Go Girl Crazy

Not as strong as their first two albums in my eyes but still solid. Definitely the beginning of their downhill trajectory though unfortunately.

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Two tub man

I remember laughing my ass off as a 14 year old ever time i played this one in 1975. While I don't laugh my ass off when I listen to this nowadays, I still smile broadly and wonder why thy were not bigger. Hard to believe the Ramones were not listening, and later, the Beastie Boys and Green Day.

I liked this a lot. I thought it was really good pre-punk rock. I especially enjoyed the Sonny and Cher cover. Not sure why they didn’t become bigger.

Well the "I Got You Babe" cover was unexpected... This band sounds like the Ramones if they took a step closer to pop. The album still rocked though and the final track was a great salute to/mockery of the Beach Boys

One of the great things about the 1001 album project is discovering music that influenced the music you know. This album is a watershed protopunk album that uses humor and genuine musical chops to push the genre forward. While the music is fairly simple, the Dictators’ use of rhythmic changes, vocal harmonies, and great guitar playing betray their garage rock/protopunk aesthetic and show them to be very musically literate. The closing track is a satire of the car/girl centric superficial pop of the sixties, but is done with a sense of earnestness that lets the listener know that while they acknowledge the lyrical superficiality, at the end of the day, The Dictators are paying tribute to the music that made them.

Proper bit of me this

Fun little album. Quick listen, never heard of them before but I like it a lot from a simplistic proto-punk point of view. Added to Library? N Songs added to Playlist: (I Live For) Cars and Girls

Ha ha cool cover… The next big thing starts with a little intro bit then goes into slow guitars only to explode into a cool rock track that kinda sounds like a more energetic bad company but being like bad company it isn’t the most unique. I was singing along by the end though so it was definitely enjoyable. I got you babe is a great slow track a cover that I vaguely recognise so I probably know another version, But I really love this. Back to Africa has a good drum beat and at points goes really mental with the guitars making a great rip roaring tune, but it’s just not as good as the others To be honest ( even with it being the most unique). Master race rock starts with laughing noises then becomes the album’s heaviest song to close side one off with a bang. I don’t tend to go too much into lyrics on first listens like this but I must say I hope it’s anti nazi. Teengenerate has to be one of my favourite song names of all time. It’s an alright opener to side two, the guitar riff is a little generic in my opinion but the application is good on this song. California sun is another cover ( but I don’t know this one) It contains a pelting bass line with thundering drums to carry the listener through, the chorus is rather anthemic Which contrast really nicely. Good song! Two tub man starts off with a nice vocals sample to only be taken over by this crunchy but not distinctive guitars riff that sounds made for the stadium. Once we get into the song the verses are extremely punky for this pre punk era but it contrasts well with another anthemic chorus that I can just imagine their fans shouting off too. The penultimate track weekend is another banger a poppy but heavy rock song the only flaw to this one is that the lyrics are a mixed bag. The album closes with the song ( I live for cars and girls) it’s alright but in comparison to the rest of side two it’s just a very “ rock and roll” song being a bit dull really. Seeing its 2. Something rating on here I thought it was going to be crap but it’s really not fine theres a few “generic” songs but 70% of the 9 songs were great.

Surprisingly fun and silly

A highly energetic glam rock record that would influence what would become punk rock. For an early stab at it, this was really great. Favourites: "I Got You Babe", "Master Race Rock", "(I Live For) Cars and Girls"

You know I’m here for it

Early punk is best punk

I vaguely remember hearing some Dictators songs before and not liking them because there was too much classic/arena rock influence. Pretty sure they were from a different album, though. In any case, I enjoyed this one, it's pretty fun and catchy, even though I did think there was a bit too much arena rock in this too at times.

A good album 4 sure

I very much enjoyed the attitude. A treat :)

Detta ägde...

Fun weird 70s punk.

Leuk punk-album waarbij mijn hoofd toch af en toe op en neer ging. Favoriete nummer is 'Weekend': Eentje dat ik moet onthouden! Voor de rest wel wat 13 in een dozijn 4*

I am absolutely predisposed to enjoy this and I did. So - pretty boring rating over here.

An essential proto-punk classic from The Dictators, Go Girl Crazy, has all the hallmarks of great album. Loud, fast and funny as hell, the Dictators definitely don't take themselves too seriously. Often overlooked, this album was very influential and provided a blueprint for many punk bands that followed. Highly recommended, but not for everyone's tastes.

This albums is great, if not just for the craziness and sophmoric silliness that surrounds its creation. Its 100% a birthplace of punk. Master Race Rock is oddly endearing(?) not actually problematic. California Sun is the best song here, and really nails the punk sound to come.

I liked it! It was like being serenaded with covers and new songs by a proto punk band.

Really enjoyed it, reminded me of Parquet Courts.. probably an inspiration for PC

Albores del punk.

Go Girl Crazy! cracks me up from very first song: the ridiculous lyrics and arch delivery alongside arena rock guitar just tickles my funny bone. I forgot that they covered I Got You, Babe, which is just pure mockery, richly deserved, if you ask me. The Dictators seems to be having such a good time that it's contagious. The Dictators are actually really competent musicians, but they choose to subvert that competence by constantly goofing off. It probably cost them popularity, but God bless them for being such goofballs. Some might have problems with songs like Back To Africa or Master Race Rock, but they're so gloriously stupid and so completely not mean spirited that it's hard for me to take offense, but maybe that just means I'm old and white. I dunno. It seems ridiculous to give an album like this a top rating, but it's hard to imagine how it could be any better.

Yes.

Mad as a box of frogs, but it races along and you can hear who it influenced.

Highly influential album by an underrated band. Glam, hard rock, punk.

This album was a lot of fun!

