Damaged

What a debut!

this is legit an awful album. the vocals are so bad. i really like the instrumental, but the vocals are actually some of the worst ive ever heard.

own

Great album!

Not quite as good as My War, but this is still a damn good hardcore punk album. Just anger, spite, and energy in every song.

Of the early hardcore punk I've heard so far, this is a definite standout. The mixture of aggressive noise, satire, and the dash of pop hooks, ironic or not, hits a real sweet spot. I cranked this up while driving through a suburb and found it to be an appropriate and pleasing experience.

I love this album. Most times I will bitch when the is bad but it works for this one. It's a great album full of fun songs. TV Party is great satire. It's a great example of punk for me. Loud, gritty, kinda silly, and makes a point. I love the whole album.

Was hoping to find a Black Flag on album through this journey. I understand the hype people have gave them through the years. If these guys are considered basically the birth of American Punk then this is as least something as an American I can be a little proud of currently(25’).

I was having a conversation with a friend after listening to this all the way through for the first time. There is an alternative timeline where in my teenaged isolation, anger, and anxiety, I came across Hank Rollins and the boys instead of "Subdivisions." My life might have looked very, very different. Listening to it now, in my thunderous middle age, I can understand why this appealed to so many angsty teens. Stone cold anomie. Good stuff.

I always wondered where all the hype came from and now I get it!

Legendary

One of the many many ‘favourite albums’ I’ve had in the past. Used to love this when I was about 20, and havent really listened to it much since. Its still class though, this is what punk is for me. Not the Sex Pistols. There’s just something more to it, but I cannot articulate what. This was the record that I imagine kick started 1001 hardcore punk bands and everything that followed since. I often sing TV Party to my daughter, takes the edge off In The Night Garden

I don't think I've ever listened to black flag properly, which is ridiculous given the hardcore bands I liked as a teenager. I can hear in this how much they must have influenced them. Sick of it all and pennywise in particular spring to mind. Anyway, this is everything hardcore punk should be, energetic, angry, bit messy. I'll be back. 4.5

This is so good. Hits hard, riffs are killer, Henry Rollins inspires so much passion. I already liked this album. Love it now.

Are you gonna put it all on the table in this review of DAMAGED, old man? Will your review do a roll call of all the singers prior to Henry and talk about who has the best full-throated delivery? Will you talk about the bad business practices of Greg Ginn, or will you stick to discussing only the wailing guitar? Will you write about Robo's drumming or his immigration status? Will you praise the first half's brilliance or bemoan the second half's lackluster moments? Will you talk about the runtime being so short it barely matters? Will you interrogate volume, tempo and tone? Will you defend the sloppy production as authentic? Will you talk about the iconic logo by Raymond Pettibon and his influence on the visual culture of punk? Or the classic cover photo by Ed Colver? Will you analyze Rollins' lyrics versus the lyrics of others? Will you scrutinize performance versus myth? Will you speculate on all the history or ruminate on the legacy? Will you dissect canonization as a concept antithetical to the punk ethos? NO! This album is a refusal. This review is a refusal. Sometimes that's all you need.

Early punk classic

A classic that actually holds up, although it flags a wee bit towards the end

Fuck yeah.

Hey, wait a minute, my TV doesn’t work! It’s broken! No TV party toniiiiiiiight

Let’s have an album party

Easy as pie. Its a near perfect record. I got this one from a highschool friend in the 11th or 12th grade. And I played it over and over again. Rollins growly talk sing and just gutteral raw yells might be one of my favorite vocal performances of all time. I love how real and just kick your ass some songs are and sometimes you get a TV party with dudes screaming about Dallas. Its incredible. The closer damaged 1 is one of the best songs I can think of. You get some classics like gimme gimme gimme. I sure do need some more of this shit. It rocks. It fucks. And I just love every minute of this. Its exactly what I want and nothing more or less. As close to perfect as anything ive reviewed so far. Can't say any more good things about this record. Listen to it, but I get if its not your thing. But if its your thing its really really gonna ne gor you. Hell yeah

Really good punk album, I swear I know the name Black Flag but haven’t heard any of their stuff before.. sure it’s angry and chaotic, but also comical; strict in time but also sloppy as necessary. Great balance. Enjoyment was probably closer to 4 stars but the global reviews are tragically low so rating up.

What's not to love with this album? It's insanely efficient, it's anopologetic, it's quintessentially punk, it opened music to a new whole dimension. I love hardcore, and if I might not be listening to this album regularly, I can pay my tribute to it.

This is exactly my kind of sound. I already owned this album so I knew I would like it. This is just good. Basic punk rock. In one of its purest forms.

Redefining the parameters of hardcore. The songs are harsh, aggressive and ready to smash your face in. Most people will probably hate the hostility and I can understand those feelings - but they're wrong, as underlying all the spit and snarl is some pinpoint satirical humour. You just have to stop the ringing in your ears to hear it. This album is essential. Best Tracks: Six Pack; TV Party; Police Story

great album

Yeah, baby, yeah. This sort of thing is my bag, baby!

Fast loud and amusing classic punk

I really gotta get back to my roots more often, it’s a vibe, it makes me get up and exercise because a fascist got up and exercised today and if they can they I for sure can. Thanks, punks from before my time, for being relevant every new decade.

For better or for worse, reminds me of being 16. Needless to say, I had a great time.

I'd heard of Black Flag before I'd heard Black Flag, and it's hard to imagine modern rock/punk without this influence. I enjoyed this from start to finish. 5/5

Yeah, there is a reason as to why this is like one of THE albums in the hardcore scene. Like yeah it can come off as sophomoric at times but it took punk music to the next level. I actually just read a book that had a section in it about Black Flag and one of the things that stood out was how much Henry Rollins just changed everything the moment he joined the band and how he almost singlehandedly pushed punk to it's extreme. 9/10

Proto Hardcores.

I love hardcore punk so I love this album. One of the GOATs of the genre.

Perfect album. No notes. And its influence is undeniable, even the punk and hardcore bands of today have absorbed it.

