Double Nickels On The Dime

Minutemen came up around the same time as Black Flag. In fact, their debut EP Paranoid Time (pure excellence, please check that one out) is the very second release on SST, Greg Gin's label. The difference between Minutemen and Black Flag was that Minutemen's sound was way more playful and intricate. Instead of blasting out pure hardcore riffs, the three-piece played almost jazzy licks and took inspiration from Creedence Clearwater Revival. It's actually really cool. But audiences hated it. They didn't know it at the time but Minutemen were playing music of the future. These San Pedro boys gave us the first post-hardcore sounds, and it was so cool. But Black Flag crowds didn't want post-hardcore, they wanted just hardcore. So it took Minutemen a few years to get traction on shows. That being said, shows were their life. Minutemen had an interesting approach to the financial side of being a band: they would "jam econo", making their records for as cheap as possible by minimizing studio time, recording the tracks in the order they wanted to avoiding editing costs, and tracking on recycled tape reels. These guys were the definition of frugal and the embodiment of DIY. They would then take a somewhat backwards approach to touring, stating that they sold records to support touring instead of the usual touring to sell records. Obviously they knew something that we didn't because this worked pretty well for them, and they were able to put out some banger albums throughout the 80's, all while making money on the road instead of being in the red. Also worth noting that Minutemen releases are notoriously short. No, their name doesn't reference how they play their songs in about a minute. Minutemen comes from a local right-wing group of the same name, which they wanted to steal in order to make them lose momentum. The band is very left-wing working-class with their lyrics, something that is refreshing imo. Anyway, with their past three albums and four EPs all being quite short, they were gearing up for another standard Minutemen album that clocked in at about 30 minutes in 1984. And then Husker Du came out with their double album Zen Arcade. A punk double album. Fucking unheard of. Minutemen had to head back to the studio to make their next album a double too, and thus Double Nickels on the Dime was born. A few notes about DNotD: 1. There are four sides: one for each of the three band members and a "chaff" side that had all the leftovers. The boys would alternate between picking songs for their side in a sort of draft after they drew straws. This gives each side a sort of unique personality, in my opinion, and helps pace the album for me. 2. "Double Nickels of the Dime" refers to going 55 mph (double nickels) on the interstate 10 (the dime). This was a sort of reaction to Sammy Hagar's "I Can't Drive 55" which was just Hagar bitching about federally-imposed highway speed limits at the time. Minutemen, being jokesters, decided it would be funny for a punk record to go the speed limit. Hence the album cover, which has Mike Watt flashing a cheesy grin while he goes exactly 55 mph on the interstate 10, heading towards their hometown of San Pedro. This is a perfect album cover and title. 3. The boys consider this to be their "artsy record", and I'd say that's a correct assessment. Earlier Minutemen stuff was way more straightforward hardcore and post-hardcore, whereas DNotD experiments more with things like classical guitar, Tejano, contemporary folk, and a few other things scattered across different songs. It's all executed so skillfully with D. Boon's dexterity on guitar, Mike Watt perfectly keeping up on bass, and George Hurley giving it his all on drums to round it out. You could not ask for a better band to pull this off. 4. This would be Minutemen's penultimate album before D. Boon's untimely death, which would eventually lead to the end of Minutemen. DNotD is also their most fondly-remembered album, probably because of it's length and execution. The band had not made anything like it before or since. For a project so ambitious, and a band so full of genuine heart and soul, I can't not love Double Nickels on the Dime. Three great musicians having a fun time, pulling together songs that have no right being this good. This band could be your life. This band is my life. Also the theme song for Jackass is on here, if that means anything to you.

Its impressive having an album this long, and this samey, still not feel bloated or tired by the end of it. It feels like a post-punk charcuterie board; lots of little tasty bites to mix and mach and enjoy across a large spread. Not to mention great musician ship, cool lyrics, and just the deep feeling that everybody here is having fun and not taking things too seriously. That makes for a star of an album in my book.

