Machine Gun Etiquette

Thought this was alright - towards the upper end of the punk/punk-adjacent albums I've heard. Probably wouldn't revisit but was good to have listened

Kul 70-80's teenager musikk

It's such an influential album. Its a hard listen unless you love punk. I love punk so it was easy to consume for me. Its not a GREAT album, but I can hear how Rancid, The Offspring, Green Day, NOFX, Bad Religion, the Descendants all were influenced by these guys.

Oh my god, this is fantastic fun??

Quand je ressors Machine Gun Etiquette de The Damned, paru en 1979, je suis obligé de reconnaître que ce troisième album studio possède de très beaux restes, mais il faut aussi avoir le courage de dire que ce disque a pris un sacré coup de vieux dans la gueule, et que le temps ne lui a pas fait de cadeaux. Pour bien comprendre pourquoi je refuse catégoriquement de crier au chef-d’œuvre, un coup d'œil dans le rétro s’impose. En 1977, The Damned est devenu, le premier groupe punk anglais à lâcher un single sur le marché avec l’immortel « New Rose », et le premier groupe à balancer un album long format avec Damned Damned Damned. Puis, la machine s’est enrayée à une vitesse record, un deuxième disque foireux avec Nick Mason de Pink Floyd aux manettes de production — quelle idée brillante, sans déconner —, le départ fracassant du compositeur et guitariste originel Brian James, et une première séparation express qui semblait sceller définitivement le destin de la formation dans la case des comètes foireuses du rock britannique. Et c’est précisément là que surgit Machine Gun Etiquette. Le groupe se reforme sans son architecte sonore de départ, Captain Sensible abandonne la basse pour empoigner la guitare électrique, et Algy Ward débarque avec ses gros sabots pour faire vrombir quatre cordes saturées. Sur le papier, cette résurrection tient du véritable petit miracle d’énergie punk, car les mecs sont fauchés, passablement défoncés, plus personne dans l’industrie ne parie un centime sur leur avenir, et le mouvement punk commence déjà à puer sérieusement le sapin avec l’agonie des Pistols et l’avènement glacial du post-punk. En entrant aux studios Wessex, le quatuor décide de foncer tête baissée, sans plan de carrière ni complexe d’infériorité, avec la rage de ceux qui n’ont absolument plus rien d’autre à perdre qu’un peu de salive et de sueur. Quand on lance la face A, on se prend d’abord une sacrée décharge d’adrénaline et je serais d’une sacrée mauvaise foi de prétendre que le disque commence tièdement. L’ouverture est un modèle de brutalité jubilatoire, un sprint sans concession qui rappelle pourquoi le groupe a marqué son époque. La guitare de Captain Sensible tronçonne dans le tas avec une vivacité remarquable, tandis que le chant sépulcral et grandiloquent de Vanian apporte cette théâtralité baroque qui l’éloigne immédiatement du tout-venant braillard de l’époque. Mais c’est surtout derrière les fûts que la magie opère : Rat Scabies cogne comme un sourd, avec cette urgence désarticulée absolument phénoménale, un jeu de batterie totalement dément qui pousse chaque mesure dans ses derniers retranchements, au bord du décrochage pur et simple. Pendant quelques morceaux, on y croit dur comme fer. L’ambiance est survoltée, les tempos s’emballent, les refrains accrochent l’oreille avec un sens mélodique hérité du garage rock des sixties et du glam le plus décadent. On retrouve cette arrogance et ce refus de se prendre pour des intellectuels, cette manière unique d’envoyer chier le bon goût musical avec une désinvolture totale. C’est sale, c’est rapide, c’est foutraque, et ça file une sacrée banane pendant le premier quart d’heure d’écoute. On se dit que The Damned a trouvé le carburant idéal pour faire la nique à tous les corbeaux du cimetière new wave qui commençaient à envahir les charts londoniens. Pourtant, dès que la poussière de l’impact commence à retomber et qu’on dépasse les trois ou quatre véritables bombes électriques du tracklisting, le disque commence à afficher d’étranges faiblesses d’inspiration. Le problème majeur ne réside pas dans le manque de cœur à l’ouvrage, mais bien dans une production d’époque qui a salement morflé au fil des décennies. La production globale de la fin des années soixante-dix, coincée entre le son brut de décoffrage du punk originel et les premières velléités d’expérimentations synthétiques en studio, donne aujourd’hui à l’album une patine terriblement