Double Nickels On The Dime

This is what punk needs to be. Short, succinct, in your face, and political as all hell.

Fine for what it is and when it came out. 3.3

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.

This would be a 3.75 for me. I like parts of this album, but it's excessively long.

This is interesting I'm just not that interested. This heavily influences lots of other things I love, namely green day, early artic monkeys and anything else even remotely pop-punk. For as influential is it is; it's just all over the place.

This is really fun - it’s punk, but it’s also a bit proggy, and the musicianship is surprisingly good to the point it reminds me a bit of Primus (who suck). It can’t be a 5, because it’s too long, and too scattershot, but if this had been trimmed down it could easily have been up there.

On first listen, I wished this was a single album with fewer tracks and more developed songs. There are too many ideas at play here and it felt like one of those 40th anniversary reissues where the band throw on every segment of songs and outtakes from a studio session, rather than a cohesive whole. If I had more time with this, I might appreciate it more and be able to lock out individual songs. The ones that stood out were History Lesson Part 2, Storm in My House, Corona and Cohesion but many of the shorter, punk-funkier tracks just passed by in a blur. Made me think this would be the result if Gang of Four had been commissioned to write the incidental music for a proto version of Friends a decade early.

So much Bowie is on this list that sometimes it feels like it’s about quantity over quality. This album made no impact on me other than the strangely uninspired cover art.

This was actually such a fun and interesting album, I was expecting to be bored based on the length and being 40 songs, but they kept suprising me!

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.

It was fun to hear the Jackass theme song but this mostly sounded like the worst song on a Red Hot Chili Peppers album.

Not a bad album. Didn't really feel like most punk I've heard, but wasn't bad to listen to. Kind of long and some of the songs sounded the same. Could use a bit more variety. Some of the song titles made me chuckle though. 3.5/5

Catchy short burst songs. A solid 3.5 but not quite a 4.

mid to high 3, black midi if they were boring

Pre-listening thoughts: 43 songs is actually absurd. This almost doubles the Guided by Voices album which had 28 songs and the Frank Black album which had 22, and I complained about how many songs are on those. Like that is just nuts Post/during listening thoughts: like am I supposed to gain something from 1-2 min songs? It’s as if someone changed the radio station just as I was getting into every song. And yes, I am one million percent going to reference the episode of Zach Stone where he makes songs so short they could be ringtones. This is maybe the worst offender of albums that I’ve had to pull that reference with bc the songs are legit so short. Just in the time I’ve typed this portion of the review, four songs have gone by. And I’m not even writing that much. I do think the guitar and bass lines are really cool though on the whole. Very Bloc Party meets Talking Heads. But I don’t like the lead singers voice and I don’t like it when he just talks over a song. He doesn’t have a nice enough voice to pull that off. 4/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav snippets: Theater is the Life of You, the instrumentals Least fav snippets: It’s Expected I’m Gone, One Reporters Opinion, any spoken word, You Need the Glory

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.

Listened before?: No, never heard of them Very stripped down sound. About 1/3 of the way in and I've really liked the track "Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth" so far. Nice to hear explicitly anti-Nazi music right now.

It has 48(!) songs and is way longer than the other albums I've had until now (over an hour). Was not able to listen to the whole album, but was over halfway so I think I have a general grasp of the vibe. I liked some songs, and disliked others, leading to the halfway three stars.

Holy hell. One I have listened to and one where there are some songs I return to in a regular basis. “Angular” is listed as one of the moods present on “Double Nickels on the Dime,” and while that kind of makes sense, all I can think of is that guy who made that lousy sound about being rectangular. Brain death achieved. And at such a young age. The (117) Minutemen accompany this day of all days with a suspect track listing that can’t be fully matched to RYM. That doesn’t bother me all all *wink*. Anxious Mo-Fo - Serious as a heart attack. Slow start but only in terms of what I know is to come. Easing us in. Theatre is the Life of You - Umm ok? The bass rules. Such great musicianship here already. Viet Nam - The best. So funky, and whilst I could say “So Punky,” I’m not that insufferable. French Indo-China passes through my head once a day minimums Cohesion - What is happening? Genre whiplash. Still cool. It’s Expected I’m Gone - Cool. Smart, Punk, Funk. Excellent. #1 Hit Song - Man I used to love this joke, but how many bands have done it? Used to think it was Anal Cunt’s joke exclusively. It probably works best with them, but anyway. This was alright. Two Beads at the End - This is a fun song. Sounds like it could be in the seminal skateboarding classic “Disney Skate Adventure.” I don’t even mean that as an insult. Simpler times. Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth - THE TRUTH THE TRUTH. This album continues to be cool as all hell. Don’t Look Now - This bar recording of an amateur white guy blues performance is a lowlight, but in the ideological context of this album, it kind of fits. Shit from an Old Notebook - You know, you didn’t have to include EVERYTHING, but how was this sitting in a notebook. Psychological methods to sell SHOULD be destroyed. Ahead of their time. Nature Without Man - Yeah it probably would better off. Does nature exist despite man? Does it exist for man? Do we take advantage of its kindly nature? Does nature have a nature? Good song. One Reporters Opinion - In THIS reporters opinion, the weight reduction clinic should’ve anticipated this outcome upon formation of the archery team. More at 11. Maybe Partying Will Help - Balloons and Streamers and a fun hat? Yes. The other things that people categorize under the word “Partying” in order to infantilized their horrible life choices? That’ll probably exacerbate any issues, unless you have a problem with being sober/interesting. Toadies - They certainly put the E in explicit. You know. The “E” that shows up beside the song title in Spotify? Whatever man. This album is both rapid and good, so I have nothing to say. Retreat - I’ve never heard such an impassioned delivery of the lyric “The toilet” The Big Foist - Foisting off another rapid song. God Bows to Math - Do they? I refuse to gender your god. I haven’t heard their pronouns yet. Corona - Here comes Wee-Man. He has killed Johnny Knoxville and the clip of his beheading will play on television to stoned teenagers in 2004. After this break Steve-O will be drawn and quartered, brought to you by Trojan Condoms. For obvious reasons. The Glory of Man - So similar to Devo. This has a very 80’s sound. Fun, albeit a touch repetitive. Take 5, D - Considering the guy died, this takes a kind of sad tone. I mean it’s also written that way. I like this one. Sad, odd, subversive somehow. My Heart and the Real World - They can go from sounding right out of the 80’s to obvious influences on future bands like The Pixies. Excellent stuff. History Lesson Part II - Oh no. Not LA geography. You did what to corn dogs?? Gross. I’ll spare you the recap but use your imagination. It sounds like I’m hating this, but my word is this ever cool. You Need the Glory - So bizarre. African (?) rhythms mixed in esoteric string instruments underneath vocal scatting. I’m in love and I don’t know why. The Roar of the Masses Could be Farts - Another good song. Juvenile titles aside. You know me. A real enjoyed of highbrow art forms. West Germany - Do the kids today know that Germany was divided not too long ago. Well. Almost 40 years. Yikes. Pretty electrifying riff. The Politics of Time - Compicated and catchy. This song - and album for that matter - does an excellent job of being highly technical, yet super accessible. Themselves - Hey! This one is not for me. Kind of dull. Rare. Please Don’t Be Gentle With Me - My classic review on long albums. You ready? I hate writing it, I hate thinking it. This one… floated by. Ugh. Nothing Indeed - Ooh, this one sounds foreboding. Oh. Then it doesn’t. Oh it’s back. This review has been provided by a baby without the concept of object permanence. Don’t know how he got in here. Little scamp. No Exchange - The worst song on the album so far. There Ain’t Shit on TV Tonight - You live in the 80’s my guy. Wait a decade. Dems da glory years. For now, I get it. It’s melancholic Funk-Punk. This Ain’t No Picnic - This would start a nerd moshpit anywhere there are virgins. Thankfully, picnics are a no-go for the nations’ most socially inept. Intimate setting mixed with seasonal allergies. Avoid like the plague. Spillage - Decent song? I hate these low detail reviews, but what can I say. It’s fun to listen to and in much the same vein as the previous 29 songs. Untitled Song for Latin America - I don’t know how much this had to do with Latin America, but we continue to ride down the tracks of the same vein. Jesus and Tequila - Was this the title they came up with for the previous song? Damn. One track too late. This song is almost Primus to me. Primordial Primus. How about that??? Ehh. June 16th - At this point. Just do a song for every day. We have to be nearing 365. Storm in My House - I prefer the shouted punk strains over the warbling singing. Martin’s Story - Barely registered this one. Dr. Wu - What the hell is happening with these guys? We get a nice little power pop/country song with spoken word vocals in the midst of this madness The World According to Nouns - yeah uh more like the word world withb uhh PROnouns and woke and I’m desperately sad and alone and I remember South Park and when I was allowed to yell about minorities. Wow. One of my worst characters yet. Love Dance - This is my Love Dance and this is my Hate dance. Take the guitar out if the romance and put it into the riff of my dreams and who knows what will happen. I expect that’s a reference you get. Three Car Jam - That really was a jam. Clever fellas. My fingers are weary. My thumbs I guess. You know what really pissed me off growing up? When people would say “errrm your thumbs are NOT fingers.” Why do you people gotta segregate everything? Can a finger not look different? Ok so none of them are fingers. One is just middle, one is index. I hate everybody. See, as tired as I am, I had to finally get that off my chest. Also, I pretend that I have to stick to this format. I really don’t. I’m just rigid and obsessive. This album is too long. It’s really 4 EPs, meaning it’s probably a double album. Doesn’t mean that this thing isn’t sharp, snappy fun from start to finish. I’m not going to throw this in every day, but you can’t deny the punk-tinged brilliance that Double Nickels on the Dime churns out relentlessly for over an hour. The Wild Man of Viet Nam has been found. Turns out he’s been in San Pedro this whole time. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Viet Nam, It’s Expected I’m Gone, Two Beads at the End, Shit From an Old Notebook, My Heart and the Real World, Jesus and Tequila, Dr. Wu