I really enjoyed this way more than expected. Clearly punk, but with strong jazz influences, Minutemen live up to their name. The longest track on the album is 2:58 long and it's very much the outlier. Most tracks clock in well under 2 minutes which is why they can get away with an album that's 43 tracks long. Because of the track lengtsh and the sheer volume of tracks, I assumed, before listening to it, that the album would feel scattered. I was pleasently surprised to find that not to be the case. It feels coherent if frantic. I really liked it, honestly. I was going to give it 4 stars but, as I listened, I realized that the musical talent on display here is actually phenominal. It just goes under the radar because of the short-form, punk rock format.

Phenomenal. This is the type of punk that I really enjoy. It's like punk meets funk. The bass line alone makes me want to pick up my bass and play. I wish I had the time. This album has been recommended to me by more than a few friends who are musicians and music afficionados.

When I first saw a 43 song punk album I groaned. But this is different than anything I've heard before, a true genre bender. Imagine Talking Heads, Primus, Dead Kennedys and Meat Puppets had a baby. It all over the place, wild and a work of genius. Best new discovery on this list so far

I like the Minutemen, a cool band who did something different with punk and hardcore. Holy hell though, is is far too long to be enjoyable. Maybe the fact that I cannot stick around for almost 90 minutes is just the spirit of the age coming through.

What an album! This has to be one of the biggest positive surprises of this list so far. Absolutely original and entertaining record by band Minutemen. Although they are categorised as a punk or post-punk band, I don't really agree with it. This has to be an avant-garde album first and foremost, creating a genre of its own, with funky, jazzy bass line, extremely weird guitar sound and slightly hardcore vocal at times. They somehow managed to squeeze 45 songs in 73 minutes, giving an average of less than 2 minutes per song. And they are all very different, yet somehow still feel aligned one after another. After listening to the album I dived into the usual Wikipedia rabbit hole, reading about the band, their style, about tragic death of D. Boon. I have never heard of this band, yet they remind me so much of more hard-core (or rock) version of Primus. Everything is weird and unusual, yet so entertaining and fascinating. Great album, I will listen to the full discography now, looks like I found another favourite band!

Mid-80's skateboarding turned me on to a lot of music and of course, SST records. You could reliably point to any band signed to SST and know they were pretty embedded in punk scene of 80s SoCal. The omnipresence of the music we enjoy is deafening. It's hard to look back and imagine life without the music that we love. Music back then was not the solitary experience that is has become today. Music was hanging out at record stores, or was passed on through mix tapes. I missed the Minutemen but was a big fan of fIREHOSE which had a similar sound to Minutemen thanks to Mike Watt's bass. Fortunately, in the time of Spotify and most notably the theme song to Jackass, I've been able to spend some time with Minutemen and learn a little about D. Boone. But not like I have with Double Nickels on the Dime. Double Nickels on the Dime is great. I hear so much of the music that I like today. Most notably Parquet Courts, but also the dive bar scene with Johnny Rad in The Search for Animal Chin. fIREHOSE was great, but after listening to this album, they pale in comparison to the diversity and depth of Minutemen which, you'd have to admit was D. Boone, RIP. Great listen and happy to have discovered. I'll be listening to this album much more in the future.

Genre busting punk akin to London Calling

Let's be clear, I love punk. I also love dirty punks that create music on shoestring budgets. I also love when people combine punk with other genres to create new kinds of punk. But most of all, I love punk that is actually punk. The minutemen had a DIY "econo" ethos that carries through the music. This album was made by people who worked day jobs, booked late night recording sessions, and used records as a means to promote their music tours. These guys were the real deal.

LOVE this album. History Lesson Pt 2 is one of the most charming songs in punk history. This is authentic, charismatic, energetic, sincere music. The Minutemen is one of those cult bands that make you love music. This band could be your life…

This feels like one of those albums that people rave about because some one has declared that it's trendy. I've heard worse albums, but my general feeling is that listening to this truly depressing album has wasted an hour of my life.

Didn't like his lead singer's voice.