étriquée. Le son manque cruellement de coffre, de relief et de cette profondeur acoustique capable de faire traverser les âges à un enregistrement. On a parfois la désagréable impression d’écouter quatre furieux confinés dans une boîte de conserve un peu trop étroite pour eux, luttant contre un mixage qui noie les dynamiques dans un magma compact où les cymbales ferraillent de façon agaçante et où la basse perd de sa superbe morsure dès que le tempo ralentit un tant soit peu. Ce qui passait autrefois pour une joyeuse urgence brute sonne désormais, avec un bon casque sur les oreilles, comme une faiblesse technique qui trahit lourdement son époque de conception. Pire encore, The Damned tente ici d’élargir son vocabulaire sonore en injectant des éléments psychédéliques, des claviers douteux, des bruits bizarres et des arrangements plus ambitieux. L’intention était noble : refuser d’être enfermé à vie dans le carcan étroit du punk primaire en trois accords plaqués. Sauf que le résultat, réécouté aujourd’hui, sent franchement le plan bricolé à l’arrache. Certaines expérimentations de studio, censées démontrer la maturité naissante du groupe et son amour secret pour le rock psychédélique des années soixante, tombent complètement à plat. Cette transition stylistique permanente empêche l’album de trouver un équilibre durable. D’un côté, on a des brûlots punk expédiés à toute blinde, où le groupe prouve qu’il n’a rien perdu de sa hargne de rue ; de l’autre, on assiste à des tentatives d’ambiances gothiques ou de pop biscornue qui ne sont pas encore totalement maîtrisées et qui paraissent aujourd’hui franchement datées. Ce grand écart stylistique laisse une impression d’inachevé, comme si le groupe avait balancé toutes ses idées sur la table sans prendre le temps de trier le bon grain de l’ivraie. Pour un groupe qui a pondu des classiques instantanés, se retrouver avec des passages qui évoquent une série B fauchée du samedi soir a de quoi laisser comme un arrière-goût dans la bouche. On sent bien que Dave Vanian commence à regarder vers l’obscurité et les capes en velours noir, posant les premières pierres de ce qui deviendra plus tard la scène gothique anglaise, mais l’ensemble hésite encore trop souvent entre la farce de cour de récréation et la solennité macabre. Captain Sensible, aussi brillant soit-il pour tricoter des riffs accrocheurs à la vitesse de la lumière, balance parfois des plans de guitare qui fleurent bon le hard rock le plus ringard de la fin des seventies. Ce mélange d’influences hétéroclites, qui pouvait faire figure de bouffée d’air frais face à la rigidité idéologique du punk militant en 1979, ressemble aujourd’hui à une auberge espagnole où les vieilles recettes ont pris un sérieux coup de moisi. Soyons bien clairs, Machine Gun Etiquette n’est absolument pas une bouse infâme. Ce serait injuste de jeter le bébé avec l’eau du bain et de cracher sur un disque qui a su redonner un second souffle inespéré à un groupe qu’on croyait enterré six pieds sous terre. Il y a un panache indéniable chez ces types-là, une insolence pure et dure qui fait défaut à un paquet de productions aseptisées actuelles, et une absence totale de cynisme commercial qui force le respect d’un bout à l’autre de l’écoute. Quand le disque tourne à plein régime, il dégage une électricité contagieuse et communicative qui donne immédiatement envie d’envoyer valser les conventions et de renverser les canapés du salon. Cependant, il faut savoir regarder les choses avec lucidité, Machine Gun Etiquette n’est pas l’immense chef-d’œuvre intemporel que certaines plumes complaisantes de la critique continuent de nous vendre par automatisme de cinquantenaires nostalgiques. C’est un bon disque gorgé d’une saine énergie, mais c’est aussi et surtout une œuvre bâtarde qui accuse son grand âge. Entre des expérimentations sonores qui ont pris un méchant coup de vieux, une production qui tire la langue et un manque flagrant d’homogénéité sur l’ensemble de sa trajectoire, le disque peine à soutenir la comparaison avec les véritables monuments du genre qui traversent le temps sans prendre la moindre ride. Au bout du compte, le verdict s’impose de lui-même sans qu’il soit nécessaire de tourner autour du pot : ça mérite un trois sur cinq et pas un point de plus. Un album à réserver aux curieux d’archéologie électrique ou à ceux qui aiment écouter les fantômes du punk faire mumuse avec des amplis à lampes un peu fatigués.

