Reviews (page 3 of 7)
I really liked this one - I was not familiar with the album or the band prior to this listen. You can hear their influences in their music and you can feel who they subsequently influenced. Fun, upbeat music with a driving beat, but not as atonal as some punk can be. This is very accessible punk.
- I'd never heard of this group (or if I have, I was confusing them with another "the D-" band, like the Darkness) - the vocals are much more palatable than other punk bands of the time, which I appreciate - "Melody Lee" has some cool bass licks, and the use of a keyboard in "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" was cool. also digging the bongos in "Anti-Pope" - "Smash It Up (Pts. 1 & 2)" sounded surprisingly modern at first, and I half expected some clean post-hardcore vocals to come in at some point before the drums came in, which sent it solidly back to 1979 overall, I enjoyed this initial listen more than I did other groups. I anticipate this entering the rotation whenever I'm in an especially punk mood
Not been a huge fan of much of the punk on here so far but this really impressed me. Surprisingly good musicianship, punchy songs, would like to hear more
Really enjoyed it
solid seventies punk, possibly better than pink flag highlights: I Just Can't Be Happy Today Anti Pope Plan 9 Channel 7 Smash It Up
I thought this would be a straightforward 70s punk album but I was very wrong - so many unexpected elements and well written songs.
I’d have said these were more Rock than Punk but either way, it’s pretty bloody good.
Damn, The Damned got a live one here with Machine Gun Etiquette. And another top notch recommendation from The 1001 Must Hear List. These guys sound like they’re having fun just killin it, excellent guitar and drums, liked the addition of piano and bongos. Interesting song topics, crafty lyrics, and well executed vocals. Great start with Love Song and Machine Gun Etiquette, strong finish with Smash It Up, all songs between are solid. Anti-Pope helps get them on the 1001 List, but I think they’re good enough that we’ll be hearing from them again.(4.4*s) Bollocks, punk never sounded so good!
At the end of the 70s some punk bands went political, whilst others disappeared up their own nihilism. The Damned took a different direction, with this album that veers around like a dodgem car in a ramshackle fun fair. It opens with a clip of the actor who played Albert Tatlock on Coronation Street, lurching into a proper punk love song, followed by songs that range from proto-hardcore thrash to heavy metal to lovely piano interludes. The lyrics pay tribute to characters from the Bunty (a 70s girls comic, m’lud) to Vampira from Plan 9 from Outer Space, and a thoughtful evisceration of organised religion. There are some cheeky snippets of studio banter, with the band clearly having a whale of a time. The album closer Smash it Up (Parts One and Two) was apparently banned by a pearl clutching BBC committee, but is actually a charming instrumental leading into a joyous riot. Punk-tastic!
Punk rock. Intense. 3.5/5
Big dumb fun
Vraiment sympa !
Best Song: Love Song This was ok. It is better than some punk at the time and tended to lean more towards the rock side in a few songs. It is better than a good deal of punk in the 70's. 4/5.
Ovo je ko neki idealtipski punk album - jednostavan, zabavan, brz
It's a lot to take on fresh as it comes at you like an onslaught with little respite. I find the Captain's switch to guitar unbelievably successful after the departure of Brian James and can't find any fault here on 2nd listen, far too good for a 3 even if as a newbie it's yet to sink it's talons fully yet.
Good beat
Quite enjoy some dirty punk, especially when it's slightly lesser-known and therefore not overplayed (at least to me) and found myself nodding along and adding multiple tracks to my playlist. Found this generally a good fun album and liked it more the more I listened to it. Definitely one I'll be coming back to.
This album feels like a bridge between their early punk driven sound and the post punk/goth direction they’d explore more deeply in the 80s. What really makes it fun is the garage rock influence. It’s gritty, energetic, and melodic. I’m not super familiar with their full albums since I’ve mostly stuck to their bigger tracks over the years, but this definitely makes me want to dig deeper into their discography.
The damned very underrated
Great musicians good tunes.
Another interesting find! Punk with hooks and skilled playing.
Brittipunkin pioneereilta melko tiukka paketti ja viihdyin levyn ääressä. Ei kuitenkaan ehkä yllä ihan sinne legendaarisinpien punkkilevyjen kanssa samaan arvioon
Yllättävän monipuolista punkkia, mitä muut aikansa brittipunkit ollut. Aloitusraidassa oli kivaa pubirallattelua ja sit lähettiin taas ihan eri raiteelle. Melody Leen kohdalla piti ihan volaa nostaa ja kuunnella uudestaan pari kertaa. Tosi hyvin kasattu albumi ja pitää koko ajan otteessa ja yllättää monipuolisuudellaan. Oon enemmän jenkkipunkin nautiskelija, mut kyl tätä kuuntelee useemmankin kerran. Ei mikään ihan tutnematon yhtye ennestään, mutta kokonaisuus yllätti positiivisesti.
Huhuh tämäpä oli iloinen yllätys. Olen kuunnellut the Damnedilta vain ensimmäistä levyä ja onneksi nyt myös tämä tuli tyrkylle tyrkyttimestä. Musiikillisesti yhtye on mennyt eteenpäin monipuolisempaan suuntaan ja vaikka albumin kappaleissa on paljonkin eroja ihan tyylisuunnallisesti, on niistä saatu nivottua hieno kokonaisuus kasaan. Tuotannolliset ratkaisut ovat monessa kohtaa oivaltavia ja soitannollinen huojuvuus luo mukavaa luomufiilistä. Ilmeisesti levyn menojalkaisemmat vetäisyt ovat toimineet innoittajina myöhemmin framille nousseelle hooseelle eli hösselille, joten siitä myös plussaa perään. Olin himppasin skeptinen kun levy näkyi päivän albuumina joka jokaisen pitäisi kuolla ennen kuin aika jättää, mutta onneksi listan laatijat ovat laatijoita ja minä vain kuuntelija. Ps. oon nähnyt Damnedin livenä :)
Olihan tuossa hyvää punkkia. Yllättävän monipuolista
Minulla oli The Damnedin mentävä aukko sivistyksessä. Bändi tietysti ansioiltaan ja nimeltään tuttu, mutta tietoisesti en ennen tätä projektia ollut jostain syystä kuullut yhtään biisiä heiltä. Onneksi se tilanne kääntyi toisin, tämähän on kovaa ajoa. Aika paljon kuuluu kyllä tämän yhden levynkin perusteella ne juuret mistä aika moni muukin on varmasti ottanut vaikutteita, tosi paljon tuli esimerkiksi nykypäivän australialainen autotallipunkbändi The Chats mieleen useammastakin biisistä. I just can't be happy'sta tulee varsinkin keskellä olevan puheen johdosta vahvasti Tom Robinson Bandin Power in the darkness mieleen. Toinen todella vahva TRB-biisi on Plan 9 Channel 7, itseasiassa introsta hetken aikaa jo luulin että Spotify oli hypännyt TRB:n Long hot summer -biisiin. Aika selkeä kaava kyllä monellakin biisillä. Läpsyttelybasso pinnassa ja tiukkaa kitarointia siihen päälle. Vähän kuin The Jam olisi ottanut steroideja. These Hands -biisistä tuli jotenkin etäisesti Danzig mieleen. Viimeinen biisi Smash it up todella kova! Ehdottomasti jatkoon! Itseasiassa kuuntelin levyn yhdeltä istumalta kaksi kertaa läpi.
