Damaged

As a fan of modern punk, going back to listen to early punk is always interesting. Much like the punk of that era, this album is loud, messy and a little silly too. Rollins' delivery throughout the album is ferocious and emotional. The lyrical versatility is seen starting out with the iconic "Rise Above" and then a few songs later in the silly & satirical "TV Party". I will admit that the songs included do sound a bit "samey", though. I also think that the front half of the album shines a bit more than the back half.

Punk rock baby

Some good stuff. But we're just so angry...

As a kid especially I was a huge fan of the great pop punk sellouts Green Day. Well, it turns out the kids at school were right about me being a poser, and it wasn't just because of my department store Airwalks. "Real" punk is just too hard for me to really enjoy. I'll give Black Flag points for making a funny and compelling album at least.

Liked it pretty well

This one isn't for me. I respect what they're doing and that this is definitely a lot of people's vibe, but it just didn't hit for me.

Rise Above - 9/10 Spray Paint - 7/10 Six Pack - 9/10 What I See - 7.5/10 TV Party - 7.5/10 Thirsty and Miserable - 7.5/10 Police Story - 7/10 Gimme Gimme Gimme - 7.5/10 Depression - 7/10 Room 13 - 7.5/10 Damaged II - 7/10 No More - 7/10 Padded Cell - 7/10 Life of Pain - 7.5/10 Damaged I - 7.5/10 TOTAL - 112.5/150

Don't hate it and not my favourite

Hardcore punk. Fun. Stupid. Outstays it's welcome.

My first experience with hearing Black Flag was hearing the live album "Who's Got The 10 1/2?" back in high school. As a proghead who also liked punk, I thought it was great. So finally hearing some of these songs in their original form is interesting. The production on this is really... garage. Like it was recorded in a garage. But that's the punk mentality, isn't it? It's weird to hear Henry Rollins as a 20-year old. But he was young, too. Just like me at one point. Now he's ... older. Just like me. I was saying earlier about Motorhead's live album and how their sets couldn't be that long. I imagine Black Flag's were even shorter. Still, I dug it, but I wish the production on the album was better. Top songs: "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie," "TV Party"

Again, like The Adverts album, I listened to those guys and these guys a few times before rating either album. Black Flag definitely has more musical dexterity. But it's just kind of angry music and Henry Rollins and the rest of the boys yelling. And maybe that's what sets hardcore punk apart from other punk genres but it's not quite for me. But then the Circle Jerks (with Black Flag's former front man) have more melody. I'm sure Black Flag inspired many other bands, especially those who got a confident and intelligent front man to talk/yell lyrics rather than sing them (or play any instruments). Like, I wouldn't be surprised if they were an inspiration for Rage Against the Machine. But de la Rocha had more harmony, and obviously Black Flag doesn't hold a candle to the musical ability of Morello, Commerford, or Wilk. Respect to Black Flag's energy, clever lyrics, and stick it to the man attitude. But aside from Rise Above, TV Party (very shrewd), and Gimme Gimme Gimme I'm not sure there's any other songs I want to return to. Them being pioneers of hardcore punk was what solidified a 3 and kept me from thinking less than that.

It wasn't a great album. Sounded like they were still in their "band practice in the garage" phase. They have other albums that are much better though. I actually like the band.

Ok

Classic album from one of the progenitors of punk rock.

Seminal punk album. Love the energy.

Decent album. Mostly, not my cup of tea.

Interesting. Will definitely go back to it at some point and revise ratings accordingly.

Crazy, energetic, deadly. Some tracks were actually really catchy and evidence of strong songwriting prowess (Rise Above, Six Pack, TV Party) but others were just several minutes of angry noise from all instruments who showed up to the party. In those moments (which were far from fleeting), the music wasn't exactly musical, and it was a slog to get through despite the tracks' very short average runtime. These vocals are best when performing a mini-skit or sing-talking, but not when screaming.

I had fun with this one. I can’t do screamy hardcore much anymore, but it was fun to relive that part of my life. This won’t go into rotation, but it’s a classic. 3/5 If you want a fun experience, listen to Dirty Projector’s full-album cover/reinterpretation of Damaged after this. The album’s name is Rise Above.

Man, this was a conflicted listen for me. I liked bits and pieces, but punk is really not for me. It's repetitive and drags, despite being short. But a few songs were good, and I liked some of the guitar work quite a bit. It's a low three, but I'm gonna give it the three. My favourite songs were TV Party and Life of Pain.

The passage of time renders this pretty listenable, hardly the society wrecking terror it was viewed as at the time. Still short, sharp and occasionally hilarious.

It was entertaining, but I did not love the guy's voice.

i’ve heard of this band before. i feel like they are one of the groups that made punk music really excel. i digged it. even saved a song or two that was cool.

Highlights the plight of the young and poor but getting older crowd. Not bad.

Este álbum es justo lo que me imagino cuando pienso en hardcore punk.

Classic punk album. Not entirely my thing

15 songs in 35 minutes - what's not to love?

On first listen nothing really stands out but it's a really good vibe overall. I think I prefer My War still, it felt more creative and earwormy at the same time

Low 3. First half is better. Last half is pretty annoying.

Was expecting a mad, frenetic dash to the end on this LP but got some more contemplative moments by punk standards. Great to hear Rollins and co. break up the usual formula with some unexpected rhythmic change-ups and chord progressions that push the punk mold, need to give this one a full relisten though as I wasn’t fully zoned in enough to appreciate.

Technically only got half way through. It was fine. Didn't hate it. Didn't love it. Might appreciate more on a second listen.

Loud and angry and a bit silly. It's punk for sure.

Okkkk

Much energy but feels almost like a punk parody. Keep doing what you’re doing boys but I’m staying out of this one.

I had definitely heard some of Black Flag's music before and I remember when they were pretty well-known in the 80s. Until this album showed up here, I hadn't heard any of their music for probably about 35-40 years, and I knew I'd not listened to a full album of theirs before, so I am glad I got to hear this one. They are as thrashy, punky, and edgy as I thought, but more musical too and I can hear the hard work they put into these songs. They aren't a sloppy garage band to my ear; instead, they sound like musicians who put a lot of effort into playing their songs well. Even though it's definitely rougher and more gritty than the music I typically listen to on my own time, it's impressive stuff.

