Reviews (page 6 of 8)
classic early 80's punk brings back college memories
The only thing damaged was my ears
Besides the 3 songs I knew, this was just noise...
This is what I imagine punk is like.
I used to gym to this. So all it reminded me of was exercise.
unbearable tbh.. lyrics and music sound like a 13 yr old rock band
A punk classic.
Punk, especially hardcore punk from this era, is like metal but without the technique and finesse. It's fast, hard and aggressive. Nevertheless it's still good and I listen to Black Flag from time to time and Damaged is probably their best album.
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.
Hell yeah.
Annoying British men whining over unremarkable guitars and it's "hardcore"?
I liked it. You can hear the beginnings of punk rock in their style
fun!
Not a mad fan?
justice for zaheer
At 35 minutes, Black Flag blows thru 15 tracks at a furious pace. As frantic and fast as the guitars and drums can be, they are clean as Black Flag lets us know they rebel against the man and love their booze. Great fun, 4 stars!
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.
I think I’ve only ever seen Henry Rollins labeled as a “rockstar” in the media because they don’t want to associate him with a band and album that came for the throats of the mainstream. Hardcore punk is not my favorite genre but I can’t think of a better example than this. Loud, abrasive, and absolutely furious with the man. For thirty minutes I felt like toppling the capitalist system. Definitely understand this album’s place in the list, a surprising four from me.
Hugely influential album in the skate community! Every Gen X skater I've ever met has a Black Flag tattoo (probably because they're cheap to do). "Rise Above" and "TV Party" have been on my Skate playlist for a long time. I would say that this is by far the best example of a Punk album. A group of guys playing load and fast about any topic they want. Can't sing? Who cares. Poor recording equipment? Whatever. No one will book us a big venue? We only want to play in shitholes anyway. A true "fuck you I'm going to do what I want" attitude that seeps further into you the louder you turn the music up. Fuck you, fuck society, and fuck me! Let's get hammered and go skate.
Great early 80s punk with Henry Rollins on vocals. Not as strong as the previous EP, but still influential.
At least the songs were short
I can now say that I have listened to a Black Flag album.
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!
These workmanlike rockers are elevated by Ginn’s skronky guitar, which sometimes sounds like Ornette Coleman. Rollins is an excellent barker; I had fun with this.
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. The Coasters via The MC5. Not bad, but doesn't hold my attention
4/5
Still don't like punk.
Absolutely not.
This is not interesting.
Damaged doesn't have the sleaze of Angry Samoans nor the absolute chaos of The Germs. Bad Brains had shredding that Black Flag avoids and nothing can replace Fugazi's bop. That being said the performances and songs on this album are still fantastic. The raw angst and energy of Rise Above, What I See, and Depression make these the top tunes on this record.
I mean no disrespect to other hardcore punk albums when I say that they had no reason to show up other guitarists in the genre as hard as they did with this album. Every song's riff isn't just technical thrashing, but elaborate guitar riffs that are not only extremely catchy and raw, but are just straight up nasty, and paired with Henry Rollins' "on the brink of death" vocals leads the album to perhaps one of the most earnestly aggressive and destructive punk albums of the 80s. There is no wonder in my mind how this became such a massive hit, as only as the album went on did I find myself into the style more and more, and while the vocals did take some getting used to, returning to the earlier songs after going through the whole album had me realize just how consistent this record is, and featuring fifteen tracks and still pulling that feat off is quite the achievement. It's juvenile in the most charismatic of ways, and while perhaps it can come off as a bit dumb, sometimes that's what you need to get through a day. Great record, I look forward to checking out their sludgier follow-up.
4.5
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
i know i should have probably expected it from the cover but the shouting kinda caught me off guard at first LOL. also lowkey surprised by the short run time for each song, but in this case i don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. it’s not my usual taste in music but i actually don’t hate it? tv party is actually such a fun song 😋 i respect the album and it has its fun moments, but i don’t think i would go back to listen to it that often, which is why i’m giving it a 2… i would give it a 2.5 if i could though!