Short, angry, with moments of wtf humor while going after america's commercial culture juxtaposed with feelings of depression and loneliness.

Beautifully, wonderfully, aggressively perfect album. The raw aggression, and the DIY feeling of the album only improve music. Wonderful

5.0/5.0: Iconic

iconic punk album, easy 5

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Great!

After the first three songs, I honestly forgot that I'd put this album on for the project instead of personal listening enjoyment. It's right up my alley, excellent stuff.

One of the essential Punk albums. Henry Rollins has enough energy to bring down an entire building here. Rise Above is my clear favorite here but I like everything else on here as well. Maybe not my complete favorite Black Flag album but still a great one nonetheless.

Really good thrash punk rock album. Henry Rollins just destroys!!!

This is probably one of the most influental albums out there. Voice of the youth in those days. And there is nothing more important than that.

Henry Rollins barefoot stomps the Beatles

WHAT DO THEY KNOW ABOUT PARTYING….. OR ANYTHING RLSE?

This time last year I got a Phil Spector Christmas album. That one was awesome. This one is awesome. I was 11 when this came out so it wasn't on my radar. I did see the Rollins Band with Gwar in '90. A memorable gig for sure. This banger is good aggressive fun. Classic Punk.

I have a friend who is probably Rollins' number one fan. I've seen Henry doing his spoken word thing a couple of times. I really enjoyed him as Zaheer in The Legend of Korra. Yet I've never really dug into Black Flag so it was nice to sit down with a short sharp introduction. If you'd asked me if I like hardcore, I would probably say no but albums like this make me question my understanding of hardcore. Faves: Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party, Life of Pain

Raw power hardcore punk music. Rollins is angry and he shows it through every song. My favorites: Six Pack TV Party Thirsty and Miserable Room 13 Must-listen if you say you like punk music. 5/5

Black Flag's Damaged is one of the greatest debut albums in the punk rock genre. Infused with fury, humor and the decency to keep things short and sweet (with a few exceptions), there is an unrelenting intensity across Damaged's thirty-four minutes that would have been laughable if it were any other band (okay maybe Dead Kennedys would have done something similar). It's only in the album's last few minutes where we hear the band drift into a far slower, yet no less menacing, tempo that would be expanded upon in subsequent records. But that's for later. Damaged is essential listening for anyone willing to delve into the American side of punk rock.

Perfection

Absolutely seminal, one of the most influential albums of all time, absolutely bangs.

i am a massive punk fan. this type of grimy, filthy, and typically offensive (at least to some listeners) music is what keeps my faith in music as an art form. being able to just say whatever over simple riffs hits the same way that roadside graffiti hits for me. a simple statement that says "fuck the mainstream" and exists for the sake of creation. id love to see more punk as i keep doing this project.

Full marks for lack of subtlety. I have a huge soft spot in my heart for Henry Rollins.

Brilliant, angry lashing out

Great album of course, with one of the best opening songs, only discovered this album years after its release, it has this typical early 80s american guitar, so like it very much. Well-timed record as well (as I am currently reading Corporate Rock Sucks about SST records).

Loved that.

A pivotal album for hardcore and the indie DIY movement. It takes a couple of listenings but this album is perfect. Raw, ironic, and fun - damaged has it all!

A punk classic.

Hell yeah.

I mean no disrespect to other hardcore punk albums when I say that they had no reason to show up other guitarists in the genre as hard as they did with this album. Every song's riff isn't just technical thrashing, but elaborate guitar riffs that are not only extremely catchy and raw, but are just straight up nasty, and paired with Henry Rollins' "on the brink of death" vocals leads the album to perhaps one of the most earnestly aggressive and destructive punk albums of the 80s. There is no wonder in my mind how this became such a massive hit, as only as the album went on did I find myself into the style more and more, and while the vocals did take some getting used to, returning to the earlier songs after going through the whole album had me realize just how consistent this record is, and featuring fifteen tracks and still pulling that feat off is quite the achievement. It's juvenile in the most charismatic of ways, and while perhaps it can come off as a bit dumb, sometimes that's what you need to get through a day. Great record, I look forward to checking out their sludgier follow-up.

A perfectly realized 35 minutes of hardcore's sound and spirit. Visceral and raw, this album hits hard, fast and loud - an onslaught of lightning riffs, pulverizing drumming and a whole range gutteral screams from agonized drawn wails out to raging machine gun blasts. Damaged captures suburban alienation from the bland world of Reaganism and 80s mass consumerism, articulating its pure hate of the hollow life they promised. Beyond that though Black Flag epitomized the ethos of DIY counterculture, the desire to live differently and make your own way - and the grueling commitment and burnout that involved. This sounds like that - flailing angrily to create rigorously rehearsed chaos.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Quintisential angry young men doing what they need to. But this manages to add in good hooks without turning into Greenday style pop punk. Good lyrics, the bass slaps and Henry Rollins is a beast.

Genre defining

de cover vertelt het al : dit is een agressief plaatje... Rollins op zijn best...korte krachtige songs, met maatschappijkritische en ook hilarische teksten...

Angry anthems for the jaded and disaffected. At age 51 this album still resonates with me as much as it did at 15 when I heard random tracks on a mix tape given to me by a school mate.

Great punk album

THEY HATE US, WE HATE THEM

I think hardcore punk might be my thing. Though as angry as usual, there are little bits of comedy thrown into this album. 100% influenced Nirvana and grunge. Feels like a bedroom that used to be a basement.

Loved it!

TV PARTY TONIGHT

Cool

Loved this, goddamn.

Album 74.. probably the first I've really loved having never heard any of the artist's songs before. I didn't think I'd like hardcore at all, it always seems quite inaccessible, but this is great. I loved the proper punk attitude: anti establishment and unashamedly aggressive, with some spots of sarcastic humour in the lyrics as well. All delivered with an energy and PUNCH befitting the subject matter.

Makes me want to damage

I didn’t know I had such an affinity for 80s hardcore, but based on how my ratings are looking on this project, it looks like I do. This has all of the jagged edges and noisy interludes that you could ever want. Great stuff.