You know this was some pretty fun energy actually. But again not my jam

... oh already over?

I am so into this The Damned album. It's exactly what I want an album by The Dammed to be. Never takes its foot off the gas for 36 minutes.

Cool, fast and energetic from the first track. The album never really slows down or loses its punch. It feels alive and a little unhinged in the best way. The band plays with real urgency. Guitars cut sharp, the drums push hard, and the whole thing moves at a pace that keeps you locked in. There is a clear punk drive here, but it already shows more colour and wildness than the most basic early punk records. The songs are short, direct and full of attitude without becoming one-note. The production is raw and upfront. It captures the speed and the messiness without cleaning everything up. You can hear the energy of the performances clearly, and that rough edge suits the material perfectly. Machine Gun Etiquette is a strong, lively record. Fast, fun and still full of bite.

Loved revisiting this. Went to see them at the Roundhouse with work friends a few years ago - you haven't loved until you've seen a senior local gov lawyer pogoing to Love Song!

Solid

A fair enough LP, although not my favourite work by The Damned. The spoken intro and “Love Song” remain the highlights. A solid two stars. Tom.

Enjoyed a decent chunk

Some sick riffs and fun energy but not a lot past that

Eh

I may need more time to digest all of this considering The Damned has members named Captain Sensible and Rat Scabies. But all in all this was kinda fun.

The original punk trio of the Clash, Sex Pistols and the Damned to me are in that order of greatness so the Damned are in bronze medal position. Enjoyed this, some very good songs, some mixed songs and some that sounded like they were recorded in a tin can. This is punk after all, 3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars.

Was this a favourite, not so much but let me tell you, I see their influence. This album was an easy listen, maybe b/c I have always wanted to give the Damned a try and never have. I can see their attraction. After reading their bio it made me even more curious to go down the rabbit hole.

Little bit of a different sound from Damned Damned Damned, but still good nonetheless. Solid 4 Stars.

I’m a little higher than a 5. I’ve never heard of the Damned before this, but they’re pretty damned good. This album has an unstoppable energy to it that feels like a bridge between the post-punk of the late 1970s & the psychedelic new wave to come in the 80s. I listened to it without pausing, which is kind of a rarity for me these days; I just wanted to sit in the breathless energy of it, and it kept hitting every time. I think it’s got some good lyrics behind it, strong lead vocals from Dave Vanian, incredible guitar direction from Captain Sensible, a hellacious performance from rest of the band (especially in the drums, holy shit), and with it being a pretty breakneck 35 minutes, I’m surprised that the lack of a bigger variety didn’t bite at me more. I guess that’s just a testament to how strong these tracks are; either that, or how much my hands were air drumming & air strumming without much of a care for it. I felt really in sync with these guys. The only really minor nitpick besides that lack of a bigger variety is that “Plan 9 Channel 7” didn’t need the loop in the lyrics. If they trimmed it to go straight to the solo after the first two verses, it would’ve flowed better. Regardless, the whole thing just hit me with the right energy I needed today. Even if you think it’s a bit one-note, you can’t deny the musicianship at hand here. The floor is a 3, but for my tastes, I’m just a bit above a 5. I thought this one ruled. P.S.: Special props to that cover of “Looking at You”; it might be my favorite track here.