I was really enjoying this album and bam jackass! Overall was a really good album just too long and like most double albums should be paired down to the best songs

Cool collection of short songs

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

This is weird af. While I like pink and I can see that there is some punk in here - it's just a long drawn out art rock type album. 2 stars

I never heard of this band before, and I enjoyed this album. As far as punk goes, it's fun but somewhat long as a double album of short songs. I will listen to this again and maybe break it up to give each side a better listen. First impressions, I give it a 3 with the songs on side "Chaff" as some of the more memorable.

One of the best punk albums I've heard in a long time. I can see why they had a cult following and why they influenced so many after them.

Interesting listen but I don't think I'll seek this out for another round.

not great

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

Jackass

Good album, enjoyed that.

This sure was an album, not an interesting one, but an album. I enjoyed the more jazzy influences in the record

3/10 - there were like 40 songs I didn’t really like any of them. They were all bad in different ways. Some of the songs were kind of just noise

Maybe could've been trimmed down a bit. 40+ songs is a little excessive. It was still a good album though, had a pretty wide range of genres and was varied enough to keep it interesting through all 40 songs

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!!

Music is ok but lots of political speak talking over music is annoying

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.

would listen to again, maybe while not megadepressed

fire need to relisten

Not bad. Usually not my usual kind of music, but I enjoyed some of the songs.

Very simple music. Not bad, but hard to enjoy because songs are over just when you start to get into them.

Good music but it's 43 2 minute songs essentially which will have very little lasting effect on me.

Massive, massive effort. It does mean that at times ir proves exhausting, but at least it has melodies, harmonies and an overall sense of music that separates it from other punk efforts that one might find in this list. Still, a condensed, shorter version would be better

Punk, Funk, even early Grunge. Poems. Punchy short songs. Their 3rd album. 45 tracks. Double album. Bass guitar heavy. Corona is a good track, as are #1 Hit Song, Two Beads At The End, Shit From An Old Notebook and A Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing. Some songs sound like The Sex Pistols, some like Joy Division. Some even sound like early RHCP or Strokes songs. Better than I thought it was going to be.

Cool

I’m not mad about this one. It was fun and groovy and despite being way too long for me to typically enjoy, it stayed fresh throughout. May not listen cover to cover again but won’t be upset if it’s on.

They really remind me of Big Boys. There's a lot of funk punk on here. This was cool. I liked it but I think it was a little long and I'm not sure I would listen to it all the way through again. I am interested in listening again, but maybe listening to each of the members' sides separately.

About dang time. Finally seeing some good old fashioned punk music.

How is this my first time listening to this album?! It was great; I really like this style of punk.

This album definitely wasn't what I expected after reading that Wikipedia classified it as "hardcore punk, post-punk, post-hardcore". It has some punk but it is also funky on some songs and very singer-songwriter on others. It's quite an interesting album, especially considering it came out in 1984. It sounds like something that would fit in on alternative airwaves today. The bass on "It's Expected When I'm Gone" is so funky. I'm digging the groove on this one.

A stone cold classic.

I always liked this band.

Actually kind of fun. Weird but I kind of liked it.

2 good songs, a dozen shit songs.

Great punk album. Interesting view into the genre in early 1980’s America. “Corona” is well known, but “Viet Nam” is also a standout. 4/5 Will listen again

Just many odd choices through out the album. Not for me

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

The drums. Wow

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

When the theme from Jackass came on it helped get my review into words. There's some good groove here; something like The Glory of Man is showing it off well. Man there's so many songs here and they don't all do almost anything. This joins the review of "this is perfect for what it's trying to be but what it's trying to be isn't the best". I feel like this is rebellion music for suburban kids who gave their parents speeches about how they didn't want to get a job and be a cog in the machine before asking or borrow the car.

Pretty solid sonically, good dynamic mix. Good musicianship, but the rhythm gets a little repetitive on the first 3 tracks. This acoustic instrumental track is a nice break I'm not sure what to do with this. There is a lot here and it admittedly even has the chaff included. A bit of a jam band here. There are some nice songs and it sounds good, but as an album it lacks cohesion.... oh there it is, track 4. Didn't notice.

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

I’m a big fan of punk music. However, I absolutely despise jazz and funk. This album was more jazz and funk than punk and I really hated it. Terrible vocals, annoying bass lines, awfully busy guitar. There is not a single mémorable song on this album

way longer than it needs to be but nothing outrageously bad or anything

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.

This was really good, but 45 tracks is just too much in one sitting. I'll give this another listen when I'm in the mood for mood for American punk. 3.5 stars.

Where have this music been all of my life?

Decent, nothing super super memorable but and enjoyable listen for sure.

Really short songs, punk vibe with a killer bass. Took a few songs to hit its stride, but love the groove it sat in for the majority of the album. Feels a little disjointed at times with sporadic live recordings of dubious quality and varying recording quality throughout.

Long...so long...

A bunch of short, mostly fast songs. A lot of ideas and energy, like Costello's first couple albums, but not quite as structured. Still real tasty hooks and like Sublime, an the entire collection is greater than the parts.

I liked quite a few parts, the sound, the playing, the vocals, but it didn't add up to the expected sum of its parts. Just didn't do it for me today. A long album, but the individual tracks went by too quickly; more sloganeering than songwriting.

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.

Out of 43 songs, the 4th song, Cohesion is a good listen. It's because there is no singing on it.

This is so SoCal punk. It’s got the trademark slapping base, that would define bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers. Overall, this is pretty good. The quieter bits and instrumentals are the most successful. The anti-fascist lyrics are sexy. We need more songs that call Nazis pieces of shit. The quality of the live track was delightfully accurate. While I don’t love it, there’s no denying the influence this had on garage bands and college radio, across the country.

much love & respect to 80s punk but somehow this was boring. not bad, just something my highschool chemistry teacher would listen to.

