Reviews (page 4 of 8)
I feel like this is the type of thing that is somehow really nuanced and clever and satirical and I missed it all.
I guess this is part of the lineage that explains punk. It's fine, it sounds fine. It's for teenage boys in the 1970s. A couple of fun cover songs.
Mediocre lyrics with cookie cutter Ramones esque chord progressions.
Some decent tracks
Interesting. Never heard of them before
If I was drunk this would be good. Since I was sober, this was shit.
I really enjoyed the early punk sound! The covers were good too. My only issue, that unfortunately colored my opinion slightly, was that the guy on the album cover looks like my brother and he's annoying... I couldn't get it out of my head the entire time I listened to it.
This album provided me with a rippin' good time. Is it proto-punk or an early example of punk? I'm doubtful, but the energy and attitude are there for sure. Some of the songs' lyrics are riotously funny (I'm seriously side-eyeing anyone clutching pearls over "Master Race Rock" -- just read the lyrics and apply critical thinking). There are some pretty kickass guitar solos too. I went into this album very skeptical and came out of it quite impressed. Must-listen #237.
Good to okay stuff, not bad
Maybe not actually that bad, very silly. Just really wasn't feeling it tonight while packing my stuff, waiting for Iris.
Hidden gem. Really like
“I don’t have to be here, you know. I don’t have to show up here. With my vast financial holdings, I could’ve been basking in the sun in Florida. This is just a hobby for me! Nothing, ya hear! A hobby!” 4/5 Highlights: The Next Big Thing I Got You Babe (I Live For) Cars and Girls
Good rock n roll but Manowar was better.
This took me Back To Africa.
Awful
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!
What is this gem?????? Westside gunn type shit! The first sample is game changing. Cool sounds thruout. FO! (Weird lyrics tho no lie.. hope theyre ironic)
Þetta fannst mér hálf pirrandi. Sem betur fer stutt plata. 2.4 / 5.0.
Hafði aldrei heyrt um þessa frumpönksveit og hafði bara gaman af því að kynnast þeim. Skilur samt ekkert eftir sig.
Poor lyrics… I mean, really poor. Sonically a mix between glam, garage, surf and proto punk. Kind of a special thing considering it was 1975.
beach boys cover for the first song goes crazy
This would be 5 stars if it came out 10 years later. I think with a full Reagan term under their belts the social commentary would come out better but this is truly one of the better proto-punk albums I’ve heard.
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.
Pretty poor punk. I know it was foundational but it dragged and just wasn’t as in your face as other albums of the era
It’s pretty good - I hear some Ramones, New York Dolls, David Bowie and Iggy in here
(2.5) i need to get my partial marks system sorted i round sown 😔😔😔 but this was enjoyable
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
Some competent enough early punk, although with the sort of grotty, over the top lyricism that I've got very little time for. Yeah, it probably was influential in some way, but it's a listening experience which doesn't lend itself well to 2025. Two stars for having a bit of energy to it, I guess.
Like lots of other things I really like - New York Dolls, Heartbreakers, MC5
Lyrics pretty immature, wasn't a fan of the talk singing or the surfer songs.
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
Just not for me
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.
Silly and obnoxious and fat
Yeah this is certainly quite punk, although quite a lot of these aren't as fast as some of the later stuff, but I think narratively and tone wise, this is pretty much a punk album. I haven't listened to much of the Ramones, but I'd imagine it sounds a bit like this. I think this also has a lot in common guitar wise with aspects of hard rock from before this like Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin and like Deep Purple and stuff. I think vocally the singer(s) sound very punkish. Not really too much else to say its just quite good, I can understand why people liked it back in the day, as it feels like somewhat of a rebellion against probably horrible corporate music. Favourite songs: the next big thing, back to Africa, master race rock, teengenerate, California sun, weekend, (I live for) cars and girls. Overall around 7/10
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.
Nothing super memorable.
Big dumb fun
Wanna be Kiss with a hint of punk. Not for me.
As Paul McCartney would say : "Cool group!"
Favorite Track: Cars and Girls
Not terrible like I thought it would be. It's kind of a joke album I'm guessing. The music was not bad and the lyrics were kind of funny. Not something I would listen to often but I didn't hate listening to it this one time.
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
This was just an all-around fun rock record. Raucous, irreverent garage-band feel with spunk in spades. The lyrical content is hilarious and I can’t tell if they’re serious or it’s a spoof, but I don’t care either way. I particularly enjoyed both covers. A short and sweet little ear candy spin.
Hard to believe this is 1975. I appreciate how refined this sounds from a production standpoint, without compromising the requisite filth so fundamental to the genre. This definitely qualifies for this list - evidently an important listen which illustrates the roots and legacy of punk.
Sounds kinda punk, but wouldn't have described it as such without knowing. It's an ok rock/proto-punk album, nothing stands out. 2*
That this was released in 1975 is absolute insanity. I can hear so much that influence grunge bands from Washington in the 80s, mostly Mudhoney, and beyond, this is a legendary album.