Remember pre-recorded cassettes? I thought they were the greatest thing, you can play them in the car, stroll around with your walkman and it could jam a whole double album on one tape! The problem with these tapes is they were the cheapest of cheap quality. The tape was thin and the longer the time on the tape, the more stretched out and worn the tape got. It eventually will tighten, cease and stop....end! A better option is to buy the vinyl, dub it to a good quality cassette (Maxell, TDK), then you have a home copy and a portable copy. Regrets that I bought the pre-recorded cassette of Double Nickels On the Dime instead of the vinyl in the mid-80's at a record store in the states. An excellent record, probably one of the best double LP's from the 80's that made people realize, punk or post-punk or college rock really was better than the shit that was on the radio! It really was one of those "game changing" records, at least to me. Labels like SST put out some great albums! A classic, highly recommended!!

It's long, but the short song length and great variety make it an enjoyable listen. Love it

Never heard of them. Another tragic death story. Damn glad I wasn’t an 80s musician. This is a surprisingly good album... white fishbone, some poor mans dead, a little REM, and a dash of the Clash.

I didn't hate this, but it began to wear thin. You get the sense that this was just buddies playing whatever weird idea came to mind and it goes way too long

A big miserable mesh of garbage.

I only listened to the first 13 songs. For me they all sounded the same, so I did without the remaining 30.

I'd known about Corona before this, but I'm super impressed with this record. This is one of the best punk records I've ever heard.

I'd heard of Minutemen. But never heard them. I'm a metal head who never really fell in love with punk. But this was a LOT of fun. And I was totally digging it, even if it wouldn't be in heavy rotation for me. But then... the opening chords from Jackass tickled a primordial nerve in the back of my brain. 5 stars. Jesus Christ that hit hard.

Couldn't wait for it to end. The vocals were so bad, and it all just sounded exactly the same.

Never wanted an album to just end more.

Meh

a minute is quite a long time actually, i don't think they should be ashamed of that

mike watt is such a fun bassist. the mintuemen were a special band… rip d. boone

Jazzy, funky, punky. Really enjoyed it.

Hello my name's Johnny Knoxville, and this is the "1001 Albums List". I often times praise albums for being a cohesive tight package that encompasses a theme or style that all works together. I'm going to praise this album for doing the exact opposite. This feels like less of a produced album, and more like a collection of songs from random jam sessions. I guess it really encompasses the punk scene in that aspect. They're not going to conform to what is mainstream or safe. Who says an album can't be a collection of random 1 minute long songs? They're not even going to conform to traditional punk. Who says that you have to play fast, loud, and have screaming vocals to be considered punk? The album is way longer than what I would normally enjoy, but the brevity and variation in the songs makes it go by fast. I wasn't expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I might consider getting it on vinyl especially after finding out that full version of the album is only available on vinyl.

There’s a five star album in here, just unnecessary amount of songs, but all good stuff!

I have a hard time explaining why "Double Nickels On The Dime" works. But it does work. Despite being 45 tracks long. Despite some serious genre-bending. Despite sounding like a lot of studio takes that should have been left on the cutting room floor. And even a live track randomly in the middle? It might be raw and unpolished, but it works. It might be two distinct songwriting voices, but it feels like one band. It all somehow fits in a cohesive vibe.