Punk gefällt mir besser als gedacht
nibbled to death by an okapi
Punk that's prepared to do something a little different.
I like the percussion on a lot of songs. High 3s, but I’ll round up because I can see listening to them on a high energy day.
I enjoyed this, but I didn't hear anything too exciting. It's alright
Franchement album très sympa, une tres bonne demie heure
This was great, never heard it before. Fun, loud, fast, sharp lyrics.
Damn good English punk rock, and a good bit more melodic than many of their contemporaries. While they do fall into a more traditional "punk rock" field, they're certainly more experimental and diverse than early hitters like the Pistols and the Ramones. Closer to groups like 'The Clash' and 'The Saints'. And when they get a bit more experimental, like with those blaring synths on 'I Just Can't Be Happy Today' or the echoey guitars on the closer 'Smash It Up', I get a bit of an art-punk vibe from them, like something Wire would release. The opener 'Love Song' might still be my favorite, though; it's just insanely catchy. I love how 'These Hands' is pretty much just a The Doors song. And the epic 'Plan 9 Channel 7' was another highlight with a pretty interesting story behind it after reading up on it - inspired by the tragic love story surrounding two real-life Hollywood lovers. Good stuff. I will say that it did get a little repetitive nearing the end, but it still maintained its initial appeal throughout.
Had to listen to this one a couple times to really get a feel for what was going on. It's pretty fragmented in style and scope but the musical ideas laid out all have merit - I just feel like they could have gone together better with more time in the studio maybe. Overall though it's a high energy romp. And another appearance of the Cut Copy oOOoooOOs in "Smash It Up"!
another day another eccentric 70s punk album??? conceptual continuity????? this one makes the clash debut sound downright normal (tho perhaps not some of the clash's other records), something like the first half of it has all these bizarre pastichey arrangement ideas locked and loaded for maximum destabilization...almost feels like ur listening to a ween record. it pulls itself back together after a certain point for a back half thats less kooky but often hypnotic and beautiful...theyre out here making five minute songs on a punk album. to be honest im not sure how well the whole structure comes together for me...it makes theoretical sense, but at least on a first listen its difficult to parse the effect (by far the hardest thing to do as well as ween is album sequencing). its also a bit hard to making a sweeping overall description of considering how often it switches things up, its almost like i have to name every song on the record. i can tell you the best song is a shockingly gorgeous, driving, and gleaming tribute to plan 9 from outer space, but that feels incomplete without mentioning it is Immediately Preceded by a bizarre circus-based groove song that laughs itself to death. done a disservice by the one-of first impression format im using for this project, but id love to chew on this one more...its undeniably a Ride
3.9 I normally like my Dave Vanian in vampire garb but this is really good too
Like, 3.75? I’m rounding up to four! I liked this! Melodic punk!
A pretty fun punk album that goes a few different places to keep it interesting.
Fun album!
Pretty great for a Monday that made me want to smash a bunch of things!
You can really hear the seeds of punk evolution on this album. Fantastic inclusion on this list, but it also highlights how they missed including this bands debut (Damned x 3).
Damned Punky.
After mistaking music for pleasure (and therefore displeasing their audience with colorful overtures), The Damned set out to showcase their aptitude for etiquette with this mishmash of styles. The machine gun nature of the record is on full display as the band delve into their punk roots with more ferocity and aplomb than before, whilst keeping their toes dipped in sonics that were slowly becoming accepted in their ranks. While it doesn't come close to the incendiary debut, it reaches towards what The Damned could be going forward. Favorites: Love Song, Machine Gun Etiquette, I Just Can't Be Happy Today, These Hands, Plan 9 Channel 7, Looking at You, Liar, Smash It Up.
Enjoyed rhis
Pretty damned great
4/5
Angry.
An album of ups and downs. It sounded fine on the first half, These Hands was a terrible track that nearly made me drop the album a whole star, then the second half was such an improvement.
What an amazing punk rock blast of energy and enjoyment. Chef's kiss.
I've never listened to this album, but I had a few of the tracks in my playlists. So I must like them on some level! This was a fun listen. Got better as it went. Messy punk. But with variety. Noise noise noise is a fun one.
Insanely polished musicianship that seems to play itself down in order to create a more DIY punk sound. The hooks just keep on coming track after track, and the band never misses a beat.
4/5
Loved this! Another add to my music ✅ There's almost SLIGHT bits of Psychedelic in there too which just makes it a nice listen amongst all the Punk chaos imo. Highlights: Love Song, Smash It Up
A great listen in the car on the way to my government job ready to stick it to the man. Super fun album, the kind 15 year old me would have LOVED to have found Fav songs: anti-pope, plan 9 Channel 7, smash it up pt1 & 2
Far from the standard punk rock I expected. Much more varied in tempo and style. Love Songs to open and we even get a brief melodic solo, brusquely transitioning into the title track which is more standard speedy stuff. I Just Can't Be Happy Today sounds like a 60s rocker at first but with the drumming and chaos factor amped up. I dig it. Melody Lee ramps the speed up further but keeps the, well, melody, creating something closer to proto pop punk to my ears. Plan 9 Channel 7 is another good one with a soaring chorus and a runtime exceeding 5 (!) minutes. Looking At You matches it for length and opts for a more progressive song structure with dueling guitars. And they save the best for last. Smash It Up is a two parter, a pretty intro leading into a tight, catchy rocker. Overall lots of great riffs and keyboards amid the Noise, Noise, Noise (sorry) and the rhythm section is more than capable of keeping up. It's nice to be wrong sometimes.
Pretty good.
A lean, blistering serving of punk rock. My listen flew by. I’d like to revisit and wrap my ears around all the guitar and drum work. Catchy and bullshit-free.