кайф. открыл для себя хардкор панк рок благодаря этому альбому. супер эмоциально, драйвово, грязно, болезненно и жизненно. это тот альбом который я хотел написать в 15 хд. Генри Роллинз монстр. плюс концептик тут есть, целый путь борьбы с собой травмированного (по настоящему) человека, прям чувствуется как он пережил все эти эмоции. вот будь я в плохом эмоциональном состоянии - заслушал бы до дыр. а так, себе конечно добавил, но хз когда вернусь к нему, слишком уж болезненная музыка. короче кайф оценка - 9/10

A hardcore punk classic - genre defining.

Noisy, messy, deceptively simple, plenty of variety, a nod to the past while shaping the future - it's safe to say I'm a fan!

Rise Above- 5/5 Spray Paint- 4.8/5 Six Pack- 4.5/5 What I See- 4.7/5 TV Party- 5/5 Thirsty and Miserable- 5/5 Police Story- 5/5 Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie- 4.9/5 Depression- 4.7/5 Room 13- 5/5 Damaged II- 4.8/5 No More- 5/5 Padded Cell- 5/5 Life of Pain- 4.9/5 Damaged I- 4.7/5 Total- 4.9/5

punk black flag. so fun, so fast.

This album was great! Love punk!

Eerste punkalbum die ik ooit luisterde, in mijn tienerjaren. Dacht altijd dat het enge harde muziek was maar hierdoor kwam ik erachter dat het ook grappig en mijn kant van de politiek was.

Just so energetic and trashy and fun and unable to take itself seriously. It's a totally American take on punk-rock and it's all the better for it.

Punk rock classic. Love the intensity!

FUCK YES. I love this album so much.

Good fun. I especially loved the TV party one. Reminded me very much of my mid twenties.

I was dreading the global reviews on this, and they were what I expected. Here's the thing. If you've never heard Damaged, it's going to sound like a samey racket. But if you were around 14 when you discovered it, it's going to be a foundational record. Guess which I am. Equal parts sarcastically funny, furiously angry, and heartbreakingly sad, it's a vital touchpoint to the evolution of punk rock, hardcore, and metal. But, also very much a "you had to be there" record. I get the objections, but I will always love it.

"My name is Henry and you're here with me now" A classic of hardcore punk. Some Black Flag fans hate Rollins on vocals, but I think the rawness on display here just elevates everything else. I love this album, have since I was an angry young man and I continue to do so as an angry approaching middle age man.

I listened to a little Black Flag here and there in college. TV Party is the door I walked through to really appreciate this group. Through a friend I listened to this many times back then. Today I wasn’t looking forward to listening to this. I expected this to sit poorly with me 36 years later. Turns out we sit together great. I appreciate the introspective and socially conscious lyrics. The music is still really catchy. While I no longer have the energy to jump in a mosh pit, I definitely can spend 35 minutes kicking back to this with a glass of wine! A real surprise that I love this as much now as I did back then!

An absolute classic when it comes to punk and hardcore. This changed everything when I first heard it

Even though I am not a Henry Rollins fan, this was fantastic.

Punk covers a pretty wide spectrum, but if someone asked me to show one album to represent the genre this would be my pick. Fast unconventional instruments, screaming and taking the piss out of society, just really that sense that this is the opposite of what is expected of how one should behave. Tv party was hilarious, mocking how people will get together to hang out and not talk at all. Henry Rollins is one of the all time great. Not an album I would just put on to listen to, and usually wouldn't give a five to an album based on that, but this is a critical punk album and I think warrants the rating despite not being to my personal tastes at this stage of my life.

I was looking for something fast but not as heavy as metal. Lo and behold, I am recommended one of hardcore punk’s best albums. It’s just what I am looking for. Favorite track: TV Party

fuck yeah, this is how you start a Monday morning. I have never listened to this album in full but know so many of the songs. First heard some of them as a little dude watching Repo Man. This a great

From Black Sabbath to Black Flag. If this is truly random that is awesome. Henry Rollins at 20 was a force of nature. The rest of the band was not far behind. Goes on my list for its influence on the genre, but the raw power of this record is incredible. I understand the genre is not for everyone - my Mom was not a fan - but the bursts of energy that come through in every song was impressive to me at 21 and is equally impressive four decades later. TV Party received some airplay but is not indicative of the rest of the songs. I would suggest What I See and Damaged (both I and II) as prime examples of Black Flag's fast and loud credo.

Gotta love the classic LA hardcore

Zaheer did nothing wrong.

p U n K K

Was tempted to give this album a 5 on impact alone, but it's still a little too rough around the edges and inconsistent to garner the perfect rating. But man oh man, is there a lot to say about this one. I've mentioned it before, but I listened to it because of the chapter about Black Flag in Our Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azzerad (imo a must-read for any music fan), and it didn't really resonate at the time, but it definitely FELT like something that I could understand the influence and importance of, especially given Black Flag's reputation and how popular their iconography became, along with the legend of Henry Rollins. Anyway, this album is incredibly important as a harbinger for the production of American music, and I have no issue proclaiming that many, MANY bands that I love today simply would not exist if it weren't for Black Flag. EDIT: changed my mind, it's a 5. Standouts: Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party, Thirsty and Miserable, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, Depression, Damaged II

I've only heard of Black Flag a little bit and I ended up really like this album! I didn't really know what genre they played other than just general rock but I was pleasantly surprised.

A key album in the American wave of punk. An early gateway into what would later become hardcore music. This album brings back so many memories from playing skating games as a kid. Rise above might be one of the best American punk songs, no questions asked.

Tv party

Para el gym

Very enjoyable Listen from a band I’ve been into for a minute. Really led the charge for punk music and set a trend. Like any album there was some down spots but it’s a fast paced punk rock rump. Henry Rollins has some crazy shit to say about frozen yogurt .

My favorite of theirs.