It was okay

I realize TV Party is meant to be satire, but dammit if it doesn't make me wanna go out and buy a TV just so I can play it while I pregame my favorite TV show with some brews. 3 mosh pits out of 5

teenage me would 5 this masterpiece. 45 year old me loves the angst but cant place with the others

An album where I'm ready for it to be done... before it's actually done; nonetheless I enjoyed Black Flag more than Germs, the other recent Californian punk band. HL: "Rise Above", "Six Pack", "TV Party", "Depression" September 18, 2023

I liked a couple of the songs, particularly Rise Above and TV Party. If I listened to this when I was younger and angrier, the album would have probably resonated more.

6/10. Yeah, this was a punk album, they yelled about stuff, attacked their instruments, and it was all over in about 30 minutes, what else is new?

This album cover is in a niche meme where the text is replaced with “Venmo me for my emotional labor”. I have nothing to say about the music other than it sounded exactly how I expected it. 5/10

3.5

Certamente um marco na história do hardcore e rock, felizmente muitos artistas escutaram bem mais do que eu. Reconheço as marcas na influência, mas não empolgo o suficiente para escutar mais vezes.

Una de es referències indispensables del hardcore nordamericà. Energia adolesecent en estat pur i sense filtrar. Ràbia a dojo i més interés per l'actitud i la búsqueda de reacció en l'oient que per les cançons en si mateixes

If running through a brick wall made an album. Anyway, at least it was nice and short. 5/10.

3.5

Siis kuinka hyvä biisi on Rise Above. Ihan hyvä levykin, mielenkiinto ei aivan lopu kesken kaiken vaikka meinaa lähellä käydä. Hyvä.

Puoli-irrationaalinen Henry Rollins-skeptisyyteni tekee tästä vähän hankalaa, mutta bändin biisinteossa on ensimmäisen neljänkin vuoden jälkeen puolensa, ja Ginnin kitara on aidosti jotain, joka täytyy kuulla ennen kuolemaa.

Fairly standard punk album, not many standouts but decent throughout. 3/5

Rough n ready brat punk, a great time. It just loses a lot listening on some earbuds in the pharmacy though - it's live, massive crappy speakers or nothing here. Three and a half. Fave track: Rise Above

High octane and full of energy, with some good humour and irreverence to boot. Didn't grab me heaps the first time, but by the second listen definitely thought it could be one that enters my rotation. Three and a half. Fave track: TV Party

Weird to think that there's a whole history to Black Flag prior to lead singer Henry Rollins and, subsequently, their first album Damaged. Guitarist Greg Ginn had perfected a distorted guitar tone that was essential for the sound of hardcore. Combine that with playing faster and with more aggression compared to the punk rock of the late 70's, the 1979 Nervous Breakdown EP was essential to the now-burgeoning subgenre. The struggle with maintaining a band for hardcore audiences was finding a vocalist who would be able to withstand the crowd's vitriol while still being able to shout the lyrics out properly. You can hear the iconic Keith Morris (later doing vocals for Circle Jerks) on the Nervous Breakdown EP, Ron Reyes on the Jealous Again EP, and Dez Cadena on the Six Pack EP. Short tenures from each of these men lead to bringing on Henry Rollins, who had been a fan of Black Flag already. This made it easy since he pretty well knew the songs. All he had to do was get up on stage. People have reservations about Rollins' vocals. It's been described as "meathead vocals" and I can hear that, especially on songs like Six Pack and TV Party. The big thing that'll stand out is how dark Damaged gets in the back half. No More, Depression, and Life of Pain are all details of Rollins' inner turmoil that, while maybe cheesy, would be essential for the attitude of hardcore. Deeply influential, but has since been outdone by numerous hardcore releases in as many different ways as you can think. It's been done faster, louder, heavier, thrashier, noisier, more aggressive, more emotive, and more interesting. This one just happened to be one of the first.

STICK IT TO THE MAN! RAHHHHHHHH!

Black Flag was lightning in a bottle. They nailed hardcore punk and made it marketable. They launched a thousand bands, and music today wouldn't be the same without them.

As with a lot of punk rock, I really get into it for about a minute and then I'm done. So I did a little bit of thrash and then waited for it to be done. Most of the songs were fairly indistinguishable except for "TV Party," which was a song shared with me on a compilation tape in the 80s by a dear friend, and one that I've always quite liked. If you're looking for solid punk rock, not too chaotic, not too melodious, I think this hits that mark just right.

So, this is definitely not my jam. At the start of my second listen, my ears had adjusted and it wasn’t so bad. But then a few tracks in I started to tune it all out…my ears got numb…

Didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did, but it felt like a raw and sometimes oddly fun outpouring of anger and teen angst. 35 minutes is about as long as I can handle thrashy music, too.

You get this when you put together the sound of '70s punk rock, the 'in your face' character of '80s metal, and the stylish angst of '90s hip-hop. It's an amalgamation of three decades that interestingly works pretty well. Not my style as it's a bit too abrasive and rhythm-less, but respect, right? At least, even through the loudness Black Flag manages to sneak in some funky bass lines and drums that stand out against all the noise. Standout tracks are TV Party and Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie.

I don't think I've ever listened to any hardcore punk before, so I've definitely never listened to Black Flag, but I was really excited to get this album today. After listening to this, I don't think hardcore punk is exactly my cup of tea. I did enjoy the fast tempo, but I could barely understand the lyrics. I know that Black Flag's lyrics usually filled with social and political commentary, so I was kind of bummed that I had to google the lyrics to each song. While I didn't really enjoy this album a lot, its influence on rock music is abundantly clear after listening to it, and I think it's a really important album. Favorite track: "TV Party," by a mile.

They’ve got balls, but mostly bollocks.

Our Flag Means graaar duh duh duh duh

Angry but what else? Energy! 2.5

I think punky kinda stuff would be superr fun to see live in a small venue with friends but i don't think I would just listen to this normally

Meh.

It’s definitely punk. I’m not too deep into punk so this won’t get highs marks from me. There’s nothing especially wrong though

Loud angry punk. Sounds kind of the same after a while.

The list is in a mood this week. Can you imagine seeing these guys live? I have a soft spot for punk but this is a bit too angry for me. TV Party is an iconic song but this falls just short of a 4.

This is the kind of rock I really don't like. It would definitely be a great example of what harcore music is though and I bet a lot of Vassar punks loved this shit. I do like the intensity of the guitar and feel like it could be fun live if i want worried about getting punched in the face. For better or worse, this album is extremely consistent, has a clear vibe, and achieves its goal. So it gets points for that.

not bad but not my style

interesting, didn't like it as much as I expected...

Nothing that moved me particularly here. It's OK, and I wouldn't object to it coming on randomly, but I'd not go and seek this out to listen to again.

