Reviews (page 2 of 9)
I’m just not in the market for rotting vegetables…I mean punk these days. It’s seminal, it’s energetic, I’m sure it’s something that would reward closer attention. I just don’t want to listen to it.
Ok
Crikey, this lot don't waste time, do they? 15 songs, 35 minutes, done, thank you very much, goodnight. For a quickfire thrash it is enjoyable though, but just when you're getting into a song, they're cueing up the next one.
One of the most interesting punk albums I’ve heard Favorite track: Holiday in Cambodia
There are how many Britslop bands on this list and you could only include one Dead Kennedys album? Where is Plastic Surgery Disasters? Their actual best album??? Anyway this album rules, Jello Biafra uses a naughty slur on the hit single though which definitely didn't age well. Surf rock for freaks and punks. 9/10.
That was pretty good.
Not for me, Jello sounds like Tiny Tim without the helium, but goddamn if politically I don’t respect what he’s doing.
1059 - "Here's your juice box and orange slice. Thanks for coming."
crazy and true. some of the best punk on this list
A true classic, probably my favorite American punk album.
Enjoyed
I liked it.
для любителей панка. слушать сложно.
I don't think there's a hardcore band out there whose lyrics still ring true as much as the Dead Kennedys'; they are THE defining bold statement, anti-establishment band. While I've always preferred 'Plastic Surgery Disasters', this album still kicks so much ass and is still just so sharp, blood-pumping, hilarious, absurd, and on-the-nose. Jello Biafra is such a great vocalist; his drunken vibrato is one of this album's many defining sounds. It just sounds like the guy is taking the absolute piss out of whatever he's talking about. It's striking especially when he's singing about killing "The Poor" or "Children" on those particular songs; it's obvious to anyone that he's being satirical, but his delivery is quite literally the opposite of sensitive towards these very sensitive topics (I mean, the ending of 'Chemical Warfare' is distasteful and super cartoony for no reason - I kinda love it). The guy doesn't sugarcoat or hide his feelings behind abstractions; it's one thing I'll give him. 'Holiday In Cambodia' being maybe his most furious presentation of that, you can feel this guy's anger at privileged middle-upper-class children radiating through your speakers. And he also has no right to be able to write such incredible melodies that are genuinely this catchy, with hooks you REALLY don't want stuck in your head, like with 'Let's Lynch The Landlord' or 'California Uber Alles'. I hate to say this, because it's a statement associated with the absolute worst artists I know, but Biafra really didn't care if he offended his listeners, and he was doing it well before it was "cool" (or uncool). In typical hardcore fashion, the playing here is super fast and raw, but it's definitely more dynamic and dare-I-say melodic, especially when compared to its contemporaries like Minor Threat. The basslines here really pop; they're super melodic and very groovy too, like the intro to 'California Uber Alles' goes disgustingly hard. And there's a screeching, haunting feel to the guitar riffs here, the extended noise-filled intro to 'Holiday in Cambodia' being the best example. The recording isn't the cleanest, but the talent of all the players isn't so obviously hidden behind heavy effects or anything; their musicianship is (rightfully) put on full display at nearly all times. Landmark punk music that's just oddly accessible. That's not to say it's trying to appeal to the masses or anything; the lyrics certainly weed out a whole lot of potential listeners. But the playing here is surprisingly non-amateurish for punk; the hooks are oddly sing-alongable, and you'll get an out-of-place surf-inspired solo here and there. All that said, this is certainly one of the greatest places to start in the very vast and daunting genre of Punk Music.
I have heard this one and I own it. Or at least I used to own it, because it’s missing from my collection and has been for a while, so it might have gotten lost in a move or mixed into a roommate’s collection or “borrowed” by a roommate and never returned. So it’s been a long time since I listened to this. Jello’s voice can get to be grating after a while but the album isn’t long enough for that to set in. Dead Kennedys is a great band to listen to if you’ve been on a binge of hardcore punk because there’s a lot of humor involved even if they’re talking about serious stuff, so it doesn’t feel like you’re being yelled at all the time. Also they never fell into the rigid structure that a lot of other bands did and it’s fully apparent on this album, they came right out the gate with a surf rock influence and some psychedelic elements, and the rhythms and melodies are varied, and they kept on with this development through their whole career. I think I like the single version of California Uber Alles better than the one on this album but the version of Holiday in Cambodia on this album is better than the single version. Great album nonetheless.