**"Damaged" by Black Flag: An In-Depth Review** **Overview:** "Damaged," the debut studio album by the American punk band Black Flag, was released on December 5, 1981. It's widely considered one of the most important albums in the hardcore punk genre. Featuring vocalist Henry Rollins, guitarist Greg Ginn, bassist Chuck Dukowski, and drummer Robo, "Damaged" has become a seminal record influencing countless punk and alternative bands. **Lyrics:** The lyrics on "Damaged" are raw, confrontational, and introspective. They delve into themes of alienation, frustration, anger, and the struggles of daily life. Henry Rollins' delivery is intense and aggressive, perfectly complementing the band's ferocious sound. - **Pros:** - **Authenticity:** The lyrics reflect genuine feelings of disenchantment and rage, resonating with listeners who feel similarly marginalized or disaffected. - **Relatability:** Songs like "Rise Above" and "Depression" address universal themes of struggle and resilience, making the album relatable to a wide audience. - **Intensity:** Rollins' vocal performance adds a layer of emotional intensity, making the lyrics feel immediate and urgent. - **Cons:** - **Monotony:** Some critics argue that the lyrical themes can feel repetitive, with a constant focus on negativity and anger. - **Simplicity:** The directness of the lyrics, while powerful, can sometimes come across as simplistic or lacking in nuance. **Music:** Musically, "Damaged" is a brutal and relentless assault. The album's sound is characterized by fast tempos, aggressive guitar riffs, and pounding drums, typical of the hardcore punk genre. Greg Ginn's guitar work is especially notable for its raw, unpolished sound and unconventional solos. - **Pros:** - **Energy:** The album's high-energy performance is one of its most appealing aspects. The sheer intensity of the music keeps listeners engaged from start to finish. - **Innovative Guitar Work:** Greg Ginn's guitar playing is a highlight, featuring dissonant chords and avant-garde solos that set Black Flag apart from other punk bands. - **Rhythmic Drive:** The tight rhythm section of Dukowski and Robo provides a solid backbone, driving the songs forward with relentless momentum. - **Cons:** - **Production Quality:** The raw production, while adding to the album's authenticity, can sometimes make the music sound muddy or indistinct. - **Lack of Variety:** The relentless pace and similar song structures can make the album feel repetitive over its 34-minute runtime. **Production:** Produced by Spot, "Damaged" has a distinctly lo-fi sound. The production is raw and unpolished, which is both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, it captures the raw energy of Black Flag's live performances. On the other, it can detract from the clarity and impact of the music. - **Pros:** - **Authenticity:** The raw production adds to the album's sense of authenticity, making it feel like a true document of the hardcore punk scene. - **Energy Capture:** The lo-fi sound effectively captures the band's live energy and intensity, giving listeners a sense of what a Black Flag concert might feel like. - **Cons:** - **Clarity:** The rough production can obscure some of the musical details, particularly Ginn's intricate guitar work and the rhythm section's nuances. - **Balance:** At times, the mix feels unbalanced, with vocals or instruments overpowering each other, making it difficult to appreciate the full arrangement. **Themes:** "Damaged" explores themes of alienation, anger, frustration, and defiance. The album's title itself suggests a state of being broken or flawed, a recurring motif in the lyrics and music. - **Pros:** - **Cohesive Vision:** The themes of "Damaged" are consistent and well-executed, providing a unified vision of disenchantment and rebellion. - **Emotional Depth:** The exploration of personal and societal issues gives the album an emotional depth that resonates with listeners. - **Cons:** - **Limited Scope:** The thematic focus on negativity and anger can feel limiting, potentially alienating listeners looking for a broader emotional range. - **Intense Focus:** The unrelenting intensity of the themes might be overwhelming for some, lacking moments of respite or contrast. **Influence:** "Damaged" has had a profound influence on the punk and alternative music scenes. It is often cited as a foundational album for the hardcore punk genre and has inspired countless bands and musicians. - **Pros:** - **Genre-Defining:** The album is a cornerstone of hardcore punk, helping to define the sound and ethos of the genre. - **Legacy:** Black Flag's influence extends beyond punk, impacting alternative rock, metal, and other genres. Bands like Nirvana, Slayer, and Red Hot Chili Peppers have cited Black Flag as an influence. - **Cultural Impact:** "Damaged" has left a lasting cultural impact, embodying the DIY ethic and rebellious spirit of punk. - **Cons:** - **Niche Appeal:** While influential, the album's raw sound and aggressive style might limit its appeal to a broader audience. - **Overshadowing:** The intense focus on "Damaged" can sometimes overshadow other important works in Black Flag's discography and the broader punk scene. **Conclusion:** "Damaged" by Black Flag is a seminal album in the hardcore punk genre, notable for its raw energy, intense lyrics, and influential sound. While its production can be both a strength and a weakness, and its relentless focus on anger and frustration might not appeal to everyone, its impact on music and culture is undeniable. **Pros:** - Authentic, relatable lyrics - High-energy, innovative music - Cohesive thematic vision - Profound influence on punk and alternative music **Cons:** - Repetitive lyrical themes - Raw production quality can obscure musical details - Limited thematic scope - Niche appeal due to its aggressive style Ultimately, "Damaged" stands as a powerful testament to Black Flag's vision and the enduring legacy of hardcore punk.
If an angry teenager was music, this would be it. I liked a few of the earlier tracks and was considering giving it a reasonably high rating at that point but by the second half of the album it got a bit much and I found it samey and depressing. Fave Track: TV Party Rating: 2
A perfectly realized 35 minutes of hardcore's sound and spirit. Visceral and raw, this album hits hard, fast and loud - an onslaught of lightning riffs, pulverizing drumming and a whole range gutteral screams from agonized drawn wails out to raging machine gun blasts. Damaged captures suburban alienation from the bland world of Reaganism and 80s mass consumerism, articulating its pure hate of the hollow life they promised. Beyond that though Black Flag epitomized the ethos of DIY counterculture, the desire to live differently and make your own way - and the grueling commitment and burnout that involved. This sounds like that - flailing angrily to create rigorously rehearsed chaos.
Gave me a headache, but the raw punk energy is always very refreshing. Favorite track: No More
My brain was only partially damaged listening to it. It was alright, serviceable enough punk.
Ya know. Not my thing
Not for me.
Shit
Fantastic debut album and captures the American punk) hard core scene perfectly. Just not my thing. Especially 40+ years later.
