desarrollo del Thrash Metal e incluso del Grindcore, específicamente Napalm Death. Es un álbum corto e intenso, como todo aquel de punk que se respete. Prácticamente ningún tema supera los 3 minutos, exceptuando la extensa improvisación con la que cierra, la cual sinceramente me sobra bastante… Pienso que le quita todo el impacto de velocidad e intensidad, aunque sí debía ser atrevido añadir una pista tan abstracta, ruidosa, rebelde y larga a un producto comercial por entonces. Pero bueno, abstrayéndonos del peculiar final, las canciones presentan lo que uno espera de un álbum de Hardcore Punk: tienes un vocalista que bien pudiera ser un bulldog, guitarras que gruñen y crujen, una batería que no sabe lo que es un metrónomo y, sorprendentemente, un bajo bastante melódico. La producción es trabajo de procrastinación y el máster satura decentemente, sobre todo en Our Way, que por momentos está rozando el Black Metal más primitivo. El sonido es tan crudo como es deseable, aunque deja deseando mayor intensidad, sobre todo por parte de Darby Crash que en ocasiones su falta de vocalización y gruñidos no son tan agresivos como me gustaría. Más allá de eso, las canciones como tal son interesantes y hay más versatilidad que la que uno esperaría de un “primer álbum de x género”. Land of Treason tiene una sonoridad bastante tenebrosa que la acerca por momentos a Slayer. Richie Dagger’s Crime parece la canción de entradilla para un personaje aparentemente anarquista y poco amigable. Lexicon Devil es para mí el mejor tema del LP, por su corta crítica al carácter manipulativo de los altos cargos y por tener el estribillo más pegadizo. También me encanta We Must Bleed, con un estilo de lírica repetitivo que, junto al riff descendiente, genera una sensación de ansiedad bastante acorde al título. Quitando Shut Down la longitud se queda en menos de media hora, por lo que cada minuto cuenta bastante. Por ello, pienso que aunque el disco tenga bastante momentos potentes, también tiene otros más olvidables que restan mucho. Strange Notes se siente como una repetición musical a su pista anterior, Our Way tiene una mezcla tan mala que hasta es demasiado para un álbum así, Dragon Lady tiene poca fuerza y parece una canción demasiado alegre entre la agresión general… Es un trabajo admirable y su influencia es muy visible en algunos de mis discos favoritos de Hardcore, pero como suele ocurrirle a los pioneros, ha sido superado en calidad notablemente por muchos otros músicos. Favoritas: Communist Eyes, Land of Treason, Richie Dagger’s Crime, Lexicon Devil, Manimal, We Must Bleed, Media Blitz Menos favorita: Shut Down #DAY 38: 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die Well… It’s definitely been hard for me to stay consistent for different reasons, but I’m trying. Today I ran into what’s considered the very first Hardcore Punk album, a genre I usually enjoy a lot. Germs were chaotic and unapologetic, pushing music to that extreme point between being a rebellious musical expression or white noise, and complete anti-academicism. I can easily imagine the influence this band’s only LP had, not only laying down a sound that, in my view, would later be perfected by other groups like Dead Kennedys or Bad Brains in the ’80s, but also being hugely influential for the development of Thrash Metal and even Grindcore, specifically Napalm Death. It’s a short and intense album, like any self-respecting punk record. Almost no track passes the 3-minute mark, except for the long improvisation that closes it, which, honestly, I find pretty unnecessary… I think it kills the whole punch of speed and intensity, though it must’ve been quite bold at the time to include such an abstract, noisy, rebellious, and lengthy track in a commercial release. Anyway, leaving aside that peculiar ending, the songs bring exactly what you’d expect from a Hardcore Punk album: you’ve got a vocalist who could well be a bulldog, guitars that growl and grind, a drummer who doesn’t know what a metronome is, and, surprisingly, a rather melodic bass. The production sounds like a work done in two minutes and the mastering clips nicely, especially on Our Way, which at times borders on the rawest kind of early Black Metal. The sound is as raw as it should be, though it does leave me wishing for more intensity, especially from Darby Crash, whose lack of enunciation and growls aren’t always as aggressive as I’d like. Beyond that, the songs themselves are interesting, and there’s actually more versatility than you’d expect from a “first album of x”. Land of Treason has a pretty dark vibe, at times sounding almost like Slayer. Richie Dagger’s Crime feels like an intro theme for some anarchist, unfriendly character. Lexicon Devil is, to me, the best track on the LP, with its brief critique of the manipulative nature of the higher-ups and its incredibly catchy chorus. I also love We Must Bleed, with its repetitive lyric style that, together with the descending riff, creates a strong sense of anxiety very much in line with the title. Without Shut Down, the length sits under half an hour, so every minute really counts. That’s why I think that while the album does have some powerful moments, it also has weaker, forgettable ones that drag it down. Strange Notes feels like a musical repeat of the track before it, Our Way has such a bad mix that it’s too much even for an album like this, Dragon Lady lacks strength and feels almost too cheerful compared to the overall aggression… It’s an admirable work, and its influence is very clear in some of my favorite Hardcore records, but as often happens with pioneers, it’s been significantly outdone in quality by many other musicians since. Favorites: Communist Eyes, Land of Treason, Richie Dagger’s Crime, Lexicon Devil, Manimal, We Must Bleed, Media Blitz Least favorite: Shut Down