Love political punk but this was a bit of a slog

All the songs were too short for me to get invested

I recognized Corona, that was a great track!! I realized it’s cause it got well known as the theme song for the Jackass TV show. In general the album is ok but nothing crazy to me

It’s got CORONA, no honestly a lot of shorter songs, all pretty good mid rock beats I could dig this album, it feels really long though. 2.7

Me cansa muy rápido el punk. Tiene dos o tres buenas, pero siento que es más famoso por ser el de la canción de jackass. Y hora con 14 es demasiado punk.

This was a listen where the more you listen to the 43 tracks (that mostly range in a Minute long or just under 2) got better as it kept going. Not sure where I stand. It’s probably a 3.5/5 at the moment but could go to a 4

Mr. Narrator, this is Bob Dylan to me.

Classic punk album with surprises!

Saw the cover and title and I was anticipating more country - which (thankfully) it wasn't. Instead it was an album of well recorded funky rock, with tight musicianship, a live in the studio approach. It's very well produced, in particular it sounds great on earphones and all the players are excellent musicians. The main issue: the songs are too short - usually after a cool guitar solo - when I wanted the song to keep going. It's an unusual complaint I know but it's frustrating with players of this calibre.

This album was kinda fun. Lost its way towards the end

Not unlikeable but too many songs

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!

Upbeat post punk stuff, but with some quality guitar riffs. Quite good, for this sort of thing, but no track particularly stood out to me.

Far too many tracks, but I did like that they're all super short, make their point and get the heck outta there. Great fun!

It's only just dawned on me why they're called Minutemen.... that's embarrassing on my part. Really good basslines, I love to learn some of them, but it's too long and too samey for me to give it a higher rating than this.

A bit disorienting as it truly feels like 4 albums with all of the genre changes. Shout-out to "Corona" known widely as the jackass theme song. I liked some of the raw lyrics in the song "shit from an old notebook" but felt like a lot of this didn't hang together

Classic punk

Good old school punk album, quite enjoyable if you like that kind of music.

Too long but fun

I feel that I should like this album a lot more than I do. But it's too long and frankly, this period of American Punk just doesn't do it for me. Slint, Black Flag, Gang of Four, they all sound like something I should like, but I just don't that much.

Jackass. 4.

A classic. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

I really enjoyed this a ton. Reminded me of Modest Mouse a ton, but with more bite-sized songs. Loved the guitar work and all the varying instruments. I can lose interest in something quickly, so the fact that there was a new song every two minutes or less helped keep my interest. Parts of this were completely psychotic in the best way. I could see sticking this on repeat and just jamming all afternoon.

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

The more l listen to this, the more I enjoy it. Hard to believe I grew up thinking The Sex Pistols were the epitome of punk, while there were so many more authentic and interesting punk bands doing things like this just a few years later. It might be a victim of its own length; as much as I kept checking track names because I was enjoying them, I was also constantly surprised how much album was left to go. Can’t help thinking I’d have liked it even more if it was half as long. But there’s always a risk then that they’d have edited out the best tracks. So we’ll take it as it comes.

There's a lot of it and I mostly wasn't able to get into it.

43 songs is too many songs.

Never listened to these guys before. Enjoyed it, very angular with cool changes of rhythm.

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

Good, albeit a bit too long. Like a lot of punk albums the songs blend together at a certain point. However I felt the band did a decent job adding some variety throughout the album.

Miksi joka toinen biisi kuulostaa tutulta - onko niin perus kitaralla soitetut melodiat vai soiko nää paljon jossain? Ihan hassunhauska a-puoli, kun vekkuloidaan erilaisten äänitysten kanssa. Mut kuka antoi luvan jatkaa levyä yli tuntiin?! Tekee mieli antaa ykkönen.

Koin tämän, no, teoksen, sympaattisemmaksi kuin kuvittelin. Bändin maailmassa ei ole olemassa pituutta eikä lyhyyttä, ajallisessa mielessä siis, eikä oikeastaan biisejäkään. Riffejä ja muita motiiveja siellä kuitenkin on, enkä ole vakuuttunut siitä, että tälle levylle olisi keksitty parhaat mahdolliset. Toisin sanoen koen ajatuksen toisesta kuuntelukerrasta vaikeaksi. 2+

There was some good stuff here. The production is great, super crisp and clear. It lets you hear some surprisingly good instrumentation, bass and drums especially. The songs themselves are very short - there are 43 of them (apparently the vinyl has 45) - and don't really leave a lasting impact. After it was over, I just thought what was the point of all that?

Not for me x

Great experience. Musical punk, love it

Certainly a change of pace for this list. Short rapid fire tunes.

Minutemen injected funk, jazz, spoken word, and political poetry... one of punk’s most inventive and unpredictable records.

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.

Hadn’t heard of these guys before. Didn’t totally resonate with me, somewhere between a 2 and a 3

3.0 I listened to this a week before I wrote the review. All I remember is that I liked it and will check out more,

So influential. Some really solid highlights but not one I really seek out for cover to cover listening. 3.5/5

awfully long - funny enough i was thinking of this album name a few days ago, and then of course it showed up

If you are getting double nickels on the dime then you are breaking even... which is probably what this band is hoping for on this album. But unfortunately this album is boring and all the songs sound the same.

das dritte Studioalbum der US-amerikanischen Punkband Minutemen. Es wurde 1984 veröffentlicht und zählt zu den einflussreichsten Alben der 1980er-Jahre. Die Band, bestehend aus Mike Watt (Bass, Gesang), D. Boon (Gitarre, Gesang) und George Hurley (Schlagzeug), prägte mit ihrem mix aus Punk, Funk, Rock und Jazz viele spätere Musiker. Die Aufnahmen fanden in verschiedenen Studios statt, darunter das Radio Tokyo Studio in Los Angeles. Das Album besteht aus 45 kurzen Tracks, die sich durch die Mischung aus verschiedenen Musikstilen und einer Mischung aus politischen und persönlichen Texten auszeichnen. Zu den herausragenden Songs gehören „This Ain’t No Picnic“, „Corona“ und „The Glory of Man“. Besonders bemerkenswert ist die Vielseitigkeit der Band, die in den Songs sowohl aggressive Punk-Energie als auch experimentelle Klänge integriert. Double Nickels On The Dime ist geprägt von der DIY-Ethik des Punk und bietet zugleich eine breitere musikalische Palette. Der Einfluss des Albums auf die Entwicklung des Alternative Rocks und Post-Punks ist nicht zu unterschätzen. Im Fazit ist das Album ein bemerkenswertes Werk, das nicht nur die musikalischen Grenzen des Punkgenres sprengt, sondern auch als künstlerisches Statement in der Musikgeschichte bleibt. Die Minutemen schaffen es, in jeder Sekunde des Albums einen frischen Blick auf Punk zu werfen, ohne dabei die Prinzipien ihres Ursprungs zu verraten.

The big problems on this album occur when the lead singer tries to sing. I mean… no. When he talks or yells it goes on, but when he actually tries to sing on key? Painful. The instrumental musicians are good. This probably should have been two or three separate albums. Over an hour of this group was way more than I wanted to hear.

Enjoyed this far more than I expected, given both the length and the genre in tandem. These are lean, direct punk songs, but the musicianship isn't sloppy. The bass work particularly stands out. It's unapologetically and clearly political, but also funny and cheeky. It sounds like they had a good time making it. The Jackass theme blindsided me. I don't know, it's a good album. 74 minutes across 43 songs that don't feel bloated is a feat to me.

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

im not listening to 43 songs you got me fucked up d's car jam- 6 theater is the life of you- 6 viet nam- 7 cohesion- 6 its expected im gone- 6 or 7 #1 hit song- 6 two beads at the end- 7 do you want new wave or do you want the truth- 6 dont look now- 6 or 7 shit from an old notebook- 7 nature without men- 6 one reporters opinion- 6 political song for michael jackson to sing- 7 maybe partying will help- 6. the vibe i bring to the function toadies- 6 retreat- 6 the big foist- 7 god bows to math- corona- 8. hi, im johnny knoxville, today i will be doing the reverse bear trap. the glory of men- 6

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

Umm it’s the morning after and I don’t have anything memorable to say. I didn’t hate it but it felt very gargled and unorganized, but maybe that’s the point? I probably won’t listen again but maybe I should

Had to turn it off halfway through. Dude's voice is so irritating when he's doing that aggressive yelly-type singing

Never heard of the group before...listening was a pleasant, interesting ride...