This is something I probably would have enjoyed more in my early teens, but I have never been a real fan of just yelling for vocals. Just not my thing, and I will never listen to this album again.
I don't listen to punk on the daily, but I always go to punk shows for the energy. Live is totally better than any produced record
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.
this was terrible
Middle school beginner music?
Only the really bad-ass kids at school would listen to Black Flag and Damage. I was not one of them at the time, but I think I kinda wanted to be. Finally got into them during my very late nights on radio. Turn it up!
Wow. I've never listened to these before. I don't like hardcore as a genre but I get it now. This is it, everything that has come since is poser shite. Not normally my thing but will definitely have this on my life to get fired up sometimes. TV Party seems to have been the entire basis of NOFXs discography, and I've got no issues with that. Hilarious song that led to a hilarious band. Extra * just for that one song.
Yeah, nah. I'm not going to go through this again. Survived 10 minutes, probably world record.
Just noise and screaming
40/100 Maybe this is a bit too far outside my comfort zone. And this isn't my style. But just as I was warming up to the record (witty lyrics and awesome instrumentals) in the middle part, the quality took a nosedive towards the end. Maybe it takes some getting used to but I also don't think the quality is there and variety is basically non-existent.
Un po' metal, un po' scarno 2/3
It’s fucking punk.
Not for me too hard.
So few albums lay down the hammer so loudly that it creates a new genre while still being a contender in that genre decades later. An undeniable power house. While not the apogee of hardcore, it's energetic, influential, and hardcore.
Not my type of music. It was just too much music and i just couldn't enjoy it. 2/5
Meh. I don't think I would ever choose to listen to this again.
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.
Sloppy, angry, earnest. A punk classic.
mucho ruido
I don’t like this kind of music
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Quintisential angry young men doing what they need to. But this manages to add in good hooks without turning into Greenday style pop punk. Good lyrics, the bass slaps and Henry Rollins is a beast.
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.
I really want to give it a 5 because I know it's hugely influence to punk, but imo Minor Threat are the ultimate hardcore punk band, and I think Black Flag get better when they got a little weirder with 'My War'. Still, this is definitely a classic, a bizarre mix of satirical punk songs with some crippling depression on the side. 'Rise Above' is a legendary song too.
Ruido
Noisy. One memorable tune. Maybe.
This is so mutilayered for a genre strapped with a label of being basic. These guys produced two near masterpieces with this and War, there second offering
This is the punk I was raised on. Henry Rollins went from being one of the angriest violient dudes ever to an absolutely amazing intellectual human being. I have sense moved away from punk in general but I will always appreciate Black Flag and this album in particular. 8/10
15 songs, in 35 minutes. Made this listen tolerable. All I ever knew about Black Flag was Henry Rollins had something to do with them. I knew him more as an actor & now know why he likes to chew the scenery. On the plus side, all I’ve go left to do is have a brew .
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.
This one is funny. Like it a lot for background music to randomly hone in on. Believe I already knew of them though.
I am going to have my chance
Tengo paciencia con el punk. Le tengo afecto, incluso. A veces lo encuentro adorable. Pero me gusta, realmente me gusta, cuando hay melodía. Incluso si el mensaje y la rabia, esenciales en el género, están bien administradas. Aquí hay poco de eso.
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
4.5 How timely, I just saw Black Flag last weekend at No Values… and they sucked. I actually left about halfway through their set to go get some pizza. If you go to one of their shows nowadays hoping to hear anything that sounds even remotely like this album, you’re going to be disappointed - Henry Rollins bounced a while ago and has since been replaced with professional skateboarder Mike Vallely, and, well, it’s not a great combination. In fact, it’s borderline unlistenable - I don’t know what the hell happened when Mike V joined, but somehow, one of the most iconic punk bands of all-time turned into a shitty cover band. Anyway, there was a time this band truly was great (I’m assuming they were great live as well - too young to have ever seen them with Rollins), and this album is probably the best exemplification of that. I mean, just the opening track Rise Above is proof enough - like, if you’re putting together a top ten list of punk anthems, there’s no way it doesn’t make the cut. It’s one of my personal favorites of all-time, and it’s just one of many bangers here - other favorites include: Six Pack, TV Party, Spray Paint, and Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, though honestly, everything here is great and gets me in a particularly angst, mosh-y mood (meaning the album has done its job). That all to say, I have a lot of favorite punk albums, and I’m not sure this one quite reaches the level of others. I do think the back half of this isn’t quite as strong as the first, and the fact that the music cuts off abruptly in between certain tracks has always kind of bugged me as well. Still, it’s a damn good album, and one that laid the blueprint for all of punk to follow by introducing the “hardcore” to “hardcore punk” (Well, these guys and Minor Threat). As much as I love The Ramones and Sex Pistols, this album made them look like the Billboard Hot 100. Want to end with this - speaking of No Values, the festival was a strong reminder that punk music runs through my blood through and through. I mean, music in general is my happy place, but it’s something special when it’s loud and fast (though Bright Eyes and The Smiths will always hold a special place in another part of my heart). When I die, there better not be any sappy, black tie-wearing pity party going on, everyone I know and love better get a keg and blast some great tunes as loud as they can. Gabba gabba hey!