Genre: Post-Punk 4/5 A 45-song, 82-minute endurance test of an album, and the closest I've heard to an album that sniffs the off-the-wall, unabashed music making of The Beatles' White Album, the Minutemen's Double Nickels on the Dime is a wild whirlwind of post-punk, art punk, and experimental rock. From top to bottom, this thing is jam-packed with ideas, free flowing like the mightiest of oceans. Us listeners are flooded with different concepts, all sporting standard rock instrumentation, but with everchanging structures, song lengths, themes, and energy. From dance-punk offerings like Viet Nam, to heavy alt-country like Corona (the theme to Jackass), to funky post-punk like Jesus and Tequila, to acoustic folk like Cohesion, to avant-rock experiments like You Need the Glory, this album truly runs the musical gamut and never leaves you without something to keep you engaged. As far as the general or "average" song on this goes, most tracks are 1-2 minute songs that dabble mostly in post-punk/post-hardcore sounds and styles. Plenty of left-wing ideology all over this thing as well, still holding on to the values that made punk what it was, but never taken to the point where it's hokey or preachy. There are also tracks like Maybe Partying Will Help and Do You Want New Wave..., where the goofiness and earnestness of the lyrics enhance the performances given by the group, and provide a lot of help for what are fairly standard punk rock arrangements. The total disjointedness of this album did make it feel like a bit of a slog, but, in some ways, it was a highly rewarding slog. This is certainly one of my favorite punk/post-punk albums I've ever listened to, and considering its vast setlist, this album will ASSUREDLY reward repeat listens. Personally, I'd take the time to seek out any songs that online releases cut out from the original vinyl release. If you're tech savvy enough, downloads of the vinyl exist online, and I say provide the only genuine, full-album experience that the Minutemen were hoping to provide here. Just my two cents. Great album.

Tight. So many songs, so much quality.

I hear a lot of influence on 90s emo and indie rock here. Even Fugazi kinda. Pretty cool, fun album.

While some songs were kinda weird and not really my thing, and while I would've preferred this as four 20-minute albums, I enjoyed most of it a lot.

Nicht ganz so schrecklich, wie ich dachte und um einiges besser als der Kram von The Fall, aber auch nicht sooo geil, dass es drei Sterne verdient hätte. Gute 2 wegen des Jackass-Titelsongs ('Corona').

Wow, this is absolutely stunning! I never really paid much attention to the Minutemen - a huge mistake, as it turns out. This double album is filled with uncompromising snapshots of punk, post-punk, funk, art-rock and even musique concrete. Never for one second I got bored, even though the 40+ songs are a lot to take in. A genius record that is my first *real* surprise in this challenge.

Oh god this album, this album is incredible, every, single, song RIP D BOON

I’m at a 4.5; I’ll bump it up to a 5 for the site as a vote of confidence, though I do think I’d rather just leave it at a 4.5. 43 tracks, 74 minutes, and the nigh-impossible challenge of making it feel entertaining the whole time. Frankly, it’s a miracle that they basically succeeded for like, 95% of the runtime. This is a fast-paced album, even with the length it has, and I can’t honestly truly say I ever felt a sense of burnout until the final 4 or 5 tracks; not their fault, they’re not bad tracks, the album just starts to get a little long. You can tell why none of the 3 band members picked them for their sides, as they do sort of blend together in more of a less satisfying way. I really am impressed by how much this stayed entertaining; for 1984, this isn’t reinventing the wheel, it’s just showing a very refined form of it. This is post-punk with a slightly hardcore lean at times, but I would say this leans closer to a more “traditional” sense of rock & roll, taking the DNA of the faster-paced albums we’ve gotten (see: “Group Sex” or the Dead Kennedys album we got), combining them with more of a Talking Heads tone & just a touch of the Rolling Stones. All of that is to say, this is more musically thought out, and just a bit more “safe” than your traditional post-punk album. The tracks being pretty short helps a lot too. I do think it’s hard to give any kind of track-by-track analysis here; this album does eventually slowly blur together, even with as much focus as I tried to give it. I don’t think it’s an album for everyone; I can easily see disdain for this being as long as it is, or getting bored by some level of perceived repetition. I don’t think it had to be 74 minutes; there are some tracks that could’ve probably been trimmed out, but at the same time, this album does work like a loosely crafted puzzle. It’s more fruitful to listen to this as one straight 74 minute shot; pausing this at any point will make the mind wander, and I certainly found myself wandering at a few points when I did have to pause. It’s surprisingly coherent, even with 43 tracks, usually keeping the energy up in a similar way. I think you have to buy into this to enjoy it, but even still, I think there is fatigue. I do think this is worth listening to before you die, in the sense that it’s a musical gauntlet that’ll challenge your attention span, but it also stands on its own merits as a really fun listen, especially with how much they manage to pack into a lot of the tracks with such a short time for each. Ultimately, I’m at a 4.5; one I wish I could leave there, but as a vote of confidence for the scale of the project, and for how much they really did keep it entertaining longer than they had any real right to, I think it deserves a bump up to a 5.