Not my jam, way to punk for me.

I enjoyed the creative twist to punk - at first. But the album ended up feeling too long and I had to stop listening.

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

Heard of the band but haven't listened to their music (although according to lastfm I listened to one song from the album aaages ago). This album is so messy and not in a good way. As we say in Polish, every song "is from a different parish". It just sounds so... random and has way too many tracks. And it's not a type of punk I enjoy. The only surprising thing from this album is the Jackass intro song?? I had no idea it's their song 1/5

Yeah this also scratches a certain part of my brain. The lack of real flow idk it just feels like some friends just jamming to the blues and recording it as they go. Wasn't my favorite but didn't hate it

This album was a meandering pile of junk to me. The songs had no central theme, and much like one of the titles of their songs, it was “shit from an old notebook” and it felt that way. I wanted it to be over, I got whiplash going from song to song.

Kind of all over the place. Can never get a rhythm because there are 43 friggin songs on this thing and sounds experimental at best. Hardly enjoyable. Pick your best dozen songs or so, work on them, and make an album. Nobody needs to hear your bad bar recording on this thing. 4/10.

Fast, quick, dirty, punk. I always wanted to get around to listening to the Minute Men properly and while I won’t be going back to this long ass album I have saved half a dozen songs and recognized 2. Mostly for how they’ve been sampled. As mentioned, the Jackass theme song. Who know it had words. Also idk if y’all deep dive Sublime but “Waiting for my Ruca” samples History Lesson Part 2 off this album. Punk rock changed our lives.

now this is some punk. short blasts of ideas that basically give a middle finger to things that are messed up. its pure. its raw. its full of some really awesome segments and then the occasional musical interlude that reminds you that these guys have some real chops. pretty stellar album. I think the double album here drops it to a four for me, but overall i really dig it.

I like the general idea of having a bunch of very short songs on an album. But a lot of the songs just blended together, and the album was still too long.

Hi I’m Matthew McEntire and this is Jammin Buddies. This album really gave me vibes of just a bunch of dudes who knew how to play instruments pretty well but didn’t know how to actually write a full song so were just like fuck it, let’s write a bunch of riffs and see what happens. Despite the ungodly amount of songs and its length I found myself really liking this album. Like a Jackass stunt, some of them really work and some don’t but u find yourself kinda excited for what’s next.

I actually found this fun. The jackass song was nice to have in there, but the album as a whole had a rough charm to it. If it was half the length with the best songs I might be thinking 3 stars, but it was too long with too much stuff.

I appreciate the social commentary of the lyrics, and I’m sad that there are still some things we’re dealing with fourth years later. Also cool to see the Jackass theme pop up on this list, as I’m sure we’ll all mention. It was just really long and the short songs made it hard to find one to catch my attention and get into a groove. I’m wavering between a two and three, but I think I’ll go on the low end for this one.

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.

i loved it! been in a punk mood recently, this was great. i really like the structure of the album, which is full of 1 minute songs, over the span of an hour. i thought that was really cool.

Oh hey, it's the Jackass theme song!

Hell yeah, brother! Have always found this record a fun one to revisit, its length and structure so antithetical to punk it goes full circle and becomes punk in itself. It’s one for dipping into though, as listened in one sitting it’s quite long, but it’s the ultimate road trip album and I can’t knowingly rate anything with Mike Watt playing bass less than a 3.

I knew them only by the song Corona which was featured on jackass, I was surprised how good they really are,

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.

Jackass theme tune!

I didn't even notice when it switched to a different album...

I like these guys. Cool stuff for 84

Talking Heads do this better

I like albums with a lot of short songs like this. Idk what to say

Meh

Excellently crafted. Did not expect the Jackass song out of nowhere

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.

Had forgotten just how good this band were. Great tunes

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

4.5/5

Не нужно слушать 1 час 43 минуты для того чтобы понять, что это херня

I think it was pretty nice, got a rebel vibe from it, many of the songs sounded very similar.

Not for me. 1/5

I went thru fIREHOSE a month ago so this is the perfect time. After listening thru their discography today, this one is still pretty good but I think I like What Makes a Man Start Fires more. Mike Watt has definitely got to be one of my favorite bassists now. Rating: 4.4

I'm playing catch-up. I listened to this album yesterday and thought I rated it. I enjoyed it & will listen again.

I had no idea what to expect when I started listening to this, and I admit the start, along with the number of tracks and runtime had me concerned. I love this album. Perfect blending of styles. Punk/funk/folk, in short bursts that leave you wanting more before cutting to the next thought.

Gorgeous. You’re welcome Fugazi.

Ah yes, Corona! Don't touch me I'm pretty sure they were just messing around without realising they were being recorded. Bet they're embarrassed. They should be

few good songs but its mostly just noise

It's fine, but not my cuppa.

Double Nickels On The Dime by the Minutemen is a landmark album, not just in punk rock, but in music history. Here's a breakdown: Ambitious Scope: 44 songs in under 80 minutes! It's a whirlwind of punk rock, funk, jazz, and even country influences, defying easy categorization. Econo Rock Philosophy: The band embraced DIY ethics, evident in the album's lo-fi production and the sheer volume of material. They challenged the traditional rock album format, proving that artistic expression could be prolific and accessible. D. Boon's Genius: D. Boon's guitar work is incredibly inventive, blending intricate melodies with raw power. His songwriting, both musically and lyrically, is intelligent, witty, and often deeply moving. Mike Watt's Bass Prowess: Watt's bass playing is legendary. He's a driving force throughout the album, providing a funky, propulsive foundation for Boon's explorations. George Hurley's Rhythmic Versatility: Hurley's drumming is equally impressive, seamlessly shifting between punk rock fury and jazzy improvisation. Highlights: "This Ain't No Picnic" - A punk rock classic with a driving beat and unforgettable lyrics. "History Lesson (Part 2)" - A poignant and introspective track that reflects on the band's journey. "Viet Nam" - A blistering, high-energy punk anthem. "This Ain't The Summer of Love" - A more experimental track with a strong jazz influence. Overall: Double Nickels On The Dime is a challenging but rewarding listen. It's an album that demands repeated spins to fully appreciate its depth and complexity. It's a testament to the Minutemen's unique vision and their lasting impact on music.

This is an example of this project adding real value for me. I'd never heard of them before, but I completely get why this is here. Unaffected, punk spirit, combined with joy, grooves and social commentary. Completely authentic. I didn't love every track. I liked D's side the best, but was really moved by History Lesson Pt II. The 27 club is a bastard, isn't it?

Didn't like any song. I couldn't make it through the whole album too many songs. Only nice surprise was when I came across the Jackass theme and even then that was quickly ruined by the singing.

Too long, too many fillers

Pretty great example of punk rock. Just a billion 1-minute songs. It was a fun listen. Didn't seem like 80 minutes.

Pretty good punk rock! Enjoyed it, but didn’t blow me away! Nice surprise to hear the Jackass theme tune in there though!

It took me the longest time to get through this and while I remember liking certain parts of it, I have already forgotten them and am too fed up of it for a second listen.

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

Solid

Fine, but didn’t do anything for me.

I knew I was picky when it came to rock but damn. This one really lives up to the “ass vocals, good instrumentals” trope. I loved the snappy bass and drums, and the guitar is what you want in an alt rock band. It’s just the vocals are ASS. It’s odd bc I love free/experimental styles but this really scratched my brain wrong. Really think it was just the vocals, bc they were MUCH better in “Corona” but most others were a tough listen :^|

Coolt men för långt och för långa låtar även om dom är korta. Påminner lite om RHCP fast inte lika lame.