Tapped out after 4 tracks. Just couldn’t handle the noise … and I’m hard rock / grunge / metal guy

I’m not a huge fan of the genre but it’s hard to imagine it being more fun and well produced than this.

The Germs were pure chaos and raw inspiration. I can’t help but wonder how many bands wouldn’t be what they are today without their influence. GI was the epitome of “better to burn out than fade away” - just one album, yet it left an indelible mark. With ties to Pat Smear and even Belinda Carlisle (The Go-Go's), their story is as strange as it is tragic. Darby Crash’s life ended in a heroin overdose at just 22, but not before he and the Germs released what’s widely considered the first true hardcore punk record.

A little frenetic for my taste. It was punk rock, and it was an experience. Not one I really need to have again though.

What We Do Is Secret 3.2 Communist Eyes 3.3 Land of Treason 3 Richie Dagger's Crime 3.1 Strange Notes 3 American Leather 3 Lexicon Devil 2.8 Manimal 3.2 Our Way 3 We Must Bleed 3 Media Blitz 3 The Other Newest One 3.2 Let's Petend 3.1 Dragon Lady 3.3 The Slave 3 Shut Down (Annihilation Man)(live) 3.2 Caught in My Eye 3.3 Score: 3.1

Even though hardcore punk isn't my thing, this is good. The rhythm section is really tight throughout. The vocals snarl and spit and are incomprehensible. It's cool, but hard to listen to for long periods, especially when so many songs sound similar. There are some differentiating songs-- I liked the ringing guitars in "Strange Notes" and the slower intro to "Manimal". The closer "Shut Down" is probably the most interesting track at 9 mins and with an improvised section. Overall it's a good album, but not my taste, and I don't think I'll return to it.

Didn’t get through the whole thing. Weird in a not particularly good way.

Demonstrates everything I dislike about punk. I can respect it's influence but this was a tough and uninteresting listen. How you can have a 36 minute album with sixteen songs - and one of those songs is 10 minutes long - is beyond me. Glad of it's influence on thrash metal, never want to hear it again.

Why are all punk songs two minutes long?

Я не фанат жанру, але цей альбом прям дуже топ. Все як треба, шумно, агресивно, швидко.

8years ago so new music!*

I’m just not a hardcore guy. This album had a few moments of intrigue (the opening riff of Richie Dagger’s Crime, the slower sludge of Shut Down) but overall I didn’t enjoy it.

Yet another terrible punk album.

Kadett, HDH-Ringlesmühle, Deutschland. Geile Scheibe!

Wow, I was not expecting this. For someone who spent some great time in the late 80's listening to hardcore and crossover music, getting to discover the very birth of Hardcore is, at the lack of a better word, refreshing. This not only about finally listening to the seminal album of a genre I like, it's also about GI actually being a trully fantastic slab of hardcore punk.