This was great, I was deeply concerned when the first few songs were go back to Africa and master race rock... however this was a great listen with many standouts weekend and cars and girls

Fun example of early punk. Had no idea this existed.

Great Album. Very fun.

Right up my alley, loved it but wouldn't recommend it to everyone

8/10. This was fun, cool guitar parts and bass lines, and I like that I can hear the roots of so much other music I like in this.

Surprisingly funny proto-punk.

This was a good listen. I think proto punk aptly describes this.

Fun. Never heard of the band before

Pleasantly surprised

Ludicrous.

The guitar licks and riffs make it a 4. Enjoyed it, fun album

Cool album. Really dig the punk rock covers of classic songs. Juvenile lyrics go great with the music. Raw, great example of early American punk rock.

Neat album! Some great tracks on here. probably won't quite make it to my frequent albums because of my forgetfulness, but not for a lack of quality.

I really enjoyed this one. The cover did not disappoint!

I was different like new heavey rock for its time

Loved how raw this was, most original thing I’ve heard in awhile

So glad I listened to this. 7.5/10

The movement to center rock and roll away from its maximalist, stadium filling phase and back to its scuzzy, scruffy and rough-edged way was bubbling and The Dictators were one of a plethora of bands eager to get it going. With an affinity for pop culture both mainstream and niche, they blend together unseemly interests and present a package that could only make sense for later times. Favorites: The Next Big Thing, I Got You Babe, Master Race Rock, Teengenerate, California Sun, Two Tub Man, (I Live for) Cars and Girls.

I can see why many have this as an early Punk album although probably better described as Proto Punk. Contains some high energy rock tracks and definitely worth a listen

Odd but not bad. The band is pretty solid

Det er sgu meget grinern.

*50 Right down the middle. Jeg har ingen holdning til det. Coveret er sygt fedt, og derfor tipper vi over til 3 frem for 2.

Det er meget sjovt, men også ret meh

Det er meget underholdende, og jeg kan bedst lide de mere punkede elementer. Fx falder et nummer som California Sun igennem for mig, det bliver lidt for intetsigende. Kunne godt være et band, jeg lige får hørt lidt mere af. 3.1

Not heard this before. Somewhere in the intersection of garage rock, glam rock, cock rock, maybe with a wee bit of punk. It's very silly. It seems quite self aware. It's pretty good fun. I was a bit worried about some shady-looking song titles but disaster averted. Almost can't believe how early it is; they must have been pretty pioneering. I assumed they had been heavily influenced by the Ramones (not least because of their own cover of 'California Sun') but maybe they actually predate them? Mad they're not more widely known.

Like much proto-punk, incredibly stupid. I didn't know I needed amateur wrestling promos in my punk albums but it really fits. 3.5

Album has repetitive sound to it but to be fair most of this list has repetitive sounding records. 6/10 is highest I can give.

I thought this was a lot of fun and I’m sure live performances by the dictators were awesome. As an album this kind of drags on despite its short run time. I think my personal lingering issue with punk is how it’s all about energy and not so much about the musicality.

Good

Initially hard to place - some kind of punk? Nice little punky cover of I Got You Babe With the semi-spoken word and sone tongue in cheek humour, sounds like Black Flag but 10 years earlier Back to Africa, can't quite decipher the message - some context I'm missing Oof Master Race Rock too, is very provocative, ha! I Live for Cars and Girls is ripping into the Beach Boys kind of pop with its simple lyrics. Ah they even say they 'get around'! Best track - Back to Africa, Master Race Rock 3.5 stars - humour is good and the album is interesting, but it doesn't resonate with me

Thoughts before listening: I know it's punk rock but I don't really know much about them. Handsome Dick Manitoba is the lead singer and is considered an early punk pioneer I believe. Are they maybe a bit jokey? Maybe. Guess I'll find out. Review: So this album came out in 1975 meaning it predates punk rock. The music definitely reflects that as well sounding more glam rock than punk. I guess they would have been contemporaries of the New York Dolls which tracks. I can hear some Cheap Trick power pop in there too. It's catchy no frills rock music which should be right up my alley, but for some reason this isn't connecting all that much for me. Some of these lyrics are a little questionable as well. 3-stars

Rating: 6/10 Pretty fun maybe first American punk rock album ever? Made by a CBGB scene band that definitely had some influence with this. Deeply unserious and rebellious teenage feel and it's crazy to think it was released at a time when young people born in the 1940's-50's would be offended. A few solid tracks, like the opener and closer, and Two Tub Man. I Got You Babe (among others) sounded like a Jeff Rosenstock song so that was cool

Not expecting much heading into this, so was a half decent surprise. Some of the singing and writing is a little bit juvenile and probably by their attempt raw, but when I got further into the album I picked up on some decent bass lines, riffs, and dare I say catchy tunes. I likely won't go back to it but songs like Back to Africa caught my attention.

This was pretty fun, although definitely sign of the times. I can see the influence on other bands that I've come to love. Nothing spectacular, but for sure a foundation for later pop punk.

Never heard of these guys, enjoyed it so much I listened to their entire catalog the same day. Really enjoyed it!

Not horrible. Not over-the-top obnoxious. Can't give it any more or less than a strait, middle-of-the-road 3.

Nothing special. Generally ok, harmless but not very original. Best song is a cover.

I was going to give this kind of a low rating until I read about how it really was the first of its kind and if it inspired all the silly punk music to come after it, then it deserves a high 3. Can’t wait to see Me first and and the Gimme Gimmes ruin Johnny’s Bar Mitsvah come up.

Honestly liked this better than I expected - punk isn't my genre. I liked the irony of covering Sonny and Cher and the music seemed pretty well played.

Maybe it's useless (and unfair) to compare but I see a lot of bands in this record, in particular Turbonegro.

Потешный веселенький рок такой, как будто какое-то забавное смешение из Ramones и Twisted Sister. Ничего прям примечательного, но довольно весело.