Hardcore punk. Demasiado iguales todas las canciones. Ni fu ni fa.
Животная агрессия в мп3 - порой такого очень хочется послушать
not mine, to damaged
Love the hardcore ethos and lyrical themes. The music never did much for me though.
Solid punk album. Rise Above and TV Party are flat out bangers. Some humour. Some social consciousness. Some anarchy. I'm down with this.
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?
I love early punk. This stuff is raw. Bro was ANGRY
Such a unique sound
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 saw regular rotation for me during my skate punk years right alongside other albums by The Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, 7 Seconds. No doubt I was singing “TV Party” on my way down the ramp after pulling a decent backside grind. Chalked full of all the topics of the day from antiestablishment to depression, this gem also has a tongue in cheek humor to it on some songs. And Black Flag were some of the first to strike that balance which influenced many others down the punk rock line.
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
Man, I know I’m probably supposed to like this but it just didn’t do much for me. A lot of noise with nothing really memorable. Although a 35 min runtime with 15 songs is quite impressive. I’ll put my rock horns up and give this a star for each raised finger.
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
Das ist nicht so meine Musik. Zugegeben sehr gut produziert und abwechslungsreich arrangiert, aber in einem Rutsch durchhören ist dennoch für mich nicht möglich.
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.
SIX PACK!
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.
This is hard at a time when I neeeed something hard.
Good energy, but I felt it didn't have a lot of variety and I got a bit tired of it towards the end.
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.
Punk isn't my scene but this is a great album.
This was good. At some points it felt more like noise rock, but it often had really good riffs. I think I may go for a 4 for this because even if I didn’t enjoy the whole thing, I really enjoyed what I did enjoy
Noisy punk with moments of glory. Outstayed its welcome for me, but this isn't really my cup of tea in the first place. I like that Damaged II comes before Damaged I, this band does have a good sense of humour amidst the destructive angst.
It’s got a great beat, and you can smash your head against the wall to it!
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
I did a deep dive into these guys years ago, so I understand why this album is on the list. It's not just about this punk record. This started the hardcore scene. The band would tour a lot, but play small venues, many of which had never had live music before. This opened the doors for other bands to follow and created the underground hardcore punk scene. The band also ran SST records, signing not just hardcore, but quite a diverse array of bands. Sonic Youth, Hüsker Dü, Minutemen, Soundgarden, Meat Puppets, Dinosaur Jr. and many more. The underground wouldn't have exploded into the 90's alt and grunge scene without Black Flag.
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)
A rare DNF
This is such suburban teenage boy music. Bleh. Rise Above was reasonable, if you like this genre. And I actually chuckled with TV Party and enjoyed it. But overall it's not my thing.
Amazing energy! Raise above is an awesome song.
The usual useless screaming.
It’s a bit much
This gave me more energy than a couple shots of espresso. There are a few songs I wasn't a huge fan of, but ultimately it's a pretty solid record. Even if I didn't know what they were singing half the time.
Classic!!
Punk rock \../
Loved this, very fun
I almost couldn’t get through this one.
I put this on while I was making dinner, didn’t have the same relaxing effects as the jazz album did. Extra star for the shoutout to the Jeffersons.
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).
This may be the point I have to admit that I don’t understand punk music
This feels harsh but I just couldn't. I don't think I would've been into this even during my "punk phase"
It's a classic punk-rock album ... my favorite genre. Sometimes the songs can be a little monotonous, though.
Y’know… if someone had played TV Party for me at an impressionable age I’d probably have been a hardcore punk growing up.
Not my thing
Haven't heard Black Flag in such a long time. Great tunes here
Great fun punk record.
Genre defining
de cover vertelt het al : dit is een agressief plaatje... Rollins op zijn best...korte krachtige songs, met maatschappijkritische en ook hilarische teksten...
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.
Should be called red flag. Not my jam
Very bracing!
My rating of 1 the first time I listened to this was too harsh. It was much more listenable to me this time around, but I'm just simply not a hardcore fan. I will always appreciate how good punk rockers are at their instruments though. Favorite track: TV Party
Angry anthems for the jaded and disaffected. At age 51 this album still resonates with me as much as it did at 15 when I heard random tracks on a mix tape given to me by a school mate.
not my thing and not anything special but wasnt painful. 2
No. Depressing guitar grind, AGAIN.
.
Another day, another Punk album I hate. Compared to Junkyard, Damaged sees a bit more of goodness; I could actually bear a full listen. That being said, I didn’t; enjoy it. The quality quite literally dropped immediately, with the only semi-enjoyable track being Rise Above. All in all, Damaged is a trash album. Best Song: Rise Above
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.
Damn Good album! 4/5
Yeeeeeeaaaah Henry Rooooollins is the best
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".
Not for me
The platonic ideal of hardcore punk. This is exactly what I think of when I think punk.
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.
I know that the low quality sound and recordings is kind of "part of the gig" when it comes to punk albums, but in the age of high fidelity music streaming at our fingertips, it really makes things like this unpleasant to listen back to. If you can get past the quality issue, the mixing doesn't seem too bad, though. I don't know, each track mostly sounded the same to me, and I just didn't get anything out of it.