This is for the Jackass theme song

In a nutshell: great for what it is. The only complaint I have for DNOTD is that it's a double album. 43 songs is a lot, no matter the track length. I kept checking the playlist to see how much time is left. But that's just me. That criticism aside, these guys are skilled. You can tell by the recording they're having fun in the studio, and that rapport got me through to the end. Overall: 6/10

This was longer than 1 minute

No.

It was fine. Mostly reasonably decent but there was one song we didn't mesh with.

This is the 4th album I’m rating. I’ve heard the name of this album and Minutemen before but I have no idea what genre they are or anything about them. I think I can assume they are rock and good though but now it’s time to listen to the music. Anxious Mo-Fo - Not Adding to my Playlist. Please tell me the other 44 songs aren’t like this. I can’t do this. Theatre is the Life of You - Not Adding to my Playlist. I don’t like this singing. Viet Nam - Not Adding to my Playlist. The opening is good but it just repeats for the entire song. I really don’t like this singing. Side Mike is probably better. Cohesion - Not Adding to my Playlist. Honestly best song so far. It’s Expected I’m Gone - Not Adding to my Playlist. I don’t think I’ve listened to punk before. I hate punk now. #1 Hit Song - Not Adding to my Playlist. Shitty lyrics but I think that was on purpose. Still shit. Two Beads at the End - Not Adding to my Playlist. With a different singer these songs would be much better. Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want The Truth? - Not Adding to my Playlist. Mike I don’t know your full name but you have to do better than this. Don’t Look Now - Not Adding to my Playlist. I never listened to the original but it can’t be worse than this. Shit From an Old Notebook - Not Adding to my Playlist. There has to be a better singer they could hire. Nature Without Man - Not Adding to my Playlist. If this album was nothing but instrumentals it would be a lot better. One Reporter’s Opinion - Not Adding to my Playlist. Please, Mike please. Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing - Not Adding to my Playlist. I hate you Mike. Maybe Partying Will Help - Not Adding to my Playlist. I was hoping this album was like Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. It’s just shit the whole way through. Toadies - Not Adding to my Playlist. Get a ghostwriter. Please. Actually, stop singing. The songs would be fine as instrumentals. Retreat - Not Adding to my Playlist. This is a song. The Big Foist - Not Adding to my Playlist. This is very disappointing. Maybe I’m too big of a normie to appreciate this masterpiece. God Bows to Math - Not Adding to my Playlist. Who sings these songs? And why were they picked as the singer? Corona - Not Adding to my Playlist. Is this album better drunk? Do I need to be an alcoholic to appreciate the album? The Glory of Man - Not Adding to my Playlist. I hope they don’t butcher Dr. Wu because that’s a song I really like. Take 5, D - Not Adding to my Playlist. This is by far the worst album I’ve ever listened to. I hope 69 Love Songs is better than this. My Heart and the Real World - Not Adding to my Playlist. When is the next instrumental? History Lesson - Part II - Not Adding to my Playlist. Punk rock is ruining my life. George you have to do better than Mike. You Need the Glory - Not Adding to my Playlist. Imagine buying this album in 1984 and realizing you wasted your money. The Roar of the Masses Could Be Farts - Not Adding to my Playlist. Now that I think about it I listened to Basket Case and liked it. Mr Robot’s Holy Orders - Not Adding to my Playlist. I got excited then I heard words. Now I’m depressed. West Germany - Not Adding to my Playlist. When the only punk song I had listened to was Basket Case I liked punk. Now I hate it. I really hate it. The Politics of Time - Not Adding to my Playlist. Underflow error. Greatest album of all time. Themselves - Not Adding to my Playlist. I don’t even know what to say anymore. Please Don’t Be Gentle With Me - Not Adding to my Playlist. It’s very short and has little lyrics. One of the best songs on the album. Nothing Indeed - Not Adding to my Playlist. This album is way too long for and not nearly good enough. No Exchange - Not Adding to my Playlist. Going into this I was worried I would listen to every album and have no 1-star albums. I’m not worried anymore. There Ain’t Shit on T.V. Tonight - Not Adding to my Playlist. How did people buy albums without listening to them first when shit like this exists. This Ain’t No Picnic - Not Adding to my Playlist. I can’t believe people paid to listen to this. Spillage - Not Adding to my Playlist. Chaff, you have a fun name, please have better music. Untitled Song for Latin America - Not Adding to my Playlist. Do you think I’ll ever date a hot punk girl and then I’ll have to pretend to like this album? Jesus and Tequila - Not Adding to my Playlist. I would have to really like that girl to pretend to like this album. June 16th - Not Adding to my Playlist. I don’t think I’m a good enough actor to pretend to like this album. This is so boring but it’s the second best song. Storm in My House - Not Adding to my Playlist. Chaff, you have terrible music taste. What are these songs? Martin’s Story - Not Adding to my Playlist. I’m tired of this shit. Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love - Not Adding to my Playlist. No way people like this. Dr. Wu - Not Adding to my Playlist. They butchered the song. What the fuck? Little Man with a Gun in His Hand - Not Adding to my Playlist. Wow, this sucks. The World According to Nouns - Not Adding to my Playlist. This has to be a joke being played on me. Love Dance - Not Adding to my Playlist. Ending the album the right way. No vocals. A perfect end to a terrible album. All in all I liked 0/45 of the songs. 80 minutes, 45 tracks, loved by hundreds, complete shit. I listened to this for 80 minutes and I don’t like any of the 45 songs. 45 songs. Forty. Five. Songs.

When I first saw the song number I let out a big sigh and what the fuck. To my surprise this was extremely enjoyable. Each song is fairly short with a few outliers which makes the album fly by. It also helps that most of the songs are bangers supported by absolute mental musicians. Its like if you combined Black Flag and Dinosaur Jr. which absolutely works. I’d say this might be the most easily accessible punk rock album as its not too heavy and leans into other genres throughout. Jackass theme song! It’s also funny that I only know one song by Minutemen and it’s not even on here. 10/10

Überlang. Kein Song stach hervor, aber die Titel waren kreativ.

heard of them, but never heard them before - this album is too long, but ok American punk

lots of very og punk songs. a ton of < w2 minute ones. never an album I’d really put on but mad respect for the output

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.