There's an interesting ebb and flow to this 1001 Albums project. Like this is my 351st album, and I feel I would react to it very differently if it were my 11th or my 951st. It makes me really wonder how professional critics cleanse their palettes from one album to the next. Anyway on my first listen I realize in hindsight that I dismissed it. Like it was just another step in the evolution of thrashy rock. Almost like it gets an obligatory title of 'great' just for being in the right place at the right time. But I'm glad I had the time to listen to it a second, third, fourth, and I think fifth time. There's way more to this album. It's as clear as day when the wiki says "the band brought more variety to their usual punk rock" -- I guess I don't need to say much more than I'm thankful I had the time to savor this dish a little more vs just gobbling it down and moving onto the next. Some really great stuff in here.
I’m not necessarily a punk fan but I did enjoy this one! Good energy.
We love a short punk or punk-adjacent album here
Enjoyed it a lot! Slow burner that had a really strong middle stretch
Really struggling to rate this one. Most of the album is good, but not great. At the same time, The Damned are iconic and influenced most of my favorite punk bands of the 90s. Plus “Smash It Up” is an elite song, “Plan 9 Channel 7” is pretty great too. If I could I’d give this a 3.5, but I think I have to round up because of how influential The Damned are.
Gillade denna. Bra driv rakt igenom och även om det inte är min favoritgenre så är det så pass bra melodier, instrumentell variation och tempoväxlingar att det håller sig intressant hela vägen. Väldigt jämn kvalitet också. Pendlar mellan tre och fyra i betyg. Man ska väl vara generös så det blir en svag fyra med nöd och näppe.
Just for you, here's a Love Song. The Damned's Machine Gun Etiquette still hits hard in that goth-punk way that only they can (though Danzig tries). It's a little cartoonish at times and I'd like to hear it remastered, but I'm carried along at a swift tempo over these 11 songs and continue to be charmed by them.
This rules. It's varied, interesting, well performed, fun, energetic. Everything you want in a punk record by one of the best to ever do it. 4/5
I’m assuming it was the weapon/combat association that tripped me up but when I first saw the title for this one I mistakenly mixed it up with Combat Rock from The Clash. Silly mistake aside I still really enjoyed this, it has a lot of the energy that I think The Clash’s self titled album was missing while maybe not feeling as distinct. Still quintessential sounding Punk that absolutely flies by at only 36 minutes. You’re doing a disservice not listening to this a few times. I was happy skipping past that These Hands, the fairground nonsense with the laughing reminded me too much of some trippy shit Jim Morrisson would try to pull
The first 2 songs sound like they belong on a Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack. Pretty wild to put music like that out in the late '70s. I enjoyed this album, a fun listen. Highlights: Anti-Pope, Smash It Up Pt.1&2
this album gave me a lot of nostalgia, and not because ive listened to the album, or even the band before. i used to listen to a LOT of punk but kind of fell out with the genre. this album really reminded me why i enjoyed it. fast, angry tracks that have killer solos and bridges. the only thing that lowers the rating on this a bit is that the vocals are pretty washed out and inconsequential to me, and i think that prominent vocals are a big part of the biggest punk acts.
A Pretty great all round Punk album that is super listenable and can easily go for a couple loops and not feel tired. Certain tracks are certainly heightened after multiple listens. Unfortunately there's only a handful of standouts and the rest are just good. 8/10
Raunchy, riotous 70s UK punk. Fuckin' nice.
Incredibly British punk. "Melody Lee"'s piano is surprising, but a welcome diversion until it goes right back into the punk of it. "These Hands" is...eh. Like the waltz part, but the laughter is grating. Rest of the album is solid overall, very colorful and diverse for a punk album, although we'll see if there are any tunes I'll remember enough to be humming later on.
This album sounds like 3 really thick lines of coke at 6 in the morning (which was when I listened to the album. How do I turn off this airplane engine that's in my ear right now, for the love of god?)
Pretty good and fast. Not quite the metal-rock I like, but good enough. 4/5
First time I ever even listened to the DAMNED was seeing them live at Slims in San Francisco, 2007. Actually, and saw them in The Young Ones too, haha. This is GOOD MUSIC!!
enjoyed this. went around the houses a bit. the more cerebral stream of punk. Punk for musicians if you will. Not really heard much other than the charting stuff back in the day. Will dig deeper.
😏
Hell yeah brother this is some good good 80s punk rock and roll. Back before smart phones and the face book there was the Damned and they made punk music
Is it the best punk album of 1979? No. (That would be London Calling) Is it a solid listen that was pleasing to my ears? It sure was. First time hearing it. Will listen again.
Awesome rock album
I don’t dislike this. I’ve got a soft spot for punk bands though. It’s a little more musical than others from the genre. It’s hard to be punk and play keyboards I guess. The Offspring have a decent cover of Smash It Up.
Great punk record — fast and furious but also melodic.
Captain Sensible, Dave Vanian and the boys doing it at their best. Great punk music.
Well, I gotta say that was just a delight. I find punk is generally a hit or a miss with me, and this was a solid hit. I have never heard of The Damned before but I am in now. I think I am going to have to listen to this a couple more times and really let it sink in. Also, I really like the album title. I don't know if that should count in the scoring, but it does for me on this one. Great album and glad it was on the to-listen list.
This was really fun. As with all early punk, it's always a surprise how much it sounds like my favorite punk from later eras. I have heard of the damned but hadn't heard this album.
This was fun, though not quiet up my alley. Interesting instrumentals but the vocal work wasn't doing it for me. 'Smash It Up - Pts. 1&2' was my fave!
A bit inconsistent but smash it up is 6 stars
Dude, let's go!! This is some good Punk music. God damn this album is so short though. My only main complaint is that it doesn't go on for any longer. I don't often listen to Punk music and even I thought this was great. "Melody Lee" and "Plan 9 Channel 7" are my favorite songs here, but the entire thing is a banger. See, my biggest fear here is that I don't know if any of the other Punk albums are going to be this good, but I hope they are. I loved the song "Plan 9 Channel 7" so much for how different it was compared to the rest of the album. If every song sounded like that, this would absolutely get 5 stars from me. It was more traditional Rock, and really makes me wish the rest of the album had more of the same structure. Even still, this is a very, VERY high 4 stars for me.
great
I’m a sucker for a good punk album. This one is fun. And actually has a vocalist that can sing, which cannot be said for all bands in the genre.