Another band I've heard much about but never got round to listening to. It's another one which is difficult because I can see, in context, how it's an important release it could have been. I liked it but I can't imagine returning to it. I love the sound of it. Real lo-fi production. Noise. Shouting. Certainly not the background music I've been accusing other albums of being!

Pretty standard punk stuff. Didn't hate it, didn't love it, but happy to have listened to it. 3.5/5

As with other examples of bedrock punk this strikes me as surprisingly tame, almost innocent. Regular jack offs screwing around. Very much of my era - every mediocre program call-out in TV Party absolutely hit for me. Overall a little basic, lyrics and music alike, but I liked it.

Cool

Solid punk music that had an outsized impact on later music I love. This is a little too before my time, though. 3/5

For sure I respect this for what it is but I didn't enjoy listening to it. Except TV Party that song is hilarious

I expected to like this album so much more.

Early hardcore, fan of the genre just not reallllyy a fan of the early stuff. But I respect it

I’m not the average listener, but I did enjoy it. Very repetitive and very mad dude. Someone come give him some help. I’m playing in the music stand point I did enjoy the solos and how they open up every song. One of my favorites was “tv party” it was a very enjoyable song. Just dudes that want some drinks and watch tv. It was a up beat song some may say happy song. Then they hit you with “What I see” he speaks about I wanna live, I just wanna die type shit. I lost interest towards the last couple songs

I know, i love punk music, and i CANNOT disregard the impact these guys had on modern punk music. Theres a lot i enjoy about this record, but theres something that plagues this album and many punk albums of its generation - less than enjoyable vocals. Im a bit of a hypocrite for saying that, especially as part of punks whole schtick is disregarding rules, including “rules” about what vocals “should sound like,” so it makes perfect sense why their sound is the way it is. But i must reiterate! This album and many punk albums of its time were vital to the evolution of one of the genres i hold dear to my heart. I respect the hell out of these guys and what they did and help build, but i must admit its not an album i really care for. If i were there it came out and the years following, i may have a very different opinion on the album from a musical standpoint. This album makes sense, from its time and its impact, and thats why i think it deserves a spot on this list, but personally, im disinterested in it from strictly a listening standpoint.

i should love henry rollins but something just doesn't click with me. same thing with black flag.

A good punchy punk/hardcore album that was great for an energy boost. The punchy vocals of Henry Rollins and rip-snorting guitar riffs made for a wild ride of listening. Throughout it's time many a rebellious teen would love to blast this record, much to the chagrin of their parents. Best: Rise Above; TV Party Worst: Room 13

TV Party and Rise above are tops of the album. 3.5/5

Difficult to imagine a consistent sound to any of these songs. 1981 was sooooo long ago

Панк мне тяжело слушать. Хотя здесь это было довольно прикольно! Прям с первых песен возникло ощущение, что мне даже не отвратительно! Звук конечно... оставляет желать лучшего. Особенно после только что прослушанных дважды The Smiths. С гитарами вообще что-то не то, они просто как будто войлоком каждую щель в частотном диапазоне заткнули. Поржал с композиции Spray Paint)) Я на неё очень рассчитывал, оказалось, что она идёт 33 секунды... Я требую расширенную версию из 66 секунд! Но если глобально, песни ж все одинаковые, где-то даже как будто рифы один и те же. И звучит это всё дело как мутная каша. Пару песен я оценил, но к концу меня уже начало даже слегка подташнивать от этой музыки. Тем не менее, это всё ещё не так плохо, как Smashing Pumpkins. Хоть и менее разнообразно.

I gave each track a score out of five & it averaged at 3, exactly. The band was generally terrific. Some great guitar licks. Highlight for me was definitely TV Party. Rollins killed it on that, as he did on Room 13, Six Pack & Damaged I - “My name’s Henry…” - an ominous intro to an illustrious career. I never saw him live with his band but I did get talked into a spoken word concert at the Enmore Theatre in 2010 - the Frequent Flyer Tour. It was okay, but I prefer his tv show, which was really good. And, above all, the night he hosted Rage & really gave it to Morrissey - do yourself a favour & catch that on youtube. As for this album, it’s really not my cuppa but I can see the point.

Favorite - TV Party.

3.75

I like a lot of music that has a streak of punk sound, but never really enjoyed taking the pure straight shot of angst that is black flag. Nevertheless I appreciate it and the ways it very probably influenced a lot of the thrashy bands I love. 🙇‍♀️

A perfect soundtrack to me recreating Jackass stunts in my own home. Black Flag's music makes it seem sensible and like a good, mature way to spend my time. OG Punk Rock. Like.

Edelleen kokonaiset punk-albumit on vähän haastavia, vaikka ekat 5 biisiä olin jälleen ihan jess jess tätä lisää. Pitää olla jotain fugazimaista epäpunkkia seassa, että pysyn innostuneena loppuun asti. Tosin eihän tätä varmaan äänitteiksi ole alunperin tarkoitettukaan.

Not the biggest fan, sounds fun though

3.25

Clearly a very influential hardcore punk album. Love the explosive energy, but after a few songs it all just sounds a bit samey. Maybe if I was still an angry teenager I’d love this.

Each song is an explosion of angst and dissatisfaction. I can see how music like this led right to crazy screamy metal like Slayer. Favorites were TV Party and Life of Pain

A massively influential album, but sounding a bit dated now. The mix of hardcore punk tunes with random party tunes is a little confusing at times haha

A punk album that felt a little like the Ramones but updated for a modern audience. It was pretty good and I'm glad I could hear it because I've heard black flag mentioned so many times, including on the Atari's Boys of Summer "out on the road today, I saw a Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac."

I really wish I’d heard this back in ‘81. I didn’t know how to express these feelings although I definitely recognize them and might have done so back then. This is so damn raw, but so authentic and real. Great shit.

Hardcore punk led by Henry Rollins. Good, not great.

I haven’t listened to Black Flag since High School. I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I did back then.

Acerbic, visceral, seemingly chaotic and yet very intentional. If you aren't listening close, you may not catch that nearly the entire album is a tongue-in-cheek cautionary plea to not waste your life away.

Raw and shouty hardcore, just like it should be

I thought it was going to be manufactured pop punk metal for some reason, and was pleased that it was raw and fun and I could make out some of the lyrics. TV Party was a highlight.

Hardcore! A younger angry me would have enjoyed this very much, the older mellow me less so. I get it, and appreciate it being on the 1001 list. Hot heavy, messy, shouty hardcore punk!