I thought punk was supposed to be angry? This is just silly. I liked listening to it once. Maybe would listen to it again and pay more attention to the lyrics (which are sometimes hilarious). I guess I would give it an extra half star if that was possible, mostly because it is refreshing to hear music which is pretty clearly more about the musicians having fun than it is about the listening experience.

Pretty much exactly what I thought it would be; truly average, not offensive but not amazing. Pretty goofy all the way through. Don't forget to wipe your ass!

6/10

Solid album

Man, there’s some realllllly bad shit on here. Overall kinda cool to hear some punk I hadn’t heard of though

Ah subramonian, but quite an endearing vibe. If they really did influence The Ramones then fair play!

eh

Fun early proto punk album. Some interesting covers. Can see the influence this had on bands to come. 3/5 Might listen again

Liked the guitar. Made me laugh. A bit basic, simple lyrics. I liked the vibe it had. Good album experience.

Groupe inconnu. Par contre j'ai déjà entendu Ross the Boss dans les premiers albums de Manowar, et j'appréciais beaucoup son jeu dans ce groupe. Go Girl Crazy est un album de rock énervé bien exécuté et assez fun à écouter, par un groupe qui ne se prend pas au sérieux. Et il contient quelques bons chorus de guitare. Ceci dit aucun morceau ne m'a réellement marqué, donc même si je l'écouterais de nouveau avec plaisir, il ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3/5

Late 70s style pinkish new wave, raises a smile.

This is a little overly edgy for me and it felt a little underbaked... Both are likely because this is an insanely early punk album so I give it a slight break of course. I didn't hate any of it I just wasn't loving it either

This album reminds me of my wild uncle. A bit unhinged, you never know what’s next when he’s at a family dinner. All you can expect is undiluted energy, a winding path and potential chaos. But, at his very presence you cant help but smile.

"Who's that boy with the sandwich in his hand?". Why - that could be me. I often have a sandwich in my hand. That could be you - you often have sandwiches in your hand - no? If you a non sandwich eater I point the finger not with malice but instead intrigue. Culture makes more sense in retrospect. Maybe just maybe what could have been actually happened.

Dopey good fun! I added “California Sun” to my playlist.

"Cars, girls, surfin', beer Nothing else matters here." This wasn't that bad, and it's got the best version of I Got You Babe I've ever heard. That guitar player is pretty solid too. Liked Songs Added: The Next Big Thing

"Go Girl Crazy!" is enjoyable if a bit toothless, and it's not one of the most inspired punk rock records I've ever heard. It's regarded as one of the first progenitors of this genre though, and everything has to start somewhere! Time renders many initial inspirations retroactively pedestrian through decades of innovation so I try not to hold it against them.

I don't know what it is, but I really do not like this album cover. I can't explain why. I just don't like. But they say that you can't judge a book by its cover, and the same happens to apply to albums as well. So, is this album good? Eh. I don't care for it, but I don't hate it either. It's kinda whatever. Now, I will give this album props for being a good few years ahead of its time. Between the lo-fi production and the attempts at humor, one could reasonably call this album a progenitor of punk rock. I have to give respects to that. But here's the thing. I don't care for most early punk albums. Chances are, if it's punk or punk-adjacent and it released before 1980, I'm probably not huge on it. There are, of course, exceptions, but this isn't one of them, so it doesn't matter. The writing is kinda weird. There are some songs that seem problematic, but I'm pretty sure the Dictators were trying to do a satire type thing, so I don't think I would feel comfortable calling the album offensive. It would feel a bit misguided to say that, you know? The vocals are just kinda there, the album is fairly repetitive and the production is rather lo-fi, but the music itself is okay. I don't have any issues with the music of this album. I guess I respect this album to some degree, but I also don't have much of an interest to revisit it at all. It's a respectable proto-punk endeavor, but not one that speaks to me personally in any major way. Light 3/5.

This wasn't bad. By the time I started to get sick of it, there were only 3 minutes left.

Not bad

3.0

Early punk stuff. It's campy, comedic, and unserious. It's alright.

Great instrumental at the beginning of The Next Big Thing to start the album off on the right foot. This brash, unfiltered style of rock ushers in a genre – punk – that was extremely culturally important in the Western World, but for various reasons, I can't bring myself to appreciate it much. For one, the punk movement antagonised one of the absolute best 70s bands (Steely Dan). In addition, throwing away convention doesn't really work when the "convention" in question is experimentation. Punk rock forgets that music isn't just a political statement: it also needs to sound good. Fortunately for Go Girl Crazy, the music remains fairly skilful and detail-oriented, even as it beckons a genre that is anything but. Back to Africa isn't particularly impressive until you acknowledge the strong guitar fills. Which I had to do, since they appeared more than once. The lyrics, though, are stupid. As with all the songs here, the singing could use some work too. Great basswork in Master Race Rock, though again the subject matter remains an extremely questionable decision. Teengenerate stands out easily for its piano part, another solid bassline, driving rhythm, and Beatlesque backing vocals. Some glam influence, too, sounding a lot like Star from Bowie's Ziggy Stardust LP. (I Live For) Cars and Girls is a cute little surf-rocky song that combines the likes of the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, and pretty much any early-70s glam rock band. Also, I can't help but draw a comparison to the Cars (who formed a year later, in 1976). The song name probably isn't helping matters. That cover art might be one of the sleaziest, and arguably laziest, on this list so far. The sequinned "Handsome Dick Manitoba" jacket, unclean locker room, Shernoff using a bench to create a very strained "triumphant" pose... And, to rub it in, there's a poster of the band in the background that would've made a perfectly serviceable album cover. Everything combines together so hilariously badly that you end up kind of loving it as a result. I wonder if this is the point. 3/5 Key tracks: The Next Big Thing, Teengenerate, (I Live For) Cars and Girls

Short songs, rock leaning slightly chaotic/punky

Post punk crazy funk.