The absolute hardest, most barbaric shit i've ever heard. No wonder they burnt out so fast. The fact that this kind of stuff was ever published is a testament to anyone having potential to make money in the music industry, or at least, back in the late 70's. Then again, did the band make any money? If they did they probably just wiped their asses with it.

didn’t like. maybe i shouldn’t have listened to in the morning

Seems like these guys are rebelling against logic. Doesn’t make a lot of sense and not really my thing but the sound is salvageable.

Some solid very early American punk. Kinda an acquired taste but I liked it. Strangely enough produced by Joan Jett

I do enjoy listening to these seminal albums. Really interesting to see what influenced people. It’s rubbish though.

True punk. It may not be good, it may barely be music,.but this is a bonafide classic and this is the reason this list exists.

Didn't know it, but feel it will be in the conversation for my favourite American punk albums on further listens

Not for me!

Too much punk for me

Good, not my thing

This album sounds like a dude was listening to the Ramones or Violent Femmes with his girlfriend after sex, she says "I wanna travel the world, we can do better than these guys" and they tried it and failed. It sounds like he's vomiting the lyrics because they taste bad in his mouth. I didn't think I've heard anything more repulsive. Well... Maybe a couple since starting the project. This is one of the worst. Thank God they only cut one album. My rating: 0/5.

Hard driving. Intense. Angry. Political. Juvenile. This is what I expect from Punk and I can see why this album was so influential. Good stuff.

A band that launched a thousand gigs. The Germs are legendary.

I listened to it before work, went and did my whole day, then, when I got home, I settled in to discover my album of the day, having completely forgotten that I listened to this. It’s the literal definition of a forgettable album.

High energy rock. Vocals were annoying at times. Standout songs: Our Way Lets Pretend

Sorry, I just don't get it. While I would like to say I just don't like punk, there have been a couple artists I could tolerate. This is no such example, as this was the longest 38 minutes ever.

From the very beginning of GI, I was barraged by the grating voice of Darby Crash. I hadn't gotten a couple seconds into the first song before I felt the urge to throw this whole musical experiment out of the window and listen to something less "assaulty." I felt very much like an old person trying to enjoy a quiet day at the park, only to be accosted by the musical equivalent of a thrown water balloon filled with piss. However, I really wanted to listen to the whole album (grating as it was) before writing down my thoughts. And after a song or two, Crash started to win me over. The discordant jumble became more comprehensible as my ears and senses adapted, and I felt like the music was no longer "against" me, but rather I was "with" it. After I listened to the whole album (altogether not very long), I found that I wanted to listen through a second time. And then a third. The Germs' music had started off antagonistic, but now I felt a camaraderie with it, like I was being offered an invitation to join in their maelstrom of rage and energy. Overall, I was really surprised that I liked this album. Especially since I started off hating it. My mind was definitely changed and I think I'll never forget this album or it's intro. RIP Darby Crash 🙏🏻 may your legend live on.

Bogzna da volim pank jako, ali ovo baš jako loše zvuči. Bilo mi je na prvu čudno da ih ne znam, ali sad mi je jasnije. 1/5, 2/10

2.4

The 1001 has basically made me hate punk. I basically get nothing from this apart from appreciation for the energy. The last track the only interesting one for me. 1.8/5

I'm not a huge punk guy, but I can usually appreciate some of it... that said, I could not appreciate this album. There are *some* interesting musical elements here, and there's some variation between tracks, which is good. Most of the players are decent, too. However, it's all overshadowed by the incessant, contorted groans, shrieks, and rasps coming out of the lead vocalist (intentionally not using the word "singer" here). Since the dude is just gurgling into a mic and hoping the band follows (you can tell they have to add or drop beats to match him), I'd say you could at least listen to the lyrics, but it's honestly hard to understand what he's saying most of the time. It's hard to believe that someone can sound this absurd and not be joking around, and even harder to enjoy listening to it. I really don't care how "influential" this may be; I can barely listen to it without cringing. Would be happy never to encounter this album again.