Wow a punk band that was quiet piano parts ok not for long) but still. Also guitar solos and a singer who can actually sing! I can see where bands like R. E. M. Got their influences.
wait a minute. the band's name is familliar to me but where is the occation that make me know about them... OH I REMEMBERED IT THE COVER MODEL OF THEIR ALBUM PHANTASMAGORIA IS SUSIE BICK! but anyway. this is so punky. or if there's a genre called proto-hardcore, this album is the example. but some songs are meh. 4/5.
Has a bit of a Stranglers feel, but more aggressive and subversive. Seems like the English punks like The Damned and Buzzcocks are a bigger influence on the pop-punk we know and love than the USA scene. USA started going more hardcore, refusing to cow to the mainstream (up until the aforemantioned pop-punk) sonically or thematically. Minor threat, Bad Brains, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Adolescents, etc etc etc leading to the alternative rock of Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, or thrash metal. Whereas the English second wave was more of a post-punk vanguard and then their progeny - the Cure, Smiths, etc. This album is a good example of the difference between the brutal depressed hardcore of the American scene and the British sensibility - I can hear what they're singing, there's melody and harmony, etc. They mostly stay with rock conventions, which is why lot of this stuff and post-punk (I'm thinking about Elvis Costello, not PiL) has some resemblance to earlier rock-n-roll. It feels like they're trying to get away from the hippie psychedelic/folk/progressive stream and return to the roots: where staying up all night Friday, drinking and driving fast cars was how you let off steam from your shit job (or lack thereof). This is the soundtrack for something like that. I'm all for it. And Smash it Up is one of the best songs ever written.
This is the most I’ve liked a punk album so far.
Starts off like a generic punk album, all energy and snarl; but almost instantly elevates itself with some fine instrument work, and audible influences from other genres - as surprising as it is enriching. There's flipping bongos in there, and song after that is a waltz! Never heard of this band before; to my shame. Worth exploring more of their work.
Really enjoyed it, I’ve never listed to this band. Interesting punk
Far from your DIY punk rocker of the era, these guys had enough skill to dip into a variety of genres, in which they show in full force on this album. I had heard some of their later goth work, so it was nice to hear their earlier punk origins. I enjoy hearing punk records that bring something other than anger, and these guys seem to have predicted just about every punk genre that would come over the next 2 decades.
Was skeptical at the start but ended up really enjoying this, great sound
Not what I was expecting at all. That was a rather enjoyable romp through quite a few styles with a punk ethos rather than being pure punk. Some really good song writing and I like music with a more fun vibe, and this has it way more than your trad punk. Would happily listen again. Also special mention for best drummer name ever.
Another one of those bands I was aware of but never dug into. I assumed they had a musical h more raw punk sound. This was a pretty polished punk record. Super energetic and engaging album. Probably a 3.5 but rounding up to 4.
Cool
Dig it. Maybe a 3
Pretty good
Solid
Nice solid punk album
early UK punk. Like
If more punk music sounded like this, I would probably listen to more punk! A lot more variety from the musicians, not monotonous at all, more compelling vocals than a lot of punk artists, this is a cool album.
I liked it for some reason. More importantly, Leo did too.
4-
A violent series of short, sharp shocks that adds up to a strangely fun listen.
Ah yes, the Damned, while they were still punk, before they slowed things down, covered Love, and got all goth, and just as they were starting to incorporate elements of new wave and synths into their sound. Not the most famous of either the punks or the goths, the Damned were still the shit. Featuring "Love Song", "Plan 9", and "Smash It Up", this album still holds up remarkably well after all these years. I think maybe because of the mixture of punk rock abandon, like everything's just about to fall apart or explode but doesn't, and songwriting skills, and levity... the Damned never took themselves or the punk "movement" too seriously and in retrospect it looks like the right call.
4.5 great album, proto punk - brilliant energy, consistently good tracks throughout
Really digging the diversity of sounds across this album. The Damned expand their range while still maintaining their identity. My two favorite songs on here, "Anti-Pope" and "These Hands" are distinctly different and I love it. I spent all morning with this album on repeat today and didn't get tired of it. Good stuff.
A very underrated and influential. Great album.
3.5/5 I don't think there's enough exciting riffs or moments on most of this album to make it great, but merely decent. Unfortunately it's a bit of a muddle, with the exception of a couple of outstanding tracks, which bumps up the overall experience. Love Song 3.5/5 Machine Gun Etiquette 3/5 I Just Can't Be Happy Today 5/5 Melody Lee 3/5 Anti-Pope 3/5 These Hands 2/5 (LEAST FAV) Plan 9 Channel 7 5/5 (FAV) Noise, Noise, Noise 3.5/5 Looking at You 3.5/5 Liar 2/5 Smash It Up - Pts. 1 & 2 4/5
Holy crap, these guys are still going with 3 original members, and I feel like that's just unheard of in these OG punk bands. This is almost everything you expect from that early punk era with no real individual identity yet (feels like kind of a hybrid of Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Buzzcocks, The Stranglers and so on), but it's a solid, albeit short album. Favorite tracks: Machine Gun Etiquette, Plan 9 Channel 7, I Just Can't Be Happy Today
Classic punk. Fun, short and full of energy.
Plan 9 Channel 7 is a jam. I love the Damned. Hoping Damned Damned Damned is also on this list.
Overall a fun listen. Has some fantastic guitar work and is just the right length.
Punk inglês! Gostei!!!
Punk that knows how to have fun with itself
Sounds exactly how you expect British punk to sound...but with plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep you guessing - moments of glam, hand claps, a hair metal guitar solo. I enjoyed it.
Reminds me of Tony Hawk and CKY and Jackass and being an asshole in the early 2000's! Rock as fuck, unapologetic and just plain fun!
Tiukka! 4/5
Hyvä brittipunk-platta!
Just fun, energetic, edgy, catchy music with a sense of humour . The Damned deserve a greater reputation than they get if this is anything to go by. This is just a damn (had to do it) good punk rock album, wish had heard before.
What a wonderful foundation album. You can hear all the bands and genres that came after this album and yet it doents seem terribly old or dated. Still fun, still fresh and a great ride from start to finish. And, oh, that bass!!
Solid punk album, with some post-punk experimentation starting to happen. Compared to some of the other punk I've listened to from this era, the Damned seem to have traded a bit of edge for a bit more melody. There's more pop sensibility here, but they certainly don't sacrifice any energy. And it works. Actually, it's the poppier of the songs I find myself gravitating to the most. "Smash It Up" is altogether divine, from that long instrumental to that explosion of energy. Fav tracks: I Just Can't Be Happy Today, Plan 9 Channel 7, Liar, Smash It Up
Did NOT like the circus one but the rest was very good
9/10
This rocks. Like rock punk, great drums, goddamn the drums are HARD.