Solid punk album. American, Ramones influenced punk. Runs the risk of several tracks being almost too similar to distinguish, but overall I liked the album. Probably a 3,5 for me - bumping to 4
One of the finest punk albums ever made
Never been a huge fan of punk but this is good stuff,
Love the DKs, great album. 3 stars. Tom.
it’s not for me and that’s alright
Has agreed badly and voice still grates on me.
Hardcore punk perfection in a tight 30 minute package. Lyrics have only gotten more relevant with time (unfortunately). So fuck yeah let's go lynch the landlord!
Mostly noise.
not for me, at all.
Bien.
Punk rock. I just like The Stooges and The Sex Pistols a lot more.
hell yeah. this has to be one of the clearest distillations of what punk rock can be. fast-paced, pushes lyrical boundaries, catchy hooks/shout along vocals, and a strong presence of class consciousness and giving it to the ruling class. that run from "Kill the Poor" thru "Stealing People's Mail" is unreal (with the exception of "Your Emotions" which is just kinda there to my ears). the ambiance and guitar part in "Holiday in Cambodia" justifies the relatively longer run time -- too good to let it pass. most of these songs don't need more than 2 minutes to hit the mark. superb.
dead kennedys ain't no spot up shooter he aint gotta run to the corner to shoot like hes some 3rd option bitch this aint minor threat this is a fuckin god human johnny rotten come again only this time hes not a fuckin pussy pull up from the fuckin logo and fight you at the same time
Although my favourite DK album is Frankenchrist, I like everything they made. This album, and the others, had a huge influence on teenage me in the 1980s and unequivocally helped shape who I am today. Punk music with a message was relevant then and sadly remains relevant now.
Dead Kennedys seamed refreshing. They might be too talented to be punk but they’re awesome.
Fuck Yeah
This is definitely not my genre, but man, this was a tough listen. I guess the most positive thing I can say is that some of the basslines were catchy and some of the tunes moderately hummable, but really I just didn't like this at all. It wasn't as bad as like Captain Beefheart, but it wasn't something I'd ever listen to more than one track voluntarily. One star.
ong
Punk Rock!
This was pretty cool, very short and punchy songs, and love the punk attitude. Not familiar with Dead Kennedys but I might listen to some more
They make a good noise, but as they passed me by at the time, I don’t feel obliged to catch up now. And shock is a bit of a one trick pony
Buen nombre, divertido, interesante musicalmente para ser punk (amo el punk pero es repetitivo muchas veces). Me gustó la verdad.
Ok
Funny, angry, catchy as hell, and the perfect length - it's like they worked out the exact moment at which any more of Jello Biafra's voice would start to get annoying, and stopped there.
The best punk album of all time (in my wildly uninformed opinion). Need more politically violent music like this right now. Best Song: Holiday in Cambodia Rating: 10/10 Stars: 5
This is just controlled chaos, sometimes just chaos
I've come to the conclusion that I do not like punk rock at all. The only redeemable song on this is the random viva las vegas cover. Although I'd take elvis' version any day of the week.
I probably listened to this album at least weekly between 92-94, probably haven’t listened to it this century. So….. it’s not aged badly, things like fury don’t age poorly. Musically it’s wiry and almost at the point of splintering. Vocally, Jello Biafra sounds like an MC at the end of the world and the nihilistic lyrics fit that perfectly. Will I be listening to this weekly again, well- no but I’m glad I listened again
Where have all the real punks gone?
classic...Kill The Poor and Holiday in Cambodia are probably my favorite two punk songs of all time. Landloard, California Uber Alles, Chemical Warfare...just banger after banger
Unfortunate juxtaposition to MSP, these guys do angry political punk as well as anyone (and it sounds better). I first heard Dead Kennedys when “police truck” was on the first Tony Hawk game, it’s still my favourite song from all those awesome games and I listened to the extended version of this album just to make sure it was included. It’s not something I’m going to listen to often but impressed at how cutting and often funny the lyrics are and Jello’s unique delivery can be grating but is mostly effective to my ear. The Viva Las Vegas cover is a banger too.