#262 I don't know that much about The Damned, though I probably need to listen more. That late 70's punk sound always perks my ears up, and this album fits right into my wheelhouse. This albums has moments where it shines and others where I scratch my head. It opens and closes awesome though. Biggest Hit - Smash It Up, Pt 1 & 2 Biggest Miss - Liar Additional Gem - Love Song

é isso, punk suavão de boa qualidade de fato os cara já tavam puxando um acelero que ia virar o hardcore punk bem bao

punkzinho bem de boas, né. dá pra sentir uma pegada proto-hardcore punk em algumas músicas no mais, eh bacana. falta agressividade, mas dá pra ver que eles não se levam tããão a sério assim. tem umas guitarrinha massa e dá pra dançar quebrando tudo, então tá valendo

1 - Love Song - 👏 2 - Machine Gun Etiquette - 👏 3 - I Just Can’t Be Happy Today - 🤷🏻‍♂️ 4 - Melody Lee - 👏 5 - Anti-Pope - 👏 6 - These Hands - 🤷🏻‍♂️ 7 - Plan 9 Channel 7 - 👍 8 - Noise, Noise, Noise - 🤷🏻‍♂️ 9 - Looking At You - 👍 10 - Liar - 👏 11 - Smash It Up Pts. 1 & 2 -🙌 3/5

not for me

Classic punk album.

Quite the polarizing album, it had a lot of really mediocre tracks but it also had some really great stuff. Favorite tracks: Plan 9 Channel 7, Smash It Up (Part 2) Least favorite track: These Hands

Album #306 The Damned: Machine Gun Etiquette A few times now, the timing of me getting an album from this list has felt a little bit strange, but this one definitely takes the cake. I’ve currently been on a post-punk/goth binge since I’m creating a Halloween-themed playlist, and so I’ve been trying to check out new albums in that vein. That search led me to Machine Gun Etiquette, which I was halfway through listening to when I checked what my new album was, and lo and behold, I had gotten a head start. Well the prophecy was foretold, and now it felt all the more imperative that I listen to Machine Gun Etiquette, and thankfully the album lived up to expectations. I have previously listened to The Damned’s self titled, and though this may be sacrilegious, I found it to be somewhat overrated; the energy was certainly there, but the songs didn’t exactly grip me. Well, Machine Gun Etiquette in comparison feels like an entirely new band, the atmosphere, the hooks, the lyrics, are all noticeably improved. This album feels far more in line with British post-punk contemporaries Wire and Gang of Four than their more straightforward punk peers, like their debut did. Some absolute bangers here, and an album which I can definitely envision having a consistent presence in my future. Best Songs: Plan 9 Channel 7, Love Song, Melody Lee Worst Song: Liar Score out of 10: 8

The Damned are obviously pretty influential and all, but I don't think this is their best and I wasn't impressed.

Can this really be considered punk? These guys can actually play their instruments proficiently. Actually pretty good. Can see how this was a bridge between the early punk of the 70s and the new wave type sound of the 80s. Still probably not something I will listen to much more. But better than expectations.

The slashing guitars and the cheekiness were more than enough to carry the day. This is no DIY...production values are there. Haven't heard any of the copious live material, so I guess that's where I need to go for the REAL.

I like it, some of it alot.And I love punk. But for some reason, I dont love it, Ive never loved them and I dont know why.

Favorite track(s): Love Song, Machine Gun Etiquette, Melody Lee, Anti Pope, Plan 9 Channel 7, Smash It Up (Parts 1 & 2)

Punk Rock / New Wave / mehrere weitere Einflüsse: #1 Anti-Pope #2 I Just Can't Be Happy Today #3 Melody Lee

chicas chicos chardonnay

Pretty good album. Not sure I'll go back. Favourite track was Looking at You. 3/5

It was fine. I didn't hate it, but it didn't do much for me.

Probably won't revisit but fun album.

энергично послушать фоном можно, да и так тоже норм может даже какие-то треки запомнятся два раза послушал - не запомнил) за энергию плюс балл но это все равно 3.1

A punk rock CLASSIC. One of my all-time favorite records. This has been on fairly consistent rotation since I discovered punk way back in the day, so it's a record I've listened to a lot and will again. Everyone should jam this record multiple times. It's raw, it's aggressive and it has that "sound" of early UK punk. Often imitated, but never duplicated, it is a one-of-a-kind classic. Essential listening.

