Reviews (page 4 of 7)
Of all the hardcore punk bands, this would be the one that I like the most. The melodies and catchiness is actually pretty good on this
Henry Rollins is a genuinely fascinating guy. His long term anti-homophobia stance, his outspoken views about US politicians sending young people to their deaths in pointless wars, his weird friendship with William Shatner. And I really like a lot of punk, so this should be a 5 star for me... It isn't. I like the music quite a lot, but I don't think Rollins is a great lead vocalist. After I finished this album, I let Amazon autoplay and I got Bad Religion, The Ramones, Minor Threat, the Buzzcocks, the Clash all of which I love. All of which have better vocals (even Minor Threat). Rise Above is probably the stand out track (and incidentally one of the most melodic) but I really like the bassline in What I See and TV Party (which is a clapping song - yay!). My issues with the vocals makes rating this difficult. Because we're at a 3 or 4 for the instrumental but around a 2 for the vocal and lyrics. I'm going to settle on: 3/5 (But I still think Henry Rollins is awesome)
Grei arbesmusikk. Ikkenomer
Nytt for meg - føles ut som en konsert jeg kunne sett på revolver i morgen. Klassisk punk som egentlig bare kan nytes ordentlig når det er live? Litt UKM vibes.
Punk som faen. Litt for grøtete for min smak.
3 out of 5 Great punk band and album. Kind of angry,
clearly isn't meant to be heard on headphones while cooking a quiet dinner at home
Waaaahhhhhhh
That was crazy. Going to give that another spin on my next run. Should get me going at a quicker pace.
I'm certainly not hardcore anymore. Would be fun to see live but I'm not really getting the full energy from the recording. I like my punk more poppy.
you know what. heck yeah
This morning I needed a fast paced album to motivate me for attempting a PB in a 5k... Damaged is a loud, energetic hardcore album, just over half an hour long, with most songs around two minutes long. Id say 1001 generator got this one right! Cool album with a distinctive influential sound. Some really standout drum fills and lively vocals. Enjoyed it, but probably wont listen through again given it's pretty repetitive 7/10
wow...it's very...loud I can feel his words in my soul, like an angsty teenager who this that they're all alone and this is not a phase. (I'm not sure if any of this makes sense) However, it is a bit too hard on my ears, but I think as the album progressed, I ignored the screaming and focused on the meaning of the songs, making my experience slightly more tolerable. A solid 5/10
Incredible album cover
Look, there’s something to be said for coming in, delivering your message and getting the fuck out again. We’re going to watch TV and drink beer. Oh no, the TV is broken so we’ll just drink beer then. I’m not above enjoying a bit of mindless hardcore but I do feel like it’s wasted if it’s not the soundtrack to a session on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater.
I like punk, but there seems to be every sub-genre of it on this list which doesn’t seem to be a luxury given to other genres. Know black flag and this is alright in that teen angst way, so whatever. It flys by as punk should and doesn’t overstay its welcome. I probably didn’t enjoy this as much as last time I heard it in whatever year that was. 3 Star
The singing is awful, a lot of the songs sound the same, and a lot of the songs are extremely dark and depressing. I enjoyed it!
Great Punk album - absolutely flying through the songs.
I used to be so intimidated by this album. I knew that Black Flag were hardcore punk pioneers and that Henry Rollins was a maniac, and I figured it would be just too extreme for me. But time tends to soften these things and now, in 2026, this is just a really good punk rock record. Yes, there are intense songs with high octane vocals, particularly in the second half, but then there’s nothing inaccessible in tracks like Rise Above. You can hear how it influenced the next 25 years of rock. There’s even elements of self-satire, with TV Party and Six Pack. And that album cover is kick ass.
Not bad.
Rollins rules so hard
It’s good. Surprisingly.
I loved this when I first heard it, and it starts off at a fair lick and keeps on going. But it got a bit one-dimensional pretty quickly.
You don't play a Black Flag album to enjoy it. You play it as a release for all the fucked up things that are happening out there. I wasn't in the mood for it this morning. The Carpenters seemed more appropriate for my mood. Damaged does its job well though. I would have bloody loved this as a 15 year old. It didn't feel right, forty years later.
Charming in a funny kinda way, I like the guys voice but I just can’t give an album more than a 3 if the singer can’t actually sing
Hardcore punk Rise above TV party
Important I’m sure, but lost on me, what can I say
not something I'd listen to again but I'm glad I got a taste of a staple punk band
Pretty good
Debut album from Black Flag, the definitive punk sound from U.S.
Enjoyed the blast from the past, but it got a little long for me. Had Minor Threat just three days ago. Those two albums really tool me back to my early teen years. Liked the MT a little more than the BF, although young Henry is always great.
Heh….. classic…….. 😂
Listened Before: No Not my vibe but on a second listen this morning I get how it's pretty fun. The lyrics to Six Pack and TV Party are hilarious! It's fun to picture my dad listening to this when he was like 19. Playlist add: Six Pack
Not for me
Leuk punk album. Echter, wordt het na 5 nummers een beetje saai. Favorieten: tv party, gimme gimme gimme, no more, padded cell Minst favorieten: six pack, depression
This is tough. I love punk albums. High energy, short songs. I didn’t love this one, but this was early 1980s. Completely different than what was out there.
Not an album I'd listen to start to finish all that often, but still enjoyable. Favorite songs: Rise Above and TV Party
A proper banger. Really good to hear from start to finish.