Known and loved this one for a long time. Great album and so creative, especially for the time. 4.5/5

Man, this was great. You can really hear the influence these guys had on so many other bands, and yet they're such a little known name. I loved all the short quirky songs, the jazzy and funky guitar; the bass, which was clearly a big influence on Flea; the very tight drums, and the vocals, which had a real playfulness to them. The length my hold this one back, as well as the fact that I can't actually hum a single one of the songs (or really remember one) but I want to be generous with this great little album.

Varied but cohesive. Enjoyed the meandering of it and would happily come back to the album again. A surprise new favourite.

Great. Fun & playful. Loved it

This album is pure genius

Dinguerie 6/5

Still relevant and good

This is a masterpiece, and something the original list needs more of. It's angular, artsy, nervously off-kilter and intelligent, yet modest and personable in its execution. It gives off the constant impression of only being seconds away from impending collapse, but it never quite does fall in on itself. Lyrically, this is an exhilarating showpiece of the politically charged, progressive themes attributable to punk music, whilst Mike Watt contributes a more unorthodox method of writing through his abstract "spiels". Minutemen were considerably ahead of their time, and their importance to post-hardcore as one of its progenitors cannot be understated. It has as much in common with Talking Heads, Wire, even Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa as it does with the likes of Descendents, Black Flag etc al. Their run was cut agonisingly short owing to D. Boon's tragic passing, a proper case of "what if" despite already making a seismic impression.

Funky and weird rock, not quite prog rock but definitely something new and jazzy

This was fun. Loud and right on the edge of punk. I enjoyed this!

Love this album, love the Minutemen. They're one of the preeminent embodiments of the punk spirit, as far as I'm concerned.

So fucking good.

"Double Nickels on the Dime" is the third studio album (a double one too) by American punk trio Minutemen. Hardcore punk, post-punk and post-hardcore are the Wiki-listed genres but the album also has elements of funk, country, spoken word and jazz. There's a range of themes too including the Vietnam War, racism in the US, the working class the punk lifestyle. The band was inspired to make a double album by fellow SST labelmates Hüsker Dü's "Zen Arcade." Both albums ended being released on the same date. The bandmembers were D. Boon (vocals, guitar), Mike Watt (bass, vocals) and George Hurley (drums, vocals). The album had wide-spread critical acclaim with one critic calling it "one of the very best American albums of the 1980's." A car starting opens the album and "Anxious Mo-Fo." A funky bass. Idiosyncratic drum beats. A bluesy guitar. Not the punk start you might be expecting. They pick up the pace in "Viet Nam." Faster guitar. A groovy rhythm section. Very Primus like but I actually like this song. "#1 Hit Song" demonstrates with a loud guitar and slower pace, the band had a grungy side before there was grunge. "Corona" has a guitar riff intro and then goes straight cow punk. A country beat with a twangy guitar. He only had a Corona by the beach. D. Boon shows off his pots-punk guitar talent with an urgent guitar riff in "West Germany." A scooting bass and drums. Talking about the separation of East and West Germany. The guitar gets down-tuned in "This Ain't No Picnic." Another post-punk rocker. Punching in and punching out in an 8-hr work day. They take Steely Dan's "Dr. Wu" and make it a country-tinged rocker. The Meat Puppets would be proud. This is a fantastic album. And a lot of an album at that. One thing is for certain, these guys can frickin' play. D. Boon's guitar can be hard rock, jazzy and country but he really shines when its got that post-punk edge. Mike Watt is no less impressive on the bass with a funky, melodic style. Drummer Hurley keeps right there with him. They cover so many styles - rock, post-punk, country, jazz, acoustic classical and even jam band. I heard lots of influences in other bands- Primus, the Replacements, Fugazi, Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Meat Puppets to name a few. I can't believe I'm saying this but every bit the album "Zen Arcade" is. That critic wasn't wrong: surely, one of the best albums of the 80's.