4.5 Classic
I thought about giving this four stars, but we're going to go with three. I like the concept of punk, especially leftist punk, but it's not something I actually like to listen to ofen. The album was about a half hour though, which is a good length for a punk album. But I don't think I can actually give this more than three based on my listening experience, especially given the use of the n-word at least once.
Not my thing, did not enjoy
Thanks to Tony Hawk Pro Skater videogame for introducing me to this band way back when.
Punk has never been my favourite genre. That being said, there is enough good songwriting here to keep me at least a little engaged with the album. Not bad.
This may be one of the most influential punk rock albums ever made, but I just can't really get into it. The guitar work is actually pretty fun, and there are some interesting things happening musically, but Jello Biafra's vocals are probably what keep me from connecting with it. I can appreciate the influence and understand why this album is held in such high regard. It's just not for me.
Punk Rock was garbage, and it’s aged about as well as you’d expect. Assholes who think they have something to say so they do it in the most repulsive manner imaginable so as to draw attention to themselves because clearly they weren’t going to get any attention based on talent. To look back at how they tried to play the victim after crowds which they fostered turned violent is as pathetic as they were. Punk Rock has a place in music history - right on the ash heap next to Disco.
Really want to like this but don't feel like it moved the needle when compared to earlier punk groups. And it's just hard to get past some of the song titles and lyrics.
Pretty manic tempo, felt like they crammed an hour of music into 30 minutes just by going double time.
An absolute classic, can’t believe it’s their debut! “Kill the poor”, “California uber alles” and “holiday in Cambodia” all slay. Snarling and sneering and politically rampant it’s what punk should be.
Pas fini
not my thing but i respect it. i think?
I get the appeal, just not for me, I would love for these texts to be revisited in other styles
Enjoyed it. Took me back to when I first moved out of home
A very good album that i hope to listen to many more times before I die.
If you know any DK songs, they’re probably on this record. 4.5
Punk rock is a truly amazing genre. It was born in the mid-70s, but by the end of the decade, it had both died and been reborn. It seems like just four years ago, the Ramones were making silly chants like "Hey! Ho! Let's go!", but at the beginning of the new decade, artists are slowly starting to recite incredibly caustic, satirical verses to similar melodies. Dead Kennedys are one such band. The entire album consists of very fast, energetic, and at times even funny music and very angry lyrics, of which "When Ya Get Drafted" at least feels like it was written yesterday. Everything was recorded and mixed very poorly, but no matter how you look at it, it's punk rock the way it should be! Well, if the sound quality still prevents you from fully appreciating these songs, then the main hits from here were re-recorded for the compilation "Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death".
The debut album from a punk band that was foundational for so many bands that followed.
A classic punk album. I always consider post-punk to be when punk artists care about things like sound quality and instrumentation. Those are not the concerns of the Dead Kennedys. It’s shock, it’s high intensity, it’s got a raw sound and energy. There’s some great songs in here, and some meh one’s. It’s a fun listen overall.
Pretty fun album. Punk rock that doesn't take itself too seriously. It's like an unpolished version of Billy Idol.
The best punk music combines dark humor, generalize misanthropy and anti-establishment politics. By that metric this is an excellent album.
Punk classic.
I went on a holiday to Cambodia(pol pott)
absolute shit. aged terribly
My most listened to album in highschool and it still hits. Unmatched sort of energy.
*51 Meget mid oplevelse.
Det her er totalt fedt om end det også bliver ret kaotisk. Jeg får lyst til at hoppe
Det er SÅ sick Og tilmed endnu en Guitar Hero III banger 3.9
Elsker punk. Men jeg får ret kraftige vibes af B52 'rock lobster', hvilket trækker en del ned. Måske er det bare sangstilen eller hans stemme, men jeg er ikke fan. Heller ikke af den surf-inspirerede guitar. Men energien og det politiske aspekt trækker på den anden side op.