15 songs, 35 minutes - Black Flag didn't mess around. A bit of angry punk never hurt anyone
Wow that was a blast! Not really something I’d normallly listen to but a change certainly.
Energetic and well put together. Not really the type of punk rock I listened to but worthy nonetheless. 3.5
Okay
This album is high energy and full of chaos. The singer of the band is scream singing on every song and it can be a lot at first for sure. When i started playing the first song i was like wtf is happening, but as i listened to the words more i realized this is an album filled with rage, rebellion, and anarchy and i fuck with that. I looked at the average rating before going into the album so that made me a bit scared the disjointed sound of the first song had me scared, but i really enjoyed the album. The one issue i had with the album tho is sonically it sounds clunky and weird at some points. Like it sounds like they hit the wrong beat sometimes. I don’t know if it’s intentional but it threw me off a little at first. Also the instrumental elements of the song are very similar for all the songs. There isn’t much experimentation in sound or rhythm so a lot of the songs have a similar sound. Overall it’s a fun listen and i see why this is on the list.
first listen decent octane
This is my kind of music, but this is an early version of the sound, less figured out and raw, but also lacking musically a bit because of it. Henry Rollins is a God, though.
When I was in high school, I had a huge crush on a girl who told me her favorite band was Black Flag. When I got a car, I went to buy a Black Flag album so I'd have it in the car just in case. I never could bring myself to ask her out. And I never could bring myself to buy a Black Flag album. I got Clapton's greatest hits instead. I'm pretty sure now I made the right choices back then.
TV party is a highlight
Not exactly my cup of tea as far as punk goes, but these guys can SHRED. Highlights: Rise Above, Six Pack, Thirsty and Miserable, Police Story, Depression, Damaged II
Good punk
This was very raw and almost badly performed, to the point where there are songs in here where the drummer is off his own timing. The good thing is that the style makes it so it hardly matters, and if it was perfectly in time it might even take away something from it. Rollins has never been a great singer in a musical sense but he brings a lot of energy to his vocals and this is no exception. I guess this is in here because this is a fundamental hardcore record. I don’t think it’s particularly great but I didn’t dislike it.
Eh, I love Henry Rollins as a person, and I don’t hate Black Flag as a band. But the music feels pretty one dimensional…which is essentially my problem with almost all hardcore punk. Actually, I would say this is better than most hardcore punk bands. It’s got more going on for it than screaming over four power chords. It’s like 5 power chords with the occasional riff thrown in. It’s not boring, but it’s not not boring either. I dunno, it’s ok. 3/5
I surprisingly quite enjoyed this. On first listen I was hesitant as this style of harsh, repetitive, aggressive punk music has never really clicked with me, however on first listen this album felt pretty engrossing to me, and a lot less monotonous than I expected. The standout tracks for me were Rise Above and TV Party. Sonically it’s very harsh and grating, and sounds kind of how I imagine a mental break would feel. Although the lyrics at points could become rather repetitive and tedious, the focus on seemingly rebelling against every aspect of life was something I can’t say I’ve heard much. It felt like the band were breaking down every aspect of society and going against it. For the time I can definitely see why it was influential, although the influence may be lost on me, I understand the impact it probably had on the music space in the 80’s. I don’t really see myself returning to it, but I appreciate it.
Great record
Pretty good production vocals are pretty clear for a punk album not very good though
6/10
Fun to listen to once but a bit samey
Album 991 of 1089 Damaged - Black Flag (1981) Rating : 2.5 / 5 This one hit me in the head pretty early in the morning, and I’ll admit right away that my teenage self would have enjoyed this a lot more than I do now. Time changes how you hear things. That said, for what Black Flag was going for, they absolutely nailed it. This album is raw, aggressive, and unapologetic - no polish, no smoothing the edges, just pure energy and attitude. The playing is tight in its own chaotic way, and Henry Rollins’ vocals are intense enough to make sure the message lands whether you want it to or not. It’s not something I’d reach for today, and it’s not the kind of album I’m going to sit with for enjoyment, but I can easily respect its place and its influence. This is hardcore punk doing exactly what it set out to do, and doing it well. Sometimes the appreciation comes more from understanding the intent than from personal enjoyment - and this album fits that category for me.
Listen, I know what I’m getting into when I listen to Black Flag. They’re not my favorite, but they’re fine. This is a decent punk album with a short running time, and something from Black Flag probably deserves to be on this list. Will I listen to it again? Probably not.
we live in a society
Ok
Very abrasive in a good way.
That's not my taste in music - But ok
6/10 Quite angry, but not sure what its directed at Highlights: Damaged I No More Damaged II Life of Pain Rise Above
Listened to again, and watched concert footage, raw, powerful in 1980
Fine, but kinda same song syndrome
I can get behind the sentiment that leads to punk music, if not always the music itself.
This garage band punk, with abrupt endings to several songs, sounded like amateur hour. Thankfully it was half that long.
Seems like pretty good punk. I still don't love punk, though.
Solid punk rock album. All the songs sound the same though. 3/5
So angry!
Decent hardcore album. I liked the faster parts. 3/5
I mean, it is very much its own thing. Funny. Fast. Furious..a bit lacking in vocal dynamics but this was new ground
It was a punk album, nothing stood out to me about it, but it was pretty alright.
This was entertaining. I'd love to have seen these guys live in their heyday.
Pretty solid punk album, doesn’t blow me away but didn’t overstay its welcome, again another good album for the lore but not one I’ll actively seek out
I can appreciate the history behind this album as one of the early punk classics, although it wouldn’t be something I threw on for a casual listen.