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
The reviews that deemed this as proto-punk threw me off. To me, this has a straight ahead rock vibe. The most punk thing about it is its sense of humor, an unwillingness to be taken seriously — by themselves or anyone else. Also…is the closing track a parody of The Beach Boys?? I actually hope so. 4/5 for a fun rock album, even though I will not remember this band’s name and by year’s end will forget this entire album exists.
Standard post punk fare. I am sure it was vital at the time, but the whole genre resonates less to me now.
Solid, powerful, wrestling-focused novelty rock. We're all going under the thunder of Manitoba!
Not my Cup of Tee
Sure, I can hear the proto punk influences. This is an album that I probably would not have discovered. Will it be something I am likely to listen to in the future? Unlikely, but I guess you never know. Well recorded and produced silliness that I might have enjoyed with my buddies when I was 12. Only 34 minutes long but man does this album drag. Not convinced that it needs to be on this list.
It's OK. Still not a big punk fan.
A bit punky and some tracks are interesting but broadly not very remarkable
They lost me on the master race song. I get it's probably tongue in cheek with the lyrics and maybe it was groundbreaking for the time but I'm pretty bored listening to this.
Pretty fun album.
Wow I really loved this. Funny and a great early punk sound
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.
Not as good as AC DC, but better than the Ramones.
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
I guess it's pretty cool this was one of the first instances of punk or whatever
viikonlopun aikana, monessa paikassa, koss ja sennheiser, qobuz hyvää paskaa!
falls into the more important than good category It's always called "one of the first punk albums" but it's really a mix of 60s garage with glam rock sound. Definitely a big influence on what came later. The music is good but a lot of the lyrics are sophomoric and haven't aged all that well.
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
Listenable but not what I like. The last song was obnoxious.
This is fine
I don't hear this as a proper "punk" album like I've read, but I can hear plenty of influence on the punk scene here for sure! Sounds more like glam rock to me, with the over-the-top theatrics and fat guitar tones; love that sustain at the end of each verse in their great cover of 'I Got You Babe'. The arrangements are overall much too careful and polished, perhaps oddly, for me to feel that this really prefigures punk like the big critics say, but it just makes for a really lovely glam experience instead!
It was ok
2/5
I listened to the whole thing... there's a reason this went out of print for a long time.
I don't know this band at all. I feel like it's a mix of (wanna be) Kiss and... New York Dolls? Also, this cover of I Got You Babe is not really working. I mean, this just feels like it's not quite making the cut for me. There's so much other great punk from this era, I don't know why one would ever spin this when there's so much better stuff to pick from. It's a no for me dawg
Overrated, listen to Johnny Thunders instead
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.
Мені здалось, що альбом не пройшов перевірку часом. Звучить просто як прикол, який мені не видається забавним.
Щось якось зовсім не пішло сходу. Поміняю на 2, бо мені не сподобалось зовсім.
Well at least it was short
Really quite enjoyed this. Unless it’s the three post-work pints talking. Simpsons: No
This wasn't good. The only positive was that it was over in under 40 minutes.
Shit in a good way. They know that they are and what they’re doing.
It’s kind of hilarious how tame this feels now, but you can see how it inspired the punk scene. Regardless, the album itself shows off musicality and technical skill, while also being a hell of a lot of fun
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.
Vaguely offensive and racist?? Back to Africa was sure... something, and Master Race Rock had me running to Google the lyrics (pretty sure it's satire or sarcasm, but still). I did enjoy the I've Got You Babe cover and there was some interesting bass stuff happening. Overall was not a fan though. 2.5
Sort of a junk food album, but you know what? Junk food is good sometimes. That's how this album feels. You can see punk coming out of it. It's not the most amazing music in the world, but the attitude, humor, and fun totally sell it.
Partly really great ("The Next Big Thing", ...) but partly not good ("Master Race Rock", "Back To Africa", …)
3.5
A project that takes itself much too seriously in not taking itself too seriously.
I get it. They are taking the piss and having a laugh. Doesn't mean that it doesn't suck. Give me the Ramones or the Tubes for better versions.
Silly, fun power pop
Baffling choice this, could not even to begin to explain what is remarkable about this 1.5*
Sounds like most other punk albums that I've heard. Nothing special IMO
Great example of what punk rock should be.
Only exists in 1970s misogynistic time warp. The album needs to be erased for all time, along with the worlds number 1 most awful cover.
Things which have aged badly and were also shite to begin with.