## In-Depth Review of *Double Nickels on the Dime* by Minutemen *Double Nickels on the Dime*, released in July 1984, is a landmark double album by the American punk trio Minutemen, consisting of D. Boon, Mike Watt, and George Hurley. This album stands as a testament to the band's innovative spirit and their ability to blend various musical styles while addressing complex themes through their lyrics. This review will delve into the album's lyrical content, musical composition, production techniques, overarching themes, and its lasting influence on music. ### **Lyrics** The lyrical content of *Double Nickels on the Dime* is a rich tapestry that reflects a range of influences and themes. The album features 45 tracks that incorporate elements of personal introspection, socio-political commentary, and anti-establishment rhetoric. - **Political Commentary**: Songs like "This Ain't No Picnic" address issues such as racism and class struggle, showcasing Boon's ability to combine humor with serious topics. The lyrics often reflect a working-class ethos and critique societal norms. - **Personal Reflection**: Watt’s contributions often lean towards abstract and philosophical musings, as seen in tracks like "The Glory of Man" and "My Heart and the Real World". His lyrics draw inspiration from literary works, particularly James Joyce's *Ulysses*, employing stream-of-consciousness techniques that invite listeners to ponder deeper meanings. - **Inside Jokes**: The album is peppered with inside jokes and references that may elude casual listeners. For example, the title itself refers to trucker slang for driving at 55 mph (double nickels) on Interstate 10 (the dime), serving as a playful jab at Sammy Hagar's hit "I Can't Drive 55". Watt later remarked that many listeners missed the humor in their lyrical references, which added to the album's unique character. ### **Music** Musically, *Double Nickels on the Dime* is groundbreaking for its eclectic mix of genres. The band defied conventional punk rock boundaries by incorporating elements from jazz, funk, country, and spoken word. - **Genre Blending**: The album showcases a fluidity in its sound that is rare for its time. Tracks like "Cohesion" exhibit flamenco influences while "Corona" incorporates mariachi sounds. This genre-blending approach was not merely stylistic; it reflected the band members' diverse musical backgrounds and interests. - **Song Structure**: The Minutemen moved away from traditional verse-chorus structures prevalent in punk music. Instead, they adopted a more freeform style that allows for improvisation and spontaneity. This is evident in tracks like "Shit From an Old Notebook", which captures raw energy and creativity. - **Instrumentation**: The interplay between Boon’s guitar work, Watt’s bass lines, and Hurley’s drumming creates a dynamic soundscape that is both intricate and accessible. Their musicianship is characterized by tight rhythms and sharp melodic lines that complement the lyrical content. ### **Production** Produced by Ethan James at Radio Tokyo Studios in California, the production of *Double Nickels on the Dime* reflects a DIY ethos typical of the punk scene but elevated through creative ambition. - **Minimalist Approach**: The production emphasizes clarity over polish, allowing the raw energy of the performances to shine through. This approach captures the immediacy of their sound while maintaining an authentic feel. - **Recording Process**: The band recorded the album in two sessions over several months. Their method involved quick takes to preserve spontaneity, resulting in an album that feels vibrant and unrestrained. ### **Themes** Thematically, *Double Nickels on the Dime* explores a variety of subjects that resonate with listeners on multiple levels. - **Working-Class Experience**: The lyrics often reflect a deep connection to working-class life in America. Through their narratives, Minutemen articulate frustrations with societal expectations and economic struggles. - **Community and Collaboration**: The album embodies a sense of community within the punk scene. Collaborations with contemporaries such as Henry Rollins (from Black Flag) highlight this collective spirit. It serves as both a product of its environment and an homage to fellow artists. - **Cultural Commentary**: The Minutemen tackle cultural issues ranging from consumerism to personal identity. Songs like "History Lesson – Part II" provide poignant reflections on historical figures while critiquing mainstream narratives. ### **Influence** The impact of *Double Nickels on the Dime* extends far beyond its initial release. It has become a seminal work within punk rock and alternative music circles. - **Inspiration for Future Artists**: Many musicians cite this album as a pivotal influence in their artistic development. Its commitment to experimentation over commercial success has inspired countless bands to explore new sounds and approaches. - **Legacy of DIY Ethos**: The Minutemen's dedication to authenticity and their rejection of mainstream conventions resonate with contemporary DIY artists who seek to create meaningful music outside commercial constraints. - **Cultural Relevance**: As socio-political issues continue to evolve, many themes present in *Double Nickels on the Dime* remain relevant today, making it an enduring piece of art that speaks to new generations. ### **Pros and Cons** #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: The blending of genres creates a unique auditory experience that challenges traditional punk norms. - **Lyrical Depth**: Richly layered lyrics offer profound insights into personal and societal issues. - **Cohesive Yet Diverse**: Despite its eclectic nature, the album maintains cohesion through thematic unity. - **Cultural Significance**: It stands as an important milestone in punk history, influencing countless artists across genres. #### Cons - **Accessibility Issues**: The use of inside jokes may alienate some listeners who do not grasp all references. - **Lengthy Format**: At over 80 minutes with 45 tracks, some may find it overwhelming or difficult to digest in one sitting. - **Experimental Nature**: Those accustomed to conventional song structures may find some tracks challenging or less engaging. ### Conclusion In summary, *Double Nickels on the Dime* by Minutemen is not just an album; it is a cultural artifact that encapsulates the spirit of innovation within punk rock while addressing complex themes through its lyrics. Its blend of genres, lyrical depth, and commitment to authenticity have solidified its status as one of the most significant albums in rock history. While it may present challenges for some listeners due to its length and experimental nature, its influence continues to resonate within contemporary music scenes today.

This album aside from being a classic is just an all around incredible album. Everything about these unique musicians and humans and seminal band being at their best. A truly monumental record.

Double Nickels on the Dime is a towering achievement in the punk and post-punk scenes. This 45-track double album (or "just" 43 digitally) captures Minutemen’s eclectic sound and sharp, poetic lyrics, released during a golden era for American underground music on SST Records. Its blend of punk, funk, jazz, and classic rock influences sets it apart from their hardcore punk peers. The clean guitar tones, intricate basslines, and conversational vocals of D. Boon and Mike Watt feel urgent yet accessible, with lyrics that balance political critique, surreal humour, and personal reflections rooted in their working-class Southern Californian background. Tracks such as “Corona” (now infamous as the Jackass theme) highlight Minutemen’s ability to blend infectious riffs with biting social commentary, while “History Lesson – Part II” serves as a reflective anthem on punk’s DIY ethos: “Our band could be your life.” Songs like “This Ain’t No Picnic” directly address labour struggles, while “Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing” showcases their satirical edge and willingness to tackle big issues with humour and brevity. On a personal note, while I was familiar with the Jackass theme and had heard the name Minutemen mentioned before, I never made the connection until listening to this album. Hearing it now, it’s clear I’ve encountered a lot of this material in dodgy underground bars and dingy basement parties. That raw, unpolished sound feels instantly nostalgic, evoking a time when bands like this defined a scene rather than followed one. I hear the album's influence in the sound of Sonic Youth, Fugazi, and even The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Minutemen’s recording ethos—crafting albums to support touring rather than the other way around—shines through the intentionally raw production. Many tracks clock in under two minutes, with the band favouring a focused, one-take approach. While this DIY aesthetic may alienate some, it enhances the album’s charm and authenticity for me. The brevity of each track works to the album’s advantage: great songs leave you wanting more, and less engaging ones pass quickly, making the album a cohesive, immersive experience. In today’s age of playlists, its sprawling length can be easily trimmed into a personal highlight reel—though the full experience is well worth the ride. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? It continues to inspire and challenge listeners decades after its release. Would this release make my personal list? The more I listen the more I enjoy it. And while I don't love ALL the tracks I love the ride. Will I be listening to it again? See above.

i did not expect to hate this so much

I didn't like much of this, but the feel of "Do You Want New Wave..." (without the vocal) is great. Actually, remove the vocal from this album, and you've got something much better. "Corona" could keep the vocals, though (and the White Stripes must have heard this one!). I did warm to this as it went on, so I'm upgrading to 3 stars.

RIP D Boon, we'll keep the lights on and the music loud for you.

Ugh. It reminds me of Black Flag's annoying jazzy aspirations

Never heard of this album or band. Awesome mix of punk and other genres.

Bleh.

Not gonna lie, towards the end especially that got to be a pretty grueling listen. As is becoming a common theme for me in earlier punk albums, the guitar work is really the sole saving grace. Especially on this album, the vocals, the length, and the lyrics are all pretty stark negatives. The length is only an issue because it never feels like the album goes anywhere, like the first couple of songs are almost indistinguishable from the last few. That's fine for a shorter album (is this it by the strokes, one of my all time favorite albums, comes to mind) but for an album of this length I need at least a little forward progression. The lyrics feel like they're often trying way too hard to imitate bob dylan with the whole stream of consciousness thing, and admittedly sometimes it does work, but those moments are few and far between. With that being said, it's not all bad: the guitar licks present in nearly every song are usually pretty enjoyable and don't usually get old. Overall, an album that I'll surely never think about again, unless I need a short song to learn on guitar when I'm bored. Best: Two beads on the end Worst: you need the glory Liked songs: 44%, 19/43 Mid 2

Man, I forgot how good this album is. The thing about most of your so-called punk is how little like the Ramones it sounds.

Kinda torn with this one. Liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I was imagining something similar to Black Flag but it’s a lot more enjoyable and complex. It does overstay its welcome though. I really want to give it a 3.5

Классный альбом

Me gustó mucho. Parece un compilado de 'joyas'. Todos temas de menos de 2' y una mezcla entre RHCP y los Roling; hechos por una banda de punk que se reinventa para este disco.