Never heard of this band - this album was a pleasant surprise!
Yeah I thought this was banging actually! Really good fun. Good solid riffs. Enjoyable
Solid punk rock! Live The Saints bassist. Almost 4.5+ but in the grand scheme it’s a super solid 4.
Very punky I enjoyed it
Ta wapens
Super high energy rip face album. One of the finer punk albums that I have ever heard. So many cool guitar solos and rythyms
Absolutely blast of a punk rock album. Never takes itself too seriously and is just a fun awesome fuck yeah type of listen. 4.5 for sure.
A good, solid punk rock record. Upbeat enough to be fun, dark enough to have some weight behind it.
4,5 Stars
Great punk rock album. Short and sweet. Good energy, catchy riffs. Standouts are "Plan 9 Channel 7", "Love Song" with it's goofy ending, and "Anti-Pope".
Not bad
I enjoyed this project from start to finish!
The songwriting wasn’t quite Ramones/Clash level, but the band absolutely rips! Went riiiight up to the point of being too “hardcore”/not melodic enough, but still a fun/quick listen.
Decent punk, me gustó bastante
Solid as heck, man
I loved that album waaaay more than I thought I would. It's like The Clash, but with imagination and creativity, I wouldn't thought it would be possible, but here we are. I had incredible fun listening to Machine Gun Etiquette. What the hell...
This album surprised me. It was pleasantly chaotic with a. Lot of different textures
Only ever heard New Rose by these, nice to hear what else they had. I say this a lot, but if I was around when this came out I’d have loved it. Punk rock without as much of the cliche of the time. Plan 9 Channel 7, Anti-Pope, Noise Noise Noise, all cracking songs. Bits of this did pass me by but I wasnt really in the mood for this. Probably say a 3.5 rounded up to a 4
Never listened to the Damned before, considering this is their third album they must be very influential, they sound way ahead of their time. Seems like such a step forward from the sex pistols for example. Production was strangely good for the era too, I guess maybe by the third album they weren't trying to sound too punk. Its still mostly in the 'influential' camp but there is enough here to enjoy for what it is, 3.5.
Plan 9 Channel 7, and Love Song were my favourites. Good fun album, I like the breakdowns, and their way of starting songs without letting you know what's coming up.
Never listened to the damned before. Great name. Very punk in parts, but then bits I would call more rock than punk, maybe even goth. Some extended solo guitar bits that you don't usually get in punk too. Anyway, I really enjoyed it. Pretty diverse, lots of energy. Probably prefer my punk a little heavier generally but still good. Anti pope, love song and rip it up were the best tracks
This is probably The Damned at their peak, before they really doubled down on the camp. A really good (post-)punk album, with a range of styles and tempos.
One of my biggest problems with late 70's punk is that most of the songs on an album sound the same. That isn't even close to a problem here, most of the songs here don't even sound like themselves by the end. There are so many sonic, rhythmic and tonal changes throughout this album that it keeps you on your toes. There are a lot of good melodies too. I really like to production on this album. The bass and drums sound killer. high 4
Very enjoyable punk album by a group I'd never heard of.
This is a super fun punk album. I tend to prefer "fun" punk to "angry" punk, so this is right up my alley. The amount of energy, melody, and heart on display here makes for a wonderful listen.
Fast & hard punk!
Very good punk.
Man what a way to start a record! Also what a fun freaking punk record. So many different sounds, high energy, and it gets a little weird! I love when bands are willing to get a little weird. Honestly this kind of reminds me a little of Glow On by Turnstile. It follows the genre but adds different sounds to it to keep things interesting.
Classic. Punk is one of those genres, where you really need to go back to understand the context of everything. The Damned is a milestone for anyone going down the genre rabbit hole. To be honest, they've never been one of my favorites. I've never really gravitated to the goth / horror side of punk (The Damned, The Misfits, The Cramps. etc) but it's an important part of the genre and something I do enjoy. I think more than anything, I love how they play classic punk (power chords, downbeats) But they really are kind of at the forefront of punk bands playing with genres and instruments. They have really cool and weird organs and keys in some of these songs. They also play with blues sounding guitar solos and riffs. Even some weird circus sounding songs. This what the British offered punk rock and its something we should all be grateful for. Great album!
I like punk and this is GOOD punk. Heard of them for a while and will def be listening to more!
British 70s punk. Better than expected.
The first UK punk rock band to sell out and record on a major label, then toured the USA (another first). Sitting here knowing what we know, you can hear the influences of this band in so many of today's bands. One of the first...
I dig
That was really good. I haven't heard them before.
kopstootje! meesterwerkje! teksten soms iets te kinderlijk
A genuinely cool album that I never knew - loved it - has the swagger and the tunes.
Really enjoyed... fast & fun! 4/5
Loved this album. It’s the best of the punk genre. It is fun an not overly angry. 4.5
I'm a sucker for punk and this was no exception. The opening bass line of the album is just sick and it's not downhill from there. This is another album that I'll enjoy diving for at my friendly local record store.
Albores del punk-rock. Está bien. Un 4.
This is the first time I had ever listened to the Damned, and I see now why they were such a big deal. There's such a great mix of styles on here, it's like this album signposted the next directions punk would take in the early 80s. Some really memorable songs on here, a few forgettable ones. Overall a great listen, but not quite as good as London Calling, which I think came out in the same year.
I had never heard The Damned before, but this was damned good! It has some great basslines and rockin' Ace Frehley-like guitar solos. I listened with earbuds, but I'd like to hear it again on proper speakers.
Nice, energetic and a little raw.
A good solid album new to me. A couple weird moments I'm not into, (what's up with the laugh? ) but overall good and I'll listen again
I liked it. Imagine the energy of raw punk from a couple of years earlier (1977), with the sophistication of The Stranglers, plus the speed of Motörhead, with some heavy metal and a bit of Dire Straits thrown in for good measure, and you're getting close to the feel of this album.
I enjoyed this album and it's really not my type of music. It stays around just long enough to leave you wanting more and has enough variety to keep interested while it's still here
Didn’t write yesterday. A punk rock album that had some nice melodies to the songs. Had a fun time listening to it. Standouts: Machine Gun Etiquette, Melody Lee, Plan 9 Channel 7, Noise, Noise, Noise, and Looking At You.