OH YEAH!!!!!! That clears your sinuses. I remember listening to a punk playlist from America and was a little underwhelmed. There was some great pop and garage rock, but it lacked attitude. Then I heard this cacophonous blast of guitars, drums and angry vocals. Just when it couldn't get any better they threw in these shouted extras from the rest of the band. It won't call it harmonies or a chorus, it just sounded like a bunch of blokes with beers telling from the front row. Then I realised they were singing about getting pissed (drunk) and I knew I'd found something special. A great thing about Black Flag is that they've moved on and showed all their musical influences in later albums. This album is a fantastic blast of anger and confusion.

An essential for anyone who wants to get into hardcore. Not only is the energy unmatchable but the classic tracks just keep on coming. Honestly one of my favorite albums. I keep returning to it.

Solid 4, possibly could have sneaked up into a 5.

I sometimes regret not going to them concert when they came to Brazil.

Rise Above could be one of the best songs ever written. This is by far the best Black Flag album and the one of the grand daddies of the punk/hardcore genre.

Rollins gets the glory (deserved) for his explosive delivery, but Ginn and Dukowski were the fuel. Nobody plays like Ginn, not before and not since. Frantic, raw, but with one goofy tune for comic relief, this record was huge for me. Ramones were my intro to punk, Black Flag was the immersion into hardcore.

This is a great album. I've listened to it lot over the years. Good energy and Rollins at his best. It also has a bit of levity that the bands later records lacked.

It's at the top or near the top of the list of best hardcore albums of all time. And rightfully so! I completely get people who don't like this type of music (my wife being one of them, she was NOT happy with me when we listened to this one in the car) but for those of us who do, it's a classic album. Although as I'm now in my 40s and sitting down and watching TV with a beer in hand is my idea of a good time, TV Party isn't the anthem it was when I was in my teens.

Yeah yes shout shout. Great band great message great sound

Undeniably essential, classic, and historical hardcore. Black Flag 🤩

Fucking classic album. High replay value.

Very nice punk album

Brilliant. An American classic.

Awesome 80s punk.

Still raw and impactful after 40 years.

I love this s*** man… shout-out to punk music

epic!!!!!!

Me crié con esto. 40 estrellas.

we are tired of your abuse! try to stop us but it's no use! i thought this is gonna be another screamy rock thing but so far so good oops i zoned out, everything seems to be similar sounding haha im sorry for my uncultured ears Damaged i - WHAT IS HAPPENING, is he being doused with acid or smth

4.5 Classic but almost quaint by today's standards

Tv party so true

I’m not going to say that I love this album but I do feel like I have to grade it on a bit of a curve compared to the rest of the punk on this list. Going into this project I had a guitar hero 3 level of understanding of punk and I thought I actually really liked it. Then I listened to all the punk bullshit on this list. You have to give this album credit because they actually care about sounding like real music instead of having their heads so far up their own asses they think completely deconstructed music is somehow the apotheosis of western music tradition. So props for not being assholes.

An essential piece of hardcore punk. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

Great classic punk album! Love it!

I like a lot about this album. The guitar sound is great. Fast and to the point songs. Rise Above is a great opener, a classic punk anthem. And some of the themes were ahead of their time, specifically Depression, it’s not the lost nuanced, but I don’t think mental health was talked about much in 1981.

Damaged was certainly a wild ride from start to finish. This album reminds me a lot of GI by Germs in a lot of ways. This album knows how to get right to the point as these songs are only around 3 minutes and i also like how this album doesn't take itself too seriously especially in songs like TV Party where the lyrics are hilariously stupid in the best possible ways. I thought i was gonna have a problem with the mixing of this album when i scouted ahead a bit but for what it is, it sounds fine. My only real problem is that these songs can feel quite samey and there is 15 of them so that doesn't help matters. Even so, this album was definitely a fun ride. Best Song: TV Party Worst Song: Spray Paint

Archetype punk music. I'm a fan Highlights: "Six Pack," "TV Party," "Police Story"

Who knew nihilism could be so fun. '81 must have been a tough year.

I liked it mostly, minor threat came on after and blew it out of the water

Strong 3,5

Obviously very influential punk. Just some guys having a good time. How can you not listen to TV Party and have a good time.

“The album was largely ignored by critics and the public at the time of its release, but has since been recognized as a classic and one of the most influential punk rock records ever made” -the Wikipedia page I think that says everything. This record is full of early punk bangers and deserves its flowers.

Cracking punk thrash noise.

3.75

I was expecting a 35-minute wall of ANGRY MAN YELLING. There was a fair amount of that, but it was understandable. It's not just a torrent of screaming. The drum work is SOLID. The guitar work is there, but it's rough and choppy and distorted, which is exactly what you expect from a punk album. What you don't expect is the frat-boy brattiness of "Six Pack" and "TV Party". You don't expect the juvenile litany of first-world problems. You DON'T expect how YOUNG Henry Rollins sounds. It's approachable punk and had me nodding my head at times. It's still not my style. My Rating: 4/5

This was such an interesting album to me. "Raw" and "Wild" are the words I want to use for the singing and instrumentals. I feel like it all worked together, though. Very different, but it oddly enough caught my ears.

Liked it more than I suspected beforehand. I did like the more lighthearted ones better, like TV party. Seeing listener numbers, probably more people agree with that.

very punkish sound, kinda like it

Like others, I wasn't looking forward to this when I read it, but, man, it was a great time. I had forgotten how good the rocking anarchist rage felt. Musicality aside, it is an exercise in early-Gen X-no fucks to give angst and I'm here for it. 4.

A SoCal hardcore album two days in a row? Cool! I liked this one a lot better than I liked the Circle Jerks. Same sort of sound, but I think I like Henry's vocals a lot more. There's a certain diy ethic to this album as well. Genuinely a fan.

8/10

Really a toss up between the Stooges and Ginn for the epitome of how a loud guitar should sound. Rollins has never really done much for me as a vocalist, although I used to enjoy this writing and spoken word stuff. Live footage from the jazz/sludge era really shows how much of a presence he was, not yet quite the cartoonish sack of self-loathing/worship he would soon become, but vocally, that just doesn’t come across nearly as hard as Ginn, Dukowski, even Robo for all his faults.