Great album, no holds barred fun and the antithesis to the cause-driven hardcore that dominates the genre. That being said, the production is pretty ropey, with the drums sounding particularly naff. Ginn's guitar does sound feral, the bass is nice and raspy and Rollin's vocal delivery flawless - though the levels and compression makes for a difficult listen. This does feature some of my favourite songs, namely: Police story, depression and rise above.

Definitely a classic. Just not sure if it’s the classic for me… there's no denying that Henry Rollins is incredible, but Family Man is a little more my speed personally.

I like a couple of the songs but the others are soooo angsty

Hardcore punk. Demasiado iguales todas las canciones. Ni fu ni fa.

Respect it for its commitment to an energy and sound, but it quickly wears me down and I want to change the station.

Apparently one of the first hardcore punk bands. These lads are definitely ratchet. I imagine many fist fights broke at their old shows, has that "u fuckin w0t m8" energy for sure. I get the legacy which would be 4-5 but enjoyment it's just ok for me.

Black Flag’s Damaged is like the pilot episode of your favourite TV show. The cast is missing a key member or two, the writers haven't found their stride and it was shot independently before being picked up so the whole thing feels raw - but there's a foundation for something great. The proto slacker tunes like Six Pack and TV Party experiment with apathy to subvert the overly serious conventions of the east coast scene - laying a foundation for bands like Descendants to follow. More influentially Rise Above can be credited as being one of the first hardcore jams, a genre I still love today. That's about where the good things end for me. This album was abrasive to the point of being unlistenable, especially the second half. Sometimes, playing as hard and as loud as you can works, but mostly it doest.

Sounds like it could have been written and performed by a British punk band. I like it.

I like early Black Flag, but I've always thought Damaged marks the point where they stopped being good. But I haven't heard it in a long time, so I listened to it again today, and my opinion didn't change. There are some decent songs here, but even those come with caveats. Rise Above is nice, but it sounds very similar to We Must Bleed by the Germs , which is a much better song (and band). Six Pack is fine, but I prefer the EP version. On the other hand, there are some pretty fucking bad songs here, like TV Party. What were they even thinking with that one? I also didn't like the long and/or slow songs like Damaged I and II that were pretty hard to listen to and are a sign of what was to come, which was nothing good.

Very refreshing

Cool zu hören. Beachtlich für die 80er

Ich muss mich mit Punk auseinandersetzen! Das ist der Anfang und während des Hörens habe ich schon eine leicht verbesserte Wahrnehmung festgestellt. Über wohlwollende 3 kommt es aber noch nicht hinaus

Punk albums are a mixed bag. I like the raw element to them, but production always seems lacking, even when intentionally rough sounding. I want to like it more, but it's just good.

Some great riffs, and a shit voice

Like the vibe and the gravelly Henry Rollins take on Punk Rock. That said, no winners here IMO. ROUNDING UP

3.3 + A lot of fuss has been kicked up about these guys and I dutifully gave them their due. I read Henry Rollins’ memoir “Get in the Van” and listened to their records. To me, it’s another case of a band’s backstory being more compelling than their actual output. Not that this record is bad. I appreciate the DIY aesthetic and the guitar work is on point. But as a personality, Rollins is pretentious and abrasive and defaults to a holier-than-thou mindset. All this would be fine if he had the vocal chops to back up the attitude. Though he grunts clearly and enunciates his words to make his meaning understood, I find the message two-dimensional (see “TV Party”). While I like their story, their work ethic and their branding, Black Flag’s music is overrated.

3 na szynach

At the risk of hurting my punk cred, I didn't really get the big deal about this, not compared to other classics like the Clash or the Dead Kennedys.

This LP should be used as a form of birth control. ‘Cause no one is going to want to conceive and give birth to a bunch of kids as, well, damaged as Black Flag. ‘It feels good to say what I want. It feels good to knock things down. It feels good to see the disgust in their eye. It feels good and I’m gonna go wild (‘Spray Paint’).’ With a brutal rhythm section, the whirling dervish trio of drummer Robo, bassist Chuck Dukowski, and rhythm guitarist Dez Cadena barely hanging on to the beat by the tips of their fingers and playing as if their lives depended upon it, supporting the manic maniac lead guitar playing of Greg Ginn, and the psycho desperate vocals of Henry Rollins, 'Damaged' is a parent’s worse nightmare come true. Perhaps a synopsis of the song’s themes, in order, might be the most helpful way to communicate what the listener is in for: Side One: 1) Rise Above… the shitty status quo. 2) Spray Paint… the walls of the stupid society. 3) Six pack… beer helps, more than women. 4) What I See… is all fucked up. 5) TV Party… and beer is preferable to being outside. 6) Thirsty and Miserable… and always wanting more, beer. 7) Police story… we fought the law, too, and the law won. Side Two: 1) Depression… got a hold on me. 2) Room 13… is keeping me alive. 3) Damaged II… and my stupid illusionary feelings. 4) No More… I won’t take it. 5) Padded Cell… which is the wretched plane earth. 6) Life of Pain… complete with aching muscles from digging your own grave, and taking my feelings with you. 7) Damaged I… aahhhhh. Whew, that last one, in particular, features Rollins’ vocals that can best be described as ripping raw bloody flesh off the bones with one’s teeth. When he sings(?) ‘aahhhhhh…’ it sounds, 'he' sounds positively demented. Which is why Black Flag and 'Damaged' is probably best approached and handled: with extreme caution, and from a distance, close to the exit door in case of the real possibility that someone, maybe the whole band, snaps. And they’re very, very close. Like a pack of cornered rabid raccoons. But one would need to be a little feral to pull of this kind of hardcore punk and ‘free’/avant garde jazz hybrid. Several of the songs featured changing time signatures, free time signatures, and physically abused time signatures. Loose, seriously loose, but not sloppy, per se. This LP has been heavily rehearsed, especially for punks, but afterwards spun around and pummeled by the members of the band like a bat to a piñata, until all the musical candy comes gushing out from the bowels. If you like that kind of thing in your music, and I do, then you’re in for a good time. And don’t blink or you’ll miss it. I don’t think there’s much of middle ground here. You’re either gonna dig this, or run away with both hands tearing at your hair and screaming bloody murder; which, coincidentally is what those of us who do love it are doing in the mosh pit ourselves anyway, so it doesn’t really matter, does it? It all boils down to the same reaction. The only real reaction to Black Flag.

Hard and rude. One of the first hardcore bands.