This might be my favorite new album that ive heard in the idk couple hundred records this site/book has shown me. To be fair I knew that I would like this before cause I've liked "Bob Dylan wrote propaganda songs" since I was like 13. Also been a big fan of Andrew Jackson jihad for a good few years and the line "the skatepark is only 15 minutemen songs away" stuck with me a ton for some reason. Im just glad this site made me take the jump. But to the actual music. Its so wildly versatile. Its not just a hard-core punk record. Its got some country twang, some jazzy roots, alt anything too. And it has very in your face lyrics for my inattentive ass, that also have ooo shit ti actually say. And its my favorite hard-core zaz. Absolutely amazing for the whole 80 minutes. Also having 40 some songs on a record by the minutemen is so funny. What's the longest track here? Like 3 minutes? Shit just rules and anyone with a tiny tiny bit of interest in anything contained in this record you need to listen. Today. Now. Do it

What a great record. Post-Hardcore as it should sound.

Yah I didn’t remember this album being 43 damn songs long, but holy shit it FLEW by. There’s so much creativity and inspiration in this album. In a lot of ways this album really feels like an accomplishment for punk music. Not a single song is 3 mins long which is crazy cause this album was made when radio was still important to making money. But like I said this album is so creative and silly that it’s just an absolute joy from start to finish. Despite having 43 incredibly short songs, non of them feel like skips, they all feel important and original (even the ones that are just instrumental interludes). Honestly this album might be like top 3 greatest punk albums of all time. If you like sarcastic and musically inspired punk bands like The Dead Milkmen, you will LOVE this album.

HUGE. The musicianship shines through and makes it possible for these lads to combine multiple genres into new and satisfying songs.

I usually hate large collections of songs, especially when they're shorter, but these guys are fantastic and in a lane of their own. They say a lot more than most do in punk with much less distortion and way better grooves.

Good punk tunes, and enjoyed the mixing with jazz. I will admit, I was a little bit tired of it by the end.

Har hørt den her plade et par gange før men det var først nu den rigtig klikkede. Det er jo den første 90er indie-plade, bare lige lavet 6 år før 90erne startede.

I absolutely loved it, what else can I say? Heavy-handed bass chops charm tf outta me, and the Minutemen’s magic is in dropping 43 unique songs (that do not blend one into the next!) all in under 3 minutes each. That alone feels like a reason to listen before you die.

Thoughts before listening: One of my favorites and an absolute classic. Its everything I love about the 80s Cali punk scene but with stronger musicianship than you would typically find with bands from this scene. Lots of short songs on this one with lots of different ideas and styles that are all done very well. Review: This is just such a unique sound combining the attitude of 80s punk with the musicianship of a great, but loose jazz group. Mike Watt is one of my favorite personalities from the punk world and his bass playing on this out of this world. This is truly unlike anything else out there and is one of my favorite albums ever. The one complaint I have is that with 43 songs it's sometimes a little hard to really know when one song ends and another begins. That being said, it's a 5-star album.

Double Nickels on the Dime is 45 songs across 79 minutes and its fucking sick all the way through. Genuinely astonishing record, the aggression and fast pace (mostly) of hardcore punk, infused with jazz, funk, country and sometimes just plain weirdness. Somehow managed to be extremely diverse in style whilst having a cohesive sound all the way through. The musicianship is brilliant, all three members are clearly fantastic players but Mike Watt in particular deserves praise, if you're a bass player you need to hear this album. I'd not listened to this album for a while and thought I was gonna give it a 4, but fuck it it's a 5. Just a fucking incredible album and fully deserving of its reputation.

This is punk rock gold

I saw the number of tracks and overall length of this album and was a bit weary that a punk album this long might start feeling stale, but after three solid punk songs, Cohesion really came out of left field! Then the drumming on the next track, It's Expected I'm Gone, is tight and jazzy! Somehow with the short track lengths and the mixing of genres and styles, it still feels totally cohesive and very fun. This is the kind of punk music I am here for! I absolutely loved this album and will be returning to it frequently.