Fine because it was easy to recognize as early punk rock. Many others were better though.
Meh, wasn't a huge fan, but I did listed to it a couple of times, there was something that kept me coming back. I might dig into their catalogue to see what else they did.
Favorite Track: Rise Above
classic. Nice melodies, good drum & bass.
I liked this way more than I thought I would because I thought I would hate it. I knew the song Rise Above because it was featured in my favorite TV show, Freaks and Geeks. The songs were short, the lyrics were understandable, and the album was short.
It’s weird looking back on all the kids that used to wear slipknot shirts also were the same kids wearing black flag shirts; which, after listening to this, feels distinctly different. There’s a noticeable amount of cries for help and socially conscious anger here. “Damaged 2” and “Life Of Pain” left an imprint, but my pick from this record is “TV Party” for how well it captures the life of some bums just bumming it. Soft 3/5
Shouty American punk. I can hear how this influenced many other bands. It's pretty good but I don't think it was really worth imitating to that extent. It's probably so widely imitated because it's easy to play and not very musically complex - crude is maybe the word I'm looking for. Anyway, I enjoyed it all the same, especially TV Party, where it sounds like they're having a lot of fun.
Punk rock.
Black Flag is...adorable?
Oh hell yeah. This feels punk af. I know heard where the sample from one of my favorite songs is from, with a great album attached to it as well. Solid themes, solid music, great album. 3.5/5
If this was part of a Tony Hawk's Pro Skater soundtrack, I would probably have liked it more.
Nostalgic listen. Lots of bangers. End of album trails off.
very angry
Black flag has always been pretty one note to me. But when you're looking for it, it's great.
It was alright. Solid 3.5
Ok
Gives me a headache. But people sure do seem to rave about it.
I get it, it's important and all that, but I really prefer punk bands that don't take themselves so seriously.
3.5
Not really my thing but gets a 3 for being the original thrashy punk album that has been copied thousands of times through four decades
This is a classic punk record. I liked it. Great energy overall.
Haven’t finished but enjoyed what I’ve heard
Not the easiest listen, but a solid punk album if you're in the mood for it.
As much as most of the songs sound the same, they’re classic for a reason.
Thank God Zaheer discovered air bending and chilled tf out a bit.
Cool album op zich. Misschien niet ideaal om te luisteren op een rustige ochtend. 3.0
Mot da best from blur but good
Interesting.
Not a big punk guy, but enjoyed this for what it was and for the influence it had on the genre
I had no idea Black Flag was Henry Rollins’ band, so I was intrigued to finally give Damaged a listen. I’ve read plenty about Rollins but wasn’t familiar with his sound, and I expected loud, heavy punk music. That’s exactly what I got. The album is fast, furious, angry, and completely relentless—full of raw energy. I still can’t decide if I love it or hate it, but the fact I went back for a second listen suggests it got under my skin. The lyrics are sharp and biting, and the mix of words and noise somehow becomes strangely catchy. Favourite track: Room 13 – it has a cool Iggy Pop vibe. Least favourite track: Honestly, every track has something worth hearing. Album artwork: A striking, gritty cover that suits the music perfectly.
At the start I wasn’t feeling this one but after a few songs I started to get into it. Overall while I did like it but it’s not going to be one that I’m gonna revisit regularly . Top Track - Damaged II
Don’t really care about punk for the most part
To the point
3.5
1st album! Very punk rock 👍🏻
Cool album
I have never listened to a black flag album from start to finish. It’s not really my taste, but I appreciate it for the creativity and heaviness at the time.
Classic. Tv party is a rompin’ good time.
It's alright, quite entertaining in places.
Regret not getting into these guys in my more hard core punk-ish phase, even if I wasn't really ever that hard core or punk lol. Decent overall & can see why it's on here.
This makes me feel old to say but - this band's lyrics are supposed to be part of what sets them apart. I just wish I could understand a thing they said.
Still not a big fan of American punk.
Someone mentioned it being music for white supremacists and it skewed my interpretation of the album! 3* for it not being their fault.
I prefer the later Henry Rollins stuff that was a little less rough around the edges, but this was cool to hear for sure.
Not my bag, baby. High 2 I think, not bad but doesn't resonate with me
Satme fart på
Aggressively depressed. Classic hardcore punk.
energetic punk rock but kinda wears out after a while.
Strong songs and energy are mismatched with less than musicianship and terrible recording. A landmark of hardcore all the same.
Thought the guitar sounded good. Surprisingly they had some good songs and themes.
They all sound familiar or are synonyms of each other
normally thrash/in-your-face punk is not my thing so I was pleasantly surprised with 1-being able to understand the lyrics, 2-the lyrics. Gimme Gimme Gimme had depth, and TV Party was about 4 decades ahead of its time. the final track however, was more of what I was expecting & why it's at a 3.5 instead of a 4.
Despite being released in 1980, his album feels really fresh. Very energetic. Not sure I'd listen to it again, but enjoyed it nonetheless.
Normally I'm all here for some down and dirty punk, and I admit his voice tends that direction, but I couldn't get past it. Too ugly.
Highlight: Rise Above. In a nutshell: snarl, shout, destroy. I was expecting Damaged to be punchy and angry (it is), but it was also... emo(?) Decent hardcore punk album. Overall: 6/10
3 stars for TV party.
