Atomizer

Even if it's abrasive as shit, it's still very accessible and likable. Love Durango's and Steve's driving guitar, Roland plays the drums like a damn machine. The bass sounds beautiful. Also, Steve's delivery is spot on and the lyrics, even if they're simple in nature, when paired with the music, want me to punch a hole in the wall in sheer rebellion, anger, and hatred towards the world and the state we're headed. Oh, and it was recorded in 1985, some 35-40 years ago, and it still feels like it was recorded yesterday. Holy shit. A landmark in music. Fucking recommended the whole way. Also, Steve, if you're ever reading this, I love you and everything you do.

Wholesome songs about paedophilia, racial passing, abuse of power in the police force, arson and self-immolation, shame, fist fucking and domestic violence, alcoholism, the tale of a Vietnam vet who becomes a contract killer (or is it really about drug addiction), the rat race, and cattle slaughter in abattoirs. The aural equivalent of suffering blunt force trauma to the head from a sledgehammer, these guys are so nasty, hard and bleak, that they make everyone else’s music sound as light and fluffy as a Disney movie soundtrack.

And this will stay with you until you die

Lol, this is incredible! The production is so noisy and raw. Steve Albini's band, so that makes sense. Sometimes gives me some Ministry vibes with the combination of drum machine and distorted vocals.

5.0 - Came to this with low expectations and they were immediately shattered. I've come to respect Steve Albini's exalted status as a producer. Now I'm in awe of him as a complete artist. The interplay of brutal drum machine, growly bass and clear vocals situated defiantly in the foreground - these elements make this album feel timeless. And the guitar sounds! Dry, gnarly, industrial. "Kerosene" is an obvious standout - so bleak! How do they conjure a screeching pterodactyl on "Passing Complexion"?? This album sounds nothing like what I know about 1985.

No thank you. Just noise. Completely unnecessary inclusion.

Probably one of the worst albums here

TIL Steve Albini had a band, and it was absolutely incredible. So filthy and lo-fi and layered and nasty but just perfect really, I love the harshness of the guitars and the cleanness of the drum machines. YouTube music link: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCqGF7gRwC9ZFxWIv0uWUl_g But this should really be listened to on a dog-eared vinyl or a smashed cassette tape.

Steve Albini: master of noise Post-punk meets noise rock meets industrial meets awesome.

Was excited to listen to this one since I’m familiar with Albini as an Engineer/Producer. He has worked with a lot of my favourite bands, Ty Segall, METZ, Cloud Nothings so I wasn’t surprised to be impressed with this album. It’s crunchy, gritty and loud. Sounded like a band that would have been pretty cool to see live, big fan of this one. Definitely going to explore their other work. 4 stars!

Feels like I had carnivorous earwigs inserted into each side of my brain through my ears

Meh

I'm too old to waste time listening to this fucking guy yell at me for an hour. Beats are interesting I guess.

I don’t even know where to start. This sounds like awful slam poetry paired with screeching guitars and moans and very fast drum beats to try and hide the hideous composition. This is not me tea. Nor is it my bag.

A big noise from big boys. I have this on vinyl and still play it often. I believe Nirvana ripped BB off with a lame, sanitized version. This is the real deal.

After Albini's recent passing, I made sure to throw his classic Big Black albums onto my 'to-listen-to' list - so I'm glad to see this album here. More than anything, I love all the sounds and noises on this album. They all sound so cool - a coolness only amplified by their sheer abrasiveness and character. You're not just getting walls of noise and distortion here, you're also getting these shimmering harmonics that cut through the mixes which is what makes this album stand out - that subtle layer of melody and even beauty at times. The electrifying gnawing of the industrial groove on 'Passing Complexion' is so mind-blowingly ahead of its time - how does a guitar sound like that? 'Kerosene' sounds like a deconstructed club banger that would be released decades later, the way the defined melodies manage to squeeze through the layers of crashing and clanging is incredible. The use of drum machines all over this album hammers home that industrial sound - it's something beyond punk. The bass is also so garbled, muddy, and incoherent, yet it works wonders in carving out its space in these cluttered mixes, especially on a track like 'Cables'. While vocally not too special, Albini's lyrics (and corresponding liner notes) are tortured - digging into the depths of human suffering to formulate these repetitive, yet impactful hooks. One need look no further than the troubled opener 'Jordan, Minnesota' to know exactly what they're getting into. While not every track resonated with me, I was in awe no matter what direction this album went in. It defies the ideas of punk and even noise-rock. What a blast and unlike anything I've ever heard - it really does feel like an atomic bomb going off in your ears the entire time.