Track By Track Love Song - Like the ‘ladies & gentlemen’ introduction bit. Sounds like it’s someone like Richard E. Grant saying it. Very fun. Striking opening chords and guitar licks. Quite decent. More tuneful punk which I do prefer to the more thrashy stuff. And he’s singing not shouting. Always a plus! Machine Gun Etiquette - More thrashy this one! Lives up to its title, I’ll give it that. Kind of like the energy, can appreciate it even though I didn’t particularly like. I Just Can’t Be Happy Today - This one is almost Smiths-esque in its tone and lyrics. But with that added punk thrash. Quite good speaking through a megaphone it sounds a little like. The solo is quite cool as well. Sounds like a synth but also could be the guitar with a bunch of effects. Can also hear the beginning of the eighties sound in that synth-like outro. Melody Lee - A piano intro! Didn’t expect this from a punk outfit. It does then go into a Clash-like punky tune, but was quite a nice mix up! Anti-Pope - Rock n’ Rolling driving, almost funky rhythm. Liked the guitar solos a lot but not so much the rest of the tune. These Hands - I Like the titles of these songs. They seem to fit the album well. Satisfying somehow. Dark, moody, circus funhouse vibes on this one. Not bad. Almost gimmicky. Plan 9 Channel 7 - This is a different feel. Actually makes me think of bands like Suede or Pulp, but with a more grungy, punky edge. Bit moany in terms of the vocal delivery. Not bad though. Noise, Noise, Noise - Another punky thrasher. It was alright. I appreciated the megaphone type effect on his voice, like he’s announcing the lyrics. Sort of workers for the song. Not a stand out though. Looking at You - Driving energy abounds on this one. The guitar solos sound a little early Metal-influenced. Good shredding. A little long, it’s a bit repetitive also. Liar - This recalls early punk. I did prefer the energy to some, say Sex Pistols songs, but still did not enjoy. Just a little too noisy. Good solos though. Smash It Up (Pts. 1 & 2) - Nicer, quite cool, moody instrumental for the first part. Enjoying the guitar parts for the second part. Do like when they mix it up on this album. It’s a nice surprise and showcases their range and capability as songwriters. Overall Review: As with most of the other punk albums, I was dubious going into this thinking it would be more of the same. I actually was a little surprised by their tuneful style. They do sound a little like the Clash, which I liked. This album also had variety, which I appreciated, particularly from a punk record. They’re not just repeating a formula ad infinitum, even though some did sound the same and a little boring. Middling between 2 and 3. 2.5/5 Favourite Songs: Love Song, I Just Can’t Be Happy Today, Smash It Up (Pts. 1 & 2)

2 and a half

Ok, a few good ones

Decent aye, lost steam in the middle

Ace.

I’ve heard of them but never listened before. Awesome and i can hear their influence on modern punk throughout

I'm not usually big on punk but this is good

Nothing super outstanding here but something punk adjacent will usually do well for me.

Fun punk album. Anti-pope and Plan 9 Channel 7 were my favorites, the latter more for breaking out of the genre a bit.

Machine Gun Etiquette and Anti-Pope stood out. Fast, fun, reckless album. 4/5

It mixes severas styles and genres to make a compelling album from start to finish. Great to listen to and one of the most complete and concise efforts by The Damned. Very good!

Grimy, fast, pretty entertaining

Proof that not all punk was devoid of any talent… some good riffs on top of a classic punk voice, not to everybody’s liking, but definitely mine

Not my thing. Move along. Next.

I have how hard this record is with also having the variety to showcase the band’s talents. I’m a sucker for this era of punk so I think I was always going to enjoy this record but me oh my it turned out to be almost exactly what I look for in the genre. Fav tracks: Love song, Machine gun etiquette, Melody Lee, anti pope, Noise, Noise,, and Smash it up (pt 1 and 2)

Incredible punk album. Need to revisit.