Kill the Poor, Let's Lynch the Landlord, California Uber Alles, and Holiday in Cambodia are straight up political punk rock anthems, and there's not a bad song on this album. 5
Timeless messages and songs
so fun and genuinely funny. there are few bands that can spin this level of juvenile absurdity into something so cool and sincere. aside from a few problematic (to say the least) lines that I believe even jello biafra would like to have back this is a perfect punk album to me. drug me, stealing people's mail, let's lynch the landlord, california uber alles, it's just bangers all the way down folks.
Exactly what I was expecting and good straight ahead punk.
Sadly, "Kill the Poor" may be as relevant now as ever. Great song though. It doesn't seem to be on streaming so I'm listening to a YouTube playlist - that might affect the quality. The songs I'm familiar with sound about the same as they always have, so I don't think the videos affected the quality. Great songs here though. Great guitar and bass. Jello Biafra is unique, but I dig his performance here. "California Uber Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia" are all-timers for me.
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables a very fitting title because this is quite a load and punk gets lots of spunk. But when it comes to the darkest of shit this will take care of it for you.
We used to play California Uber Alles as kids, though we only had vague ideas what it was about. Like RATM it's pretty on the nose, but that's what makes it great. Lot of fun here musically and politically. Landlord's have it coming!
Teenage me pretended to like the Dead Kennedys because their logo looked cool drawn on my notebook cover and I had a judgy older brother with impossibly high musical standards whom I liked to piss off. Adult me actually gets it. It’s fast, funny, surprisingly clever, and California Über Alles had me laughing out loud. The screaming keeps it from all-time favorite status, but this was fun as hell, no pretending.
Punk Original Generation! Yellow Biafra och hans kumpaner gör Never Mind the Bollocks ... bättre än orginalet. Rösten är kanske punkens bästa röst i konkurrens med Joe Strummer. Hollywood in Cambodia är både en punkdänga och en smart poplåt. Stark fyra.
I dig the music, but really not a fan of the lead singer's voice. It makes it difficult to listen to this despite the music itself being solid.
How have I slept on Dead Kennedies for so long? This was great. Fun and pointed.
I really liked the DKs but it didn't hold up quite as well as I thought. High school vibes, definitely a fun one.
These guys can argle bargle with punk’s finest.
At times, they sound like they are ridiculing music, as well as satirizing particular topics. 80’s additional verse to a fine “Viva Las Vegas” is fitting.
Not usually one for old school punk It lacks a musical edge for me and feels too clean ironically. But Dead Kennedy’s offer something different. As well as social commentary the music has a pace that makes it more of an exciting listen than other punk bands of the 80s. It’s rough around the edges and quite a fun Elvis cover. It still doesn’t hit with me as a great album but definitely sits above their peers as a better product.
Intense, angry, fast, political, and a bit shit. Just how punk should be.
If this album doesn’t make you feel alive, what will? “Kill the Poor,” “Holiday in Cambodia,” and even the cover of “Viva Las Vegas” are thrilling.
Wild and enjoyable. Fun listen
Reminded me in many ways of the early arctic monkeys albums. Short tracks with fast guitars and fast vocals. But if you don’t grow up with the nostalgia of it - I find those tracks hard to get into on their own.
En oo ikinä oikein tykännyt Jello Biafran laulusta ja sen tökähtävästä soundista, mutta kyllähän tämä menee kun ei siihen keskity. Klassikko biisejä monia.
Nonstop energy for 30 minutes. This is what a “raw” album should sound like, otherwise you end up with good potential being recorded in what sounds like a dumpster *cough* Exile on Main Street *cough*. This is straight moshpit anger music, compared to muffled, blues/country influenced noise.
Holiday in Cambodia was on many a mix CDs I made as a teenager. This is an all time classic and maybe in my top 100 albums.
Glorious.
Classic and fantastic
Stellar. Rebellious, hard on the ears, and easy on the heart. 10/5
The sentiment I'm here for, the yelling and banging not so much. I do respect it though, rock on boys, fuck the police
Man they really were the American punk blueprint huh. California Über Alles did also get Jerry Brown’s ass which I fully support
Not my cuppa
I like the politics but not the singing
If you like hard rock/punk you will like it. If not, you won't.
fast and loud, not in the good way I don't like it.