Never heard this before, but this is what I think of when I hear the term punk.

so fun so punk i love very danceable was dancing to this in the kitchen at breakfast that’s how good it was

certainly punk circa 1979, more musical than some of the English bands sure but misses the mark on any sort of surging call to arms that those bands seem to have. Interesting enough I'll give it a few more listens.

1 - 3/10 2- 5/10 3- 4/10 4- 5/10 5- 6/10 6- 4/10 7- 4/10 8- 7/10 9- 6/10 10- /10 11- /10 12- /10 14- /10 15- /10 16- /10 >>FINAL RATE:

like capturing lightning in a bottle highlights: communist eyes, richie dagger’s crime, lexicon devil, media blitz (aug 15 2024)

🤢🤢🤢

Germs: GI: This album has fantastic instrumentals, great production, and awful vocals. They are not harsh, they are just shit and sound like a guy whining or whailing. Its a shame, because they have a great guitar sound and their drummer is excellent. 4/10

Solid punk.

Darby Crash: *indecipherable growling* Me: 🤠 hell yeah

I get a little suspicious when you give qualifiers to genres. This is supposedly hardcore punk. As if punk isn’t hardcore. As Jack black rightly sang in ‘school of rock’ ‘You’re not hardcore/unless you live hardcore/ and the legend of the rent was way hardcore.’ I note the lead the singer killed himself. That is a terrible thing. But one wonders if this just goes into the trauma porn fetish this list seems to lean into? If they were still going, would this be considered a classic? It’s energetic. But a bit dull. 2 stars.

Oh the repressed british. More an art form or social document, than music. This succeeds at being repulsive dosh to annoy Mum and Dad in a crushingly boring time? was there genuine protest here? Well done for making cockney sounds even worse. Probably seminal example of a genre and style I don't usually listen too, unless its a sountrack of the 80's. I feel unqulaifies to review. Aborting this one ealry too.

I didn't think they were doing anything at the time. It was pedestrian, boring and utterly predictable in context. It was a complete and utter waste of time listening to this again after all this time. Don't bother.

I recently went to a show at a small local venue of dubious licensing status. One of the support bands was a hardcore band (probably all 19 years old) playing to a bunch of moshing teenagers (probably closer to average age of 16 years old). It was loud and sweaty and raucous and a bit violent and a lot of fun, and I am really pleased that spaces like that are still around for bands like that to play music like that for teenagers. It's how things should be. And the Germs helped write the book for the genre. Audio and video recordings of the Germs live are rough, and highlight the chaotic and often confronting live presence. They were clearly a very exciting live band, but you wouldn't want to actually _listen_ to any of those live recordings (believe me, I've tried). It has been a historical blessing for us who weren't there in LA in the late 70s that the GI album is such a great document of what was great about the Germs. It's listenable without sacrificing the energy and abrasiveness of the band. God bless Joan Jett for her excellent work on threading that needle. MVP is Pat Smear. His playing is to the band and unfussy, but his musicality lifts the songs a bit above the standard of most hardcore. Lexicon Devil and What We Do Is Secret are stand-out songs for the whole genre. Pat Smear turned out to be a bit of a punk-rock Zelig; he turns up in all kinds of surprising places (I didn't previously know he was an extra in Blade Runner and Prince's Raspberry Beret video), including a long and successful musical career. Personally, I'm more of a Ramones fan myself, but I can dig what the Germs did and I'm really pleased that their legacy lives on.

All the “songs” sound the same: incoherent noise on top of comical snarling vocals. There is no attempt to make anything close to a melody. It seems that their plan (if you can call it that) was to play as fast and as rushed as possible, make up cliched lyrics on the spot and see what happens. An embarrassment to music.

Lexicon Devil is great, from the Tony Hawk soundtrack, the rest of the album isn’t remarkable

puff que cosa tan repetitiva y aburrida te lo juro 1.25/5

This wasn't great, simply put. Punk albums are hit or miss on this generator, and this was a major miss. Lots of very unpleasant growling noises and the music wasn't exactly good either. The vocals were so god awful that I, at multiple times throughout my listen, wanted to just stop listening to music entirely for the day. Just plain irritating and uninteresting.