Ah brilliant, someone managed to turn “fuck yeah” into a fully-realised and totally cohesive creative enterprise. Top to bottom, side to side; The Dictators are the real deal. What a shame, then, that they were not – as the first track on the record optimistically portends – “The Next Big Thing”. Cult favourites apparently; influential allegedly; overlooked, certainly. What’s on this record feels like a Troma production, or a record by Municipal Waste – ostensibly dumb shit that, upon further inspection, is so thoughtfully executed and oozing with its own warped sort of artistic integrity that you can’t help but fall for it. The sort of record that gets a person saying things like “If this is wrong then I don’t want to be right”, or slapping a bar and hollering, you guessed it, “fuck yeah”. By the final song – “(I Live For) Cars and Girls” – I’m actually even, bizarrely, moved by the sentiment behind “cars, girls, surfin’, beers, nothing else matters here.” It’s a bodacious line, sure; but the guy’s got a point. Forever more The Dictators now have another co-conspirator. It might have been that, in its day, joke never fully landed; but whatever, this is still seriously good stuff now.
Never heard of this band before. The album is fantastic! Had a very enjoyable Sunday morning shaking my rump to these songs. The older I get the more I'm enjoying OG punk sounds. This is very much my jam. I still know nothing about this band. Think I'll keep it that way.
Sounds like kiss, but with irony
47/100. Musically, it rides a line between glam rock, early punk, and surfy throwback riffs. But it’s the lyrics and tone that dominate the experience and for many, that's where the love-or-hate reaction starts.
Eat burger, wipe ass
Dig it. Lots of fun and enjoyable
Me dio igual
Fun and silly proto-punk, but lacking some substance (that might kinda be the point of the album, though). Not sure it deserves a spot on this list… 2.5⭐️
Yeah it's ok
This one was kinda interesting. Very rock-vibe heavy and straightforward, but also went some weird places. It wasn't bad, just not necessarily something I found good. It reminded me a lot of KISS in the style/presentation. There's probably a lot more that can be said for it, though I don't really feel strongly enough to go deeper. I thought it was mostly fine, but not really something I think I'll listen to again. It just didn't do a lot for me even if it wasn't bad. Overall: 2.5/5
Fun music with good energy, but I'm subtracting one star for lyrics that made me cringe when I zoned in enough to pay attention. (At least that only happened twice?) As "get shit done" music for my ADHD? Fantastic!
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
Squeaks into a 2. At least it's early punk so it basically has some doo-wop songs?
This is kinda fun though the humour is not for me. Overall hasn’t left much of an impression. Next!
Not much substance with this one…
Sarcastic, irreverent, fun. A pretty good early punk record.
Yet to find anything that can be described as punk and is from America that I enjoy. Mostly samey, mostly boring, partially irritating.
This was pretty good. Id read a bunch about it being a really early punk album (I think they forgot about the stooges), but it started out by sounding like kiss. Although it did go more punk later, but I guess more Ramones punk than the more aggressive side. It was pretty fun. I'll give it another go at some point.
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
This would be awful if it was a recent release but the fact that it is some proto-punk/metal from way back in the day makes it less awful. By the end, I was enjoying it and smiling along to the lyrics. I will probably seek out some more Dictators in the future.
One of those bands I'd never heard of, but they nail this sound. They're cheeky and crude at times, sounding ahead of their time. And they can rip on the guitar and drums. Good time
Estoy seguro que en la época esto era lo más cool que podía escucharse pero a mí me ha costado conectar con el proyecto. He disfrutado algunos momentos de la interpretación vocal y algunos momentos instrumentales, pero no creo que sería un álbum que volvería a escuchar. A pesar de que dura solo 34 minutos en total, se me ha hecho largo porque no siento que haya una variedad de ritmos/emociones dentro del propio género que explora el disco. Creo que destacaría “I Got You Babe” y “California Sun”.
I hated it. I don't care if it is punk or what. Yavşak bir grup. Caarrrrrss anddd girrrllssss. It was torture to listen to this.
Silly, but not in a cool way.
Insulting and annoying. These talentless and overconfident bozos ruin 35 minutes of your time. These talentless arrangements and structure are terrible. The vocals fail to make a significant impression, much like the instrumentation. The lyrics, on the other hand, make quite the impression, though, not a good one. I’m not at all surprised that an album like this exists. I don’t necessarily blame these guys for making a bad album. I do, however, blame the list maker for this inclusion. List maker is a lunatic for this one. 1/5
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
Pretty uninteresting rock/punk. Not bad, but it's too kind and bland to stick out.
Punk? Or Protopunk? Garbage. Just shows that the US idea of punk is crap. Punk has to be fast. Anarchically fast. It has to be in your face. It has to be loud. But not tunefully. Only the UK can do real Punk. This album is not punk. Nowhere near it. What it is is rock n roll. And good rock n roll at that.
This is terrible.
This was cool, I liked the covers for sure. 1975 is a little late to have been groundbreaking for punk, but whatever.
Categorizing this as punk rock is a far stretch. More like quirky comedic power pop. I liked moments of this and can appreciate the lighthearted often silly approach here. Does this album deserve a spot here in the list? Doubtful. But it was a nice reprieve from some of the other crap.