1001 albums to hear before you get real damage 78# gimme hardcore punk me like SCREAMINNN This band was a staple on Hardcore punk making one of the most important albums to the genre beginnings. It's frantic, high paced, seems dumb but has meaning, like on Six Pack, appears to be just screaming six pack cause it's funny, the meaning being a person who isolated himself becoming drink addict and believing that a six pack will just save him, even the six pack has more value than his girlfriend lol. Don't become an alcoholic. The deliver is always kind of funny and full of energy DAMAGE, MY DAMAGE i would love to see minor threat have a place in the list, but i don't believe it

Henry Rollins voice is the absolute epitome of the hardcore punk sound. Its that strained shouting voice that sounds frantic and almost unsure of what the next thing is that he is going to say. And it is clear to see that a number of hardcore punk bands like AFI and the vandals have been inspired by this style. The songs are loud and full of dirty thrash guitar. It almost feels like the vocals and the instruments are in a competition to see who can drown.the other out. It makes me think of clubs with cheap beer, plastic glasses and sticky carpets. So reminiscent of my student days. (3.850)

I don't think I've actually ever listened to this. Very rough around the edges. But so influential it's undeniable at this point.

Very fitting to get this album after ABBA. Felt like a breath of fresh air. Nothing fake about it. Listening to this makes you want to open a slightly warm beer while walking to a dusty concert with your friends who don't like to talk about jobs and relationships. Instead, they talk about the current affairs and what's wrong with the world. A bit too hardcore punk for me, but I will give it a listen again for sure.

Edgy first song good

Solid album. Not always in a punk mood, but when I am, I can’t ask for much more.

Found my new gym playlist. Badass West Coast punk.

I was in college when this album came out, and I remember it sounding as revolutionary as it was. It's a style of music that can sometimes feel like too much. But other times nothing else will do. TV Party!!

The vinyl came damaged but I won't return it.

Classic album - wouldve loved to go to a live show

Oh, so THIS is the band Henry Rollins was in. I learned something today. Black Flag is one of those bands I know of, but had never heard from before. The verdict. Heavy punk rock. True punk songs need to be thrashy and short. Two minute songs are a punk staple, and they stay true to that so I'll bump them up a notch. This is perhaps a bit more thrashy with the vocals than I prefer, but still very good stuff.

Aún no crean mejor actividad que ver tele y tomar chela

Now this is some real-ass punk music! That is, of course, not to be confused with real ass-punk music, which is something that I want to stay away from. But yeah, Black Flag's Damaged is cool as hell. This album has all of the staples of hardcore punk, which makes sense as Black Flag is somewhat of a pioneer for the genre. Everything's here! The rowdy production, blazing-fast pacing of the album and its songs, lyrics comprised by a mix of heavy-handed politics and personal frustrations, chanting vocals courtesy of punk icon and Legend of Korra voice actor Henry Rollins, and many more elements all coalesce into the forming of an album that is the perfect example of everything that makes hardcore punk hardcore. Side note: isn't it funny that they got Henry Rollins to voice a villain in The Legend of Korra that literally just looks like Henry Rollins? I think that's funny. He did a great job with it though. Definitely one of the highlights of that show in its later seasons. Alright, back to the album. I don't have a ton to say, but that's mostly because the album kinda speaks for itself. It's very consistent, always energetic, and generally pretty great. "Rise Above" is just an excellent opener, and the 14 songs that follow do not disappoint. Damaged is great. 4/5.

Whilst it is apparent that a lot of this could have been averted through therapy / national service, it’s entertaining enough, in an infantile way.

A fine example of Coz-core, nice straightforward American hardcore punk that makes you wanna skateboard and drink out of a brown paper bag, I like it!

4/5 I needed this so bad today! I got my ass PADDLED last night and I still have a ton of residual energy only Henry Rollins would understand.

Absolutely disgusting from top to bottom. But in a way, it totally works for me. THIS, to me, is what punk is supposed to be. Brutal, unapologetic, simple, and ugly. Filled to the brim with hatred. Once in a while, everyone needs something like this. A lot of punk bands boiled this music down to serve it to the masses, but it seems like Black Flag cooked it up in the first place. Respect. Fave tracks: - What I See - TV Party - Police Story - Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie - Depression - Life Of Pain - Damaged I

Absolutely class early hardcore. Some really sick heavier tracks on the thing.

Prima pønk.

👌

Likte denne! Fun fact 1: Henry Rollins var første artist som spilte på Orange Scene etter Pearl Jam-tragedien. Han var het uberørt. Fun fact 2: Black Flag skapte sounden til at gruge. Mer info kan fås på Blå Rock over en øl.

Superior Album.

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Ganz gut.

Even if you think this album is damaged goods, at the very least, appreciate the fact this was the beginning of Hardcore Punk Rock music. Aside from that, this album is the perfect album to have blaring at a house party(assuming those still exists) Favorite Track: "TV Party".

4 ⭐️ actually really LIKED this. bit of a change of pace compared to the previous album lol. a bit more messy, angry, & “hardcore” than I’d usually listen to, but surprisingly that was not a bad thing! I liked that the songs were short, lots of energy songs I already knew: n/a fave new song(s): rise above, no more

'Rise Above" and "Depression" are definitely going in my playlist. The concept is powerful. The simple words actually get the message across in some songs, but mostly the lyrics get muddled up, making it hard to understand. 'TV Party' is such a vibe, life story for real!! I like how simple and quirky it is; a full on sitcom episode and I love that. Rest of the album was an experience (not my type but it was worth listening to).

Death Grips mentioned

Good shit.

Love it. Crazy energy and simple production. My jam

Nice

didn’t even have to listen to it again to rate it LMAO

8/10 Great punk record especially for a genre I don't care for a lot, crazy that this is a debut album.

Classic punk album. I love Black Flag.