Pure dumb fun! Nothing to especially write home about, but a good early-punk-ish hard rock record worth a solid 7/10.

This was very silly. But fun.

fascinating album given its place in the punk timeline

I'm sure it's very clever and all, but not something I'd want to endure too often I think, it ain't Frank Zappa intelligent or musically proficient, proto- Descendants ⭐⭐⭐

Fun!

Kind of fun, actually. There’s a Zappa-esque element in terms of the zaniness of some of the lyrics. I might be a fan.

Good

OK immature early punk

Good mindless fun

This album smells like some really cheap deodorant that was completely emptied to mask the odor of someone who hasn't showered in days. It sounds like KISS, but without any concern for sounding polished. It's fun. You can put it on your car stereo and drift away to the sound of it. But it also doesn't have anything special to justify being on this list. Just another run-of-the-mill album from a 70s band, sounding very much like the others.

I am conflicted. Lyrically not for me. Proto-punk tho. So almost good.

Can't say much here except where did they get my jacket.

Crazy and fun. I liked this.

Very cool

Legitimately better than most of what I've heard so far

Seemingly seminal for bands like the Dead Milkmen, these glam rockers / wannabe punks were just out there to rile people up. Comes across as "rude beach boys" for most of this wicked short album.

It's fine and a good time. A bit vapid. I liked "Master Race Rock", which feels terrible to say!

"The first punk album" It's wacky, wildly ahead of its time soundwise, not one I would go back to regularly though

Basic but vibey

ruidito de fondo clave

This was alright. I was humming along the whole time, and the musicianship/performance was pretty good, but I think this genre is not really for me. I can't tell if it's supposed to be sarcastic or what, but songs like "Cars and Girls" and "I Got You Babe" are just a little weird from the punky, Ramones-like sound of this band. Like I said, I enjoyed it fine, but I would never listen again. Three stars.

Okayy

It's OK. Not really punk, more like garage band...

💘 I Got You Babe (Sonny & Cher cover) 💘 Back to Africa 💘 California Sun (Joe Jones cover)

Enjoyed this. Back to Africa followed by Master Race Rock made me a little uneasy. I think I like punk more than I’ve realized.

Lets call this Dad-Pop-Punk? I loved this. Simple songs that packed a punch in a 35 min package. I imagine bringing this record to a friends party in 1975 and getting everyone fucking psyched to have a monkey-hour. Favorites: Teengenerate, I Got You Babe

Pretty fun! Like unabashedly silly, but also some good layered guitar parts. Won't be back to this often, but these guys are goofballs and I love it.

This album was fine. Fun, but not essential.

Simple fun

An okay album, I liked Two Tub Girl the most.

None of these recent albums have hit for me, so maybe I’m feeling generous here. 2.5 rounded up.

I liked the covers, rest was ok. 2.5 rounded up.

Great!

Old-school rock album, decent lyrics

Enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would… Second half was much better than the first with some fun songs. Overall songs were good but maybe a bit long and repetitive individually

Rock and roll with a twist of punk.

3.2

Fun, rough quirky-personality rock album, maybe a not-as-interesting follower to something like the New York Dolls, but still entertaining

They came, they had big hair, they didn't take themselves seriously (I hope) and sounds like they had fun. Worth a listen but unlikely a repeat performance.

Dit zou één van de eerste punk albums zijn, maar tegelijkertijd klinkt het een beetje alsof het een parodie is op punk, wat dan onmogelijk zou zijn. Dus ik vind het in die zin een wat vreemd album. Wel geinig voor een keer, maar het is ook niet dat ik zeg van nou nou, zo zo. Album lijkt iets langer dan het daadwerkelijk is. De nummers zijn met een geschat gemiddelde lengte van 4 minuten wat aan de lange kant voor wat punk zou moeten zijn.

This was a weird one but it had some catchy tunes!

3.5

It's fine. It's alright. It's kinda fun but that's about it.

Day808 - so you’re telling me this isn’t kiss?i might have to listen a few more times cause i like the silliness of it

Pretty silly, but the musicianship was decent throughout. The lyrics are a bit whatever, but it's a solid album.

Kinda juvenile but fun. The more early US punk I get given the more I realize I like it

Nothing but punk-rock fun. And the guitar playing is solid.

This was entirely new to me, fun listen of its era

Some fun songs in there, but also some stinkers. Overall, I did like the album, but I wouldn't listen to it another time I think. Still, a fun one, better than I expected. 6 / 10

I’d somehow never heard of The Dictators before today. And they seem to be a key set of figures in the early days of punk. I mean, this album pre-dates the first albums released by The Ramones, The Sex Pistols or The Clash. I can hear that CBGBs New York punk rock sound all over this record. The guitars are big and loud, the melodies are simple and punchy, and there’s a raw, unpolished energy to everything. It’s not just about the sound (or the accents). Irreverent humour is front stage too. That sarcastic, anarchic sense of humour runs through everything from the way they presented themselves, to their stage names, to the between-song rants, to their covers of songs by the likes of Sonny & Cher. You can hear echoes of it far beyond the 70s punk scene too. That juvenile, chaotic sense of humour feels like a clear precursor to bands like the Beastie Boys, who share a similarly sarcastic, pop-culture-obsessed style. It’s a lot of fun to listen to, and you can imagine just how much craic it would have been to see these guys perform in a place like CBGBs back in the mid-70s. But while I enjoyed everything, it got a little “samey” after a while and I can’t really see myself coming back to this very often. Still, that’s what I love about this project. I never heard of these guys before today, and now I know more about a group that definitely had an influence on a lot of the punk bands that I grew up listening to. 3.5 stars

Not bad.