This was a very angst-y album, Porto-thrashy. This reminds me of my music taste a couple years ago, I was into thrash and this reminds me of the likes of Anthrax but it doesn’t really speak to me now. If I listen to thrash these days it has to be when I’m in an increasingly specific mood. The guitar on this album was nice. I think I’ll go for a very middle of the ground 2.75 stars here. It’s like thrash metal - it’s got the raw power which attracted me the but not as much technicality which appeals to me now.

Hardcore punk classic and fun to rage out with

Well, it was fun. My punk tastes centre around The Sex Pistols are early The Clash. American punk tends to be fast & thrashy, and I just can't get into it. But this meandered between the two - particularly "TV Party". Didn't add but didn't dislike.

Good discovery of punk ancestry.

Can't really remember it. Sowwy

Omg….. han va fräck (!!!!!!) me Nardwuar!!!!

Gimme "If you need a hero, just look in the mirror", well that's a lie, you just discover that after being broken. Fall into pieces but not from a puzzle, it's a damaged person who can't control its feelings and emotions, lost all the way down, confused and wasting the energy in poison. It's the contrast of working in who you're interested to look like or being yourself for a single little time, media telling the standards and stuff like that, well we consider that differently. But as life's not a bed of roses, use its perfume and hang out with your friends, raise your black flag for the first time, as in 1981 the band took that attitude, leaving a legacy for generations. B-

While I like punk "in general", and respect what Black Flag did, hardcore punk is just a bit noisier than what I like. Gave it some more listens, and starting to like it more, but definitely a harsher sound. 3

Chaotic and fun. Also really effing dumb. I understand that this is the point, but it also doesn't make me like it any more than I do. Best track: TV Party

OK - heavy punk - but reasonably tuneful

I'm not too fond of punk. I have a couple bands that I really enjoy but in general it tends to really grate on my nerves. This isn't too bad, I wouldn't listen to it again but I can see how it's popular.

Overall a fun punk album with raw production and energy but with entertaining lyricism that is quickly engaging. The only negative is that classic punk albums quickly lose their touch after about 20 minutes of run time.

Groundbreaking punk, still has some good songs. Raw sounds but made with feeling

Punkish rock...

Dis iz PuNk MuzIK. I like the “I don’t give a hekk” attitude about the guitar

Liked a few songs, but noise was numbing after a while

TV Party tonight! TV party tonight! Classic angry youthful punk with a dash of humour. I like it.

Ok, better then I anticipated.

Mostly rapid angry bellowing with a couple of witty tracks thrown in. Mercifully short at 35m 3s.

The highs are higher on the first side, no doubt, but I can't help but notice the lack of musical variety. The last seven songs give so much more in terms of texture and tempo variety, and the emotional beats seem much more realized. Influential sound, recording interestingly, worth my time, but not mind-blowing.

“Damaged” by Black Flag (1981) Fully aware that this review will be ignored by a majority of readers, allow me to lament that poverty from the start. Here’s an album that is punk on steroids. If you want to understand punk, this would be a good place to start. It marks the emergence onto the musical scene of lead singer Henry Rollins (only 20 years old at the time), whose interpretive intelligence and vocal athleticism are on full display in this album. Passions are well harnessed into expressions of: mockery (“TV Party”), pathetic complaint (“Thirsty and Miserable”), despair (“What I See”), depression (“Depression”), rage (almost every song on the album), and various other angst-ridden states of the heart. In terms of the underlying psychology of this collection of songs, when one burrows through the naivety and overwrought sense of seriousness, one lands on some relatively potent commentary: Black Flag counterposes chaotic youthful volition (supercharged by emotional intensity, beer, and who-knows-what other mind-altering substances) with the standard obstacles to their momentary juvenescent happiness. They are excessively intense. But I am forced to call to mind the fact that never in the history of calming down has anyone ever calmed down by being told to calm down. In “Room 13”, we doubt the sincerity of “I rely on your judgment/I've got none of my own/Don't know what I'm doing/It's hard to survive/Don't know if I can do it/I need to belong”. But we applaud the transparency. In “Damaged II”, likewise, we hear “I’m confused. Confused. Don’t wanna be confused. Don’t even feel a thing. No I don’t wanna see. But you can't make me long for your life and security. . . . Stupid feelings, Stupid illusions.” Doesn’t it make you want to sympathize, to seek to understand? If this had been expressed by a troubled child (and it was), would you not be moved to compassion or perhaps join in the misery? What would Jesus do? The rhythm is fast and energized, with instant tempo changes (very difficult to pull off with a combo) and unconventional time signatures that nevertheless make sense. There’s nothing random about these innovations. One could dance to these tunes only if one defines ‘dance’ as people basically bumping into each other. It was and they did. The cover photo depicts Henry Rollins driving his fist into a mirror. Now there’s something on which to reflect. Weaknesses on the album include compositional atonality in lead guitar solos, subdued lead vocal in the mix, and unison backing ‘vocals’ (actually yells) of low quality. It’s by no means perfect. But there’s no doubting that this production is musically expressive. It is very well done, within its genre. I nod my head unsteadily. And I am concerned. 3/5

The whole thing is a parade of chaotic thrash and wild cacophony that assaults and stuns with its obsessive roar. A mosh pit will appear magically in your mind. (6/10) Favourite Tracks: Rise Above, Damaged II

-Great bass/drum intro on "No More" -Great Guitar intro on "Rise Above" -Overall, the guitar and drums and bass are all fantastic across the album, but I'm just not a fan of the singer. I don't think it is the not conventional singing style, but just that there is little change in basically any way throughout the whole album. There is minimal change in pitch, style, or even volume, and that kind of drags everything else down

lots of yelling, which is what i expected

Gritty, driving beats, interesting guitar voicing. You can see the spoken word master that Rollins will grow to be. Not my favorite punk sub-genre (hardcore), but an element of levity adds a lot

No wonder why this is hardcore punk, good TBH

Considering it came out in 1981 you can see the influence of it on later punk e.t.c. Would I listen to all 15 tracks for fun? Probably not, there's stuff it's influenced I'd rather listen to

Was decent, can see why it’s a classic but it wasn’t necessarily for me.

A few classics but the sort of macho-Americano punk is not my favourite.

Rough and dirty, but also fun and energetic. I liked the energy of the album, but on the other hand I didn't feel like it had a lot of really memorable songs aside from Rise Above and TV Party. It's pretty well-executed for hardcore punk, but maybe just not exactly one of those albums you sit down and listen to while working. At least not until we graduate from 'standing desks' to 'workplace mosh pit', which would DEFINITELY have to be post-COVID

Relentless — and relentlessly interesting. TV party tonight! (Futurama!) 6/10

deece

First half of the CD is a 4, but man does it take a turn.