4.5/5

Aqui temos um álbum punk agressivo, sujo, urgente e todos aqueles adjetivos tipicamente dados. Entretanto nesse álbum vemos tudo isso mesmo. A gravação é extremamente crua e sem polimento. Parece que a banda tinha 1h para gravar tudo e entregar o estúdio então chegaram, tocaram e foram embora. Como esperado, não há melodias fáceis e nem hits radiofônicos, muito menos arranjos rebuscados. O que há: vocal gritado; guitarras abrasivas e sujas ao extremo; bateria básica, porém certeira e músicas de não mais que 3 minutos. Conhecia o "pseudo hit" da banda que está nesse disco: "TV Party" (que é ótimo sim, e na letra mostra um lado menos raivoso dos garotos punks ingleses daquela geração). Outros destaques: "Rise Above" (outro "pseudo hit"), "Six Pack", "Gimme Gimme Gimme", "Depression", "Room 13" (acho que tem uma guita bottleneck aqui), "Damaged II", "Padded Cell" e "Life of Pain".

Hard hitting energetic music that makes me want to thrash around.

I don't know Black Flag very well, but Damaged is the album I think I've heard the most. But it rocks; it rocked when I was 18 the first time I heard it (17 years after it came out, lol), and it still rocks today. 4/5

Really good album that starts to drag near the end. The front half is like 4/5 material but the back half is more like 3/5 realm, so I'm gonna split the difference. 3.5/5

You know, better than expected. Henry rollins is an iconic figure in punk but also I knew him more from his acting and his general presence in documentary/media surrounding music history. His music seems so iconic that it really is easya to parody but there is a nice ferocity to it. TV party is fun. Rise above is a jam. Thirsty and Miserable is great. This feels like without these guys, we would not have Idles. The back half drags a little more but it's a great punk record.

After reading the little blurb, I’m quite excited for this. I love a good punk record, Especially one from a group I’ve never heard of. Starting off with Rise Above! This is the type of song that my friend, who only listens to pop, would classify as hard to dance to. I’m not a huge fan of the more hardcore vocals, I’m more of a clean vocals punk girlie, but I’m vibing with the song as a whole! I’m loving the bass work in six pack. It’s a fun lil song. I’m appreciating that this is a shorter album too, I’ve found that a lot of early punk albums are shorter which just means to me that they don’t overstay their welcome the way some other genres tend to do. The fabulous bass lines continue in What I See and TV party, just shows how much fun punk albums can be. It’s almost like a Blink-182 precursor which is honestly great! The fact that this is one of the longer songs on the album too just makes me laugh. I’m a bit of a hypocrite because I’d probably flame an album in another genre for a song like this, but oh well. Thirsty and Miserable jumps back into the awesome guitar led music. This whole album has had me head-banging the whole time. The driving drums in Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie are awesome! Depression was a track I genuinely enjoyed, somewhat ironic but oh well. I really liked No More, the beginning was super cool. I also loved the music in Life of Pain. It was quirky. Unfortunately I didn’t really like Damaged 1, the closer of this album. Ugh, I have to rate this now. I’m honestly torn on a rating for this, as I do like the genre and this album. I just don’t know if it really has worked its way up enough to the level of my 4* albums, so it will be a 3.5/5 ⭐️. A good listen today! 19/1089

Perfectly punk 15 songs in 30 minutes, everyone doing their own thing and somehow making it sound cool

Listened Before? Y Good hardcore punk. Not for everyone, but I appreciate it. Quick and hard-hitting songs with yelled vocals. Influential since it was released. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Rise Above

My favorite punk rock album allocated so far.

ABSOLUTE BEAST HARDCORE WILL NEVER DIE

Great slacker punk anarchy. Funny and angry all at once!

8.5 / 10

I just loved the energy. Honestly that's enough for me and my half-witted brain.

Noisy heavy punk. I like it.

A wretched mess of an album, in the best way possible. This thing goes hard, but also somehow manages to have dynamics that makes for a multi-faceted listening experience -- no small feat for a punk album. \m/

One of black flags best

Pivotal

I thought the guitar tone and the sporadic playing of said instrument was really quite cool. It didn't get repetitive like many other punk albums of the era. While I'm not really into the oi-shout stuff, I found the lyrics quite clever. Especially on TV Party. For 34 minutes it gave a bit of punk variety, which would normally get boring after 3 songs. I probably won't listen again in a rush, but I enjoyed it! 4 stars.

Not my genre, tried really hard to keep an open mind, but that voice…

Хардкор-панк, какого много, но учитывая год выпуска – очень хорошо. Инфернальный вокал и мощный бас – высший пилотаж! Лучшая песня: Damaged I

Raw and uncompromising, its hardcore punk at it's finest.

I would have loved to have seen this live wow Best Song: Rise Above Rating: 8/10 Stars: 4

Pretty cool energy, hardcore punk

I typically like music that sounds wonderful when it has solid electric guitar play and sounds good loud. I was surprised that Damaged met my requirements. I liked it. I thought it was fun and made me smile. That doesn’t happen with a lot things I listen to the first time.

Fast.

I found the beginning of this album to have a somewhat generic punk sound, but something about the silliness of TV Party caught my attention, and then it really grew on me. The sound got more hard core and I started hearing it for the influence it must have had on grunge. I imagined Kurt Cobain listening to this album and that several songs could have easily been his-- Room 13 for instance. A quick Google search confirmed that this was in fact one of Cobain's favorite albums that he listened to often. I don't think that will be the same for me but I am glad to have heard this one.

I love that the first album it recommends is hardcore punk, also “we are born with a chance" Quite fond of the political message Read some about them and turns out this band is one of the pioneers of punk rock and are super influential in punk culture, as well as the DIY mentality on the subculture (they ate that up) " Black Flag was among the first bands to suggest that if you didn't like the system, you should simply create your own"

Straight to the point. Snowflakes can leave — the kid's section is elsewhere.

Now this is punk!

Yeah it’s good ok

forming hearts wired in irons, goes hard

Nothing goes harder than good punk music.

i like the sincerity of the lyrics. its a common staple for punk, especially the early stuff, but it shines through here. theres no hiding behind metaphors, its all brevity here.

This is a messy and noisy album, but definitely worthy of a listen if you have any interest in punk music. Yes, some of the lyrics are a bit immature, but I think it's notable that very few people in "macho" type bands of this era were singing so candidly about mental health issues. There's only a few songs on here that I'd return to, but glad to have given it a full listen, as I only really knew Rise Above before this.