Not bad but thats about it. Kinda fun but its just hard to really be all in.

Early punk. Sounds like the ramones

It’s brash, crude, snotty and has some really fun riffs. Handsome Dick Manitoba serves up some teenage humour on Go Girl Crazy and I would have been all over it as a teen. I can still appreciate it now as I’m not fully grown up just yet. Innovators of the snotty punk game, without the Dictators we may have never had one of my fave dumb pop punk bands of my teens, Blink 182 or present day Viagara Boys. Good fun and dumb. 3 stars

next dictators isch no funny. aha es isch nomel es proto punk album, de dimery het das glaub no gern??! i got sou babe isch es luuuustigs cover haha. ich check nöd zu 100% wiso das do isch aber california sun isch fun was macht ihren drummer ufem ride what the heellll ich has sehr zerstücklet glost es isch sehr fun aber es nume e 3. zu afoch rock.

Was going to write it off until I saw how early this came out. Interesting as proto-punk. Some fun songs.

3.5

Solid

A hugely silly album. Garage Rock, covers, ludicrous lyrics. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong with this, it’s got a stooges energy but more chaotic. It’s MC5 with politics replaced with vague teenage rebellion. Did enjoy listening to it? Yeah. Do I feel improved after doing so? Not so much

I tried setting aside time to listen to his album on the proper day, but various circumstances kept coming up at home which pushed it back until the next morning at work. There is a saying I often think about it when it comes to early or influential albums (I do not know who first spoke it, but I heard it from Todd in the Shadows' review of Pop Muzik): being right too early is often indistinguishable from being wrong. I definitely agree with that sentiment in the context of this debut album from The Dictators. Cited as an early example of punk movements to come, I can definitely hear these musical qualities in the bands' oddball songwriting sensibilities, full of sarcastic and irreverent lyrics with occasionally deliberately non-melodic shouted sections which remind of Sleaford Mods. While those seeds of punk sensibility are definitely planted here, they just don't fully sprout on this album, leaving it feeling a little unsatisfying and not fully realized. The Dictators Go Girl Crazy! is a fun listen, and it deserves the recognition it has received in retrospect, but countless bands will go on to this style more effectively than The Dictators do. Highlights: The Next Big Thing, Teengenerate, California Sun, Two Tub Man, Weekend

These guys were apparently influential in the early punk sound, so that's cool. I can appreciate that they don't take themselves very seriously, it adds a levity to their music. The covers on here were fun, especially California Sun. I liked Weekend too. Nothing to really love, but it was enjoyable enough for a 3.

This is pretty good! It's good fun and quite consistent. 3.5 rounded down.

Not bad. I always thought The Dictators had a female lead singer but I guess not

I kind of dig it.

This was better than I was expecting. Still not great by any means but not bad.

This was a fun album

Always liked this one. Goofy protopunk stuff that regularly, unexpectedly adds in interesting musical detours. Never realized how major lead songwriter Andy Shernoff was in not only the direction of The Dictators but also later Joey Ramone stuff. He's got a real ear for the pop songwriting/thresher guitar work that Joey Ramone was still fond of merging together. The California Sun cover on here was a major favorite of mine in high school. And despite its MAD Magazine ass lyrics, Back to Africa is putting in some power chord work that any rock band would have been jealous of. I found Teengenerate kind of affecting on this listen too. It's been a long time since I listened to this in full and while it's definitely not as rich of a text as the Ramones, there's a lot of great stuff on here. I've never forgotten Master Race Rock, a really good pisstake on the Nazis by a couple of funny Jewish guys, with the immortal chorus "We're the members of the master race/we got no style and we got no grace" One of the core essences of NYC punk music. Favorite Tracks: Teengenerate, Master Race Rock, California Sun, The Next Big Thing

Rowdy, goofy proto-punk that plays loose and, much of the time, is produced pretty badly. It has an endearing charm even though the lyrics sound like they were written by a third grader. Really enjoyed the rollicking "Two Tub Man" and the weird covers of "I Got You Babe" and "California Sun." They're like a missing link between early rock and punk.

Nothing all that unique, leans pretty heavily into other contemporaries like Alice Cooper and even Kiss, and the production is meh. Theyre hardly the Stooges in terms of impact on punk, but fun for what it is. Dated as hell at times with songs like Back to Africa, yikes. But still, solid shredding, catchy choruses, pretty enjoyable even if it's not game-changing.

I always wondered about the band that forced the Canadian electronic artist to change his name from Manitoba to Caribou. Coincidentally, I also live in the province of Manitoba. This band is...fine, I guess.

2.5

Probably good live not feeling it.

Simple but fun punk album. Enjoyable and with decently fun riffs and occasionally pretty funny vocals. Pretty basic but energetic and entertaining. 7/10

if you're told of it's importance related to being one of the first punk albums, it's noticeable in the way it sounds. but if you don't know, the album despite that, its good and funny. Nothing to call home about, but i think it's funny that nowadays an album about hamburgers, chicks, cars, and the most controversial stuff, getting high on friday afternoon, feels quite tame and casual.

How have I never heard of this band? Pretty rocking and funny

Never heard of the dictators before. They definitely have good energy. They sound a lot like the hair metal bands of the 80's to me. It's a bit of fun, if unspectacular. There's also some of that punk rock weirdness about it, too. Two Tub Man starts with a riff that sounds very similar to a certain famous AC/DC song, too. They were very clearly inspired by The Dictators. I also wanna shout out the cover of I got You Babe. Very transformative, I love a good transformative cover version.

Their wikipedia page is a good deal more interesting than this album and the album ain't bad.

i don’t know exactly how i feel about it. some songs creeped me out for some random reason. i’m not sure why because some of them were cute but certain noises were just weird.