Respect but not my style

Another garage band that can carry a beat, but that's about it.

Really not for me.

GERMS should have been sprayed with Lysol--me no like!

I thought this was cool. Definitely energetic. It would have been cool to be at a Germs show. I could picture them like at CBGBs or something wild like that. Seems like a good time. As an album that I regularly listen to? Probably not. Am I glad I did? 100%

⭐︎3.8 LAパンクの祖。 ボーカルも楽器隊もナンセンス。 似たような歌い方のボーカルならジョンライドンの方が好き。 人気なのは歌詞がいいから？ 短い曲ばかりかと思えば長尺の曲もある。パンクの黎明期のバンドだからか。 とはいえ、4曲はお気に入り。

Overall: 9/10 Such a great hardcore punk album. Is this considered the first??? Darby Crash had the best voice for this style of music and so much personality. I also think the drumming on this album is pretty underrated. It's not the best in the world or anything but I love it. I don't normally comment on the other reviews on this site but I feel like I'm taking crazy pills reading all of these negative reviews. Y'all must just not like hardcore punk (which is fine) cause this is awesome in my eyes. Fav Song: Richie Dagger's Crime Least Fav Song: Our Way

Punk. I did not like this. Just incoherent and loud. Not my kind of music.

Crap!

I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but I was expecting something more sophisticated

Shouty, tuneless, and boring. I still don’t know why we need so many punk albums that all sound the same. At least some women were involved.

It’s fine but there’s better late 70s punk

When the song begins, skip to the middle of the song. Do this for each song. Only two tracks don’t sound like exactly the same song each time. I’m sure I’m supposed to think this culturally significant and groundbreaking, according to music historians, but that doesn’t make it good music. Nothing does, actually.

1.5*

The only and only album from this American Punk Rock band. Uninspiring - possibly why they only made one album (although that probably has more to do with one of the band members committing suicide). Best track on the album is "Lexicon Devil", but that isn't saying much.

im auto as paleo glost. nöd sooo coole punk aber gern punk dru 2

ohh da bini ja mal sehr gspannt! au wenn ich nöd glaub, dass ich da unglaublichi entdeckige wird mache land of treason isch na cool richie dagger chli e melodie damn okay ich chan bis jz meh us dene lieder mitneh als ich denkt han! de underschied zu normalem punk eröffnet sich mier aber nöd soo iwie, vlt ischs au meh ideologisch als streng musikalisch manimal findi rhythmisch seeehr geil mengisch wünscht ich mier scho, ich wär ah so konzert gsi, glaub scho seehr wild gsi joaaa I guess ich respektier shut down als letschte song aber umhaue tut er mich nöd hmm hans eig echt na cool gfunde, wenn au halt nüt wo mega crazy ussegstoche het - aber kulturell isches glaub scho au wichtig gsi, 3 oder 4

Good energy, decent punk album. Had never heard of these guys.

nasty

8/10 fun! I love some cheesy old school punk :)

The aesthetics, culture, and influence of punk? Outstanding, 10/10. A lot of the actual music? Hit or miss....this is more of a miss for me.

This is a fantastic album, and it's easy to see how important they are even with such a short career.

not good

I love punk, and I recognise how influential Germs were to a lot of the alternative and grunge bands that followed them … but this is not a good punk album. Yes, a lot of punk’s raison d’etre is to be anti-establishment and part of that is not being technically polished, but there’s not being technically polished and then there’s being a pretty musically shit band. Pat Smear went on to greater things, but Darby Crash was simply not a good vocalist at all, and that really gives the album an even-rougher-than-rough feel. It’s a shame, but there is little to like about this album.

Crap - I was five songs in and thought maybe I had accidentally played only track 1 on repeat. Tiresome and boring

I love me some punk rock 😋

3/10… 70‘s hardcore punk (and on the drums - The Animal)

All hail the punk movement on a crash course to its own destruction.