First song was pretty good and it went downhill from there.
Visceral and dissonant, exactly what I would want from an essential punk record.
Great punk album
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.
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.
Heavy College radio in the 90s. Lots of shouting but only so much to listen to.
Killer punk record. Can tell it was influential on what came after. Banger
Thoughts before listening: As a 90s punk fan Black Flag were enormous. Every band I liked cited them as an influence and their logo was as iconic as it gets. I do like a lot of what they do, but I never really got into them. Maybe it's too hardcore for me or something. I felt the same way about a band like the Bad Brains, and I gravitated to the more melodic hardcore of Descendents and Bad Religion. I'm excited to see this as my album today though. Review: I stand by my long held belief that Black Flag is a tier below the more melodic punk bands, despite their status as giants in the scene. Maybe I'm just not a Henry Rollins fan or something. It's too much one note yelling and barking instead of singing like the bands I prefer. Anyway, I do like some of these songs, including the absolute banger of an opening track with "Rise Above". That is definitely one of the best songs of the punk genre. Other than that, the more melodic the song the better for me: "Six Pack", "TV Party", "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie", and "Depression" being the best of the bunch. I'll give this 4-stars for being so important to a genre I love, but Black Flag still just isn't one of my bands.
Punk rock baby
I already knew I liked Black Flag, but I'll always take a reminder to listen to them. Very raw.
Some good stuff. But we're just so angry...
Well, this certainly is a southern CA punk album. I appreciate the youthful energy, the raw rudimentary playing, the lo-fi....everything. The time and place of this album is very apparent in the sound, along with the angry youthful ranting against things they don't understand. I think this inward directed punk (poor me, life sucks, I hate you all!) doesn't resonate like the more political punk of the Sex Pistols, or the smart lyrics of Bad Religion or the Clash.
THEY HATE US, WE HATE THEM
GKDIDFJEIWWFFFFF#$21+++ LOTS OF RAGE. THIS ALBUM MADE ME KICK OVER A PARKED LIME SCOOTER, RAWWWWRRRR
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.
OK. Bit too shouty for my taste
Liked it pretty well
Try saying "hardcore punk" without saying "Henry Rollins". Hint: it is physically impossible. 'Damaged' is fun, angry, and as poignant as ever, with 'Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie' being a personal favourite. I will never forget Rolling telling the tale of a Ramones concert so packed that it seemed that everyone of those dirty smelly punkers were in an involuntary orgy.
One of the first definitions of punk in the dictionary.
really liked some of the tracks on this album think it was really good BUT there were definitely some very repetitive and generic tracks that just bring it down for me i'd give it like a 4.2/5
Shite
Definitely a metal or a rock band, based on the album cover. Oops it's punk, that's a difference, but I mean they are quite alike. I expect that songs are gonna sound the same, it's gonna be hardcore, aand I don't think I'll like the songs, although I want to. First song, already hard start. Lyrical delivery is punky. It's a rebel song I think. I liked this more than I could imagine. I basically know the lyrics now. It's too short tho, that's the only problem. I never really liked punk, but this is giving. Second song, 33 seconds? And no transition weiiird. I do like that they have their own way of singing, it's noticeable iykyk. Third song, ooh he's talking. NO FUCKING WAY "I GOT A SIX PACK AND I DONT NEED YOU" that's funny as fuck wtf. Waittt I thought six pack is muscles on the stomach, but it's a drinking thing, even better, now I feel dumb, but still. Ohh six pack as in six beer bottles in that basket thingy, right?! Too good of a song, I mean it has something in it. Fourth song, these are tooo fucking short. Love the energy. Lyrics are giving in a way but as much as before. His voice is weirdly bad and enjoyable at the same time, like the way he spits during some words is determination. Can't really talk much I wanna hear the next song, but this is goooood. Fifth song, 3 minutes is a lot for them. What is that lyrical delivery. This feels comic. This is unfunny funny. Introvert ass song. The group singing is amazing, the way they say those lyrics is differently fun. I am entertained. Wtf is that ending I love it. Sixth song, same vibe, but now it's dark lyrically. Not as good as the last song, but I'll take it, plus this is short, which is the right choice. Not amazed I want more from the lyrics. Seventh song, this is about the police. Not what I want. Sonically they all sound the same so can't say anything new. And lyrically it's not fun, but dark again I guess. Eighth song, funny start in a way. I liked the sudden stop at the end and repeating the same shit. Problems that can be solved without an atom bomb, real. I liked this more than the last two, but not worth it still. Ninth song, these ARE dark, but not extremely. It's just they're not about love and those kinda stuff, which is good, buttt they have a funny side and they should use it more. 10th song, again same instrumental use, and not what I want from them. I liked that one part in the lyrics, but that's it. It's a short one too, as expected. It should get better than this, at least that's what I want. 11th song, too much repetitive lyrics. I was so gonna rate this higher, but they didn't keep it up. Maybe some time later I will relate to the lyrics and then like it. Longer than usual, but not for the right song. Btw songs stop very fast like too quickly no slow down and stop. 12th song, I like the slow progressive start. Not the good continuation I wanted. Love the way he repeats no more. Ain't no other goin on here tbh. Just needs a little guidance. 13th song, love the way he says maniacs. Sonically same. Lotta fast talking. Still not giving me what I want. Their other albums look sooo funny. Wanna listen to them, but not sure if they're actually good. 14th song, I'm kinda sick of this, it's too same, and the only thing that can fix this are tgr the lyrics, which ain't giving anymore. This one's about love I think. He started talking then almost another song, but stopped instantly. 15th song, he talked again, but not much. Dunno why damage II is the first in the album and this one second, plus there'll be no transition I'm sure. I feel like I need to be depressed to understand this fully. This guy was bullied by his father, I wasn't (just mostly ignored I guess). Basically, I'm disappointed, I'd rate this 3 because of how much not so good songs were in it. Buuut those three songs and the fact that I may just need a little understanding, makes me rate it 4. It has a potential, and I didn't not like it. It just needs a second listen to get through the lyrics and make the sonical part nostalgic or something.