3.5/5
enjoyed it a lot , bounced between a 3 and 4 and I ended on a 3
I feel like I may be repeating myself, but I've never been angry enough in my lifetime to find the appeal of most punk rock. Was this an influential album for this era and genre? Maybe? What I do know is that this mostly felt like noise. I can't identify with the angst, so it really does nothing for me. I didn't hate it. I more or less tolerated it. But this will definitely not be an album that I'll be searching out ever again. That last track, however - "Damaged I" - is very much a prototype for what Henry Rollins eventually became.
This is fully what I would expect from a black flag album. I've never been able to connect with punk music, but I can see how it speaks to people.
Crunchy guitar tone is sick. First Rollins album. Some of the songs are fun, some of them are intentionally horrible to listen to. Not my bag but I kinda get it.
I thought it would be a lot better, bit disappointing
Raw punk. Good when you’re in the mood.
Rise Above and TV Party are amazing, exciting tracks. The rest, not so much on the whole.
This was good. Great energy some songs blended together a bit too much. But other then that it was a fun listen strong 3*
the og of punk albums. proper stuff by Henry and the boys.
Definitely need to be in a particular mood.
Grew on me with a few listens - love the ropey bass sound.
I wouldn't put this album on my iPad, but I'd definitely invite them to my barbeque
Pønk
LOL, reminds me of high school! A little too rough to come back to without a fist fight or house party.
Heavy.
You ever think about how this came out before thriller?
Favorite songs: Rise Above, TV Party, Gimme Gimme Gimme, Damaged II, Padded Cell Least favorite songs: Spray Paint, Damaged I 3/5
Wide ranging album in terms of content, but not necessarily in terms of musical chops. Not much different than the average punk album, but that’s only because Black Flag became the template for all punk artists. There’s about 1 good song (TV Party) and the rest are 20-60% of a good song & I can’t get over this aspect
In 2002 Len Houmous tried to set up an R&B tribute band to Damage, called Damaged. He got a cease and desist. 2.7 5. TV PARTY
Dad- 3 Mom- 2 Mike- 7.5 Lori- 7 Michael- 7 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg- 5.3
Huh, j’ai toujours cru que Black Flag c’était du gros rap sale, et bah, c’est du gros punk sale à la place. Sérieux, je peux sentir l’haleine moribonde du chanteur juste en l’écoutant gesticuler dans mes écouteurs, mais le tone de la bass rattrape ce point de justesse.
Too loud. The instruments and tunes were great. The vocals didn't matter. They weren't interesting either.
Loud, angry, at times incomprehensible, and over all too soon.
Sloppy, unapologetic, loud, aggressive, irreverent. Distilled hardcore punk here. It has the ability to inspire grit with political themes, and inspire empathy with suicidal ones. Not something I could put on just around anyone, but a headphones spin when I’m raging out and cleaning, unpacking all of the worlds shitty parts, definitely.
An incredibly influential album, so much so that Black Flag stickers are now on Cadillacs. I found this to be much more engaging than I had originally imagined, though there is some "sameness" to the album as it goes along. It's interesting hearing a young Henry Rollins belt out anthems and the song about just wanting to drink beer and watch television was a bit goofier detour than I had imagined the band would take. There is not a bad song on here and I can see how an entire generation of artists were influenced by songs like Rise Above and any of the many songs with "Damaged" in the title.
Fun, forgettable
Uninspiring heavy punk from the 80s. Very crappy vocal.
Great album that perfectly blends elements of punk and hardcore. Way ahead of its time and very impactful for many other bands in the future.
Never huge in to Black Flag. Undeniably an important band, but never hit me the way a lot of other punk from that time did. Good to revisit to learn that I still feel the exact same way.
I don't mind Hardcore Punk, it's energetic, quick, easy enough to listen to. Definitely this record is raw and punchy, probably suffers from that feeling of every song sounds the same, which isn't always a bad thing, just means you need a specific mood to listen to it. 3 stars for me, not something that blew me away but enjoyed it enough.
Great punk album.
This one left me a bit Damaged…
I’d bet a lot of 15-year-olds find this really deep.
joa classic punk record. würds aber nit noamal hören
Not my vibe. But I get the impact.
6/10 Not good, hard to listen too, and they masked their repetitive songwriting and terrible drumming with somewhat substance
Weiß selbst nicht was ich von Hardcore Punk halten soll. Hat seinen Platz, aber hab auch selten Lust sowas zu hören. 3 Sterne, aber auch nicht wieder hören muss ich dies
Tough rate for me. I think this album would be a home run if they had shaved a few of the songs out of the album. I was rocking out to most of the songs, but felt the album went on for a bit too long. To me, the perfect punk album thrashes about for 25 minutes MAX. I liked the songs that had funny party lyrics, a good breath of fresh air from all the "death to everyone, I wanna kms" lyrics mostly present. A true rating would be 3.5, but I gotta round down because I can't discount all the times I felt annoyed by either length of song/album or just annoyed with the sounds in general.
most metalheads had a punk phase and i am no exception so this was quite nostalgic. closing track was a standout
The aggression is real, I could see my younger angrier self just banging my head ti this but alas I’m much older now and enjoy more melody
obviously punk. If you love punk, listen to it. If you don't, then don't. I don't but am giving it a 3 for truly embracing being punk. And that's all I can say.
First listen. Not a fan of the vocals but enjoyed the music.
Music for angry young white males. Too bad I' just old and cynic now.
It's a good punk album, but I'm just not really into that kind of stuff.
Black Flag is not for me, the first song was nice but the more you dive in, the more it just sounds the same. This is a cool band tho, and they deserve an album on this list. I'll give a fair 3 stars.