Umm... Merry Christmas everyone! This definitely isn't the kind of album I was expecting to listen to on Christmas, but you know what? I welcome it. This album's great. I'll start with my big complaint. This thing is loooooong. Over 80 minutes split across 45 songs. That's a lot. But hey, at least the contents here are good! This is some good stuff right here. It's got a hardcore punk style that really appeals to me. It kind of reminds me of Dead Kennedys, which is, of course, a good thing. The singing is fun. I've really started to become more accustomed to punk vocals over the course of this project. Good for me! The instrumental sound is also very enjoyable. The basslines are cool. The general tone is fast-paced, with the longest song only being about 3 minutes. Most songs on this album are under 2 minutes, allowing this album to have over 40 songs. Fortunately, there's a solid variety in the songs, which is nice. Some songs are a bit slower like "History Lesson Part 2" while others are frantic like "Viet Nam" and it all works. Overall, while this isn't my favorite punk album, I still really like this album and I'm happy that I listened to it, even if I may not listen to the whole album again. High 4/5.

The very definition of "death by a thousand (two-minute or less) cuts". While I didn't find anything of particular value on this MULTI-album, I did pick up vibes here and there of other bands I do like... ones that have a more structured approach to actual song writing. So, in that regard, I'll give it a 2 for having the right ingredients set out on the counter... just wish they had bothered to bake the damn cake.

The songs were too short. They felt like they were building up to something, but failed to reach their climax. Leaving me with blue balls on several occasions. And, yet the album in its entirety was way too long. It outstayed its welcome. I wanted a pump and dump, not a long term commitment.

Jackass Forever

Not my cup of tea

The jazzy inflections give a rather curious and intriguing twist to the conventional parameters of dumb punk. Nevertheless, this album goes on for way too long!

This was okay. I found the jackass theme which was pretty cool though.

Just the best. Fuck yeah.

I thought this record was fine, but was assuming given my personal tastes, and what I knew of this record, that I'd like it a lot more.

Is that the Jackass theme?!

Such a fresh album, like the concept a lot, almost 5 stars

I really don't get the connection to the hardcore scene on this album. The music is a lot more complex and varied than what I usually expect from that cookie cutter genre (my personal opinion). There's loads going on across the 43 tracks, including lots of influence from jazz, punk, and folk music. The album title is a rebellion against rebellion, declaring that outrage against national speed limits from the likes of Sammy Hagar were pointless. Drive 55 but make better music, they declared. And indeed they did. It's eclectic, bizarre and cool, but too niche to have ever gained mainstream popularity. The extreme length only really becomes a problem when we get the final side, called the Chaff side, which were seemingly leftovers to fill the record. Before that, this is a great record filled with gems that work together very well as a whole.

好长的专辑。。。corona一开始还以为是星际牛仔

43 songs may not even be the biggest problem with this album. The biggest problem with this album is that none of the songs add anything to the history of rock, so they are forgettable and insignificant. I'll give it 1 star for the production, which is the only thing that saves this huge disaster.

I mean, punk rock really DID change my life. I friggen LOVE the D Boon / Mike Watt sound. The problem is too much can be a bad thing, and Double Nickels 80 minute runtime leads to some major listening fatigue.

2/5 I'm docking points from this for being too long

ok but looooooong

Mostly some weird ass shit with a few moments of decent sounding music. 1.5 stars.

So good. Examined individually, there’s just a handful of five star songs on here, but there’s something about this album as a whole that makes everything work and feel great. Although I might be biased due to reading about this band in the enjoyable book Our Band Could Be Your Life. PS, I do not object if someone wants to blast Corona on their phone while my ashes are scattered.

A stone classic. Normally I’d say it’s too long, but this is just too good. Each song doesn’t overstay its welcome, and each is pretty great.

It was indeed long. It was indeed fantastic. Several five star songs.

This was possibly the wildest album I’ve listened too. It felt so random, but I couldn’t stop listening. 40+ songs and only about an hour and 15 minutes long. Really cool find.

Man, what a monumental piece of work. The Minutemen are truly one of the most original and creative punk bands I have heard. Despite their wildly experimental approach and real mix of various musical styles, this album has remained surprisingly catchy. It is exceptionally well put together,

1/5

4/5. They have a lot of stuff to say but also nothing at all. No song is long enough to materialize to more than idea but somehow it works. They are very direct in their lyrics, sometimes saying something political, other times just kind of vibing. Many of the songs sound similar so it can be hard to determine the difference between them but that is definitely the purpose. It is punk after all, it should make you slightly upset as it breaks the norm. Solid riffs with mellow vocals, sometimes yelling, in a simple (sometimes complex) guitar, bass, drums combo. Can't get more American than that. Best Song: The Glory of Man, Corona, This Ain't No Picnic, Viet Nam

Original

No thanks

Not really for me.

This is album is very long but unlike other long albums I've had to truge thru this one feels more brisk with its short songs and just general vibe that each side is just a collection of car jams the guys made, and it is quite possibly better enjoyed as a driving companion rather than something you pick up and put down. It's probably an album that is better absorbed in places where long periods of driving or just *doing something* that takes your hands elsewhere, and I think that makes it nice. The songs themselves are mosyly good though obviously with such length its not a consistent album, I think the best songs were mostly on side C of the album, more propulsive punk stuff there than in the other sides I think the more I write about it the more I like it in hindsight

#405. A strange assortment of fun little songs. Supposedly this is punk. I'm not so sure, but at least it's not The Clash, I guess. 3/5: pretty cool. Song added to playlist: Corona I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

Pretty good, but is a little on the longer side.

Phenomenal. This is the type of punk that I really enjoy. It's like punk meets funk.

Enjoyed this. Punk with a lot of avant-garde, very raw but fabulous musicianship. Cool vibes surfer escque definitely see the Cali influence. Bit too long for a punk record in my view.

This album took me back to when I first discovered bands like the Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Butthole Surfers, SOD, Fearless Iranians From Hell and many more. The sound was completely foreign to me. I always imagined what they looked like and what kind of rat infested dump they recorded the album in(so dumb, I know). This really took me back.

silly. didn’t expect the steely dan cover

Pretty decent

Love it

I've never heard of the Minutemen before. I like punk though. And this is punk, funk, jazz, country, avante-guarde, spoken word.. etc. It surprised me. I enjoyed it. The guitar and bass really grabbed me. Being a huge fan of The Red Hot Chili Peppers this took me back to their early days in some parts. The album did drag abit after a while though. I don't think making a double album out of it was necessary. I will be adding this to my collection though.

I think 10-12 good songs would have been better than 40 meh songs, some of which are incredibly short. Probably wouldn't seek this one out again. Hearing the Jackass into on Corona was pretty funny though.

Pretty good experimental punk record. Apt band name based on track lengths

I don't really get this, but it's not bad. Not something I'll listen to again, though. I enjoyed some of the instrumentals.

Punk will never be my preferred genre of music, but this is more enjoyable than I thought it would be. A large part of that is having a (very) large number of short tracks, with quite a bit of variation in sound. That said it does get a bit samey - I think I would have been happier if there had been 30 tracks rather than 43.

A breath of fresh air in the punk universe. I liked it.

Okay but it really could have done with 10 good songs instead of having 40 mid songs

Not sure what to think about this one. At times, I really liked it. Others, it was just noise.

2,5

Punk rock? It was pretty enjoyable

Good fun. Kind or punk plus 90s rock.

Feels very messy, it has 43 songs but all pretty much under 2 minutes to make up 1hour 14, kind of chaotic in a good way but also just stupid in some places, the songs themselves are good sometimes but sometimes random with just grunts and stuff, guitar work is solid not really my thing overall but it is pretty good, 5/10

One confesses to not liking this quite as much as one feels one should, not least because one saw their final show (Dec '85, Charlotte, opening for REM in quite modest venue – old municipal gym, if memory serves). One loves the gritty riffing and hot, speed-dating aspect of the songs. The singing, often more like talking, leaves a bit to be desired. It's likeably gritty and clever and the politics are a-okay, but not all the jokes land anymore and 45 cuts is obviously too many. The covers are fun but the VH one is barely recognizable.