Not my music
One of those albums that is worth hearing even if it's not quite for me. I guess the US brand of punk/hardcore didn't quite land in the UK, and that kind of genre throughout this project has been littered with US albums that we just didn't listen to. I remember Henry Rollins doing his spoken word gig at my University in the early 90s and I'd never heard of him. Anyway, nice to hear a bit of anger and some structure to punk.
This was probably the first Black Flag I heard way back when. Rollins is the superior singer to Morris and it shows on this recording. It is easy to see why this one has been labeled as a classic. 8.9/10
I think hardcore punk might be my thing. Though as angry as usual, there are little bits of comedy thrown into this album. 100% influenced Nirvana and grunge. Feels like a bedroom that used to be a basement.
Aggressive and sardonic, like a humorously grim piece of sandpaper. Grating at times, but rarely boring. Like the Stooges with more speed and teeth-on-metal vocals. Could imagine the violence and release that could come from seeing this live. Visceral. Cathartic. Punk classic.
Thought the first song was fun punk metal but utterly hated the rest.
Loved it!
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.
TV PARTY TONIGHT
Punk oder auch Free Jazz sind Musikstile, die mich nicht berühren. Das sind Geräusche von einem fremden Planeten.
just a hardcore classic. I think this band would go on to do better things (though admittedly also much much worse things) you just can't go wrong with this one. tons of fun.
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
First half was great. Second half felt a bit too rough/shouty.
Well...I tried...
At this point in my life, this (and I use the term loosely) “music” is just stupid. Noise with some idiot kid yelling at me about how miserable he is. I think there was only one song where they actually tried to sing pitches, and then they were terrible at it. I can’t tell if they’re laughing or serious. Either way, it made me laugh a number of times, and for that reason alone I give it two stars. But basically, pure crap.
A quintessential hardcore album - arguably THE quintessential hardcore album. It’s rough and ready, noisy, and immature but pretty fun. Rise Above is the clear highlight, and TV Party is also pretty amusing. Even though not too much else stands out as an individual track, the overall visceral energy of it is engaging enough throughout to leave a lasting impression
Cool
i’m sure it’s good i just don’t like this type of music
Anger distilled. Henry Rollins really created something impressive here. It's raw, emotional, angsty, and youthful. Perfectly captured a feeling of disaffected youth. A key album in the American wave of punk. An early gateway into what would later become hardcore music.
Wouldn't have liked this at the time and don't like it now. All very thrashy and shouty and repetitive
unlistenable to me
A solid punk offering (even though the album was released in 1981, after punk’s heyday) with some classic lyrics and powerful vocals from Henry Rollins. I especially enjoyed Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie and Rise Above
Don't hate it and not my favourite
Hardcore punk. Fun. Stupid. Outstays it's welcome.
Loved this, goddamn.
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.
This is punishing not because it is just grating but its just an endless barrage of complaining without a range of emotion or sense of being connected with other people. Husker Du is so much more interesting and powerful than this.
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.
I know they're pioneers and all and there's a message in there somewhere but It's just not my thing. Gorilla Biscuits and CIV I prefer just for their more melodic nature.
This band reminds me of high school. Not because I listened to it... But because there was a group of "punks" who wore the combat boots, denim jackets with pins and patches, had Mohawks, piercings, never showered... And didn't give a Fuck. In hindsight, they were a nuisance. I get that a lot of things can ifluence how someone acts, or dresses. Music really has that effect on people. Unfortunately Punk has the worst following. At least in hygiene. That's how this record sounds to me. I must give credit where credit is due... This album on the surface is just "I don't care. I give no fucks" - but lyrically they do paint a picture. And I think, despite the repetitive 1 to 3 syllable words explaining hate, anarchy, being pissed off - over all FUCK YOU. There is some thought to the lyrics. The song in mind is TV Party. Surface level it is a bunch of kids who have nothing else to do but watch tv. Which is very uninspiring. But I took it almost in the way that the creation and popularization, and of course addictive quality TV has, it has rendered them feeling that they have nothing better to do. That TV has kind of corrupted people's minds; they've become sheep. And purposely distracted. Maybe I'm putting too much thought into it, or giving too much credit. But music is suppose to invoke thought. And when I listened through that lense, it was almost genius. But! I still don't like Punk. The vocal delivery is annoying. The Instruments are played poorly. It's aggressive as intended but it comes of gimmicky. Black Flag is one of the more popular punk bands. Every punk rocker has their patch sewn to their denim or leather jacket. It's almost like if you don't like Black Flag, you're not a real punk rocker. Of course, this is speculation. There is definitely an audience for this genre and this band. But I'd gladly stand far from those smelly kids.