Really solid, raw Rock'N'Roll

Dated lyrics aside this was pretty basic proto-pop-punk from the 70's Mostly memorable for the cover of I Got You, which made me laugh. The singers voice is appropriately ridiculous and the musicians are all good enough for this.

Kind of fun, pre-Ramones (I think) punk rock. Unpretentious. I quite like it but wouldn't say it's Art or even Must Hear.

An early punk album that I like so much more than what punk evolved into. This was a lot of fun! I like proto-punk a whole lot more than fully realized punk.

Was gonna give my whole yadda yadda spiel about how punk doesn’t do much for me again but there’s some pretty damn good written songs on here! Too bad they’re called… that. “Master race rock” absolutely slams but I can’t be saying those words in that order in a public space. That being said there’s still some punk fluff that doesn’t do it for me but this is certainly one of the better ones so far! Sorry punks fans I just don’t get it.

Pretty basic rock and roll album.

Fun and silly. Rocky Horror Picture Show minus the musical genius and hot Tim Curry.

6.0/10

Silly frat rock

Sure, whatever

Fun record. The dictators are one of the better punk bands of the era

This was fine but didn’t hold my interest very long, took me 3 listens to actually hear each song at least once. 3/5 enjoyment, 2/5 engagement

Fun trashy rock and roll that I would never be unhappy to hear but at the same time, i can’t imagine I’ll ever listen to it again.

Not too bad, despite the weird cover. Pretty solid, old-school punk. A pretty fun listen. Hadn't heard this one before as well.

Yeah, that was coo.

better than a punch in the face I guess

This album made me smile and laugh which was very refreshing. Very pleased I listened to it but not scrapping to go back to it.

Massive fun with only a little quality

Solid Punk rock nothing extraordinary but a good listen.

Fun, chaotic, but probably not something I'll be revisiting.

In my opinion it was nothing special, just a Punk album. Not a bad one for sure but not an amazing one either 3/5

Not very good, not very bad. Just an overall nice punk rock album. It is a bit monotonous overall, with most songs being samey in terms of tempo and theming, but since those things are overall chosen quite well, it is not a big drawback. 3/5

Fun album cover! The music is very early punk and there is some juvenile fun there. Upbeat, short and sweet. Good document of where punk started. Also, am I crazy or is the cover of “I Got You Babe” actually good? Low 3.

Highlights: - California Sun - (I Live For) Cars and Girls

Fluffy and repetitive but galvanizing nonetheless.

Yes

# Album Name: Girls go crazy # Artist: The Dictators # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Not bad but nothing that sets the world alight. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? Yes

Who? Apparently this is considered to be Proto-Punk, but I think it lacks the energy and rawness of Punk, plus it sounds too manufactured. Also, the album is considered by some to be humorous, but I didn't find it funny. As a Rock album, it's competent, but nothing special.

Um, it's like the unreleased version of a garage band, but in a good way?

Meh. I don't think this was awful and the instrumental/vocals were pretty alright but this won't leave a huge impression on me

This is already the most intriguing one I’ve gotten, just by looking at the cover. Looks punk, and a lot like a lot of those queer riot grrrl album covers—something like The Third Sex. Very good opening, with the clapping and little dialogue bit, then some drums and a guitar solo launching into a catchy riff. It’s amazing that this came out pre-Ramones. I’m happy to get some punk on here. It’s my favorite genre but I haven’t gotten any, unless you count the Pixies. I love how unapologetically self-indulgent and funny it is. The line in the first song, “they didn’t know we were Jewish,” also feels unironically very important in the history of punk, like a sort of NOFX “Brews” type-thing (thought personally I really dislike NOFX), or even something more serious like Bad Religion (who’s controversial logo was intended by Brett Gurewitz to flip around the discomfort he faced as a Jew in the 80s SoCal punk scene) or a band that mixed fierce politics with sarcasm like Reagan Youth, who’s lead vocalist was Jewish—something that largely informed his lyrics and anti-authoritarian political leanings. RIP Dave Rubinstein. I know that I Got You Babe is supposed to be a sort of humorous cover, but I really don’t like it. His voice sounds like Robert Smith’s, which doesn’t suit him well. I wasn’t a huge fan of this song. Then oh geez…Back to Africa…yeah this one aged poorly. It was a different time, obviously, and it sounds vaguely ironic, but God that’s in bad taste. I’m cringing so bad. The secondhand embarrassment is insane. Musically, the song is pretty standard. It didn’t really stick out to me like the opening did but it wasn’t bad like the second song. It definitely feels very ahead of its time in terms of the punk sound, however. Master Race Rock is a great song. Gonna have to bring back that Reagan Youth reference again, because wow this sounds right out of Punk Rock New York. And add some octaves, an oddly-complex bass line, and creepy vocals, and this could be a Dead Kennedys song. Extremely punk proto-punk. I can see how this inspired both fun, trashy pop-punk and more political hardcore punk. Teengenerate isn’t very good at first, but as it progressed it grew on me. Catchy riffs and almost ironically melodic vocal harmonies. And then California Sun is just straight up Dead Kennedys at the opening—the drums, the descending bassline. And I was going to compare it to The Ramones until I remembered that The Ramones also did a cover of it and that’s why it reminded me so much of them. You could tell me that Two Tub Man was a Black Flag song and I’d believe you. Similar vocals, very TV Party-like. An excellent song. Weekend continues that same energy, and it’s also a great song. (I Live For) Cars and Girls is obnoxious but also hilarious, with the obvious dig at The Beach Boys (though I do love The Beach Boys) and is a perfectly sarcastic ending to a hilarious album. This is a pretty perfect punk album, and obviously extremely influential. It was refreshing to get as well, as before I began branching out to all genres due to being crazy and also very stupid, I was mainly just focusing on learning about the history of punk music and all of its scenes and subgenres and such. However, that had to get sidetracked when I decided to be an overachiever. Despite never hearing this album before, its sound is very nostalgic for me. I can’t give it higher than a three given that there’s one dud and another that has painfully failed the test of time, as well as just some overuse of noodling. However, this album is fantastic. You can see punk’s DNA in it, and it’s amazing that this was pre-Ramones. I will say I was very wrong about it being a queer riot grrrl album.