San Pedro in the 1980s Very long time ago, almost 40 years Not bad

It rocks

Great punk album, a classic in my mind. Definitely get your money’s worth with this one.

Wow, blown away by this. Great sound, it’s like Wire meets Gang of Four in the 80s, which is alright by me. Can clearly see the influence provided for the later Grunge scene and the late 80s bands like Nirvana and Pixies here too. Amazing approach to an album too, just banging out track after track with nothing really clocking over 2 minutes. Good variety of sounds and vibes too which never gets boring and just makes this a great, great album. I was having a really bad day when I listened too, which usually clouds my judgement and skews me towards the negative, but regardless of that I think this is a solid 5/5 and could go on to become a much-adored album for me on more listens. Standout tracks (to many to name so here’s a few): Viet Nam Do You Want New Wave The Glory of Man June 16th Dr Wu

The first time I heard Double Nickels was in a CD store where it was playing. The music grabbed my attention, and as the songs fired at me I was really getting into it. So, naturally, I had to ask the guy at the counter what it was. And then I had to buy a copy. We've been good friends ever since. I've got several favorite songs (10 to be exact) and still genuinely enjoy the entire album experience. D. Boon's lyrics are smart and funny, with song titles reflecting that mix. It's too bad he died long before I found my way to The Minutemen, but I'm glad he recorded as much music as he could with Watt and Hurley while he was here. Very happy to have an excuse to listen to this again today.

one of the best albums of all time.

Short blasts of punk rock disjointed and fantastic Ditties for rebels

Más de 40 canciones en menos de 75 minutos. Solo es posible si vas al grano y las comprimes en dos minutos o menos. El año de Purple rain (también fue el del Let it be de los Replacements) estos californianos se sacaron de la chistera un doble magistral en respuesta al Zen Arcade de Hüsker Dü, otros que merecen aclamación. Suena igual o mejor que entonces y su legión de seguidores no creo que haya descendido. Viet Nam, God bows to math o The glory of man, por ejemplo, suenan a lo que sonarían años, décadas después Idles o Parquet Courts, lo que da respuesta a su influencia. No hacían punk descrarriado ni hard rock a lo bonzo, no, hacían temas muy buenos y letras con fondo. Lógico que entre sus seguidores se encuentren unos REM o Sonic Youth (colaboraciñon con Watt en Ciccone Youth), pero también otros menos evidentes como los B-52´s (One reporters por ejemplo suena como ellos) y obviamente los Chili Peppers. En realidad los 90 fueron suyos sin ni siquiera estar allí presentes (Corona también ayudó lo suyo) Sin productor, salvo para su participación en el coral Radio Tokyo Tapes, ellos tenían claro qué hacer y cómo sonar. En solo 3 sesiones (2horas en el estudio del Radio Tokyo Tapes) y una sola noche de mezcla. El bajo de Watt es un prodigio, no es que la batería de George o la guitarra de Boon no estén a la altura, pero que es lo de Mike se sale de lo normal. Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth por ejemplo. NO hay relleno pese a lo abultado del temario: Take 5, D es un ejemplo. De todas se saca algo. The roar of the masses could be farts seguro que fue escuchada por Green Day. Entre el lote hay versiones : Don't Look Now de la CCR o Doctor Wu de Steey Dan, lo que habla de su versatilidad y amplitud de miras en un género muchas veces lastrado por su estrechez: para muestra el fracaso de su posterior Ep Project: Mersh. Sí, sin duda.

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Short, unique songs. Excellent riffs and overall sense of fun. The guitar solos can be exceptional but also lean towards under produced, however that kind of leans to the beauty of it. The skits scattered throughout are a fun break to the otherwise punkish talking Heads type songs. I lean to a 5 because of how fresh and exciting this music it. While not a strong 5

I had expected them to be more hardcore. Brilliant band. Fantastic guitar tone. So many songs. So many ideas. So much variety. I had never heard this before other than the song used for Jackass. This is a masterpiece.

In my top ten. Absolutely brilliant in so many ways. Aged well. I will never get tired of Minutemen and this is their magnum opus.