Phenomenal. Just great.

Raw

Solid punk but a little samey, which i could say for most Punk I’ve heard

eh I dunno... I've heard this a few times and can't say I outright like it. I know it's a cultural milestone of some kind for punk rockers but the music is pretty amateur and apart from a few clever lyrics it's really nothing that cool. 3/5 just cause without it there might not have been cooler bands.

Shit was cool at first but then it morphed into them just screaming into the void on distorted guitar rifts & im overly cool on that

DEATH GRIPS SAMPLE caught in the first 5 seconds of the album TS SO TUFF. otherwise, not my kind of music at all. W political takes

Just a bit of a racket

At first I thought I might enjoy it because the punk vibe was there, but it just kept being angry and yelling. By the time I got to Gimmie, Gimmie, and Room 13 I just really wanted it to be over. It wasn't really giving anything new or different, just yelling

TV Party was fun but the rest of this was too loud and noisy for me. I appreciate an angry album on the 4th, but it just wasn’t doing it for me.

While this album features sometimes interesting guitar work, it still lacks a certain musical variance and musically interesting ideas. Every track almost sounds the same. While there are certainly worse albums, it is nothing I would consider "special" or "good", more so "average".

Boring modality.

erm ik vind punk wel leuk maar deze was echt mid..

dit s echt lege punk

Kinda refreshing one on this listening project. Punk has never been my thing and this ensures this view while still being cool album to get familiar with.

Sorry skater punks, this one is not for me. TV Party was juvenile fun though.

# Playlist Track - Rise Above # Notes - I can appreciate this. It has this raw, really grinding sound that works like kryptonite on old, conservative bores. Still, I don't *enjoy* it. - It's worth knowing, it's hugely influencial and you can be excused to think it just rounds like "regular angry teen" but this is one of the defining reasons angry teens sound like that. - Find this in the right moment in your life and your mind will be blown.

I like it

Punk en su máxima expresión, bastante digerible

Vissa bangers men rätt enformigt också

Seemed like good punk. Just not up my alley

Cool, another punk album…

Naw

It’s just a bit shouty init. I’d probably enjoy it a bit more on another day

That's certainly noise.

There's some anger in this one

He produces a lot of saliva. Very recorded in my parents garage core.

I get it, but it's so sloppy

Vrmt pas mon genre de musique :(

I can imagine a time and a place for punk, but in general it’s not very pleasant to listen to.

I see the influence, but not my music

ça n'est pas possible, mais je ne peux pas, c'est pas mon style du tout.

No More was the standout. I appreciated how it started off slow before building into typical punk shite.

A ver como para escucharlo tranquilamente y agusto es horrible 🙉, solo que al ubicarlo en el 81 🤯 te das cuenta de lo imnovadir que era y como abrio un nuevo camino a la musika y pudo influir a posteriores bandas de punk y hard metal, de su lugar en la musika y en esta lista. Casi le doy un 3 solo es que... el Hard Metal... 🙈 aveces se podria catalogar de antimusika 🤢 aun asi, los hay buenos 🤏🏼 y muy malos 🤌🏼 No coincido muy biem con estos estilos 🤷🏻‍♂️

It’s giving Robbie from Gravity Falls

Blessedly short.

Day 278 Highlights Six Pack TV Party

The sequel band, Skull and Bones, did not do as well and costed the published millions of dollars

My issue with hardcore albums is that they tend to be one track played a dozen times with different lyrics. It's not bad, but I'll never pick it to play again

Hugely influential Punk album. Quite aggressive and raw. I didn't like it very much. Key tracks: Thirsty and Miserable

Great punk but I still just don’t really like punk

Gear: Grado Hemp Artwork: 🤜💥🪞 Production: 📏💩😖 Music: 🏎️😡🪧 Rating: 🏴🏴(🏴)/5

I can understand its influence on some of my favorite bands but couldn’t get all the way into it myself

Not a fan of punk really. An entertaining and biting record but it lacks any change of pace. Not bad but didn't convert me either

I imagine this was influential but just wasn’t for me

Teenage me would have been all over this and whilst it's something different now, I don't think I vibe with it. It's not bad at all though, just no emotional connection. Almost feels like a radio station I'd change over immediately on GTA.

Not for me - all I heard was noise and yelling with a bit of drums and guitar.

I expected to like this one more than the last, however despite an OK start and some decent musicality, I found it really got a bit much by the end. Perhaps it's just because the Circle Jerks one was so short. I was willing this one to finish before the end.

Not for me

It was alright

Not my thing but sounds surprisingly modern

Screaming about beer and TV

p478. 1981. 2 stars. Angry, unpleasant US punk that sets the template for later thrash metal. It doesn't mean it's any good though. Bonus point for keeping it short.

Pretty decent. It pains me to rate an album 2/5 after the awful German one that needed 0/0 stars.

All energy no melody. Which I think they’d probably happily put on the poster. But doesn’t really work for me.

Ikke noe for meg.

Rough and raw, and I'm sure they were having fun, but I didn't like it much.

Punk is not for me and outside of Six Pack and TV Party this was really not for me.

Too angry for me, but not as bad as metal.

117. not memorable

I guess this would be awesome live.. I enjoyed the TV Party song tho.

Blerg

I’m sure this is great for the right type of listener, but judging it just based on how I liked to listen to it and nothing about its importance to music. This album was not for me.

I would have rated this 3 or 4 in my youth but I now find it way too "shouty".

Not my style but a couple of hits

Usually I like most punk music but for some reason this just didn’t hit for me like I thought it would. I actually gave up on the last song and was like no I’m good. I just felt like it was kind of repetitive and aggressive in terms of vocals and vibes. Maybe it’s just not my thing but I could see why other people would enjoy this.

2/3. Still not a fan of punk and doubt I ever will be, but TV Party and the two closing tracks actually caught my ear (especially the lyrics on the last two), and there did seem to be legitimate attempts at writing songs on this album, rather than the usual kindergarten noisemaking and screaming incomprehensible "socially conscious" lyrics.

Pretty boring and repetitive, I don't think this was really pushing any boundaries. It's generic, background punk music, and not to be all Rule Britannia, but I think British punk did this kind of thing better.