Punk seemed to me, in most cases, just a bunch of folks playing fast and poorly. That ain't these guys AT ALL. Incredible musicianship all around (on this album of guys playing fast). And not only just "guys playing fast," but also there is real songwriting and arranging here. I'm really impressed with this. I don't know that I could want anything more from a punk album. This is the first I have heard of this band, and I want more. I'm immediately listening a second time in a row, will add to my collection, and am 100% going to explore this band more. Great album ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don’t remember much of it but a good punk album overall

Essential punk record right here, with dynamic, energetic, raw riffs flying in all directions. Very catchy, straight to the point songs, no-bullshit approach except for maybe These Hands. The rest of the album is pretty great and for sure very influential too. I also admire the instrumental diversity, there is some unexpected moments like the piano intro on Melody Lee which is very pretty or the title track which is crazy heavy. Overall a lot to love and enjoy here.

Seems pretty boring (haven’t listened to yet) Noisy and annoying, didn’t find anything attractive

Love the first track for years now. A solid punk album, nice bit of variety to the songs but lacks stand outs. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: No, 107/422 (25%) Will I get: Maybe

Interesting in places, but not enough to hold my interest.

For me not their best album.

Classic late 70s British punk. You really can sense the band dipping their toes into bigger things on this record after the initial punk explosion began to splinter – there's hints of the post punk, gothic rock, darker atmospheric depths and even the 80s wave of psychedelia which would soon follow, and they're executed with aplomb, but this still retains the working class fury, existential dread and frustration of their early work and of their peers. This is fantastic with regards its variety for a punk record. Captain Sensible stepping up to perform lead duties on this really did give The Damned a whole new dimension. He brought chaos but also a highly melodic sense of genius to proceedings, which combines perfectly with the frenetic drumming, punishing basslines and eerie synth textures. You then of course have Dave Vanian's unhinged theatrical crooning which allows him to stand out as a key figurehead of the genre. There's not a weak moment to be had here in my view, but the two-part closer "Smash It Up" in tribute to Mark Bolan is quite simply phenomenal. Five stars.

normal

It wasn’t my cup of tea… couldn’t get past the first songs.

Didn't quite stick with me.

Lite dussunpunk .svag tvåa

Charmigt album i brytpunkten mellan punk och post-punk. Damned drar sig inte för att blanda in kongas, doo-woop, rockabilly, synthslingor och varieté. Det sistnämnda kanske inte blir så lyckat, men i övrigt kan man inte ogilla den här mixen av punk-på-väg-att-bli-något-annat. Bäst: Just can’t be happy today, Anti-Pope, Plan 9 Channel 6, Smash it up

Bra ös, men inget som direkt sätter sig. För tråkiga melodier helt enkelt. Den svaga tvåan kan vara ett glädjebetyg, men jag orkar inte lyssna en gång till.

Mycket energi. Lite substans.

I quite enjoyed this

I don't normally enjoy punk music but this is quite enjoyable.

Not a huge fan of punk. I respect its place in music history, but generally it all tends to blend together for me, with the exception of a few bands. This had more to it than the typical punk record though. It had enough of a melodic bent to it to keep me interested. Actually really liked Plan 9 Channel 7, and was drawn in when the latter part of Smash It Up started playing because I remembered The Offspring’s version. Never knew it was a cover. Solid record. Torn between 3 and 4 on this, but I’m feeling generous, in part because my run of albums over the last month has mainly sucked and this surprised me with how much I liked it. So, 4 stars it is.

Enjoyed this for the most part but the sound was a little raw and I don’t see myself going back to it much.

Formative. Somehow this passed me by back in the day, I would have loved it, but now I can only admire it from afar 😕

701/1001 2026.09.14

So many great songs, but then there are the not-so-great songs that pull the average down.

Second day in a row I was handed a 70s punk album. While I am not avid listener of punk, I do listen to it on occasion. I had not really listened to the Damned before and knew very little about them. My expectation for this album was pretty low and I would say it was better than I expected. Good enough I would most likely listen to it again. I would give the album a solid 7/10 but not an 8/10, so it will be a 3 from me.

Pioneros del Punk, Hard Core o del Rock Gótico. Este tercer álbum incluye joyas como la inicial Love song, o Noise, Noise, Noise con Joe Strummer y Topper Headon. Venían del fracaso de Music for Pleasure, 1977 y aquí recuperaron la inspiración. I just can´t be happy une buena letra y buena melodía. Samsh it up es otro gran tema, dedicado a Marc Bolan.

reminded me of azarah

It was good but I was a bit distracted while listening. Think I should give it another go.