Not really being a lyrics-first listener might be a factor here but I just found this samey and one-dimensional. The way he sings is wildly irritating, and it may not be the band's fault as much as the producer and/or compressed streaming format but this sounds like it was recorded inside a small tin can. Even if I wanted to unpack the lyrics, I can barely understand them. Mercifully brief.
Political punk. Not my bag musically but glad I've heard it.
My favorite punk album.
East Bay Ray one of the best guitarists of all time
Gustó 3.3
Kairotic, which makes it a little difficult to judge so many years later. Still a powerful work.
this is not enjoyable.
Yup!!
Bought it when I first came out. Weird and fun
Sometimes it's nice to just have loudmouths shout about how bad everything is over catchy, quick songs.
How does one even judge a punk album like this? It is ferocious.
Oh yeah.
Nope
Just annoying. Brit slop
Sorry Jello
I bloody love this record, and actually let out a little yelp of joy when it cropped up on the list. It blows most of the albums I've sat through in recent times out of the water. Dead Kennedys' blistering urgency and sardonic fury is at full-throttle here - there isn't a wasted second. Thought provoking as so much of this record, and indeed all of DK's output is, it's the sheer energy that puts me in a total spin. This is a staggeringly great record that will never age. Quite apart from anything else, 'Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables' is one of the best titles for anything, ever.
What a devastatingly good album. It's catchy, it's intelligent, it's funny and raw. Not to mention listening now how terrifyingly prescient many of the lyrics are. I remember taping a copy of this album for a friend who said that it actually gave them nightmares. You'd be forgiven for thinking that any album that has California Uber Alles and Holiday in Cambodia is going to struggle to be a decent whole album to live up to those masterpieces in punk, but it starts with the hook laden visceral attack of Kill the Poor and contains the terrifyingly catchy and disturbing Chemical Warfare - another masterpiece, danceable too (trust me). The acrimony of more recent years tarnishes the history of the Dead Kennedys but this album is still a magnum opus.
Hardcore was never before or since done with such intelligence, ferocity, individuality and wit. This album blew my tiny teenage mind back in the day and still has the power to, because it fuckin rips. Top 5 punk masterpieces of all time.
fjas
Dead Kennedys oli aikoinaan hyvinkin kova juttu mutta aika on näköjään ajanut ohi; ei tässä oikein ole muuta kuin iskevä nimi ja provosoiva meininki. Ei tätä musiikillisesti oikein hyväksi punkiksikaan voi sanoa. 2/5
Actual music and a guy that "can" sing? Nice. This was really good. Despite the angry sounding titles, these guys are as tongue-in-cheek as you can get. I remember the irony of how anti-establishment all the goths in high school thought this band was. Cue my eye roll.
purely on the sound it's a bit too noisy maybe next time i'll have to relisten
Fuck yes
No private session used for Spotify. I have listened to several Dead Kennedy songs, but haven't sat down to listen to an album before. Jello's voice is a challenge, but I was surprised how much I like this album. There is enough going musically to distract me from it. Also, there is definitely a political statement going on here which is present in UK punk but often missing from American punk.
A lot of these are still in heavy rotation at my house
(5/5) A hardcore punk album that is still so pressingly relevant today. I knew the hits, I've heard a few of the other albums, but this was new to me. It stood steady on a high '4' for the entire record until I got to the end. The 'cover' of "Viva Los Vegas" absolutely killed me and pushed it over the edge. Jello was light-years ahead of most of his contemporaries and not enough people listened to him. More people **TODAY** should listen. The messages are still meaningful.
Not being the biggest fan of the Punk genre, I'd heard of but was not very familiar with Dead Kennedys. Out of the gate it had that jarring sound one would expect, and the production did it no favors, but as the album progressed I found (or rather, had friends point out) shades of System of a Down and Rage Against the Machine that I hadn't expected, particularly in the track Drug Me, which could have been on any SoaD album with very minor tweaks. All-in-all, I found it a bit more enjoyable than the typical punk album, and it rounds up to a 4/5 that I may explore further.
139. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables - Dead Kennedys (1980) 7.11.26 Variety: 3 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 4 Uniqueness: 5 Emotionality: 4 = 4.2 rounded down to 4 "It's time to taste what you most fear/ Right Guard will not help you here/ Brace yourself, my dear" INTRO There's not a lot of American hardcore punk music that I care for. A lot of this has to do with the sheer unmusicality of it. There are only so many 1:23-long, indecipherably shouted songs with poorly played, but huge drums that drown out all the other instruments that one can hear before they all begin to run together. The best of these guys were all secretly way better musicians than they would ever cop to though, and I count Dead Kennedys among the top tier of these. East Bay Ray is central to this, with his highly influential blend of rockabilly, surf, garage elements. Klaus Flouride with his FAT bass is underrated as a great support player along with Ted who is doing some more technically tricky stuff than the production of this album might let on. And Biafra, despite his VERY unique theatrical delivery does exactly what is needed for each song. In other words, these guys actually have hummable songs that are memorable and distinct as well as being hard hitting, and politically on target as their peers. And that's what's going to earn them their points. THE TRACKS Side A "Kill the Poor" - Right away we're knee deep in a darkly sarcastic, funny territory with the 0-60 assault of a guitar that sounds more than a little Sex Pistols-ish, and a voice that sounds like the B-52's Fred Schneider got a really bad case of laryngitis. The vocal delivery is more mock enthusiastic than angry, which make the truth of the lyrics go down that much harder. It's bit much of a leap to see the inherent logic in a bomb that's designed to minimize property destruction while maximizing human casualties, and in possibly one of the worst ways to die. and then make that logic as explicit as possible. I imagine this would have been quite shocking to anyone actually paying attention to the lyrics. And as caustic and aggressive as it sounds on the surface level, there's a real song, and it's real catchy. "Forward to Death" - I little bit more on the literal side, we get some "fuck it all" energy, all wrapped up in a tight 1:23 little package. Has a death wish ever been this danceable? "When Ya Get Drafted" - Another small, powerful delivery. This time just literally describing exactly how the war machine has, and always will function. A meatgrinder that feeds the poor in one side, while multi-billion dollar defense contracts come out the other side. They could have released this as a single once every 10 years or since 1980 and not a lyric would have need to be updated. My favorite part - the instrumental breakdown and the awesome ringing 50's sci-fi guitar. "Let's Lynch the Landlord" - More lyrics that haven't gone out of style in the least, this time with a focus on slumlords. The sound this time around witches to a more garage rock sound, with some bright, poppy surf touches around the midsection, with more than a little "Pretty Vacant" DNA thrown in. "Drug Me" - A satirical look at the casual "good" drug culture that mainstream America has taken part in, willfully oblivious to how hypocritical it is to also be at war with all the "bad" drugs. I don't think these guys were straight edge like some of their peers, so I don't think it's any kind of total condemnation of the substances themselves. One thing that struck me though is how much of a template this provides for the sound that System of a Down would make take to 6x multi-platinum levels. "Your Emotions" - Another breathless, machine gun approach, this time aimed at the unoriginal zombies who coast through life just repeating what they've been told, never thinking for themselves. Low hanging fruit to be sure, and maybe a little too broad and slight to be as effective as some of the other stuff we've heard. "Chemical Warfare" - Who else could make homegrown terrorism against the country club elite sound so fun? It's all very tongue in cheek though, with a dip into some straight up circus music and the horror movie soundtrack of screams and chaos providing the punchline. Side B "California Über Alles" - The sinister fat bass, and the martial beat push and push and push and are barely contained by the guitar, exploding into the mock fascist anthem that Biafra nails down hard with his delivery. After things slow back down, they wind up with such electricity that by the time the 3:03 run time expires, it feels like you've somehow travelled forward a few minutes. Surely this was a minute and a half, right? The tightest, most pointed attack on the album I think, and one that I can easily imagine Biafra having performed much more recently with some California governor names swapped out. "I Kill Children" - Maybe the only legit edgelord song on the album that doesn't seem to be couched in the general leftist politics of the rest of the album, but