This was a very enjoyable listen! I was positively surprised by the unique song structures, especially since it's punk music, which can get repetitive at times. I found lyrics to be quite clever as well, with some some dark humour thrown into the mix. The only true miss for me was the clown song; the rest of the album holds up pretty well. 3.5
I enjoyed this album a lot. It's a great blend of 70s punk and more melodic rock. The album is consistent and interesting, full of dark lyrics. You can see all the bands they drew inspiration from and all the ones they inspired later.
Pretty good.
Something like 4.25 stars. I am very impressed by this album. I generally don't like 70s rock and I don't generally like punk music, but this album sounded great. The lyrics are often very clever and insightful and the songs are energetic and catchy. There a lots of interesting instrumental details and additions. "Anti-Pope" is a good representation of the album as a whole.
Even as a huge punk fan i've somehow never listened to The Damned, even know i've known about them for god knows how long. Clearly I made a big mistake here, as this album shreds. Full of energy, super catchy hooks, even a little more variety with the instruments than you'd usually expect from an early punk album. Will be returning to this and the rest of their albums shortly.
This was great! I’ve never heard of the band or album, but really enjoyed it. Energetic punk more on the lighthearted side than angry, with a good dose of some weirdness too. I’ll probably check out their other work if it’s not on the list.
Was fun, and upbeat while I worked remotely. 3.5/5
Dope
3.5
The album reminds me a lot of The Clash, in that it takes punk structure but is not afraid to break out of the box with solos and strong percussion. Great listen.
Great energy, I struggled to hear the lyrics but could've been my car speakers. Never heard of these guys. My second early punk album in a week, looks like I'm getting an education in punk rock.
One of the greats. Big fan of Captain Sensible as a guitarist (and as a guy who picks himself a stage name), and also think these guys have a bit more musical depth than most of their peers. Lyrics a bit too British Punk Society, Innit?, but what are ya gonna do.
3.5 Standout: Love Song, Smash it Up, I Just Can’t be Happy Today, Plan 9 Channel 7, Noise Noise Noise,
Surprisingly more new wave than I was suspecting. Great album with some killer tracks
lads mad and thrash about. 3.5/5
Loved the overall sound
This album was great, I'll definitely listen to it again. It was kind of like The Clash but rougher. I was tapping my foot and moving at my desk. 8/10
I'm impressed by any punk rock album that can avoid the Sex Pistols trap of making an entire album that essentially says, "We're young, we're mad at the system, we're horny, AND WE'RE YELLING!" Not that doesn't have a place, but there comes a point where you do that for an hour and people get tired of it. This album is a lot more creative than a lot of punk music and they're crazy talented. Not all the risks panned out, I'm looking at you clown song, but I respect the risks nonetheless. Really solid album.
These guys go crazy what a fun listen front to back. A lot of punk for me suffers from the same repetitive structure and sound but these guys have tons of unique passages in each song. A swing drum line, actual rock guitar solos. Wonderful!
What a dense sound. I love this instantly!
Overall rating: 8/10
Fun punk record. Hints of post-punk, goth, hardcore thrown in for fun. Breezy energetic 36 minutes.
loved this, reminded me a lot of Television .. 4.5/5?
I liked the energy of this - I'd need to listen to it a few times to really understand it.
I had heard of them, but never really heard them. It's good stuff. I'm surprised I hadn't listened to it before.
The first time I ever heard The Damned was when I was obsessed with White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane as a teenager, and I found the cover by The Damned. However, this was in the Limewire days, so it could realistically be by anyone. I haven’t looked into it, but I’ve believed it to be The Damned all this time. I wouldn’t argue if you told me I was wrong though. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Anti-Pope This was a good blast of straight up punk music. It does skew off into oddness occasionally, but I actually liked when this happened because it never got too weird. The interlude in Anti-Pope was a prime example of this. This didn’t strike me as amazing, but I definitely still enjoyed it. I’ve just gotta be in the mood for old school punk, whereas some other music is bankable all the time.
Good clean fun
Wow, it blew me over! I was skeptical to listen to a new punk album from a band I didn't know. Love song, Just can't be happy today my favorites. Definitely not on my meditation folder!
My first listen to The Damned and damn if this album wasn’t the most fun I’ve had listening to a new band in years. Tons of catchy hooks here. But what kind of blew my mind was the eclectic mix of genres they dip their toe into throughout the album. I’ll be diving into their catalogue for sure. And this from a guy who thought he wasn’t a punk fan.
This was some good quality early punj music. You could hear the influence this album had on the genre. Easy to listen to and each of the songs was unique enough to not feel repetitive. I can see myself coming back to this if I'm in the mood for some punk rock.
So much catchier and fun than I thought it would be. Early 80's punk can be so dour sometimes, but this was great.
Not usually a fan on UK punk but this was surprisingly good. Some of the tracks are really fast and aggressive, almost like proto-hardcore. The more post-punk tracks weren't as good but overall I enjoyed the album.
I sometimes cringe went that I'm getting yet another 'punk classic' and 'proto-hardcore' album. The genre, while great, has a lot of cookie cutter copies out there. Not so with The Damned. Very endearing and varied with guest appearances by Lemmy and members of The Clash. Surprisingly catchy for such a rough and rowdy punk album.
💖 machine gun etiquette 🗣️ 7️⃣
A fun raucous punk album. After the last two weeks of bland soup I’ve had to sit though I can fully understand now why punk happened and thank god for it. Sometimes you just need to smash it up a bit.
Punk
I dug it.
Better than I expected. Never been a band I was into, although I know how influential they are. (I thought "Smash It Up" was an Offspring song before I listened to this.) It would have been great scare your parents music. Enjoyed it. Unexpected bangers: Anti-pope, Noise Noise Noise.
Good stuff. If I was really into punk music I’d give it two middle fingers.
The name of the band, the name of the album, the cover art, I was dubious. But halfway through Love Song I was in love. A raucous good time all the way through.
Surprisingly good.
Right on, I am so into this! Classic 70's British punk, sign me up. I've looped through this album 5 times already this morning and it gets better with every rotation. To be fair, it is quite a short album, but that's what I love about punks, they cut to the quick. "I Just Can't Be Happy Today" still holds up today lyrically and thematically. So much of the instrumentation, specifically the guitar on songs that are more meandering is reminiscent of Sonic Youth. I'm sure The Damned were an influence on their sound. I really like this record a lot!
I was intrigued but unsure about this album when I first started listening; punk isn't my scene. But I found that when the album ended and Spotify kept presenting additional music from the genre, I was enjoying myself.