I’m slightly embarrassed with how much I liked this. I came in thinking it would be garbage. And was sticking my nose up at the beginning. But didn’t take long for me to change my tune. Not sure I can rate super high for a satirical/parody band (I did have to check if Master Rock Race was racist), but overall a nice surprise. 3.25
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.
Fun listen, some fillers, some classics
I liked this. I like how clear it makes the through-line from surf rock to punk.
whatever. forgot to review this until the day after listening and i can not remember a single thing about it so can’t say it left any sort of impression
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
Fun!
A bit weird. I won't call it bad, but its not exactly good. Its not serious music and that's why its somewhat endearing. The songs are oozing with sarcasm and smart-ass lyrics. Kind of a punk band but more of a garage rock album.
Teengenerate
This was a new album for me and I loved its energy! I was amazed that it was released in 1975!! What an awesome sound.
I enjoyed this proto punk rock - new to me! I'd listen to it again. Clearly before their time and its not the most amazing album, but I loved hearing this little step in the history of one of genre I like
I really wanted to love this, but it just didn't hit like I had hoped. I really like the Beach Boys gone punk tracks, but there are some misses. I Got You Babe is a great idea for a punk cover, but it sounds really amateurish. Definitely deserves its spot on the list though, for its part in the origins of punk.
This is the type of music I would enjoy and write when I was 16. A lot of satire and intentionally edgy lyrics. I get big Beastie Boys energy from this. It's like you're at a house party and these guys are playing in the basement and there's only so much time before the cops show up. I would say some of "Back to Africa" is a bit insensitive, and I panicked when the next song was called "Master Race Rock", but it is all tongue-in-cheek. I guess the shock is the point. The album is interesting and important from a historic standpoint, but I didn't find it a particularly enjoyable listen. The guitar is especially interesting for 1975, but just not my thing. I liked the energy though, and I respect it.
Felt like a teenage rebellious album lol
Pretty fun album, I liked the cover. I wouldn’t listen again
Interesting proto punk stuff that is worth a listen but didn’t stick with me
Pönk getur alveg verið skemmtilegt en mér finnst það samt alltaf vera svo ofboðslega svipað. Skiptir eiginlega ekki máli hvaða hljómsveit það er. Þarna stendur eiginlega ekkert upp úr nema ábreiðan af I Got You Babe sem var skemmtileg.
short and high energy
Renodlad rövrock
Do I need this? Not really. Did I enjoy listening to it? Kind of. How much? Um...medium? Like - it was good - but I feel like I've heard a lot that sounds like this before. I can see why this would make the list as early as it is. But that doesn't mean I really want to listen to it. It's fine. It's ridiculous. It's fine. Is that a 3? A 2? A 2.5? It's good enough...for a 3. I feel like the 'take it or leave it' albums cause the most ranking strife, because I don't have a strong opinion.
Ok early punk album I have no other thoughs
Meh. It's like they. Couldn't decide if they wanted to be Glam.Or they wanted to be punk.The couple cover songs were okay , that's about it 2/5
Wowie this was new to me! I’m pretty sure I heard the cover songs on some punk compilation back in the day but I’ve never listened to the Dictators before. Maybe once. This was so fun. I liked the cover songs and Two Tub Man and cars and girls. What a poppy punk rockin roll good time! The talking wrestling promos or whatever were wacky and reminded me of early SNL.
3 - simple punk predecessor
Cheeky album. Kind of a proto punk album full of weird humor and making fun of established norms. Not all of it holds up and some you really have to listen to see what he's pointing at. Still though historically speaking not terrible. It won't make my rotation but I'm not mad I listened to it.
This album grew on me the longer I listened to it. They have a real DIY, fast and loose approach to making music and despite maybe coming off as a bit cheesy sometimes it worked for me. Its a really direct line from these guys to the rest of the NY punk scene and pretty amazing this album came out in 1975.
I've never heard of the Dictators before, but I had a great time with this album! It's simple, fun, sarcastic early punk music that really doesn't take itself too seriously. I love the cover of I Got You Babe. I also hadn't heard the term protopunk before starting this project, but I'm finding I really enjoy every band with that label. I'm excited to get more early protopunk albums I've never heard, and I'm sure there's tons of it!
any comment i make about the mood of this would quickly dissolve into insecure bitching on my part so let's not do that. i know the racist shit is supposed to be satirical but it is goddamn difficult to buy that something this fratty has any layers to it. also not really punk sounding tbh especially for the time period but that's not really a critique. still, putrid vibes. deserves to be one of the 1001? nope
Awesome album, certainly revolutionary for 1975. One of the first examples of what would become punk rock. I loved this album.
Kinda fun but kinda forgettable: 2.5 stars. Perhaps I should round up because of the release date - this must've been an early influence on punk rock in general and in particular that strand of punk (especially big in the 90s/00s) that leaned heavily on puerile, adolescent humour. But I won't.
I get that this is supposed to be satirical, and can see how it might have been somewhat funny at the time. But the humour hasn't really aged well, and a lot of it is really dumb. Some decent guitar playing, but I would much rather just listen to New York Dolls or The Ramones.