Very little waste. Impressive

Too long, couldn’t listen to the whole double album as punk isn’t really my thing but I didn’t hate it altogether

Indie Rock, 1984 -> 3

Good album.

not bad but they all sound the same.

Meh

Didn't hate this. Punk/Funk and somewhat reminiscent of Primus.

Solid rock album. Sound like talking heads sometimes.

Puh das Album macht Spaß zum Anhören! und wird mit all dem genre bouncing auch nicht fad und der BASS ist insanee, musste direkt googeln wer da so abgeht. Richtig richtig gutes Zeug

A bit too long, but I really enjoyed it. Some good stuff on here.

Liked this a lot more than expected once I got into it. Reminded me of Sublime so cool to see those connections.

Feels like a guy talking at random volumes and varying energy levels over an okay instrumental, for 43 straight songs Actual lyric : "TWINKLE TWINKLE...blah blah blah" They were just blasted as hell in the studio and saying whatever random garbage came to mind FOR FORTY THREE SONGS. 1.5 rounded up, not unlistenable just super meh

All over the place but fun.

I've listened to this album once before, when I was on a long drive. My Main memories were that it was a bit tiresome to listen to, also halfway through HAHA JACKASS SONG This time, I did find it's still a bit exhausting, due to it's length and because it's a bit too discordant in places for too much of the run time, although there were some interesting parts.

No memorable tracks. Heavy on the bass. Sounds like a poor man’s primus and I don’t really like primus. Decent album I suppose. Will never listen to it again though.

Didn’t hate this, but also didn’t think I’d ever get to the end of it.

Short little songs fun

Easily one of the best punk albums of all time by one of the most important and influential punk bands of all time. Minutemen were arguably the first band to fuse hardcore with punk and it changed everything. You can hear the influence of Minutemen in so many later bands that broke and made it big: Fugazi, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and especially Sublime. The loss of D. Boon permanently altered the sound of punk and in my mind is one of the most significant untimely losses in rock music history.

This album was an exercise in endurance for me. I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more if I heard most of the songs with the vocals removed. Indeed, it is only some decent musicianship that keeps me from giving a single star. Instead, it just about deserves two, in my view.

Endless warm up jam

If gogol bordello was punk

Like come on, this is just a jazzy funky punk masterpiece. The Chili Peppers owe their career to these dudes

4.5

God this got boring quick. I don’t mind longer albums but when they feel longer than they already are, that’s when I start to have a problem

Quick rock with a lot of energy and surprisingly groovy pieces

The Seinfeld Theme’s angry phase.

A band called Minutemen should not be allowed to release an hour-long album

Really is something I shouldn’t like, and I don’t. However, I was more intrigued by this than most of these albums, so I’m going to a 7. (And yes I know by now that my ratings seem like they are off a whim, which they are)

How to turn one hour into three. Some good songs but lost amongst the chaos.

I was surprsed by how dynamic this was, seeing as it is a 40-track album of a genre that I'm not fond of at all. Pretty interesting and engaging through its entire runtime. Key tracks: Corona

Unique in that it's 43 songs in 75 minutes and some of them I liked. But the style isn't really my jam. Enjoyed it for the uniqueness but probably won't be back to it.

Noe bra noe shit

Start off quite eclectic. Then it just too long. I think the Red Hot Chili Peppers owe these guys a debt.

Strange pop.

noniin minuuutti kaks pitusia biisejä. mutta ohhoh kun ei olekanäan täysin sama punk rock biisi niin voi jopa nauttia... formaattia käytetty oikein.. ja huumorintajuakin löytyy pojilla heh... heh... hehe.. sori hehehhahahahahaaha HAHAHAHAHAHAH sori sori... heh... mutta se että biisejä on kokonaiset 43 kappaletta ei loppujenlopuksi voi paljoa muuta tehdä kuin harmia.. kyllähän tähänkin tympeytyy kun sitä limiittiä kohti lähestytään. yleensäei hyvä asia että minuutin pituinen biisi ja kolmenkymmenen sekunnin jälkeen ruvetaan loppua odottelemaan. ps joo jackass biisi tässä.. viet nam

There’s a belief I have with movies that I also have with albums. I don’t care how long or short it is, as long as it is enjoyable in relation to how long it is. A long boring movie is just as bad as a long boring album. That logic goes double for two types of albums: live albums and double albums. These albums tend to clock in at nearly 90 minutes in most cases (or god forbid more) and seem to never have enough material to justify listening to them. I will probably lose interest around halfway in and the rest of the album will be a slog. Now however, here’s a unique case. It’s a punk double album, meaning most of the album is filled with short songs. In addition, Minutemen bring a nice variety to the tracks, experimenting with multiple styles which should help to keep the album fresh through its nearly hour and a half runtime. I kind of like this concept, since it could make this double album actually listenable. And to be fair, most of it is. This was a refreshing change of pace for a punk album, trading the hard rock elements for more acoustic vibes while keeping the anti-establishment edge through its tracks. It seemed to work in retaining my interest… for some of the album. Look, there is good shit on this album, don’t get me wrong. This is perhaps one of the better double albums out there. But it still has that old familiar problem: I got bored halfway. The vibe went from “This is pretty good” to “Dear God, there’s still more”. That sucks because I appreciate this effort. It’s the closest a double album has gotten without losing my interest. I get why people would like this album. It’s just too long for me to consider great. Favorite track: Corona Other hits: History Part II, honestly most of the songs are too short to really single out.

I didn't realise cutting every song in half could make an album feel three times as long... what a load of nothing! Favourite track: The World According to Nouns.

Vaihtelevan mielenkiintoista musaa ja 43 biisiä 74min levyyn on omanlainen suoritus sekin. Parin kuuntelukerran perusteella perkaisin vähän tiheämmällä kammalla tämän uusiksi ja levyn taso nousisi, tai niin ainakin kuvittelen.

Hauska idea ja viihdyttävä. Kuitenkin turhan pitkäksi tehty tämä albumi ja olisin itse joko jättänyt joitain kehnompia biisejä pois tai jakanut kahdeksi levyksi.

This album is a great blend of punk, post-punk, indie, funk, and other styles all mixed together. It’s not one of those fast-paced punk albums, but it captures the DIY punk ethos, helped by its raw production. An interesting background story about the album is how it’s connected to Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55.” Back in the 70s, when there was a gas crisis, the U.S. set a national speed limit of 55 mph to conserve fuel. Hagar rebelled against that law with his song, saying he couldn’t stand driving that slow. The title of this album, Double Nickels on the Dime, references driving 55 mph (nickels being 5 cents each) on Interstate 10 (I-10) in California. Minutemen flipped the concept of rebellion, embracing the idea of driving 55 mph in contrast to Hagar’s message. The album cover features Mike Watt driving, further playing on the theme and jabbing at Sammy Hagar.

This is Bob Dylan to me. We listened to a lot of the Minutemen as young skate punks even though they'd already disbanded long ago with the passing of d boon. You could catch Watt and Hurley in fIREHOSE for a hint of the magic that the minutemen were live — kind of projecting yourself backward in time mapping that imagery onto this album and others. It was before Youtube after all. The whole album is a hearty stew fit for skaters, indie kids, punks, surfers and truckers alike. Anyone with ears and a heart, really. Double Nickels on the Dime is an easy 5. It's right there in the title if you think about it. Fifty-five, five out of five.

So long, not for me

Honestly I felt quite iffy about Double Nickels On the Dime at first, with its jazzy influences with odd time signatures. Very art punk rock. However, it did grow on me. All of the things I was iffy about are because they are things that feel hard to do well, without just annoying the listener through bad musicianship trying to do something you can't. Minutemen seem pretty capable of making their own unique style work, and I found the album going by faster than I expected it to.

Overall liked it but didn't make it all the way thru as it got a little monotonous. Don't know how I missed these guys back in the day. Guess I was more mainstream than I'd like to admit. Added a couple of songs to my favorites. Solid musicianship.