This is some abrasive stuff. I’ve never lived it but it is quite hard to stomach. Yes, it is punk but also feels low effort. Not a fan

I can tell it was very influential. 2.

A classic and very influential punk album. Easy 5. Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

it rocks

Juzgas a una banda con un solo álbum cuando no es una obra maestra ni tuvo capital influencia y además su líder fallece por sobredosis al poco de publicarse el disco, no es empresa fácil. A mí no me llegan, ni por el estilo ni por la escasa variedad de registros. No son The Clash, ni los Pistols, ni X Ray Spex o Penetration por mucho que Joan jett produjera este debut.

Говно

god every minute was horrible. i almost turned it away but had to power through- but the style of “singing” should be banned, and the squeals- god. no thank you.

The album cover delivers the accurate rating of the quality within. 2/10 1 reluctant star.

Ohhhh noooo my hardcore punk is unintelligible, agressive, abrasive and yet all that makes it more punk than what you consider it to be. Day in and day out this album challenge reminds me that music people are amongst the most intolerable of individuals. Its hardcore punk. Don't like it? Hit that "did not listen button". All in all this Germs album isn't their finest work but it is polished, proper and uniquely influential to late 80s- 90s hardcore punk. I'm happy I could experience something that confluence one of my favorite bands.

I get that it wouldn’t really be punk if the singing was any good, but it’s just soooo bad. Grating to listen to.

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. Most tracks were fairly short as to be expected from a punk group. There were some standard length songs though and the last track Shut Down was almost 10 minutes long. It was the standout track. Darby’s vocals though are just so over the top guttural that it takes away from a lot of the music. Some surf influence can be heard and makes more sense for Sublime’s influence later of punk mixed with surf and reggae.

Pretty good listen, though it felt a little long with the amount of tracks. And "Lexicon Devil" fucking rips, I think that was on Tony Hawk at some point.

Awesome thanks

Didn’t think I’d enjoy this but was actually alright 5/10

I understand the importance of this record and the band members. I’ve watched “The Decline of Western Civilization”, and the biopic “What We Do is Secret” about the band and Darby Crash. But hard-core punk is just not for me

aint it chief

If I was a more into punk Id probably enjoy this a little more than I did. Its ok but still bit as good as some others and honestly not remotely as other artist in this genre. 2.5 goin down.

Punk. Growly vocals. All over the place. It would be hard to find something less appealing to me. Rating: 1

A fun classic punk album. Fast, guitar heavy and a quick listen.

Slightly unpleasant with a solid driving energy. Not for me, like most 1970s punk.

I enjoyed this one - especially coming after a rap album I despised. If I’d have rated this in a different rotation it might have gotten only 3 stars but it was such a breath of fresh air that it got 4. Punk cranked up to 11!

As soon as it started I couldn’t wait for it to end.

Classic LA punk. Lexicon Devil is top 10 punk songs of all time for me

Good punk album, but not remarkable at all.

Calls for specific mood

It's not my favorite classic punk album, but it still rips.

Super fast and thrashy like punk should be, but I haven't got a baker's fuck of an idea what the lead singer is saying. It's exactly what you expect from a good punk band. Hard, fast sloppy, and unforgiving.

The bass is good… ⭐️

A solid punk rock record. Very energetic

Что ж...вроде слушать можно, но не моё.

So happy to see this album on the lost. Already a long time favourite of mine. Incredible wild, raw punk rock energy.

prod. by joan jett and pat smear on guitar???? hELL YEA 3.5-4/5

Shite.

I didn't understand his voice.

2,5

I kinda get it but really not my style. Some bits felt like playing a THPS game (a good thing!) but mostly kinda just noise. Would not revisit.

Meh. I can’t give it one because I know it’s helpful.

It's pretty clear why they only had one album, they were fucking shit.

This was a tough listen. Musically I vibed with a lot of this, but the vocals felt so sloppy and half-assed that it just sapped all the good will I had for these tracks. Not my kind of punk, but I appreciate its rawness and the speed at which this was performed at.