Appreciate learning about this pioneering band in the NYC 70s punk scene. But NOT my jam. In fact I couldn’t get through the whole record. Really grating and irritating. Sounds like they are trying to be funny, but it’s not. Maybe just really dated and hasn’t stood up.
Dumb and fun, but that’s the extent of it.
Big dumb rock, which I like. I could see putting this on once in a while.
fun album. catchy
Not as "punk" as I was expecting, but you can hear the roots.
Great proto-punk here. Didn't appreciate it when I was younger, taking the lyrics way too seriously. This is a ripper, full of garage-style punk rock with tongue-in-cheek humor.
Feels like one of the shallowest albums in this project. Absolutely no nuance or subtley to be found here, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing since the songs themselves are decent enough once you get past the smarmy shock value. Feels like a good album for angsty teens, and can definitely see how this inspired later punk bands. Top tracks: Back to Africa, Weekend
this album is said to be one of the first examples of punk rock. i can definitely hear it! according to wikipedia it wasn't exactly a bestseller, but it really helped create that foundation that a lot of other punk bands would write and record in the future. it's not perfect and there's a track or two that hasn't aged too well, but i'm digging the energy here. rowdy, a lil vulgar and messy, it's like the kind of music that a teenage 50s rock and roll band would make once they actually start taking mind-altering substances and not puffing on their upteenth cigarette.
Garbage schlock rock with a lot of bad covers. Didn’t understand why I needed to listen to this
When I heard "great-grandfather of Punk", I imagined something like the Ramones. But there are always two kinds of great-grandfathers. The Dictators seem to be the silly nice one who smells funny too, but when he talks about his wild times back then, he doesn't mean the war.
3.75 Fun surprise
Did not know this at all but enjoyed it
Top stuff. 3.5.
Never listened to proto-punk. Enjoyed the satire and sound. Props for influencing Beastie Boys - minus points for suing Caribou…
Stradling the line between between parody and terrible. They get points for being the goobs that inspired a lot of better NYC punk bands, and honestly liked it more than I thought I would given the sing titles, but not great.
Big, loud and (intentionally) dumb, The Dictators are an interesting document of the proto-punk sound, slotting alongside the New York Dolls and Detroit’s obscure Death in bridging the gap between the Stooges/MC5 and The Ramones. “Master Race Rock” is a classic, and other highlights are the cover of “California Sun” and “Two Tub Man.” I don’t need to revisit their cover of Sony Bono, however. The guitar player is occasionally exciting, but I often wish they’d speed up the tempo, and I’m not sure I’d choose to highlight this band above any of the others I mentioned.
The sarcastic cover of I Got You Babe was the lowest point in an album full of low points.
The first song sounded like a Kiss outtake; that is not a compliment. When I first bought the New York Dolls Lp when I was in high school in the late 1980s, I understood the context that the NYD were working with and that the LP could not hope to capture their live show. I can only assume this band has a similar unknown to me arc, because this is a pedestrian record that I cannot understand why it is on the list.
This is completely new to me. I have never heard of them. Off the bat, + one star for having a sequined Manitoba jacket on the cover. And I can see how this led to the Ramones. So + one star for that. And...I'm out of stars. I do understand why it's on the and it deserves credit for what it led to. It's just that in and of itself, it's a pretty generic sounding proto-punk album in hindsight.
Kind of dumb but fun, just what I’d expect from a punk album.
I enjoyed how chaotic this band is, cars and girls? Fantastic love it
A lot of fun, and pretty neat to see some of the birthing grounds of punk as we know it. Rocky Horror vibes. Plus -- it rocks pretty hard! Not the most incredible album I've ever heard, but easy to listen to and great to jam out with. Fave songs: - The Next Big Thing - Back to Africa - Master Race Rock - Teengenerate - Two Tub Man - Weekend - (I Live For) Cars and Girls
I enjoyed it for the most part, but after Ryan mentioned the KISS sound, I couldn't get it out of my head on my second listen and there is definitely a "cheesy" factor that takes it down to 3 stars for me.
I got into this record when I was reading “Please Kill Me”. It’s sort of the first Punk record, as it mentions someone being a punk, but that’s a teenager who eats at McDonalds. It’s goofy, and it rocks, and who the fuck is Handsome Dick Manitoba? Is he a wrestler trying to be a singer? Why is he here? Who knows. It doesn’t matter.
Fun listen, doesn't really feel like the Punk predecessor it is claimed to be. You can hear what was supposed to become Punk in the later years, but it feels more like a collection of Glam party anthems to me. I like how the band doesn't take itself too seriously, from the silly album cover, to the Cher & Sonny cover to the silly lyrics all throughout. It seems to achieve what it wants to do pretty well. That is where it also struggles a bit I think, there isn't that much to this album besides some fun songs. Can't blame an album for not trying to be something it's not though.
nicee
I can't believe that punk was actually the american invention, I thought it was the brits again. I will burn down my mexican flag now and will never speak favourably of the USA ever again
punk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rockpunk rock is a genre I fucking hate
This was the most album of all time. I don't have many thoughts. Positive or negative.