Not bad, but not a go-to album for me.

I hate this genre of music so much.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - Love Song is a strong opener which captures all of the energy of the punk movement in the late '70s. The title track is awesome and sounds very modern. Melody Lee is another good track and Anti-Pope is a sharp criticism of organised religion with some funny bits. There aren't too many absolute standout tracks but the overall quality is very high. Looking At You is a great track. Smash It Up shows the range that The Damned had that goes beyond the likes of the Sex Pistols.

Not bad! Had a good time with it.

meh

- Surprised by how hard-edged the distortion is on some of this; the Damned mark a transition from 70s to 80s rock and the more metal riffs of "Melody Lee" and "Plan 9 Channel 7" pump me up than their typical British punk fare...those tracks are much more interchangeable. - "These Hands" (the clown song) is quite dumb. - The Damned is an A+ band name.

Jamais écouté avant. Groupe essentiel de la première vague punk au Royaume-Uni, bien que souvent et injustement relégué au second plan derrière les mastodontes The Clash ou Sex Pistols, The Damned livrent ici un album éclectique, qui semble servir de transition entre la pure énergie primale du punk de leurs débuts et la suite de leur carrière, plus arty et aventureuse. Et le fait est que ça fonctionne très bien, comme témoignage de la maturation musicale du punk, et des différentes direction qu'elle a pu prendre, du durcissement hardcore à l'assombrissement gothique. Top : Plan 9 Channel 7 Flop : These Hands

One of the better early punk albums on this list. They actually write some decent songs, and the moments between songs give it a raucous feel.

I like order and following rules, so punk music is not for me.

Not really a fan myself

I am a huge punk fan no doubt. Interestingly however, I find among the hardcore punk bands that are known, that there is a pecking order. For some reason the Damned is ... okay. Maybe lyrically maybe ... IDK. Sure, short, driving beats, kinda socially outspoken... Maybe I have to thing bigger. Outside the genre, like in any particular genre, there are bands that are great, canon, must hears, and those that fall somewhere along the scale until you reach a kind of genre break point, kind of like where shoegaze becomes wall of noise. But I am not even close to suggesting The Damned is that far off or down the road! They are punk to be sure. Hardcore? Gritty? unapologetic? I don't know... They are all right as it goes. Kind of middling I suppose.

Punk rock as hell. The first 30 seconds sets the tone for how fun this is to listen to. Anti-pope is a highlight. Just a little too British to get 5 stars from me

First time hearing an album by The Damned and its a shame that I never listened to them before. The songwriting is really catchy and with a big variety of styles especially in regard to punk. There are some pure fast energetic punk tracks, I have read they were pretty influential on later hardcore punk bands and its understandable they deliver so much energy. Then there are definetly some hardrock influences noticeable like the solo on Plan 9 Channel 7 for example. Even though punk was kinda the countermovement to hardrock I love it when both worlds fuse together. In general the whole piece is very melodic for a punk record I enjoyed the piano intro on Melody Lee a lot for imstance. Also worth to mention are David Vanian their leadsinger and Captain Sensible on the guitar. Very distinct voice and really good vocals in general by David and Captain Sensible does really great work in my opinion I especially liked the guitar playing a lot on this one. 3,7/5

Fun, pretty hard and flows well. Standouts are the title track, Anti-Pope and Plan 9 Channel 7.

Yeah it's pretty dece

Some surprisingly good instrumentals over the back half of the album considering how much the front half bored me. Pls give me less british punk, Dimery

Is it unlistenable? Not at all, in fact it might actually be one of the better-sounding albums in its genre, yet it still paradoxically sounds like all the others. Please, Mr Dimery, that's enough British punk. Standout: Plan 9 Channel 7

I would never consider myself a punk fan, but this album definitely caught my attention and dare I say enchanted me. If there wasn't a clown song on here I mightve given it a 5. I thought they used effects in a way that set them apart but wasn't distracting.