If the world was made of musicians like Big Black, I would light up the atomizer without thinking twice.

Great example of how to combine abrasive elements with catchy and accessible rock music. For the heavy amount of noise used it still sounds great.

I am not a huge fan of electro based music. But I can appreciate good sounds, elegant beats and surprising musical twists and turns. This album works as background as well as for intense listening. A discovery.

Just a solid, noisy, angry punk record. Shades of everything from Judas Priest to Ministry. Think it loses a little steam near the end, but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the whole thing. Favorite tracks: "Bad Houses", "Stinking Drunk", "Fists of Love"

Great I really enjoyed the punk sound!

Loved it. Never heard anything quite like it

Littéralement mind blown, le mélange de son est ahurissant, c'est tellement en avance sur son temps. L'une des découvertes les plus surprenantes des 1001.

Damn... dehä e hårt

Loud noisy fun. Always worth a revisit.

punk album

Still love this album. Bleak, angry, raging, powerful stuff. I don't think they ever bettered this, although Songs About F*cking comes very close.

⬅️ LET’S GO.

Steve Albini died today and the day I was served this album :(

Hitting right in the sweet spot between punk and industrial.

Unexpected funk - a treat for the ears

I would not listen again but I would not not listen again

Horrible, intentionally abrasive and not good. Didnt like it

This is actually horrible and horrendous I hate this it sounds like metal being scraped against the floor slowly and then added some screaming voices it’s crazy I am sorry I have nothing good to say about this …

Music for Columbine terrorists. Dreadful. Steve Albini can eat it - I uncelebrate the guy's entire catalogue. 0/10 0 stars

Never heard of this band or any of these songs...probably never will again. Fists of Love had a cool groove to it ... minus the lyrics.

I think the Church Lady (SNL) sums it up nicely: "Well, wasn't that special." Notes: I so wanted to not hate at least 1 song. Fail. "Passing Complexion" - rusty, out of tune string instruments fight each other to the death. 1/5

This is a debatable 5 for me It’s loud, punk, noise but musical and interesting, a little repetitive but not in a bad way

LIVE HERE MY WHOLE LIFE

Early grunge listen loud.

Set me on fire! Kerosene! Not much more to say.

muito bom

5/5. From the get go, I did not want to like this but it's hard to deny the excellent instrumentation throughout this one. It's heavy, and can be loud just to be loud, but considering the lyrical content, it's no where near as abrasive as it should be. The bass is a constant pressure to keep your attention present, just banging down on that like it's a drum. It's hard to find any really bad song on here. The vocals are loud and angry but even still, it doesn't feel weird, like I can tell they don't actually feel what they are singing. It's kind of funny how crazy some of these lyrics are that it's hard to take seriously, which is probably the point. Best Song: Fists of Love, Kerosene, Jordan - Minnesota

This one is a surprising I think blind spot for me having never listened to the band previously. And that’s to my detriment because this album rules.

Proto-noise rock. Such an influential sound they pioneered. And I love the drum machine giving it an early industrial feel.

As a girl who was raised by the Providence punk scene, which was a weird amalgamation of Boston Hardcore and RISD, I’m a sucker for noise punk. While I gave Songs About Fucking a spin as a teen, I never really did a deep dive into Albini’s other work, not even with Big Black. And that’s a real shame, because Atomizer is a fucking phenomenal record. It’s full of rage, spite, and disgust, really taking the vileness of masculinity and pointing the gun inward thanks to a healthy dose of deadpan delivery and violent noise, accomplished both sonically and vocally, somehow. This is a classic because of the guitar work, funky bass lines, and stunning vocal howls, but then I consider the unique addition of a drum machine, and my mind is blown to pieces, even today. It’s not a “fun” listen and I’m not going to be spinning this every day– mainly because that would probably wreck my mental health as a trans woman – but its value is clear as day, and I can point to a hundred bands I used to adore who wouldn’t have existed without Atomizer. But that’s showing my bias for this type of noise punk, so maybe I’m in the minority here.