Without the instruments in the background, I wouldn’t be able to tell that this shouting is supposed to be music.

So unpleasant to listen to

Nothing really enjoyable about this, even as a punk enjoyed

Were you mad before? No? Well, now you will be. Congrats! It takes true skill to play this fast, this aggressive, and still be tight as a band. And that's about where my appreciation for this ends. Musically speaking, there's not a lot to grab onto here. Some tracks like Lexicon Devil and Manimal offer a bit more in terms of melody and song structure, but first and foremost, this is music meant to make a statement, not meant to please the ears.

A promising display of contained chaos and groovy grit tragically never followed up on.

High energy. Post punk. I enjoyed this.

Punk

best song: manimal ˖˙ ( ✧ ) the bassist is extremely good, vocals too!!

Hate to sound old man hey you kids cut that racket off but this album was a slog despite being as short as it is. The lyrics were unintelligible, the guitar was sloppy and the drums were basic and useless at times. The only redemptive quality was the bass line throughout the album, solid and full.

I was going to say I’m just getting old, but I didn’t like this when it was new, either.

Nope

Non il mio genere 1

3 Harsh and aggressive!! Think i would have enjoyed it when I was 19

Also Germy

Old school cool but not for me

beurk

La légende prend le dessus sur l'écoute dans le cas des Germs. Lexicon Devil restera un classique du genre. Mention honorable à Pat Smear qui m'a toujours l'air dans un état de béatitude absolue. Je ne sais pas comment il fait. Il doit se dire qu'il a pris une meilleure décision que Darby Crash il y a fort longtemps...

Vraiment mon genre mais je connaissais pas du tout! J'imagine que ça a lancé le mouvement hardcore punk des années 80. (Je me force de pas regarder les critiques et analyse des albums avant d'écrire ma propre critique). J'aurais aimé avoir eu plus de temps pour dig in les paroles. La toune finale est intéressante, un genre de blues punk!

J’en ai écouté du punk et hardcore punk dans ma jeunesse. Allé voir des shows aussi en masse. Je ne suis plus là maintenant avec ma tite vie rangée. Difficile d’écouter ça en faisant la bouffe pour les enfants! Mais malgré tout c’est bien fait, bien ficelé. On voit l’influence que ça a eu sur le style.

favorite song: we must bleed. Overall score: 2,3/10

The opening riffs to these songs really caught my attention and were really great. But the vocals kind of pushed me away ... and the drumming had some issues. Sometimes I like the idea of a band more than the actual recordings. Probably thrashed live tho.

I will say this for punk albums. Generally, they don't mess about. They're punk from start to finish, don't usually last too long and they don't try to be too clever. I expected something different from the artwork so it was fun to discover that I was wrong. The fun didn't last that long though. It's fine. I don't really get how it earned its place on this list though.

A pretty solid punk album. All of the songs kind of sound the same, but they are all so short (besides the final song), that it doesn't really matter. Mid 3.

If I was a vine or tendril from the upside down world in stranger things, I would love the album. Such a happy life in a xeno world. But no, not for me. I like it clean.

I think a re-listen is warranted. Definitely see the appeal but as it is with punk, you don’t always get the full content or depth of the message unless you’re understanding all of the lyrics. From what I did pick up though it was cool. Easy 3, almost a 4 but maybe I need more time to pick out favorite songs.

When I think of a punk album, this is what I picture. I really did enjoy it, thought I don’t see myself going back to it a ton. But I know the Germs have their place in punk history so cool to see this on the list

Nah

I'm glad I listened to this one, and its really cool to see the beginnings of Pat Smear's legacy. Classic punk sound and I can see why it became such a popular genre. I wonder what could have been with this group if tragedy didn't hit.

I think these early punk albums work better as an EP rather than a full length album. I was starting to get a headache by minute 25. There were a couple songs that I did like. I've heard "Lexicon Devil" on a few skate punk playlists before, and I added it to my own. I didn't hate this album, but it's kinda like drinking a bottle of whiskey for dinner rather than eating a full meal.