It sounds like they came up with the names of the songs before writing them

Great old hardcore album that I’d never really given too much time. Good mix of stupid and meaningful lyrics.

I liked it but would have to be in the mood for it.

not bad for classic punk

Influential punk

I think I could summarize this record as "I'm so angry, I'm going to drink a beer, crush the can with my hands, and then I'll throw it as far as possible, and I'll scream as much as I can while I see it fall". That may seem very dramatic, but so is the album too. From start to finish, Henry Rollins is screaming his lungs out while touching several topics like depression, rebellion or... drinking beer with friends? Well, most of the tracks of the album might feel very serious, but there are a couple of songs, those being 'Six Pack' and 'TV party', that are a little bit goofy, specially the last one, which even sounds very happy (that's why I included the beer part in the introduction). The singer might be one of the highlights, but the rest of the members don't fall behind. There are some killer guitar riffs and bass lines; and the pace is so fast and energetic that it makes me headbang. However, there's a problem. The instruments can feel very undeproduced. For an album that sounds so aggressive, I wish it was a bit louder. Another complain I have is that, towards the end, it may feel a bit monotonous. Nevertheless, it is a sound that I enjoy, so I could take it. Overall, really great album.

This is definitely a classic album that helped define American Hardcore. I have to admit, listening to it now doesn’t quite hit the same way it once did, but there was definitely a time in my life when this album hit hard and really resonated with me. For anyone researching the roots of Hardcore, this is without a doubt one of the top albums to check out.

A punk rock classic. Kind of unhinged in the best possible way.

This was an awesome to listen to. I never had heard it, or much of Black Flag, but the sound is one that was so influential. It was awesome to hear something so simple hit so hard

Raw energy. Simplistic in a good way. A true keystone in American Punk music. 4/5 Would listen again.

(83/100)

Good classic hardcore punk!

Love the raw energy on this album. The early heavy punk sound is rad and some of these songs make you want to run through a wall.

#724. There's a lot of shitass British punk albums on this list, but they're all basically the same and pretty mid at best if we're being honest. This is what punk should sound like. 4/5: great

Really liked the production, it’s not like anything else I’ve heard especially from the 80s. Will listen again

Pretty solid.

Brutal

It's some raw shit for sure. Rise Above is a classic. The rest is the same punch to the face the mirror on the cover got. Real punk.

Don't give me a reason to not bump Black Flag, throwing myself around my office like Henry Rollins would want. Fuck the man.

Keep the punk coming!

Ready to run through a freaking wall…

A fun listen. Straddling the line between Punk and Hardcore. And Henry Rollins is a saint.

Utvilsomt en klassiker og essential listening, men det er ikke en skive jeg pleier å komme tilbake til. Innflytelsen er det ingen som tviler på, men er det den beste hardcore skiva fra tidlig 80-tallet? Det er ikke engang den best Black Flag skiva. (My War, åpenbart.) Dagens standout: Spray Paint. Misforstått som en throwaway interlude mellom skivas høydepunkter Rise Above og Six Pack, finner vi en proto-grindcore låt med et budskap det er lett å hengi seg til.

TV PARTY TONITE!

Must have been mad to hear this at the time if you were used to the sex pistols level of punk, did pretty much invent the hardcore punk genre. I like it but definitely prefer minor threat from those early bands. Sounds completely authentic and raw but I don't think it's aged very well, other bands did a lot more with the sound. Rise above is class, happy to listen to them every now and then but bit too dated to get hooked. 3.5..

On the album are songs that can be in a 2000s film about a group of teens. I like the song “depression” it has something. I would give the album a 7/10

Mange av puslebrikkene faller på plass i punkepuslespillet

Overraskende bra for å være punk.

This was awesome. I preferred hardcore to punk by a mile. I never listened to their studio stuff but I remember in high school I had the live recording who’s got the 10.5. Gimmie gimme gimme is just awesome. Gonna go play that live record now. I remember listening to the bass on that record and wanting to learn. Awesome stuff.

Damaged is an album from the very early days of Hardcore Punk and when listening to it you can very much tell that in the overall structure, sound, and ideas the band is throwing out. It is a very simple project much like a lot of The Ramones' work, but instead of being very simple instrumentals and bare bone lyrics this album embodies the rage and angst of your typical teenager/early adult that really hasn't been captured as beautifully in its' harsh and jaggedness as on this LP. Some will hate how raunchy and tough it tries to be while others will enjoy it for the same reasons, it is a polarizing album that still stands the test of time and manages to continue to define a phase I'd argue 90% of people have gone through or are still going through in a way that makes you feel heard. I haven't heard this album in full in easily 3 years, but upon relisten I have to say I still very much resonate with this project. Maybe it is because I am still hugely into Punk music or maybe I am just showing off my age here, either way Black Flag still absolutely slaps and so does Damaged well over 40 years later.

A classic west coast hard core punk album.

Is there a record for the album responsible for the most smashed gear on a tour?

15 songs in 34 minutes. 60s rock bands take note: That is how you make an album. A 4, but maybe a low 4.

Punk classic.

Probably the quintessential bridge between punk and hardcore.

Quintessential hardcore punk

I love the album, but I recognize that it's not a masterpeice.

Overall quite enjoyed it, solid album

If you don't like this you don't like punk. If you've never heard punk this is a great place to start. RISE ABOVE...

Who is the burliest punkboii you can think of? If you didn’t say Henry Rollins, it’s probably because you haven’t heard of Henry Rollins. That burly boy is the frontman of today’s band - Black Flag. I know I’d heard some Black Flag before today, but I’d struggle to say which songs. Nothing here sounded familiar anyway, although I did quite enjoy it. Bafflingly, even my sister who usually listens to exclusively country music said she didn’t mind this, as it was on while I drove us to go white water rafting. I’ve rambled enough now. This is a pretty good punk album.

En all-time vred plade. Virkelig mange klassikere på, egentlig

Loved it. Great energy.

Now this is punk. I feel like I’ve gotten weak ass, corporate, major record company released punk all before this. Sorry, The Sex Pistols always were and always will be industry plants. THIS is punk.