Sept. 19, 2024 More punk lezzgo. Yep I like this a lot; less punk imo and more industrial which is also what the wiki suggests. This is exactly what I've been into lately-loud, intense, aggressive, angry. Scratches that itch for me. Apparently some of the lyrics are ehh where he's tried to over justify what he says, but I can barely understand what he's singing, so I'm rating for the vibe in the end. V enjoyable, and my first 5/5

These guitars are beyond jangly, they are fried, and for some reason, this sound has a relaxing, ASMR-like quality. The repetitive post-punk lyrics enhance this effect, allowing you to get lost in the sound instead of trying to follow the textual progression. The vibes are both emo and party, which is great.

This surprised the fuck out of me. Stellar.

Holy shit this fucking rips. Highlights: being atomized

Esse álbum que explica como uma música pode ser fenomenal sem ser necessariamente algo que vá ouvir sempre (ou mesmo novamente). Ele consegue sintetizar o sentimento profundo de raiva e descontentamento desses meninos na forma de músicas abrasivas e vocais agressivos, além de inovar com o uso de uma drum machine no lugar da bateria, que traz uma pegada meio post-punk, meio industrial. É uma experiência sonora poder ouvir algo desse tipo, mesmo que seja apenas uma vez.

I mean, FUCK YEAH!!!

This is an album that I would never choose to listen to but I have to admit that, whenever my husband plays it, I get swept up by their energy. The riffs that start Kerosene and Bazooka Joe are exquisite in particular.

I’ve never heard of these guys and fully expected to be annoyed. Instead I was completely charmed. There’s still fun and hope seeping through the anger and desperation in the dark world they live in and scream about. A cathartic listen for me today that completely won me over.

wat een uppercut van een plaat... recht in je gezicht, geen franjes, geen opsmuk... ook de teksten zijn een dreun in je gezicht...kortom : een dijk van een plaat niet onbelangrijk trouwens in de ontwikkeling van industrial

I love big black

Interesting

This noise seems important. I don't think I ever want to listen to it again, but I think I'm glad I did.

I love you Steve, please put your stuff back on Spotify, please Steve, I need to blast Kerosene from my car without having to mad skip SoundCloud or YouTube every 5 seconds

I love this album SO MUCH

cool

A blunt approach on disturbing topics. A carefree atmosphere and a playful aesthetic (the comic cover art, for example). Guitars that feel like knives to one's ears. And a harsh noise/industrial sounds. In terms of sound, one might not consider it punk. But for me, it's ballsy, artsy, yet carefree, which makes it among the most punk album I've ever encountered.

даааааа! Если бы я услышала эту группу в 1986 году.... сто процентов.

Yeah! good find

Somehow despite having heard a million records Steve Albini produced, I never listened to Big Black. This is fucking GREAT

Best album and band this thing had given that I've never heard of, hands down.

I immediately respond to the harder, louder stuff on here. I don't have much else to say except thanks for the good time.

Put off listening to this for ages because it wasn't on Spotify and I'd never heard of it. I'm a fool. Proto-industrial noise with Steve Albini. Absolutely love it.

Huhh olipas huikea ylläri! Iski lujaa ja liittyy Fugazin kaveriksi suosikki punk-bändien harvalukuiseen joukkoon. Vaikea yhdistää vuoteen 1986, olisi voinut olla 1996.

BADASS. Wish someone had introduced me to this as a teenager - it'd've gone hand in hand with my Ministry obsession. Fave track - "Kerosene". GodDAMN that song embodies the teenage frustration of living in a crappy little nonentity town. 🔥

Maybe in the top 5 guitar sound on an album of all time, it sounds like scraping against giant strings of metal. Kerosene alone is one of the most intense and explosive rock songs you'll ever hear ("SET ME ON FIRE"). I was pretty sure I'd give it a 5, but after relistening i'm doubly sure, you'll struggle to find more aggressive rock music than this. Not surprised that once again, an album that's actually interesting and different than plain 60s rock n roll is panned with a low score on here.