Det e så rotat og utight HELE TIDA. Det eneste Black Flag som æ faktisk like e det lille som finnes med Keith Morris.

Definitely didn't enjoy it but I got through the whole thing and that says something

I can appreciate the brutal honesty and humor of the lyrics but otherwise this is a tough listen. Better than the Germs, not as good as the Sex Pistols. Also finding it strange that Henry Rollins' vocals aren't packing much of a punch (pun intended). I expected him to stand out. but it's Greg Ginn who impressed me the most. Regardless, I prefer the Dirty Projectors re-envisioning. Favorite song: TV Party

Det e så rotat og utight æ klare ikke. Black Flag e kult med Keith Morris, ikke noe mer

Ugh.

Takie 2 lub 3. Nic szczególnego.

I don't care for this

This aint it

This sounds like an angry teenager band, screaming their anger in the void and just slamming anything they can. Very random, but the energy is intense.

Definitely not my thing

о нет

Despite some of my favorite bands coming from the California Punk scene, Black Flag was never really one of them. They were no doubt massively influential and really harnessed the grit and anger of Hardcore Punk exceptionally well. The harshness of the vocals is what I think more Hardcore Punk bands should strive for. In general, I think the majority of my praise for Damaged stems from its brutality and concentrated aggression. I'm less sure of why I just can't quite get into this album. It might stem from how repetitive, uncatchy, and borderline stupid the lyrics tend to be. The mixing is also godawful, at least the streaming file I have access to, which really kills a lot of the groove that can be accomplished. I'm not saying that mixing has to be amazing for a Punk record to be good, but when the drums don't hit as hard as they should, when the bass gets buried under everything, it detracts when the other elements don't match the energy of the vocals. The riffs are awesome on quite a few of these tracks, but I really had to strain my ears to be able to appreciate them. Even with something like How Could Hell Be Any Worse?, heavily inspired by Damaged, still incredibly lo-fi, but manages to maintain the drive necessary. Maybe I just need a bit more time on this one. There's a lot that I like about it that feels like it's being crushed by the major flaws.

eh, not my thing

Angsty garage punk that sounds like the precursor to Nirvana. Not exactly my cup of tea but the lyrics keep it pretty entertaining. Reminds me of Tony Hawk skater games. Fave song - TV Party 2.5

Oh the 80’s. Garbo

a punk album should make me want to move

Dont even know how to classify this. Way too thrash or punk for me

Actually, I quite like listening to punk from time to time. And this album also started off just as you would imagine good old British punk to be, even if it comes from an American band. Loud, aggressive, fast, unmelodic. And although the tracks are quite short, as they should be, they got on my nerves after a while. I don't think I'll even listen to this album. 2/6

Proves once again that I don't like punk. Stand-outs - Rise Above

I've already forgotten it from the just listening to it yesterday. I like punk, but this album just didn't do it for me.

i dont have any thoughts about this. its just not for me, i hate the vocals. they are messy and i know thats the punk vibe but my gosh its like there no effort. 4/10

It's hard to rate albums when it's really the genre that I don't like. This may be good compared to other similar bands/albums but I personally didn't like it. Feels repetitive and just kind of one note to me. Not my cup of tea.

Oof, not a fan of this Noisy, bad vocals, “insightfull” lyrics 2/5

This sounds like what a modern day garage punk band would sound like so kudos on pioneering this sound Black Flag! its anti establishment as frick and nails the feeling throughout. That being said it definitely wears on you quick if you're apathetic to the genre. its dirty and loud and in-your-face so enjoy it while its here. Honestly I preferred Henry Rollins in Def Jam Fight For New York but thats just me!

Well I’ve finally heard ol Henry Rollins band Black Flag. It’s fine. I get why punk fans like it. It’s raw and unpolished and very Fuck the System. I just didn’t enjoy listening to it very much and that’s my main criteria for these ratings. The bass sounded great on it though!

Yeah this is heavy.

not for me but respect

Too edgy

Above average American "Punk".

I wouldn’t call myself someone who listens to Black Flag. In fact the first time I heard of them was during the Atari’s 2003 remake of “Boys of Summer”. They are just not my cup of tea. But they could be yours.

All felt a bit too same-y, sadly. RYM: N Saved a song: N

The album cover is a good microcosm of the whole album. Tough man punching his reflection, shattering the mirror, blood dripping from his wrist. But it’s a staged photo, mirror pre-broken, blood a mix of ink and coffee. Similarly, this album presents of veneer of macho destructiveness and rage, but it’s just a bunch of kids play-acting. This is kind of my problem with hardcore music in general. I just can’t get past the goofiness of it. I liked “TV Party” the best, because it had a sense of humor the way much of the album did not. But I walked away grateful 35-minutes had finally elapsed, and with sympathy pains in my larynx.

Too yelly for me but I liked TV Party

I've definitely heard the influence of this album in present-day SoCal mosh pits. That's pretty cool! This is definitely music that would be more fun live, the main draw is how much energy and movement is in the tracks. Black Flag always reminds me of that movie 21st Century Women and the scene when the mom is with her son and Greta Gerwig's character at a punk show and she says, "They're not very good... and they know they're not very good?" This isn't really for casual listening to me, it's for emotion and thrashing around! So, quite good at what it does!

Hardcore punk? Not my thing though it is cool to see hardcore outside of metal which is what I feel like it's most associated with.

Don't dislike it but sounds like it's been recorded in a shed

Pretty generic punk rock. Not for me.

I’d heard of Black Flag but not sure I actually ever actually heard. Punk stuff. I actually expected to like it more than I did.

Whatever -

Blind album and artist. A little too hardcore for me, and maybe 1 good starting/opening track.

I listened to it once but don't ask me to do it twice. There are only four bands from the punk rock movement that I care about and this is not one of them. The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Patti Smith Group and The Clash are all you need as far as punk rock goes.These guys sound like an angrier Sex Pistols but not as good.

Good but not my cup of tea.

This is like when your girlfriend got home late from work having been forced to work overtime at short notice. You ask how her day was and oh boy does she tell you. Highlights include having to go pick up the office mail from the PO Box when it was raining outside. The last cream bun being eaten before she got the chance to grab one because she was in a meeting. Ethan the account manager booking a campaign for a client that was too short notice, so deadlines weren’t going to be made. Her boss telling her that he was taking next week off so he wouldn’t be able to make her pay review meeting. Some incoherent rabble that sounded like she was wishing death on someone. Some jerk cutting her off in traffic on the way home. Her useless boyfriend not making a start on dinner meaning she wasn’t gonna eat dinner until after 9. Oh fuck that one was you. You suggest uber eats.