Upbeat and hardcore
I quite enjoyed this
While I can’t imagine I’ll ever seek this out to listen to again, I can’t deny there’s a charm to the earnest angst this record showcases. This group hates a lot of things, ironically lists stuff they like, but does so in such a gloriously punky way. 3/5
Henry Rollins, it’s a minimum 3 stars!! Maximum subjectivity, but I’ll give it a shot explaining. The man is inspiring to me … and as it must be the only Black Flag record on this list, I got no choice (even though ‘My war’ is better in my opinion). Coming from a troubled childhood marked by abuse, Rollins has become an iconic symbol of sobriety and maybe of wisdom in the US—he became stand-up comic, radio host, publisher, anti-racist and pro-LGBT/human rights activist, author, actor, spoken-word artist, and the champion of reason. None of this would have been possible without his wild stint as frontman (I cannot say singer :)) with Black Flag, the hardcore punk powerhouse, where his stage presence was legendary, like a rising psychopath in the making. Five years of raw violence with Black Flag that earned Rollins his punk cred and gave his later initiatives a unique touch. ‘Damaged’ can never quite capture the band’s fury; and the lyrics mostly tell stupid tales of drunken escapades and brawls, but this is a wildly cathartic outlet. Mayhem!!!
Seems like Pink Flag > Black Flag. I can see how Billy Joe Armstrong was influenced by these guys, but I'm a strong believer that punk can be more than fatalist or nihilist musings of angsty teams. I look for something a little more tongue-in-cheek and optimism in my punk which is probably why I like pink flag more. Go figure that Rise Above is black flag's most popular song. Not every album can be Dookie, but albums that aren't Dookie aren't getting 5s. This one is getting a 3.
I actually know of rollins band more than black flag itself
that was fine. this kind of music always sounds all the same to me
This seems a fine hardcore album. But surely hardcore was already a bit passe by 1981?
Nice to have some straight-up punk for a change. I don't really listen to much punk, but I enjoy it every now and then. Extra points for making me laugh with "TV Party." Hey, wait a minute, my TV doesn't work! It's broken!
Angry and aggressive but not without some charm.
Pulp's "This is Hardcore" is on this list. but it's britpop and it's not hardcore. and THIS, my friend, is TRUE HARDCORE. 3/5
An okay album, I liked Rise Above but the songs started to sound a bit repetitive after a while.
Had a great workout to this to be fair. Other than that it's pretty average (which is almost a good thing for punk).
Rise Above - 5/5 (punk anthem fr) Spray Paint - 3/5 (short but intense) Six Pack - 4/5 What I See - 3/5 TV Party - 4/5 Thirsty And Miserable - 2/5 Police Story - 4/5 Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie - 4/5 Depression - 4/5 Room 13 - 4/5 Damaged II - 2/5 No More - 3/5 Padded Cell - 2/5 Life of Pain - 3/5 Damaged I - 3/5 Average score: 3.3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ essential punk listening first two-thirds of the album was pretty good, could do without the last 4-5 songs
1/2
I know of Black Flag for two reasons - 1. I went thru a punk rock phase and 2. I know they’re one of John Frusciante’s favorite bands. However, this record didn’t really move me at all…
Just like My War, Damaged has horrible production. That being said, I prefer this album over My War because it's significantly more fun and energetic. But just like My War, it's way too simplistic to my taste, and where Dead Kennedys, for example, have been able to compensate with just how incredibly fun their vocals are, the vocals here are just fine, I guess. One song here (TV Party) even has a similar vibe, but the rest are quite a bit different, so I didn't like them as much. Still a good album, but there are other ones that do the same better. 7/10
Very good genre music, not really my thing overall though
Just read that Mike Valooloo is fronting this band now ... ? Wha, wha, whaaa?! I don't know about you, but that sounds more like a business move than a good fit. And who knows about business..? Even shady business ... Greg Ginn. Greg Ginn of SST records was kind of a kingmaker in the 80's. Bands like Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Minutemen and yes Black Flag among others all went thru SST who made musicians famous and collected a lot of money for themselves. With bands leaving over unpaid royalties and shady deals SST folded. Greg Ginnn, (fun fact, is also Raymond Pettibon's brother) and with Henry Rollins were founding members of Black Flag. Rollins left the band and as far as I knew BF was defunct which leads me to Mike V. I've always been a fan of Mike's talent on the board going way back to Search for Animal Chin (look for him during Johnny Rad's set doing hell Mary's and street plants), but that was a long time ago. He's evolved, grown up and aged. Mike, tired of being bullied (and scared shitless after a demo in Toledo Ohio) adopted a badass persona and had the skills to back it up. There's the time he tried to fight Rocco and the board that teases this right before he left World and of course there's the famous ass-kicking he serviced three or four dudes with, and if you haven't seen that, you need to. And there is also the poetry he began writing and performing. I once saw him reading in RVA. It wasn't great. I've read Rollins, books, seen Rollins perform, granted after the BF days, and enjoyed his spoken word, quirky late night talk-show type entertainment. Mike V has other skills, skateboarding, yes, hockey, yes. Poetry and stage performances.... hmmm I gotta say no. But how was the album... ? Good / meh. I think BF's popularity came from the scene that it existed in. SoCal, aggro fuck shit up, SST records and the environment it built. But, 40 years on, I'm not sure it has a place in today, but I do appreciate Ginn's efforts to include a frontman who carries his own stardom. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cT0aajmFZs
Albums like this makes me realize I have a pretty happy life, all things considered. A personal 3/5 but an objective 4/5 in terms of innovation and historical importance.