A pretty early punk album, it seems to be making fun of itself which is cool but honestly not that interesting
It's kinda fun, it's fairly simple, it's not hugely essential, it's just very very early punk rock. Which is fine, but I don't really like punk rock. So I probably wasn't going to like what punk sounded like before it even existed or had a name. I was right. I didn't enjoy this much, but thankfully as is the case with most punk records, it's pretty short. Nothing excited me here and I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to hear it again. That's pretty much all I can say on it really. A bit of a crap review unfortunately but there we are. If you're a fan of the genre you'll enjoy it, if you're not, you won't. Simple as that.
3/3.5
What’s not to like? Shades of the New York Dolls, tongue in cheek humor, and a recorded off the floor feel! I will be taking a deep dive into their catalog! These guys could be in heavy rotation in my house! Very pleasant surprise indeed!
Very punk. Heavy on sending a message and having an attitude about it with song names like master race rock and back to africa I was worried at first. The artists are talented and I can tell why they were impactful but it's not something I plan to listen to again.
I did not go girl crazy for this one. It was fine.
offensive, not in a fun way
Opening monologue reminds me of Stevo32 from Sum41 and I think he'd appreciate the comparison. Feels a little bit like a proto-Ramones. I think it was probably great back in the day, but doesn't really hold up anymore on its own. "Seinfeld isn't funny" and all that. Still, good to be familiar with history! I wish we'd covered more stuff like this in my history of Punk music class in college.
It was okayish but it's not my mug of coffee
There were some decent songs but all in all the album didn't compete with the greats in this genre
Was very surprised. Had never heard of these guys, but would recommend to all who enjoy Rick/punk. Some good guitar licks, cool lyrics. They are now in my favorites.
3,1/5
Me gusta lo sucio y controlado que es. Mientras lo escuchaba se cagaron a palos en el tren. Recomiendo como banda sonora. Nota: 2.9
Skapligt, lyssna igen under bättre förutsättningar
Fun! I like it! 4/5
Great! :D
Well, this is fun and raunchy. Enjoyed it. One of my best friends has a picture with Handsome Dick Manitoba.
One of the first punk bands to have fun doing it! This is a breath of fresh air in the early days of the genre compared to the rebellion through incredibly discordant and inane music of some of their peers in NYC.
This album was fun as heck
One must be deaf not to hear the resemblance to The Ramones. No wonder, as Shernoff also worked with them as a musician and co-writer. Very tongue-in-cheek, it's fun to listen to.
It's like the kids from School of Rock wrote an album. I mean It's ite, but it's very silly isn't it. It's pretty forgettable but I kinda enjoyed it (in the same way I enjoyed the song that the children from School of Rock wrote. 'Maybeee we were making straight As..' etc).
Honestly pretty good album. I used to like this early, shitty, glam rock bands. This to me is more creative than a lot of other albums on here. A little bit goes a long way but it's worth noting
Don't got much to say other than I'm not a fan. Guitar work is pretty solid, but otherwise it's not impressing me. Singing can get kind of annoying. A middling cover of I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher is here, I guess. Some songs that are good like Weekend, but yeah, basically just some passable proto-punk, but just doesn't do anything for me.
Rating: 3.5/10 What a stupid album.
What to say about The Dictators... They certainly helped to establish much of the template for punk. Their brand of humor influenced the styles of The Ramones and the Beastie Boys. And it's hard not to have some fun listening to this album. On the other hand, some of the humor is deeply uncomfortable. "Master Race Rock" is, I think, a joke but I'm not sure that the joke comes across as clearly as they'd like. But likely they didn't really care. The Dictators are the kind of band who would have said "It's a joke. If you don't get it, too bad." Not dissimilar to someone like Eminem who uses that line to effectively get away with saying anything. Add to this, Handsome Dick Manitoba went after a Canadian artist named Manitoba (now changed to Caribou). That story brought a bit of attention to both The Dictators and Caribou but it's about as antithetical to punk as you can get. The Dictators then have a pretty mixed track record. Given that they're pretty far underground and always have been, they can largely escape scrutiny though. "Go Girl Crazy" remains a footnote in the history of punk but arguably an important one. As a side note, I've hung out in the dive bar in New York's Alphabet City that was (as I understood it) owned by Handsome Dick Manitoba. It was pretty much exactly what you'd expect. Unclean, a bit unsafe, and filled with the very best of New York's counterculture. That was proof enough to me that even if The Dictators didn't earn their punk rock cred, they certainly had their place in its history.