Feels like the power of this album may have been lost on me. I didn’t dislike it but didn’t love it, wouldn’t seek it out but wouldn’t turn it off.. just kinda middling for me today. 3/5

Ik vind deze genre meestal wel leuk maar ik vond dit album een beetje chaotisch. Het alhum voelde een beetje gehaast ofzo

1.5

A “blueprint” record for American punk. Not sure if I’ll revisit, but it does what it’s supposed to better than most.

GI is often hailed as a landmark of American hardcore punk, but listening to it outside of that context—just as an album, without the mythology—it’s a rough ride. Produced by Joan Jett, the record captures the Germs in their most coherent recorded state, but that still amounts to a lot of messy energy and deliberate chaos. The playing is loose to the point of falling apart, with Pat Smear’s guitars buzzing and collapsing over Lorna Doom’s simplistic but relentless basslines. The songs fly by in under two minutes each, giving you just enough time to register a riff or a hook before the next one slams in. Darby Crash’s vocals are the biggest hurdle here. His guttural delivery is more of a drunken spoken-word performance than traditional singing, with lyrics often buried under the noise or barked in a way that makes them unintelligible. That might be part of the appeal for some—the rawness, the unfiltered aggression—but it can also be exhausting. There’s little dynamic variation between tracks, and the whole album can feel like being locked in a room with someone angrily pacing in circles. You can sense the influence this had on later punk and hardcore bands, but influence doesn’t always equal enjoyment. Ultimately, GI is a piece of punk history that’s probably more important than it is listenable. If you're deeply into punk as a movement, the Germs’ only studio album is a chaotic document of rebellion and collapse. But if you’re looking for tight songwriting, emotional variety, or even just songs that feel fully formed, this isn't likely to do much for you. It’s not without its visceral charm, but for me, it’s just not a sound I connect with beyond the historical value.

All the songs sound the same…

This is probably the most boring punk album I've heard on here. Favorite track: "Lexicon Devil"

This was just noisy, not a fan of this.

Yeah that’s not good.

Did not enjoy this.

This may not be for me. I don’t know. Just too much of the same.

"What we do is secret" yea and it should've stayed that way because that whole album was an attack on my ears. This guys voice annoys me so much and I just could not enjoy this album at all.

Not my thing, but this is by all accounts a very true to form punk rock album.

Richie Dagger’s Crime: love the intro

Credited as the first hard punk album and produced by Joan Jett. I can appreciate what it's doing but I don't really dig it. 2.5 stars but rounding up today

Pure punk. Snarling vocals, driving rhythms, exactly what comes to mind when this genre is brought up. In and out in 3 minutes or less, but for my money there's a LOT better punk to put into my playlists than the Germs.

Love this album, lots of the songs here tend to get stuck in my head. A groundbreaking album for Punk and the development of Hardcore. It's a shame they only got to record one album, but this album is one of the tightest and energetic records to listen to. The production here is also unrivaled by any of their other published works. Darby Crash's vocals are great and energizing and this entire record just pumps me up.

Just a solid hardcore album, they deliver what they say they will

I think I enjoyed the Wikipedia article about this band more than listening to the album... Obviously very influential sound, and true to the punk ethos but not a ton of listenability.

I posit that one of the least punk things you can do is cut the grass of the house you own. It’s right behind working a corporate job or paying a visible minority to cut the grass for you. You know at some point some marketing exec for John Deere or something realized that all the farmers already owned tractors, so the best course of action was to start targeting suburban dads by making them compete with their suburban dad neighbours over who has the nicest lawn and the fastest lawn mower. It was probably the same marketing exec that’s fighting against the rights to repair now. Anyways, I listened to this album a couple times while cutting the grass. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it improved the experience, but probably not something I’ll be listening to regularly. Favourite track: Shut Down (Annihilation Man)

Gear: Dunu SA6 Artwork: ⭕🔵⬛ Production: 💩😘🤌 Music: 🔥⚡🧷 Rating: 🐌🐌/5

Not a big fan

Awful

Only thing less enjoyable than new wave is punk music

Influential? Maybe. Entertaining? Maybe not.