Would listen again - took me back to being a teenager!
A frantic and often naive sound that is just plain noise at times, but there is a couple of songs I liked. Influential on later bands, but could have done with better production and fine tuning.
I understand why it’s on the list. It makes me want to break shit. If I was 15 again and angry, it’d be my go to. But at 35. Not my speed anymore.
3.4 2x catch up 2/10
So this is how Henry Rollins started. Same raw energy. Abysmal production, but maybe fitting to this kind of punk. Still too much hardcore for me personally, but I can respect the importance of this.
Lekker ruige punk, wel echt op het randje van wat ik nog trek.
Fuck ya!
It amuses me to no end that I can say, in all seriousness, that I prefer their later works.
I was just having a moan yesterday about the lack of punk on this list - and here we are! 2 stars for the music, because I'm more into the fun cheeky punk than the angry punk, but an extra star because I think this is an important addition to the list in terms of music history and genre.
Hitta Hard
Не очень зашло это грязное звучание
Not very memorable.
ja jo men det är ju gött
A bit too angry for my taste.
Actually ended up enjoying this one more than I thought I would. Solid backup instruments, pretty generic sounding punk singing, but that's OK!
Sounds kinda rough, no?
Frantic US hardcore punk which sounds a bit wimpy now. Its Ok but I was pleased when it was over.
So this is what Henry Rollins did when he was younger? I was surprised how "adolescent" the themes were e.g. I'm bored, don't wanna watch TV. Not bad as hardcore punk, but not my bag. 2.5⭐️
It's ok but I would not be able to tell these songs apart if they didn't all begin with a guitar screech.
Very noisy and angry. Its not for me but I can appreciate it coming out in '81 and important it likely was
Honnêtement un peu déçu. Considérant le statut du band et de cet album, je m'attendais à être un peu plus impressionné. En comparaison à des contemporains comme Dead Kennedys, Minor Threat ou Descendents ça tombe un peu à plat. Ça valait quand même largement la peine d'être écouté. 6.5/10
West coast punk album that appeals to the teenager in me but at forty something just hit as hard
Not my favorite hardcore punk band/project, but still undeniably great. 3.5/5
Don't get the outpouring of love for this, to be honest. Obviously it's got tonnes of energy, but it's so tuneless and throaty, without much there that's lyrically interesting. It starts off pretty well and reasonably catchy, but loses that in the second half. Think it manages a 3 on the strength of the first half and the influence that it has had on the evolution of the punk scene, but it's not a particularly good 3 from me.
punky punky quote boring
11/12/24 This wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.
wish i liked them more because Henry Rollins is cool. But as far as hardcore punk bands go they are more tolerable.
One of the best hardcore punk metal bands ever, this is such a classic. "Rise Above" probably launched a thousand hardcore/punk/metal bands. I know it really inspired some of my bands- we used to cover it at the ends of shows when our time slot was just about over and we wanted to squeeze in one more song. Some really brutal songs on here- "What I See" is particularly rough. Funny how it goes from that into "TV Party". Solid album. It's really in between a 3 and a 4 for me, like a 3.4.
influential! i hope they find a way to watch the monday night game
Ok like.
I appreciate them more now then I did then
3☆/5 11.14 2024
I have never listened to Black Flag and this is not a genre I usually listen to, but that was pretty fun. I think I’d enjoy listening to this album during hockey scrimmages or if I needed to really intensely get into some other activity. I’m also generally a Henry Rollins fan, so even better.
I liked this more than I thought I would for a 7am pre-coffee listen. I've been excited to listen to some of the most influential punk albums through this project, but punk is not usually how I ease into my morning, ha. I'm actually listening a second time right now and think this will grow on me more. I liked the first half a lot more than the second, with Rise Above, TV Party, and Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie being the standout tracks as of now.
I think I want to like this more than I actually do. The vocals get old but the content and message is strong.
I guess I had to be there. The guitar sounds are kinda cool though. And I kinda like “TV Party”. I just don’t like Rollins. Wouldn’t load on Spotify so I had to listen on YouTube and ironically, therefore sit through commercials between songs.
Y'know? It's fine. Standard punky fun. "TV Party" is endearingly goofy.
Always makes me watch to listen to Rise Above by Dirty Projectors
Interesting early punk album TV party Depression
Nice Punk Album.
This record goes by fast. Rollins is now an elder statesman of punk. But at the time this was so raw. It's not my favorite. I do prefer some melody here and there. But this was huge.
It's not right most of the time, but when it hits, it hits. Obviously a landmark moment in hardcore punk and everything beyond. Let the boys yell
anotherrubbishpunkalbumanotherrubbishpunkalbumanotherOH It's that track from Futurama!anotherrubbishpunkalbum
I'm not a punk music guy but when people want to talk punk with me I know a bit about the Ramones and a bit more about Black Flag. This album is a classic punk mile marker. I hope listening to it didn't ruin my day. :p
Starts out on a really solid note with "Rise Above", with a couple other bangers scattered throughout ("TV Party", "Six Pack") but the back half starts to get a little grating and repetitive (even with the short runtime).
I was really enjoying the first half — for anyone familiar with the movie Repo Man, the song "TV Party" was always on my radar. There was a lot to like in that first half of the album — good riffs, good lyrics, there was something going on. But that seemed to stop on a dime and give way to a much nosier, less coherent set of songs that were way less intriguing and which really changed my take on the band. Shoulda been an EP!