instead seems to be aiming for the sort of transgressive for the sake of it kind of thing better suited to the Misfits. If there was a more satirical point of view, this could maybe have amounted to more than the black joke it is. On top of all that though, it's not very memorable in any sort of musical way. "Stealing People's Mail" - This tale of mail theft and general delinquency works a bit better, having a much catchier sound, and more of a sense of dumb fun. The stuttering guitar in the pre-chorus and the stop start structure makes this one a pretty fun, if throwaway track. "Funland at the Beach" - We a much heavier hard rock riff here that buoys up a better take on the pitch black humor from two tracks ago, still without even a tenuous link to any sort of real social or political commentary. That's fine I guess, but the first half had me primed to expect more of the same I guess. "Ill in the Head" - I guess this one's an exploration of mental illness? If I'm honest, this last few songs have sapped a bit of energy from the whole thing, and this one in particular lacks much to differentiate it. "Holiday in Cambodia" - The centerpiece, and the song by which the album ( if not the band, despite plenty of other fine work) made it's reputation in the larger rock landscape. An unforgettable core melody that is supported by some of the spookiest, fucking rad surf guitar this side of Bauhaus. Biafra's most iconic performance, as well. This song is a guided missile pointed at the Haves and their insulated lifestyle, and transcends most everything else on the album by a very large factor. This one belongs in the top tier of songs from the latter half of the last Century, and beats a lot of those half to death with its laser focus and pure "fuck you and yours" attitude. "Viva Las Vegas" - Which doesn't mean this wasn't also a ton of fun. Brash and bold and better than the original in my opinion, which is just a bloated lounge song in rockabilly drag. If the Las Vegas tourism commission had any balls, they'd try and license this for their ads. HIGHLIGHTS - "Kill the Poor" - "Forward to Death" - "When Ya Get Drafted" - "Let's Lynch the Landlord" - "Drug Me" - "California Über Alles" - "Holiday in Cambodia" - "Viva Las Vegas" MIDLIGHTS - "Your Emotions" - "Stealing People's Mail" - "Funland at the Beach" LOWLIGHTS - "I Kill Children" - "Ill in the Head" FINAL THOUGHTS The seething, sometimes sarcastic, always withering anger on display here was so damn energizing. Pitch black and thick with the sourness and political discontent that comes with the ability to see just how crooked things were, and always had been - the lyrical content alone on this album deserves a special call out. This came out at just about the time the fascists started shedding their camouflage and making the implied messaging more explicit, and these guys did not miss a beat in calling them on their bullshit. That wasn't anything too special on it's own, as there were countless canary's in the coal mine who had even been warning us way before. But they did it with so much style and fucking goddamn energy and bite that they were able to puncture the message into the mainstream, however briefly. A lot of American hardcore of the time had similar messaging, but who the hell could understand any of it, and besides the bands were mostly content bouncing around in the mini echo chamber of the scene, and become local heroes. Biafra and company were more ambitus than that, as made clear by Biafra's run for mayor, and future political involvement. Theses guys had the desire AND the will AND the talent to reach out and at least try to meat the mainstream halfway. But enough about their messaging... The playing on here was so much fun. The surf influence alone earns them a lot of goodwill from me, but they don't limit themselves in their influences, and would even say that while not a "cowpunk" bands per se, they had to have influenced some of those with tracks like "Viva Loas Vegas" or their "Rawhide" cover. There's just a LOT going on here, and it can easily get overlooked by those who might have a bit of an allergic reaction when it comes to punk in general. But in my opinion the band has a lot more in common with the Ramones and their stew of bubblegum and 60s pop influences, love of speed ( maybe both metaphorical and literal in Dee Dee's case?), and melody. Dead Kennedy's took this formula and just went even faster, and darker in content, and even upped the black humor. A punk rock classic and a solid token pick I guess from the American punk scene ( though i do see Bad Brains, Black Flag and Minutemen are on there, so they're hitting the highlights - sadly no Misfits though), and an album that feels just as fresh as the day it came out. My biggest criticism is that there's a bit too much mediocre bloat around the midsection for it to live up to the promise of the best material, and as much as I hate doing so, I'll have to put in out back in the shed with all the other almost-made-it borderline 4-point-somethings. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Nah FURTHER LISTENING - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols by the Sex Pistols - Rocket to Russia by the Ramones - Milo Goes to College by Descendents - Damaged by Black Flag - Walk Among Us by the Misfits - Bad Brains by Bad Brains - Double Nickels on the Dime by Minutemen