Silly, but fun.

This is a cool album, quite catchy and irreverent. Punk is not really my jam, but this is so early, it’s not yet offensive to the ear.

Punk ... I like some, not a lot. This one is supposedly one of the best but it is really just a 3 for me.

- 0 nummers toegevoegd aan MMMM - 0 nummers al toegevoegd aan MMMM

Never heard this. Heard of them, and always assumed they were really punk, but they are more New York Dolls hard rock pop with snark and comedy. The cover of I Got You Babe is genius. The whole thing is like a weird NY twisted fantasy of California. Not terrible.

I liked this debut album fine from The Dictators! It wasn’t anything deep or mind blowing but it was a fun punk rock album that I would listen to again in the future.

I think this is the first one where i hadn't heard of it at all? so i love to be introduced to something new. cowbell was fun. definitely silly overall. i can see how it was influential.

Although I'm guessing this album got included largely for its asterisk-infused birth-of-punk status, if I hadn't read about the band's formative influence on the nascent "Punk" magazine's editors, I would have simply guessed that this was yet another album in the line of Meatloaf and other flamboyant-esque novelty music (The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Mott the Hoople, aspects of Kiss and Alice Cooper, etc.), albeit without the rock opera aspirations. I'm also struck how musical their flavor of punk-like music was, with actual sung lyrics, and chord progressions and the like; "Master race rock" was probably the closest to the punk stylings to come. Highlights for me were their cover of "I got you babe", "Back to Africa", and "Weekend". Kind of underwhelming overall, but also mildly entertaining, and kudos for the fantastic album cover--that Handsome Dick Manitoba is quite a catch!

Solid punk record, fun, no track that stays in your brain, not that bad, not that good.

New to me, why is American punk so different to English?

This was fun and fast.

Loved the covers.

Like the sound and making fun of other bands

This reminded me a lot of the Dead Kennedys. Not awful. I probably won’t go back. The cover songs were the most memorable

Starts off strong but then loses steam, maybe I'm just old but the whole shtick just felt forced to me

No es de mi estilo o no me atrapo

Not the best but meant well

Mid pack but didnt dislike it

Definitely an early version of "joke" punk bands like Minutemen, NoFX, etc. In spirit if not musically. Nothing too amazing though, as expected.

Not really sure about this one, it wasn't terrible and was kinda funny in a tongue in cheek way.

We are all in on this joke, yes!

Surprising like a mix of New York Dolls and The Ramones. They kick ass on the covers and their Beach Boys punk mix on "(I Live For) Cars and Girls" is strong! 3.5

interesting, cars and girls is good, some interesting rock beats

Punk rock was never really my thing but it is a fun album.

Enjoyed more than plenty of the rock albums.

Another album that was forward-thinking and probably went nuts live in some tiny punk club or basement; another album that is enjoyable but not exciting. Apparently one of the first examples of punk rock and it sounds fairly similar to the rock of its time, maybe a little filthier and funnier. It has guts and personality but I don’t plan on revisiting. The covers are fun, especially “California Sun”.

Was meh

Album cover very much did not match the music lol

3.5 Just super solid mid-70s power rock! It’s not my favorite, but honestly nothing super wrong with it. Short and fun to listen to!

Not bad. Early punk edgy lyrics.

darling you dont know the shape im in

Die Dictators waren einst eine nette Unterhaltung. Aber man muss diese Musik heute nicht mehr unbedingt hören.

Fun and funny. Punk that actually requires some talent.

I can see why this album is considered an important early punk record, but it doesn’t really sound like punk to me. The guitar riffs are heavy, and the guitar playing is almost too good for punk — songs like I Got You Babe don’t really sound punk at all. Yet the attitude is pure punk: sarcastic and completely unapologetic. Punk isn’t just a sound; it’s an attitude.

Alright, was enjoyable but not going to relisten

Some fun hard rock/protopunk. Nothing spectacular here, but some of the basslines are really good. Favorites were Master Race Rock, California Sun, and Cars And Girls.

lol. i guess this is supposed to be somewhat satirical which is amusing but maybe it did too good of a job because it just sounded like Dude Rock to me.

Mediocre lyrics with cookie cutter Ramones esque chord progressions.

Some decent tracks

Good to okay stuff, not bad

Good rock n roll but Manowar was better.

This took me Back To Africa.

A fun album. Not sure I'd go back to it, but enjoyed the listen.

It was fun ... but was it a Pioneer of the Punk movement ... doesn't feel like it to me!

Hafði aldrei heyrt um þessa frumpönksveit og hafði bara gaman af því að kynnast þeim. Skilur samt ekkert eftir sig.

beach boys cover for the first song goes crazy

This was a strange amalgamation of slow-tempo punk and early glam rock. Once again, I enjoyed this much more than I was anticipating.

Proto-punk sounds that I can hear influenced later artists. I enjoy the tongue in cheek style of the songs and the overall sound. Not too bad.

It’s pretty good - I hear some Ramones, New York Dolls, David Bowie and Iggy in here

Don't remember these guys, but I wasn't into punk in those days. In retrospect, not too terribly bad...