Ok
made it halfway through the first song before giving up on the album
Its tough for me to enjoy most punk. The constant rapid 16th notes with no variability is too thick to push through. I can hear some interesting stuff from the guitar on this album and interesting drum choices from time to time. Life of Pain and Damaged I are highlights.
Ni po čemu distinktivno. Bez nekog utiska.
Angry. Angry Henry Rollins was a huge trope in nme/melody maker in the 90s when I was a regular reader. And yes I understood he was an angry thrash punkist. It's visceral and smashing. Deserves to be in the book for sure. Does kind of all run into itself after 15 minutes or so. Not sure thrash should come in album form. Or maybe I'm just old now. No, it is the children who are wrong.
Album 74.. probably the first I've really loved having never heard any of the artist's songs before. I didn't think I'd like hardcore at all, it always seems quite inaccessible, but this is great. I loved the proper punk attitude: anti establishment and unashamedly aggressive, with some spots of sarcastic humour in the lyrics as well. All delivered with an energy and PUNCH befitting the subject matter.
No thanks
Classic album from one of the progenitors of punk rock.
Couldn't stand listening to "screaming".
Meh, not really my thing. I respect it though. Highlight was 'Rise Above' but still not really my thing.
The album started off on, but the the last 2/3 of it all started to sound the same to me. Not really my jam, but people who are into harder music might like it.
There was a thread on the 1001 Albums subreddit recently asking whether people took the context of the album (when it was released, impact, influence, etc) into consideration when reviewing records or if people rated albums solely on whether they liked the music or not. The majority said they rated solely on whether they like the music or not. I’m not one of those people. I think it’s important to take the influence and impact of a recording into account. Here’s why: This is a list of 1001 albums *to hear before you die*, implying that these records were selected because of their importance, their influence and not solely on the basis of whether the editor liked the way they sounded. I look at it like this: If these are records that must be heard before you die, then at the end of this, a person should have a somewhat decent understanding of the many facets of modern popular music and, because of that, these 1001 records should be considered as to whether or not they are essential to understanding the course of modern popular music up until today. As a result, I’m often reviewing these albums not only on the basis of whether I like them or not, but wether I think you can tell the story of modern music without hearing an album on this list. In essence, I am rating the list’s viability along with the sound of the records. So, can you tell the story of modern music without talking about the Beta Band or Badly Drawn Boy or 4 solo Morrissey records? Absolutely. Can you tell the story of modern rock music without talking about Black Flag? Doubtful. Whether it’s due to their status as a forerunner of hardcore punk, their influence in cultivating an underground music scene in America and exposing the world to that music scene through their incredibly influential record label, SST Records, Black Flag is a band who is essential to the story of modern music and their inclusion here is more than warranted, even if I don’t love every second of their music.
Pituus hyvä
Makes me want to damage
Side 2 isn’t as good as Side 1, and Black Flag would go on to better and more interesting things when they started messing about with spoken word, Free Jazz and Sludge Metal, but this is still a solid, influential US Punk album. I’ve had Six Pack stuck in my head since I discovered this was my album yesterday
Seminal punk album. Love the energy.
This is not for me. I mean, it could have been worse. But I still did not enjoy it.
They probably have a strong urge to punch something. At least it sounds like it
Hm. No.
I did not enjoy this
not enjoyable
Decent album. Mostly, not my cup of tea.
Essential Punk. Listened to the shit out of this in HS. Love it.
I didn’t know I had such an affinity for 80s hardcore, but based on how my ratings are looking on this project, it looks like I do. This has all of the jagged edges and noisy interludes that you could ever want. Great stuff.
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.
Hardcore Punk ist nicht so meins.
Henry Rollins fan for life! Lets have a TV Party!
Started off alright, good solid punk, but got boring over the course of the album. All sounded pretty much the same. 2 stars.
Oh yay another hardcore punk album. I was hoping I'd like this more since I've been enjoying post-punk recently but I was still pretty irritated with it by the end. I will say that I didn't mind the first track and didn't hate it as much as some of the other hardcore punk albums I've gotten but it's far from standing out as a diamond in the rough in the genre for me.
кайф. открыл для себя хардкор панк рок благодаря этому альбому. супер эмоциально, драйвово, грязно, болезненно и жизненно. это тот альбом который я хотел написать в 15 хд. Генри Роллинз монстр. плюс концептик тут есть, целый путь борьбы с собой травмированного (по настоящему) человека, прям чувствуется как он пережил все эти эмоции. вот будь я в плохом эмоциональном состоянии - заслушал бы до дыр. а так, себе конечно добавил, но хз когда вернусь к нему, слишком уж болезненная музыка. короче кайф оценка - 9/10
A hardcore punk classic - genre defining.
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.
Angry
Some mildly interesting songs for the genre. 2.2
Noisy, messy, deceptively simple, plenty of variety, a nod to the past while shaping the future - it's safe to say I'm a fan!