I forgot how good this album is. I havent listened to it for years, mainly as its not on Spotify and the only Big Black record I have physically is Songs About Fucking. I always thought that was the better one, but I think this tops it. Steve Albini has always been brutal as fuck with his lyrics but he manages to find a way to make every instrument he touches sound like its bat shit angry. I love it. I love the rough sound, the production approach, the drum machine (he even managed to make that sound fucking livid). This is the post-punk / noise rock I love. Noisey, cluttered, angry, unique. Shouldnt work but it really does. Class.

What a find. Loved every minute of this. 5/5

One of the best albums of the 80s in my opinion and my favourite work from Big Black or any of Steve Albini’s bands. I’m a big fan of this style of excessively loud and pissed off rock music, and the songs here are so well written and infused with raw energy, screeching feedback, rumbling bass and a drum machine that repeatedly beats you in the face. The lyrics delve into the darkest aspects of humanity and the depths of depravity (some choices regretted by Albini, such as the false rumour that inspired Jordan, Minnesota). Not a record you’d play for your parents unless they were really cool, but a complete masterwork and a landmark recording. 5 stars

Master piece. So raw and yet melodic… it is a shame it’s not available on Spotify - but makes complete sense, knowing Albini.

There's something about the tinny, electronic dissonance of Big Black that sets it apart from nearly anything else. Like Minor Threat shrunk down and forced to perform inside a crappy old CRT telly. The subject matter is bleakly earnest too. I love it, it's horrible and I love it.

Been a fan of Big Black for years. Never really considered them proto-industrial, but I'm buying it. Personally, Songs about F___ing is my go-to Big Black album.

Not on Spotify

Unique, danceable, aggressive, and principled punk. I like it. Thanks Steve Albini!

Great takes on the genre. Equal parts catchy and caustic, with great lyrics and a sense of purpose.

I wonder how I would've responded to this audible assault back in 1986. This is honestly the first I've even heard of this album and I now know where some of my favourite bands found their inspiration. This is brutal, energetic, noisy and bleak industrial and still sound like it could've been released in this decade, even though it's already 37 years old. What a revelation.

AHHH! I love Big Black! Songs About Fucking is a classic and so is the rest of their discography. 5/5.

Couldn't listen . Not on spotify

Such an interesting mix of slightly tinny and industrial sounds with dissonant punk vibes. I wasn’t sure how to rate this but I thought long and hard about it and read more about Albini and just gained more and more appreciation for everything about this. So innovative and still holds up after everything that has come since.

Finally a banger. Only one I listened to 2x so far

Classic 80s album with big reputation that I never got around to but I knew it would be excellent of course.

i feel like it could be more abrasive. still good tho

Abrasive, loud and awesome

Delicious noise. RIP Steve Albini

Really cool

Įdomus experience. Industrinis punk su drum machine, yra tikrai labai įdomių melodijų, tik gan trumpokas albumas su kai kuriom filler vietom. Klausyčiau dar kartą.

Good

I've never listened to this album, although I believe I have listened to a few Big Black tracks before. Steve Albini died earlier this year and I read a few retrospectives on his influence, so I was somewhat primed. This still surprised me a lot, it was twisted and grating and excellent.

I didn't really like the first song much, but as I listened to the album, it continued to grow on me; by the time it ended I was really into it.

Now we're talking! Gives me hope that Bad Brains is on here.

Cool noise

3.5 stars. Angsty and unfiltered but not unlistenable. Felt a bit like dollar store Rage Against The Machine at times. Had some catchy guitar riffs sprinkled in throughout. "Kerosene" is a really good track. Other standout is "Bazooka Joe".

I think the was sitting somewhere between the impossible 3.5 and a four for me. Could never give it a three because it’s far too influential for things that came later. Great guitar tones, great drum machine programming. Best track - Passing Complexion

This reminds me of Talking Heads, if they were actually an electro/80s punk band. The production is raw and in your fucking face, I dig it. I’d give five stars but I’m wondering whether the drums could have been better served by an acoustic drummer, instead of electronic

Take my stars, Steve