This had a good energy to it, and Rollins' intense vocals contributed to that, but musically there wasn't enough to really pull me in.
Respectable punk album, a little too intense for me.
I’ve heard of black flag and Henry Rollins but I never listened to any of their music. Punk rock is hit or miss for me, with more than half leaning towards miss. This album was interesting. I definitely want to check out more of their music
This is some solid fight music. I think I was in the right mindset for it but definitely not one I'll always be into. Henry Rollins rules.
mér finnst þetta einhæft og lítið um melódíur. engu að síður er þetta ekki án sjarma. 3,5.
classic early 80's punk brings back college memories
This is what I imagine punk is like.
I used to gym to this. So all it reminded me of was exercise.
Fairly standard punk sounding to me but important and I love Henry Rollins. Not something I'd relisten to though.
If ever an album took human form, this album would be Vyvyan from The Young Ones. It’s an angey album and I’m not a huge fan of angry albums, but this one also has some humour to it. It pokes a bit of fun at itself and I can appreciate that. Not really something I’d otherwise listen to though.
fun!
There are two different kinds of punk bands. The ones who want to tear everything down and fight every single establishment value, and the ones who want to revel in the space that's separate from that establishment. You need the first group to have the second but the second group can also be a place filled with solidarity, hope, and fun. You could argue that it's all pointless and a bastardization of the punk ideal. But fun is the big thing that revolutionaries often forget about. No where is that more obvious than the clearly most memorable song, 'TV Party' (imagine the horror of other punks that they're celebrating television!). The lyrics are stupid and bordering sounding like a frat party, but damn if it isn't fun. As a side note, Henry Rollins is an awesome human being and I'll always be a little more generous with his projects. Having said all of this, there are clearly better punk albums out there.
I gave it an extra star for Henry Rollins lyrics, but this album is questionable
Probably my favorite punk album that I’ve listened to. Finally an album for the beers and the bros. Definitely a fun one
I could definitely see us listening to a few of these songs in the basement. The roguish angst and silly fun is spot on. I enjoyed my listen through. Not something I would normally listen to but a few songs seem very familiar.
Great early 80s punk with Henry Rollins on vocals. Not as strong as the previous EP, but still influential.
Quite enjoyed it while pottering in the garden - led to some aggressive weeding.
I don't really like it, but damn I feel like it's a sin to give Black Flag less than 3 stars. When I was younger I tried to like them.... but damn they suck! Same thing with Fugazi, lol. I have 90 songs saved by them, and almost all of them were saved because they didn't suck. I did the same thing with Don Delillo, and read like 5 of his books... damn they sucked!
damaged black flag 1980 1. rise above: 7.5/10 2. spray paint: 6/10 3. six pack: 6.5/10 4. what i see: 7/10 5. tv part: 8/10 6. thirsty and miserable: 6/10 7. police story: 6.5/10 8. gimmie gimmie gimme: 7/10 9. depression: 6.5/10 10. room 13: 5/10 11. damaged ii: 5/10 12. no more: 7/10 13. padded cell: 6.5/10 14. life of pain: 7.5/10 15. damaged i: 6.5/10 overall rating: 6,5/10
My brain was only partially damaged listening to it. It was alright, serviceable enough punk.
Ya know. Not my thing
Fantastic debut album and captures the American punk) hard core scene perfectly. Just not my thing. Especially 40+ years later.
Damaged was the first full-length album from Black Flag. and is regarded as one of the more important hard-core punk albums. The album was recorded soon after lead singer Henry Rollins joined the band, and features metal/noise guitar provided by Greg Ginn. This album was the subject of a lawsuit with Unicorn Records regarding itsdistribution;; as a result, the band could not use its name or its famous logo for almost two years. The legal dispute did not stop the band's relentless touring, and they released an album under their individual names, adding to their legal problems. All the issues added to the band's mystique, and their role as a defining figure of American punk.
I enjoyed this a fair bit - some fun LA punk. Minor Threat remains the punk high water mark for me though. A strong three, close to 4.
It's punk rock. I think I can understand why it's "famous" in its genre. It's like The Sex Pistols, but even more aggressive. Rollins' singing is abrasive and repetitive, and the overall musicality is kind of poor, but overall it's not, like, terrible. It's not good, mind you, and it gets terribly repetitive by the end, but it's not awful.
Gritty and messy but in the perfect way. Henry yells it for all to hear. Nawt bad
My ex would sing Rise Above to me all the time. Walk down memory lane.
Introduced to Black Flag early on in college. Thanks Jason. I know the younger me really liked this back in the day, especially Six Pack and TV Party. Six Pack was a staple for the dorm room keg party. This was the mid-80's when you could get away with sneaking kegs into your dorm. Like Rollins and the energy he brings to every song, but this got to me after awhile. Just a little too much. You definitely have to be in the mood for this album. Rollins use to have a show on the History channel called "10 things you didn't know about." Thought that was pretty cool, considering his punk background. Love the album title too. Greta song by Primal Scream. Brought back some early college memories, but not something I would listen to on a regular basis. Just a little over the top for this old guy, but I still go with a 3. 3
Hardcore punk. Demasiado iguales todas las canciones. Ni fu ni fa.
Животная агрессия в мп3 - порой такого очень хочется послушать
Love the hardcore ethos and lyrical themes. The music never did much for me though.