I really don't get this pick at all. If they're the start of punk rock then what the hell are MC5? Or the Stooges? This list doesn't get to include every shitty experiment from the 70's because "it's foundational for rock and roll." You get a couple of the good ones for vanity then skip these and include actual good music. These just feel like tryhard picks.
Wish a dictator would oppress these lot
equal (?) parts cringe,fun, stoopid, and not bad
Fun listen. Lots of tongue-in-cheek attitude and ripping guitar work. Hell yeah.
fun
half a way between seventies glam rock and harmonies à la Beach boys.
This is a really fun album. What Rock and Roll should be, not taking itself too seriously. I love finding this stuff on the list.
Dope
I guess it was supposed to be satirical but it’s merely immature and obnoxious.
Straightforward party rock. Nothing too deep but I liked their energy!
3.5 - fun to hear punk rock sound pre punk rock era
Not my jam
Absolute trash. I love punk and this is not good. Rides the line between hair metal riffs and the punk style untrained vocals. In not picking a lane the whole thing blows.
Favorite track: i got you babe other picks: the next big thing, master race rock, two tub man
Well that was a pleasant surprise. They call this a precursor to Punk Rock, and I totally get all of that. Loud and fun - but of all just really good music. Feel like i need to dig a little deeper in The Dictators catalog.
LOVE this version of I Got You Babe. But then the next 2 songs are Back to Africa and Master Race Rock? I get that it’s tongue in cheek but that humor hasn't aged well. Nonetheless, I will admit that there is something overall that’s charming and infectious about this album and I can see how it was a huge influence on the later punk scene.
Len Houmous used to call wives 18-24 ‘The Dictators’ Interestingly they actually wrote the final track of the album about Len! 2.2 9/9 (I Live For) Cars & Girls
Early punk. Young dumb and fun. But too early for me. Not rock enough but not punk enough yet. Not funny enough. In its time I probably would have loved it but now more artifact than entertainment.
On first listen, I dig this a lot. I’ve long ignored this band for no particular reason at all; chalk it up to “so much music, so little time”. I know they’re well respected as one of the “first punk bands”, and while I put that term in quotes because I don’t think it’s quite accurate, I understand the general thought process. They’ve still got a few toes in the power pop/glam waters, but they execute those elements in a slightly grungier, more subversive manner that appeals to me. They’re clearly excellent musicians - some of the guitar and bass work in particular is quite stellar - but their performances are far more visceral than they are over-calculated. I can see why songs like “Back to Africa” and “Master Race Rock” might come across the wrong way, but I think that even if elements of their lyrics haven’t aged well if you apply them to today’s standards, they’re a bit more nuanced and clever than they appear on first listen. In general, I think a lot of their lyrics are quite funny without being overly stupid. I’ll definitely be coming back to this one and seeing how/if my opinions evolve. 4/5
Llegamos al miércoles de un mes que se sentirá larguísimo con una banda que desconocía por completo. Su comienzo me recuerda al glam (sobre todo, Bowie), a otras bandas proto-punks como Death y a los sonidos de los Ramones (de hecho tienen un cover de "California Sun"). Ya lo he comentado varias veces en éste reto, pero el proto-punk como momento de quiebre me fascina. Todas las bandas que hay impulsoras de ése género me hacen envidiar a esas épocas. Gracias por el hallazgo, que debo reconocer me gustó. Hasta mañana.
Guitar sounded good. They sounded like 70’s rock.
We don’t need the same genre 100+ times
I really thought this had a chance when I saw it was protopunk. Alas this fell well short of my expectations. The lyrics, while sarcastic and funny in places, for the most part were delivered in a way that just made me cringe. Some very nice shredding in parts but overall this whole album just made me cringe and wish it would end. Did like the shot at Lou Reed though.
Meh. At least tracks were short & sweet
Fun album that doesn't take itself too seriously. Especially the last track: Cars and Girls.
I didn't like it nearly as much as the first Sabbath album, but it reminds me of that, if only because it represents a genre of music before that genre got defined. At times it feels very punk, but then will become something more akin to hard rock or garage. I do appreciate hearing bands that sort of were making up a genre, whether they knew it or not.
I can hear inklings of Green Day, a bratty, don't-take-yourself-too-seriously grandfather to that type of music that is largely fine - though some of the snottiness doesn't age very well. Might be a low 3/high 2 kind of situation, but since it's nothing I think I'll go back to, grading down for today.
Sort of liked a little of this, but not really
3.2
Can appreciate this a lot given the context of punk, this is another proto-punk one, before the whole genre really kicks off. Does it well, plenty of energy, doesn't take itself too seriously.
Not listened to these before and wasn't sure what to expect. Quite enjoyed the tong in cheek lyrics and raw energy. Reminded me of New York Dolls/Ramones and wasn't surprised to find out the lead singers wrote a number of Ramones singles. Favourite songs include 'the next big thing' and 'california sun'
decent punk album
3.5/5 Very fun
Some of these riffs and solos are seriously carrying this album away from being a piss poor showing, low 3
Punk without anything to actually be mad about.