Much better. This is worth listening to. More than once I was pulled out of what I was doing and into a song. Really, the songwriting here is almost bulletproof. Love Song had me in at the beginning... Melody Lee... I'm not sure I was out of this one.
Lots of fun! A harder-edged and fuller sound than I had anticipated - though I knew somewhere down the line these boys go full goth in their 'Eloise' / 'Street of Dreams' phase. I've seen the Damned live, as support act to Motorhead. They were great. Dave Vanian is one of rock's coolest frontmen. Might see them again this year. Smash it up!
Hey this was damned good. Never listened to this band before in my life, but "Plan 9 Channel 7"? That song smokes. The chorus is sooo good. Love the incorporation of keys and some of the other instrumentation, while still feeling very much like a tried and true punk record. I gotta hear more of this band.
8/10
Another high-energy (I guess it was punk?) album. I quite liked it although probably not something I would choose to listen to. Listens: 1 1/2 Fave Track: Smash It Up Pt 1 & 2 Rating: 4
Good punk album from the late 80s. My favorite songs are the short fast ones but some are longer and a little more slow.
Pretty fun punk
Really enjoyed this one! Realized I don't really know a lot about 1970s "Punk" music (like how it actually sounds other than the major hits like Blitzkrieg Bop or whatever), for some reason I thought it would be a lot more angry/aggressive/abrasive, but this was actually a really fun album to listen to! Parts of it, especially like the start of "These Hands", really reminded me of modern day artists like Ty Segall, who I don't think anyone would really call punk. I will definitely be returning to this one!
Pretty solid early punk
Enjoyed this one.
Good punk rock. I liked the lyrics and music more than I do most older punk. Good energy and attitude but still enjoyable to listen to
Loved it. Really good
Thanks to the 1001 site for this daily offering: The Damned. The music is more kitschy than I expected.
Hadn't listened to a lot of this iconic band. Impressively pure punk spirit of its era. I liked it a lot.
I've clearly been sleeping on the Damned - didn't realise at all that they had such range. Musically far ahead of the Sex Pistols who come off as a cartoon band compared to The Damned. Finishing off with Smash it up is glorious. This is electric stuff.
These guys have a heavy and powerful energy to them that is one to be reckoned with. It’s a shame they aren’t as well known as some of their contemporaries like the Clash or Sex Pistols. The Damned have an excellent catalog that is rarely talked about. There’s range on this album. Fantastic vocals and instrumentation. The writing is good and there’s even a healthy amount of experimentation. The production could have been cleaner, but I’m not really concerned with that as it could be boiled down to a stylistic choice about wanting a dirtier sound. There isn’t any one big thing keeping this from a perfect score, but many little things. If the sloppy production was my only complaint, it’d probably get a five star review, but there’s a couple other minor things that hold it back, like some riffs are a bit too similar or the mostly unfocused structure. Love this album though. 4/5
This was fun, a bit punky a bit all over the place, but mostly really enjoyable
This was good but I don't think I loved it. The sound was a bit too unpolished, the best way I can describe it is garage band feel. I might give it another try but the flow wasn't my favorite.
This must be the 12th or so punk/hardcore album I e had so far and possibly the only one that is indisputably sonically unique. Loved how it leans into some more proggy and experimental genres
Fast-paced and snappy, with a decent energy and plenty of personality. It's pretty good. I feel like it picked up the more it went on. I'd have to be in the mood for it though. 3.5 rounded up.
I love punk-rock, but in this album only 4 good songs
Wow, nice one. great mix of post punk and classic punk rock, I love albums that cross the bridge between the two like this one does.
this is fun shout out croydon
I really liked this one! Not a single song was a miss for me, and there are definitely a few that I'll come back to when I remember. Listened to this one three times (once for sound, once for lyrics, once for fun) and enjoyed it each time. Absolute favorites: Anti-Pope, Smash It Up Pts 1 and 2 (loooove the guitars) Very good: Love Song (cute lyrics!!), I Just Can’t Be Happy Today (mediocre lyrics but felt like a Kaiser Chiefs song overall), These Hands (murderous circus theme.. inspired), Plan 9 Channel 7 (make me wonder why The Damned and The Clash were both making Dead Hollywood Actor songs in the late 70s), Looking at You Fun little songs: Machine Gun Etiquette, Melody Lee, Noise Noise Noise, Liar (the last two are a bit teenage-ish lyrically) My favorite lines are these from Anti-Pope: “Religion doesn't mean a thing It's just another way of being right wing I think sex films are okay I don't dig that pope, no way” Funny stuff.
Punkish
Never heard "Love song" before... What a track. Great opener. Immediately followed up by Machine Gun Etiquette. New wave version of Motorhead. So, after song 2, we're doing really well! Song 3 a bit meh, then Melody Lee blasts in next. Anti-pope - great track. Bit of a dip with 'These hands...'. Loved 'Plan 9...'. Another few decent tracks, the "Smash it up...". Nicely done. Not quite 5 star, but a very well merited 4
4.5
Man, how is it 2023 and I've just gotten around to listening to a Damned record for this first time? This album is very good and I'm dumb for not listening to it before now. BTW, the first song is covered by Melt Banana and I knew it from that. If Melt Banana covers your band, I should take note... 4/5
I saw a take suggesting that while The Clash were trying to break global, The Damned were content with keeping their targets right towards the UK, and that tracks. Even though they’re in New York on this cover and the other band was about to drop London Calling lol Anyway, terrific punk that could have been bigger than they were, but is just as good by not making that happen. B+
The Damned is my favorite punk band, of all time. I think probably is has to do with Dave Vanian's voice. As a singer in that bass range, it's something I always appreciated. The band had already broken up after the last ("Music For Pleasure" isn't bad, but it's more of the same from the first.), the revitalized line up (minus their primary songwriter Brian James) came out with a more collaborative and wide-ranging effort. It was filled with more psychedelic and harder pieces. "Smash It Up" became one of their biggest hits (although I prefer the live version I heard from 1980). But probably my favorite piece on this is "I Just Can't Be Happy Today". That keyboard solo gets every time. There are one or two clunkers in this, like "These Hands" (demented circus clown? Really?), and "Anti-Pope". But they are definitely out-weighed by the big pieces on this, including "Plan 9 Channel 7". Vanian's singing at the end is great ("step into the night...."). If I was ranking the albus, it would definitely be one of my top three ("Strawberries" and "The Black Album" see definite progression). And how can you not love an album that has Lemmy on it? If I was going to pick an album for people to start with, it'd be "Machine Gun Etiquette."