Solid fast and furious punk. Solid lyrics well done, sounded great. Really liked.

I was somewhat intimidated by this album’s reputation - hardcore thrash punk from wild-eyed Californian anarchists, but it’s surprisingly accessible. Listening to it is like standing on a cliff top in a storm, being buffeted by the wind and feeling the danger and exhilaration of something raw and primal. There’s the classic punk sound, reminiscent of The Ramones, but they play with that simple structure by changing the tempo and adding new elements. OK, some of the lyrics are screamed and difficult to follow, but others are compelling songs and some highly effective spoken word passages from Henry Rollins in the title track Damaged I, showing where he would later go with his poetry. My favourite track was probably TV Party, about the joys of watching your favourite shows like Hill Street Blues and Dallas, whilst drinking a few brews. There’s a twist coming though - what if your tv is broken? Oh noes! Punk-tastic!

Proper punk music - gets a little weaker toward the end. The fact that it’s 1981 and still hits the spot today speaks volumes.

Angsty and critical of everything. I would have loved this album growing up, but not as into it now.

Fuzzy, fast, fierce. Fuck yeah.

A good Punk Rock band. But a band that I discovered through the GTA franchise. They are raw and dirty, as every good punk band should be. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done clearly and to the point. 4 stars.

Really great hardcore classic. The songs stayed punchy but it never got too repetitive. Some absolute catchy bangers mixed in here as well.

Piedra Angular del Punk.

When I was a teenager, this was a 5. Now, I still gotta give it a 4.

I listened to this 2x in a row. It was better than I remembered.

Wow, Henry Rollins before he was "Henry Rollins!" I've always wanted to listen to a Back Flag album and now I have. Thanks 1001 list! Liked Songs Added: Spray Paint

Oh yeah. Loud, fast, short, intensive.

Quick, hardcore, & poggers

Classic, seminal punk where Henry Rollins learned to be Rollins.

bacana

Know this was an influence for Dave Grohl based on his book. Very punk

Punk! Fuck yea!

I try to add context to these things. So I give this a higher rating than I might. Why? Because if you only listen in the moment, you’d say this sounds like a lot of punk. But this is foundational. So 4. Take that back. Knock it down to a 3 due to some production issues.

I like punk

Noisy in a good way

Very raw hardcore/punk album. I've always preferred My War, I just think his voice fits the slower and deeper music better. Low 4.

Great hardcore album. Good variety of songs, and TV Party was pretty hilarious.

I can certainly see how it was so influential. The lisp is iconic. Also, I know it's supposed to be ironic but a TV party does sound pretty fun

Lots of fun. Classic sneering hardcore

American The Clash

Blisteringly relevant Timeless Hard Core Noise

Sound of my childhood

4 - the og hardcore. Mix is a bit rough but the energy is definitely there

Les américains ont élu deux fois un misérable punk à la con alors qu'ils avaient le grand Henri Rollins !!!

I only knew Black Flag through "Black Coffee", an anthem for my drug of choice. But instead of fun, biting punk, this is more depressing, introspective, and angry - the chaotic and discordant instrumentals reflecting the torture in the mind and soul. It's taking hard rock and punk, and stripping it down to - tell us how you really feel, which can feel angry sometimes. the TV song has analogies to my favorite Pink Flag, but I like raw this whole thing is.

Some pretty great punk here. Also a lot of alcoholism. As a political program, this feels less like strident punk and more like primal shouting. As primal shouting though, it's pretty solid. Guitar is solid ,rocks pretty hard. You can't the lyrics that well, but you get enough, and they're often semi-coherent shouting anyway (complimentary). Runs out of steam on the back half a little. And TV party stinks. And the counterculture of the late 70s/early 80s was cooking. The way the pop art and angry-bitter art of this era separate is something to think on further

This may be an exemplar and a critical album in the evolution of the hardcore punk sound, and for that I'm willing to give it four stars. But I just don't think that it's a fantastic sound when everything sounds so similar and is at the same intensity and emotional tenor.

\m/\m/

claaaaassiccc

Let me be apparent from the get-go that this debut album from Black Flag is a foundational record from the hardcore punk scene, and that cannot be denied. The fast guitar riffs from Dez Cadena, the shredding lead from Greg Ginn, the chugging bass from Chuck Dokowski, the visceral howls from Henry Rollins, the claustrophobic atmosphere as the album transitions from the wild party into pure self-destruction, the timelessness of the lyrics that stray from any explicit political references. These elements coalesce into a brutal record that served as a much-needed catharsis for the underappreciated youth that has maintained relevance, even if some of the shows mentioned on "TV Party" have long ended. Sure, it's not a lyrically deep record, and the grooves could have afforded a little more support on the low end to drive them further in the mix. But those issues I have don't stop Damaged from being a potent slice of bleak introspection that has transcended its time.

I can no longer say that I don’t understand Black Flag. Prior to this experience, I have tried to listen to the album specifically and it just was not something I could appreciate. It was abrasive, fast and felt sloppy. Everything sounded the same if I felt tired by the end. This time though, the abrasive and fast aspects of the feel unrelenting and angry. I could feel it for once. I could FEEL it. I am so hyped up on adrenaline right now I could run the 2 brick walls. I think the lead vocalist will run through them first though. Henry Rollins here. Just an oppressive presence throughout this 34 minute run time. The energy never falls through. It’s 200% go-go-go the whole time. The rest of the band tries their best to keep up. And yet, it works for me now. I felt the pocket the band was in and found myself constantly banging my head. I’m so excited to listen to more Black Flag.

I grew up with this music. It was already old, but new to me. I haven't played it for years. It's harsher than I remembered. There's still new bands that try to sound like this. Favorite song: depression. They recorded more versions of this song before Henry Rollins became the singer. The other versions are better.

LOVE IT!! Such an awesome cover too... rules

Hell yeah Henry Rollins! Johnny Mnemonic is one of my favourite movies. I would especially recommend the black & white version.

just such a perfect capsule of one of the coolest sounds on earth