Did I need to hear this before I die?

yeah the boys. It's a 35 minute album but it feels like it drags a bit.

When kids in my high school said they were in a punk band this is exactly how I imagine it sounded.

Really have a hard time taking this seriously. Every time I think oh wait here we go, I’m quickly reminded of why I wasn’t loving it. The themes are simple and quite frankly remind me of an adult temper tantrum. :/

“TV Party” might be one of the only greatest GOATs of all time.

Another album where I made it all the way through, just, but it was in doubt several times. My personal taste is that music , like any art, should be an enjoyable experience. I don;t subscribe to the bullshit about 'challenging the norm', 'abstract art' and all that sort of nonsense. In a similar vein, I wouldn't go to an art gallery to view something awful, I want to see great art. Anyway, I'll give it 2 stars, and that feels generous.

If you like punk then this ought to be good

So punk! Loud. Screaming. Whatever. 5/10

I know the band name and logo, but have honestly never listened to them. This is their debut album, and it was obviously created to stir up the youth it was aimed at. Every tune clocks in around 1.5-2.5 minutes, short, angry and aggressive. The entire album is 35 mins! My parents should count their blessings I never got into this one! "Rise Above" is a rousing song, not necessarily good, but high energy. "Six Pack" has juice but it's so garageband, simple and messy. "What I See", "Depression", "Room 13" & "Police Story" are hard to listen to. They all kinda sound the same. "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" was the best of the bunch. Like it or not, and I don't, it has a respectable 1M count or higher on every single track. "Rise Above" (39M), "Six Pack" (19M) & "TV Party" (16M) all have over solid listen counts. 2 Stars. A betting man says most listeners couldn't make it thru all 15 track without skipping. I can see where they may have influenced kids to grab guitars and join the punk revolution. No hits, no radio, no catchy songs or cult classics, bottom rung musicianship, but in the end... no one ever asked "do you listen to Black Flag".

I think each song individually is fine-ish but listening all of them back to back was rough. Same vocals with the same cadence and same drive from the rest of the band. I've heard punk that I've liked (mostly in my local scene), but I have not been able to get into most of the punk albums that the generator has given me.

I just read Christgau’s review and he describes “the B side (as dragging) more painfully… than intended.” Then I checked his review of My War, where he describes side 2 as being wasted on dirges. He and I clearly disagree. Black Flag is better when it is slower. And this isn’t slow enough for my liking. 2 Black Flag suck. While it is difficult for some people (me for instance) to listen to Damaged without summoning the spectre of Kurt Cobain to nod along approvingly the entire time, the truth is that Black Flag suck. Damaged is not unmemorable and it is not without something like heroic conviction and defiance throughout. I think this makes it rather like the Charge of the Light Brigade, which was also those things but, in the main, stupid. Stupid feelings. Stupid illusions. Stupid everything. 2/5

2 Stars (5/15)

Music for boys, nice saxophones tho

Punk album, goes pretty quick, not really my sound! 2/5

1978-1982 punk will never connect and there’s a lot of it

Ooph these guys are angry.

Isn’t Black Flag one of the leading hardcore punk bands? Look, I can appreciate a lot of “noisy” music - even some modern hardcore punk from time to time. But I think above all, punk is about uniting under a message, and I have trouble receiving it here. On my second listen I pulled up the lyrics, which helped, but I still don’t really feel their struggles are anything more special than today’s. I mean, I get it - life sucks, a bit of depression here, a bit of disagreement with policies there. TV and drinking is replaced by social media and drugs, and were lonely just the same. Musically, it’s not the worst. Some guitar riffs I can appreciate, and there are a few clever rhythm breaks. It sounds chaotic, which I can enjoy if it’s done well, but here it feels pretty drowned out by the muddy and rough recording quality. I’m sure this was a great scene to be part of, and I’d probably enjoy the music more if I was there. And while I respect the DIY mindset, to me it kind of hurts the enjoyment. That said, I do think you should consider art in its environment. Does it belong on a “1001 Albums” list? Yeah, it’s clearly been important. Do I want to listen to this again? Unless I get dragged to some hardcore punk–themed party with really fun people - hell no.

Not really a fan of hardcore, or Black Flag.

Screamy punk

This seems to draw out those who critique British punk with effusive praise. Americans? Anyway, it’s punk. It’s fine, but nothing more. Would I choose to listen to it again? No.

- Boos, niet men ding - 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummer al toegevoegd aan MMMM

Not for me. Every single sounded the same.

A bit too hard on the punk and scream for me. Cool album, just too rough. Rise above was my favorite track.

I'm not into punk and not into hardcore. So, not for me.

Damaged by Black Flag is a raw outburst of fury, chaos, and disillusionment - a defining artifact of early American hardcore. Its energy is undeniable, and Henry Rollins’ vocals embody pure frustration. But the album’s relentless aggression often overshadows nuance; the songs blur together, and the production’s abrasive roughness can wear thin fast. While its impact on punk history is significant, as a listening experience it can feel more punishing than powerful.

I want to like hardcore punk like this, but the abrasiveness just wears me out too quickly

One or two punk songs can be ok, maybe even enjoyable on the odd occasion, but every punk album quickly becomes a slog

Forgettable. Simpsons: No

This is a bad recording (Spotify) and does no favours when the music is already a bit grunge-y even if primarily punk. To my British ears it is pretty boring and noisy. Maybe it is hitting some cultural notes for North American listeners (it has a sort of alternative, devil may care attitude to it, beers with the boys fuck the system etc) but it feels so basic compared to the recent Sex Pistols album - really puts it into perspective. Nothing especially wrong with the instrumental aspects but not that interesting. Bleh.

I'm not sure about this industrial punk. It's a bit too shouty, and they seemed to favor irritating, shouted playback after the main vocalist. This often ruined any intended effect. It may be influential for the genre, but there's too much uncoordinated thrashing for my liking. This made me disengage with their "art", and I suspect some interesting politics or opinions were completely lost on me as a result.

Firstly, what is going on with the production of this album? It's a mess and urgently needs a remaster. It's unusual for the production of a record to be so bad that it genuinely reduces my ability to listen to an album but I couldn't really hear the constituent parts for most of this album. That said, and going off pure vibes, its a fun, early punk album that has good energy and doesn't take itself too seriously. Would probably be a fun gig to see live. Unfortunately this is seriously limited as an album because it sounds like it was recorded by gathering round a single microphone in my shed.