New to me. And oh, kind of glam rock as much as punk. Simple, direct and fun. In the line of New York Dolls through to the Ramones. Couple fun covers in there. 3.8☆
loved the covers
i personally liked master race rock the most because i think whites are the superior race of people return to africa was also good because we need a pure white country without dem monkies
ts kinda butt ngl
Really early punk-rock with a clear sound and even some sort of ballads sprinkled in (even if its a cover). A real fun listen through.
I can see why this was influential, but I feel like it’s not really saying anything. Musicianship is surprisingly good though.
As far as hard rock goes its aggressively by the numbers. Overall harmless, albeit some shallow poorly aged lyrics. California sun is alright
Interesting twist on the classic track "I Got You Babe" though I feel it looses most of the charm of the original. Their voices work well together, which really makes it feel like a band. So overall it works out. At the beginning of "teengenerate" they used an organ or something, then never used it again. I feel they should have utilised that more. Ultimately, it does what it's trying to do very well. Personally, I found it too corny, but I can see how someone could enjoy the album. "Back to Africa" is my favourite track, and "Weekend" is my least favourite.
Some lyrics were questionable and laughable. Especially in the song Master Race Rock. This is my first ever rock album I've sat down and listened. The album didn't have a ton of substance although it didn't overstay it's welcome and had enough variety across the 9 tracks to make it an enjoyable album, however not something I am likely to return to. Favourite song was the intro track The Next Big Thing. Enjoyed California Sun and Two Tub Man as well.
So this one surprised me a little. It was pretty stupid, but not horrible. I don’t know who listens to this stuff for fun, I really don’t. The singing was not great. Not great at all, but…..it had a special something. It was so ridiculous that it was actually entertaining. I’ll never listen to this again in my life, but I’m going to give it two stars not one, because I was expecting something in particular, but it delivered a little something more.
hard album, really fun listen
Imagine a garage full of teenagers yelling at their amps. That’s the vibe. It’s raw, messy, and very stupid, but also kinda fun? It’s the type of thing that makes you want to throw beer cans at the wall, in either joy or frustration. The humor’s juvenile, and the production’s almost nonexistent. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - (I Live For) Cars and Girls
That was fun! It's like if the Beach Boys were more rock oriented
Another day. Another debut album by another American punk band. Much better than yesterday's though (Big Black). The fun that they were obviously having filtered through on this record, even though the sound is very garage band. And the drummer seemed to be using it as an audition for any other band that might be listening. Add a point for being on time for punk. Lose a point for the dreadful 'I Got You Babe' cover.
Huutista levyn kuvalle. Aattelin että tää on joku ihan vitsi levy, mutta ilmeisesti tätä pidetään ensimmäisimpinä punk levyinä. Siihen nähden tää kuullostaa ihan hyvältä. Ja kyl ihan muutenkin :D On kyllä oikeesti ihan menevää. Pari coveria kanssa mukana. Parhaat: Teengenerate, California Sun, Two Tub Man, (I Live For) Cars and Girls
American rock, little bitty punk
this kicks ass!
I liked this: a goofier, more glam take on what the Ramones were to perfect, though the tunes don’t have that immortality.
More fun than any Alice Cooper album I've heard, but the New York Dolls did it first, and did it better.
As much as I was entirely overstimulated after listening to this album, I have to admit it’s a hell of a vibe. The individual songs were 50/50 for me.
it has its moments. dumb fun.but I think I will forget about it in a week.
It's fun, not sure if I'm actually gonna listen to it again but had fun listening to it!
‘70’s glam. Same family as early KISS and the New York Dolls but way down this family tree. Sounds like a bar band & not too inspiring. Have heard the same sound done much better. If you want wrestling schtick, see Los Straightjackets.
Nah. 2 stars. Not for me. Fine.
this was fun. not much else to say. some fun songs and i had a good time listening. some lyrics i ummmmmmmm just tried to ignore. a lot of it is just fluffy and silly and sometimes that's all you need. i was in a good mood afterwards. CARS AND GIRLS CARS AND GIRLS
Eh.
Sure it rocks pretty hard, but they’re idiots, not even in a good way
Fun one, I like the covers on it. Definitely influential on stuff I like, didn’t realize before it was 1975. Kind of amazing that this is generously 20 years after the start of rock music, and it’s already got to a point of a punkish tongue-in-cheek thing. Bo Diddley wasn’t even that old yet!
Bought manifest destiny when It came out 100 years ago. Enjoyed the sound and listened to all available albums. Still like the sound.
The primordial ooze from which punk originated.
This is not targeted for me. But they know how to play I guess
Banger!
Girls are cool!
I get that they’re being satirical and intentionally ripping off the cheap sound of bands like KISS and Twisted Sister… but ripping off the cheap sound still requires having the cheap sound as the main entree, so… It’s fine!
It's nice to listen but didn't find there anything special. Still likeable a lot
Nice