Pretty iconic as far as hardcore goes. I like a little more melodic music in general but still enjoy this for what it is. 3/5
I can respect black flag so much but I think mostly from youthful nostalgia. Punks were cool. Metal kids were not. There’s a lazy angry sort of sound I love in this. But in this day and age I’ll never listen to it again.
Good punk
Is it weird that I found this easier to listen to than the Elton John record I had yesterday?
Interestingly I was introduced to this album in 83-84, by the same friend who also introduced me to Metallica “Kill ‘em All” and “Ride the lightning”. Both bands were arguably considered underground at the time. While BF is a little too thrash for me, it seems they kind of bridged the gap between pure punk and thrash metal and ultimately, grunge. Interesting that this album was mentioned by Kurt Cobain as one of his influences and in his personal top 50 all time. While not my flavor, I’m rounding up to a 3 to recognize the future influences and out of the box thinking/style. 2.5/3
This album unabashedly goes hard. I really enjoyed it. But the lyrics are at times too silly to ignore. Not exactly my taste but full props for the music this inspired as well
I give props for this album laying the groundwork for hardcore punk. Rounding up since some of the stuff I listen to today may not exist without these guys. That said, didn’t love it, but rolling with 3* given its influence. 3.25/5
It really my thing and the songs completely blended together. Still, there was a lot of energy and anger and that’s what punk is all about. Good job, just not for me.
Very angry and fast. There was a time and place for this music, and that may have passed.
At first I was feeling this album. Crashing drums plus very harsh vocals creates a violent raging punk rock sound. The guitar playing is even pretty proficient although I'm not a fan of the highly reverberated sound. This album feels like the spiraling of a man society. The scratchy vocals and harsh sounds really are not easy on the ears after 30 minutes or so. Definitely pulling some of my favorite songs from this for my workout playlist though.
Rating: 6/10 The production and musicians might be awful, but they play with so much energy and passion. There are a decent bit of good riffs and catchy melodies here while maintaining incredibly high energy throughout. Favorite songs: Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party, Depression, Room 13, No More, Life of Pain. Worst songs: Damaged II, Damaged I.
Fun, classic punk. Not as interesting as some other bands, but still pretty good. Black Flag’s most interesting work is Rollins’ spoken word material
An uncompromising, concise, fuzzy chunk of punk rock. Music for slam dancing in a basement, or perhaps a garage. Highlights: Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party, Police Story, Life of Pain (never thought I'd hear a punk song about telling someone their self-harm is affecting you, too)
Amazing energy! Raise above is an awesome song.
For me the primary barometer of whether music is good or bad or in between is the answer to this question: “does it move me?” “Move” can mean a few different things. Physically movement: does it make me dance, bob my head, tap my fingers, punch a wall? Emotional movement: does it make me happy, sad, empathetic, pissed the fuck off? Intellectual movement: does it make me think about things I haven’t thought of before, does it make me think about things differently than I have before, does it make me think everyone sucks especially anyone in positions of authority? For these criteria, Damaged certainly does the job, obviously with the latter examples provided above. The second barometer for me usually is do I like the music itself: do I think it’s well performed, well written, well arranged, etc. Well, on the second barometer Black Flag doesn’t do a ton for me, although it’s not all bad. I do like the guitars, messy as they are I do think the music is effective for the material. Henry Rollins singing is also messy of course, and while it’s not as effective as the guitars it does fit the overall music. It may just be a taste or experience thing for me not “loving” it. Maybe if I were a frustrated teen D&D playing weirdo in 1981 (I say this with love - nothing wrong with this) I would probably feel more connected to this and more nostalgic today about how the music sounds, but I was born 6 years after this and played sports and shit in high school and listened to Dave Matthews a lot (again, this sounds a little cheesy to me and the D&D playing weirdo sounds cooler to me nowadays).
Really enjoyed the music, some great licks and beats and discordance in there. Lyrics are pretty good, and sometimes fun. The "singing" wears on me though. Would like to give it a better rating because it is definitely a seminal album, but no.
Very bracing!
.
Best Song: TV Party. Something about this total bro the middle of the hardcore punk album makes me laugh. Worst Song: Spray Paint. I am of the opinion that these sub-60 second songs that punk bands like to make always suck. And the shorter they are, the worse they probably are. Overall: A solid punk album that doesn't take itself too seriously. Nice alternation between groovy, silly rock tracks like "TV Party" and angry political tracks like "Rise Above". It does suffer from that punk problem of having so many short tracks (all of which run at full speed from start to finish) that it all starts to blend together.
I can't say I distinctly remember each track... but that may not be the point. The songs that do stick: "No More", "Rise Above", "Life of Pain" and, of course, the incomparable "TV Party".
couple good songs and i lik black flag but shockingly boring for an album only 35 minutes long
Great energy and I’ve been meaning to listen to this band for a long time. Glad to experience the rawness and grit.
if there's anything i learned from high school in the mid-aughts, it is that black flag is genuine punk music. if you knew their music, your punk roots were solid. black flag should be here without a doubt. even if the sound quality of damaged isn't good (and it's not), they deserve a spot on this list. true hardcore punk sometimes means the sound quality suffers, for the sake of art, but i find myself wishing otherwise. alas. i discovered some surprising depth in this album, notably in the song "depression." a song like this seems out of place for 1981, but black flag hit the nail on the head in understanding mental illness.
They are an early influence for quite a few bands I like. I like some of the guitar parts and can get the vibe a little but just not what I want to listen to much.
It was okay, for what it was.