Surprisingly complex tunes by a trio. Fast punk songs that get to the point, with elements of jazz and funk. Love it.

The Minutemen - the collective noun Len’s 8th wife used for Houmous & Chutney after THAT affair was revealed. The one that nearly split up the band! 4.5

Finally!! Something that has actually wow’d me in a way I would never expect. I’ve heard “Corona” before (Yes of course from MTV Jackass), but would not have been able to tell you who penned that song. The rest of the album is simply kick ass. The fusion of genres but keeping the punk sound is incredible. It’s a jazzy, funked up punk record. The bass really slaps, the drums are right, vocals on point. Really enjoyed this album!!

This is it. This is why I'm doing this. This album is so unbelievably good. I thought this several times as I was approaching 1 hour into this 75 minute album and then I got to There Ain't Shit on T.V. Tonight. Sometimes music just has the sauce, and The Minutemen absolutely have the sauce. I've been exposed to a lot of punk in almost 600 albums and I've like a ton of it, but these guys bring a different level of musicianship to a genre that is typically simple on the musical complexity. The bass is insane, the drums are precise and easy to hear, and the singer/ guitar is plenty sufficient when called upon, like in This Ain't No Picnic. And its unusually well produced for a group that notoriously skimped on recording costs so they could just go out and play. I'm going to need to listen again to pick a favorite, but this will easily make my top 10 of the 600 albums I've got through to date.

fire need to relisten

A stone cold classic.

Oh wow! This is one of my all-time favorite albums by one of my all-time favorite bands. You don't have to twist my arm to get me to listen to the Minutemen. This is their masterpiece. 5/5 Album 31/1001

An absolute classic for good reason, unique punk sound and always has something interesting going on, not to mention the theme song for Jackass is found here

5 out of 5. This is a band that knows how to jam.

Amateurish in the best possible way. Like seeing the best local band in town the night punk gave birth to grunge. Raw, weird, real - and that bass was tits.

Where have this music been all of my life?

Hahah I loved this. Felt weird and angry and nihilistic and fun. I did a double-take when I saw there were 43 tracks (!), but it didn't really drag for me. This right here is a gem.

Mr. Narrator, this is Bob Dylan to me.

Classic punk album with surprises!

I'd been meaning to give this a listen for some time, glad I finally did, it's a great album. Engaging, interesting, varied but still broadly cohesive - loved it!

Classic punk

Insane. Every track is brilliant and as a whole album the effect is amplified. Idk what these guys were having, but I'll take some

For a change this album was surprisingly good and one I had never heard before. It’s a treat to hear how it obviously influenced later bands. Read into the band’s history too and tragic loss of their guitarist hence why this band never really made it big.

Ralph Waldo Emerson & Woodie Guthrie wrapped in punk.

Unpretentious, unpredictable, and full of heart. “Our band could be your life”.

this may be the only exception to my 'no album should be more than an hour' belief. great stuff

Album - Double Nickels On The Dime Artist - Minutemen Release - 1984 Genre - Hardcore Punk/Post-Punk/Post-Hardcore Heard it before? - N I'm a huge fan of the Gang of Four, and yet somehow this album passed me by, like it was going 55 on I-10...But I'm glad I found it here, because it's a proper surprise of an album. The main core of the music is built around Gang of Four's funky punk politics, as mentioned before, but it differs by being much more stripped back and jam-like. There's solos, moments of silence, verses dropping out; I usually prefer structure, but it gripped me nonetheless. The non-punk stuff is also great. They're just as quick as the other songs and add a great element of variety while never feeling like pace breakers. That's an important aspect, especially considering this album's length, but it's another thing it gets right. Even at 1 hour and 15 minutes (I listened to the 43 track version,) I never felt it was dragging on. It earned the length. This is definitely going to become a "lazy sunday" kind of album for me. 9/10

Had forgotten just how good this band were. Great tunes

Good stuff. Took too long for me to come around.

4.5/5

Gorgeous. You’re welcome Fugazi.