I got you babe klinkt als een soort overturnde versie van dat UB40 nummer dus die moest meteen even in de queue. (Opgezocht, blijkbaar is het dus ook gewoon een cover, maar is het origineel van Sonny & Cher. Ik leer een hoop tijdens deze reis door muziek. ) Dit is blijkbaar het allereerste Punk album? Ik haat het nog niet echt? Dit valt me alles mee, ik was eerlijk gezegd al beetje bang voor een nieuw Punk Rock album, maar de gitaren zijn niet zo distorted, in tegendeel ze klinken best wel helder. De zang is geen geschreeuw en de drums klinken gewoon netjes. Dit is prima te doen eerlijk gezegd, het is niet super bijzonder verder maar ik kan dit prima handelen. Weet je wat? Dit voelt als een soort surfrock album bij tijden, meer Beach Boys dan de Beach Boys. Ik vibe het best wel. Maar dit is toch ook weer geen 4 sterren waard, het is een dom, fun album en dat is soms ook gewoon ok. Hoe mensen dit hebben geluisterd en er Punk van hebben gemaakt zal ik niet snel begrijpen... FAVO: California Sun, (I live for) Cars and Girls

I got you babe tickled me, and there were some sick guitar riffs. Maybe controversial in the day but seems like a parody now. Funny how you can never tell how something will age

Fun art and some fun songs. Just doesn't have the replay value

Wish it were angrier

A pretty cool punk album with some interesting covers.

First hints of punk in an era dominated by classic rock bands. I like what they did there. None of the songs are outstanding but it's a good album to listen to. 3.4

I understand its inclusion due to its significance to the genre of punk. However it is just not a great album.

Big dumb fun

As Paul McCartney would say : "Cool group!"

Great mix between the glam of the time and the proto punk that was on the cusp of becoming the real thing at the time of release. Whilst not groundbreaking, a fun listen that gives an insight into where the NY scene was in 1975

7/10

6/10. Love 70’s but not my style of 70’s

Slower, duller, new york dolls-ish?, something missing. For punk, what came before and what came after was better, so this proto-punk is odd. 2.5 rounded up Heard before? No Owned: No 17/1001, 17/69 (24%) Will I get? No

Standard post punk fare. I am sure it was vital at the time, but the whole genre resonates less to me now.

3.1 It's an interesting but of early punk, building on rockabilly and other 50s/60s rock. Lyrics are questionable, but I don't care enough about to the music to explore the true meaning behind it. Only one stand out track - Two Tub Man. The rest don't impress massively, but also don't annoy other than the cover of I got you babe. Track 2 as well, lol.

I can see how this would have been groundbreaking at the time. But for now it was just ok background music. I would nit turn it off if it came on, but I would not seek it out either.

Interessanter New York Punk rock Geschichte wie immer sehr interessant stimme/ansagen finde ich sehr cool lustiger Text aber Trotzdem nicht so mein Ding super um draußen rumzulaufen Special mention: Back To Africa Best Song: Two Tub Man Rating: 3,4

It's wild to hear punk sounds from an album this old. The lyrics are fun and cheeky, and the sound carries this well. Unfortunately the humorous lyrics and classic punk instrumentation makes it feel a bit like a parody. That probably shouldn't stop me enjoying the album but it does

This is fine

It was ok

There's some decent shouty punky rock here. I'm not entirely sure who was asking for a really pretty bad, slow punk cover of I Got You Babe but there it is. I found it a bit generic and repeat plays didn't really reveal anything new to me.

Genuinely surprised but this album as punk isn’t normally my thing. Reckon this album could easily rise to 4 stars with a little more listening.

I'm still pissed off at this guy for suing Dan Snaith. How punk. It's not as good as Madvillainy.

MEH. NOT MY JAM.

Partly really great ("The Next Big Thing", ...) but partly not good ("Master Race Rock", "Back To Africa", …)

3.5

Silly, fun power pop

Sounds like most other punk albums that I've heard. Nothing special IMO

Great example of what punk rock should be.

Eat burger, wipe ass

Stupid fun punk-rock album. That's it.

A classic band that I could recognise at least one timeless song of - but could never have told you their name. Definitely a fan now. Great album

Nah, a relic of its time. Should only be viewed as a museum piece.

Хватит меня мучать, и дайте уже какой нибудь другой жанр, где нет гитар и барабанов

This is kinda fun though the humour is not for me. Overall hasn’t left much of an impression. Next!

Some fun, above average punkish songs, but nothing I could really get into or want to relisten

It’s a decent record but the rating really comes from their influence on the punk scene.

Having never heard of the Dictators I wondered what another 'Punk' album would add to this list - not much it turns out. Other than Dick Manitoba being in this band, underground is well-enough represented on this list. 3/5

next big thing- 5 i got you babe- 4 back to africa- um. 2 master race rock- oh! 3 teengenerate- 4 california sun- 6 or 7 two tub man- 4 or 5 weekend- 4 cars and girls- 5 i couldve done without the weird racism. i know its supposed to be satirical but um. kinda falls flat

This was cool, I liked the covers for sure. 1975 is a little late to have been groundbreaking for punk, but whatever.

Was expecting in your face punk and got something else... not bad, but hard for me to call this punk. What is punk...? 3.25/5

Never heard of these guys before, but learned this album is known as being a precursor to punk rock. They were known for being comedians just as much as musicians, and have had a strong cult audience (particularly in Spain randomly!). They're known as starting proto-punk, and you can definitely hear some Lou Reed and Ramones in this album (and a little bit of New York Dolls). It's a fun listen, and the 40th Anniversary Edition has a couple remixes by Andrew WK who is a fitting character carry the torch and add some extra party-rock flavor into a few songs.

Quintessential Butt Rock, very similar to Kiss. I hate Kiss. Not really my vibe usually. This has some fun lyrics, and shreddy guitar solos though, also some elements of punk that I like.

I was positive about the sounds, then it didn't really live up to the beginning.

interesting....very interesting... probably won't ever listen to it again, but it wasn't really all that bad. Definitely can see the influence it had on punk going forward