Terrible death metal type stuff.
Waldorf: It was dumb! Statler: It was obvious! Waldorf: It was pointless! Statler: It was... short. Statler & Waldorf: I loved it! HA HA HA HA!!!!
The t-shirts and logo are cool. The music utterly worthless. It's as if they wanted to create the most idiotic and ugliest music possible. One recommends the chapter in Michael Azerrad's excellent book to listening to this toxic noise.
Late 70s / early 80s Punk Rock is the sweet spot for music. It hits on cultural themes, speaks to the masses and most importantly - each album can jam 15 songs into a sweet 35 minutes. It always leaves you wanting more. Is Black Flag the best punk band? They're up there, but after early British Punk, the Ramones opened the doors for amazing bands like Black Flag to crash through the windows. 4/5.
I was quite hungover and in a lovely cottage. It's possible that isn't the perfect place for this hardcore punk album. It wasn't totally terrible, and at times it was quite interesting, but equally quite a lot of it was just dreadful noise.
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.
Sub par punk from the guy who sued Negativland.
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.
0.5 - the reason this isn’t 0 is because they played some instruments
There will be an end of the spectrum for punk, metal, and possibly some other genres that is gonna be unappreciate-able for me, and this Black Flag album is at that end of the punk spectrum. Six Pack is slightly more engaging than the first two tracks. But barely. Oh my days the vocals are so bad, the mixing is so bad. Its not even loud and punky enough. TV Party is an embarrassment. This is really hard to listen to. Its so difficult to relate to this noisy angst in 2023, it just gives me angry irrational white man vibes. Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie maybe the least bad song so far. My favourite moment of the album was the abrupt stop at the end of Life of Pain. If you separate context and influence from the music, there is as close to zero redeeming quality to this as is conceivably possible. 0.6/5
Awful. Zero stars.
Rise Above- 5/5 Spray Paint- 4.8/5 Six Pack- 4.5/5 What I See- 4.7/5 TV Party- 5/5 Thirsty and Miserable- 5/5 Police Story- 5/5 Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie- 4.9/5 Depression- 4.7/5 Room 13- 5/5 Damaged II- 4.8/5 No More- 5/5 Padded Cell- 5/5 Life of Pain- 4.9/5 Damaged I- 4.7/5 Total- 4.9/5
1. Keith Morris 2. Chavo 3. Henry 4. Dez (I think Henry is actually the worst Black Flag singer, but for me his non-musical contributions to the band put him over Dez.)
A very good hardcore punk album. I did not know that Henry Rollins was the lead vocals for Black Flag at this time. Overall, it was exactly what I expected from a punk album and I liked a lot of the songs. Favorites Song(s): "Depression", "TV Party", "Rise Above"
punk black flag. so fun, so fast.
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.
In isolation there are some great tracks here but as an album it’s a bit of a one trick pony and not exploring anything new earning it a very middle of the road 2.5 stars.
Juste un gros mur de son et de colère. J'imagine que c'était un son très en marge au début des années 80. Demeure difficile à écouter aujourd'hui.
seminal punk legends black flag with their debut with henry rollins. chock full of aggression and anti-conformity commentary. this one’s a special one, kids. do not miss it. highlights: “rise above”, “police story”, “gimme gimme gimme”.
Highlights the plight of the young and poor but getting older crowd. Not bad.
Still like TV Party but I’m just not into this other than that. Meh.
Nah, not one for the top 1,001. Didn't find a single track I liked. Unfortunately, it's a 1 from me
Only for mosh pit thrashing.
Este álbum es justo lo que me imagino cuando pienso en hardcore punk.
This album was great! Love 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
Eerste punkalbum die ik ooit luisterde, in mijn tienerjaren. Dacht altijd dat het enge harde muziek was maar hierdoor kwam ik erachter dat het ook grappig en mijn kant van de politiek was.
Low 3. First half is better. Last half is pretty annoying.
boring
Black Flag, more like Sack Sag.
Rise above
3.7
I kinda liked it, it’s very loud, cool how it was so different from the norm. Deserves its place on the list though it’s not something I’d listen to a lot. “Six Pack” is a cool song though.
Jag är skraj för Henry Rollins.
Henry Rollins is pretty cool I guess, but he (and Black Flag) were never really my jam.
TV party tonight!
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.
Too much testosterone
Not a punk person, either
Not my kind of punk, I don't like the way he sings. Fun to see live but not to listen sitting at a desk. That is to say, the experience is fun but the music itself is not great.
so aggressive, so much noise.
Loud and angry and a bit silly. It's punk for sure.
Punk is still bad 2
Have a snickers, you're not you when your hungry, maybe some tai chi or transcendental meditation might help you there hot head. Don't really connect with all the anger well maybe when I think about how McDonalds stopped making the honey mustard sauce.
angry music fav: tv party
Bruyants, insoumis, dérangeants, parfois désagréables, avec un esprit de groupe palpable: un album punk exemplaire.
Too hardcore punky
It's a punk album. It is not good.
Just so energetic and trashy and fun and unable to take itself seriously. It's a totally American take on punk-rock and it's all the better for it.
Punk rock classic. Love the intensity!
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.