Better than expected
I'm a bit biased here with pretty much anything punk. This is great. I love how classic it sounds yet how far ahead at the same time. I saved a bunch of tracks and the whole album. Lots of variety and it blazes past. I love this shit
Surprisingly good. I expected another shouty one-dimensional punk album, but this was great fun. Very energetic but also melodically strong.
Jumpy and wild: a creative and convincing punk record
was cool
First time listening to this album, and I listened to it twice! I'd only heard of Smash It Up before. Good old fashioned punk fun.
Liked it more than I expected to. More than just another punk album.
Aside from the "hits" : Eloise etc, never really listened to The Damned. This is a cracking slice of late 70s punk.
I've had a few early protopunk albums so far in this list. After the first two songs I thought it was alright, fairly standard but sounded half decent. Third track turned my head a bit, actually good. Melody Lee and Anti Pop then hit me. Great pyschadelic-infused punk tracks. Definitely something different about this band compared to all the other protopunk stuff.
Liked it on the second play
Punk classic - docked a star for the wank clown song
Decent.
Good old punk
"Polish with spit" indeed. This is fun for adding some color and texture to the punk template. "Can't Be Happy" and "Plan 9 Channel 7" are the highlights. Maybe overrates its own cleverness/eccentricity by a nidge, but the likably tossed-off feel makes it a winner.
Never really listened to the Damned, but I really dug this. The brooding gothic vocals definitely must’ve inspired a number of 80s bands like the Misfits and Echo, and the speed of the punk here is on par with many hardcore bands to come like Minor Threat and Black Flag. A diverse set of tracks as well, showing a broad range of genres beyond just early punk.
This is interesting. It's sort of punk meets hardcore, but with a bit more nuance compared to either of those genres. I liked it, not sure I would listen to it again. I like the punk aspect and the nuance aspect but not as much the hardcore aspect. Definitely on the cutting edge for 1979, that's why I'm going with 4 stars.
Late 70s punk hasn't fared well in my ratings so far, but I enjoyed this. It's melodic, musically varied and catchy, with great energy and thoughtful, humourous lyrics. Best punk record so far, by some distance. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Smash It Up, Pt. 1 & 2 Date listened: 21/05/23
Felt like pretty happy/fun punk. I liked it.
I like when punk gets experimental. Really good stuff here that I’ll be going back to. 4.5
4 I always appreciate having a punk album, mostly because I love the genre, but also because it means I can probably listen to it a good 3 or 4 times in preparation for my review… and then still find the time to listen to other stuff in the day. This album also comes during a punk high for me - after catching an elbow to the nose in the pit of a Vandals performance this past weekend and jumping back in as soon as I could get the bleeding a bit cleaned up, I think it’s safe to say punk music and culture is a part of my identity (though fuck that asshole with the elbow). Anyway, Machine Gun Etiquette - probably the most diverse-sounding punk album I’ve heard from the first wave era. Ok, yes, London Calling (which was released just a month later), but I think it could be argued this album explores the full scope of punk without ever truly leaving its musical roots - whereas The Clash were fully diving into entirely different genres. And while that worked well for The Clash, the sound here works amazing for The Damned. Not every song is of note, but the pure punk energy mixed with dashes of varying cross-genre influence throughout really prevent this album from ever getting stale, even if there’s not a ton of lyrical or thematic substance. There are definitely some socio-political elements sprinkled in there though, and while it’s not quite Clash-level, it does result in great tunes like Anti-Pope. I know The Damned are far from the first group to put out something anti-religious or anti-Christian, but to my knowledge they’re the first band to put out something specifically anti-Pope. Being that this was years before the whole Catholic church diddling thing came to light, I’ll give them some credit for being ahead of their time there. While it didn’t become an immediate favorite of mine, I had a blast from front to back. This is a perfect example of how creative and fun punk can be, so I’ll be listening to more Damned in the future.
Quelque chose de joyeux et libérateur dans l'énergie impulsive. Me rappelle parfois The Doors. Les titres des chansons sont délicieux aussi
Awesome album, loved it.
- Great punk energy - Some interesting additions and sounds you wouldn't expect from a punk album - Favorite songs: I Just Can't Be Happy Today, Melody Lee, Smash it Up
Good
I love the britishness of their punk. There is a lot of melody and cool guitar solos that make this album stand out from other punk of the time.
Pretty cool punk /post punk
"Ladies and gentlemen.... how do?"
Albores del punk-rock. Está bien. Un 4.
Decent enough punk album, but not a lot stands out
Excellent stuff
Solid and thoroughly enjoyable early punk album. Top tracks: I just can't be happy today, Anti-Pope, and Liar.
Pretty solid
Miles better than GnR Appetite for Destruction, it’s how punk rock is done properly. Great energy and melodic variety.
I love Captain Sensible's lead work, pretty impressive for a man who was the bass player. While listening to the breakout on Looking At You it becomes apparent that Dave and Captain are able to go off on their tangents because the rhythm section keeps it nailed down.
Very good
This is a really fun album. I have never really gotten into the Damned but have always been interested. I didn't recognize any of the songs on this album besides 'Smash It Up', which I definitely think is the best track on the album and will go into my rotation. Solid album, really liked it! Standout Tracks: Melody Lee, Anti-Pope, Plan 9 Channel 7, Looking at You, Smash It Up (Pts. 1 & 2)
Wow, this was just really really good. No-nonsense punk with catchy melodies, decent instrumentalists and short, memorable tracks.
Not every song hits the mark 100% but a pretty solid collection of first-wave U.K. punk bangers.
Some good British punk. Good as any punk coming out in that era, to my ear.
Awesome punk rock record. Really rocks throughout the album and does not loose energy, neither gets boring.
ok
My face today realizing the Damned is punk af and not whatever I thought they were: :? ——> :o ——> :) ——> :D Loveee the Syd vibes on These Hands
Probably my favourite punk album. I don’t like punk at all but this has the energy but comes with humour and musical talent as well.
Circus music touches, as usual, stand out as good or bad, but they aren't the only way the Damned play at the edges of contemporary rock music. No stretched attempts at virtuosic composition here, nor compression of scratches into a dark sonic ball. The sound is a little better than the music as such but the combination registers to me as local, lovely. Add them to the pile with the Stranglers.
Love the punk style
Liked it...great sound and far more catchy than most formative punk bands. 3.5/5
wow - best new punk album on this list that I've heard. would listen again
Some of it is harder than I tend to listen to, but I enjoyed it overall.
Good album not the best by the them, they certainly tried different things on this album not all of it was good.