When I listen to the Dead Kennedys I always end up thinking that other punk acts are tame by comparison. There may be another band that has stronger statements in their music but I can’t name off the top of my head, especially when a guy named Jello is yelling about any and every thing. Their band name is provocative, the sound pounding, their pace propulsive. These guys were right before my time so I can only imagine what it would’ve been like to attend a Dead Kennedys show live. Confrontational or cathartic, thats what I imagine. I was familiar with a few of the songs on this album, but not the whole. They’re still quite cathartic, to my middle-age self at least, on an album listen. This listen I was put in mind of similarities to another band, from my time and who I am more familiar with, System of a Down. SoaD are downstream of Dead Kennedys and I hear echos of Jello Biafras manic shouting on social issues in Serj Tankian vocals. Seriously, Prison Song could’ve been on a DK album, maybe this one. The gap between 1980 and 2001 wasn’t so far, I guess. Neither is the gap between 2001 and 2026, unfortunately. I did get to see SoaD live. Not as confrontational as imagined a DK show, but it was damn cathartic. 5/5
This is really nice! Its angry its fast and it has a decent bit of variety in a really nice and short package. I didn't love the vocal style too much but I at least found it interesting Mixing was different between tracks which I found a bit jarring but not really super important
Overall Rating - 3.25/5 (6.50/10). This was definitely an early 80s Punk album. Good example of the style.
Do I even need to review this? Best hardcore punk album ever. Ez.
3 stars because Holiday in Cambodia is a real slapper. The rest of the album is ok and sometimes annoying, but this isn't my style, usually, so that was expected.
Punk isn't really my genre and despite me liking the songs individually the album overstays its welcome.
Love
Good album with some legendary songs
I like it fine. Not one of my favorite punk bands from that era. Also today I learned that Jello Biafra is still alive. Who knew?
They use every second of this extremely accessible runtime for frenetic satirical anti-capitalism and anti-facism in this scathing review of culture and politics. Loved it, no notes. Also recognize this album calls out the particular flavor of leftism I am participating in by consuming this album on expensive headphones on a beach while experiencing white guilt. -listened on beach trip 2026
politically we agree. sonically we do not. wait.. did they… say the n word?
Such a punk classic
I don’t think I needed to listen to this before I die. But, I have and I wont be getting that time back. Oh well.
Sex Pistols and Dead Kennedys back to back. It’s very fitting because I’ve always viewed Jello Biafra as a more jovially sardonic predecessor to John Lydon. As much as I was turned off by the hardcore punk scene, mostly the invasion of the jock punks, boneheads and the macho, aggressive atmosphere, there were great bands that came out of that scene and called out the toxicity of the scene. DK and Biafra were at the forefront of that sentiment. Incredibly self aware and journalistic lyricism and funny the Dead Kennedys seemed to exist to antagonize the scene they found themselves in, but more than that, they were critics of the corporate consumerism and political conservatism of the 80s. The represented what I liked about what was being touted as hardcore punk. The labels are meaningless. As Nirvana showed a decade later, you don’t choose your audience, they choose you and you have two choices. 4.4
I like to think this is the kind of music the joker would make with batman moshing in the crowd. Enjoyed this more than I thought I would and wins the award for best song names
Nunca mais escuto
Just not my thing.
One of the bands that can be genuinely considered to be part of the original punk scene and this has a lot of short tracks as was the fashion of the genre. Uncompromising lyrics, constantly quick tempos, insistent rhythm guitars and an almost anti-music vocal approach. It became seen as the first dishonest side of rock n roll - we can't play and we're proud of it - and I can see why this view proliferates when listening to this album. This would not be seen as a great album to anyone other than the initiated.
I like the attitude and tone of this, it has a strong sense of self and the dynamics of it keep me interested. Slightly sarcastic and edgy. The up-tempo throughout keeps u on your toes so it doesn't bore u, however with the length of the album and most tracks pushing at the same tempo it does leave a want for a bit more variety across the record. I like the viva Las Vegas cover, that made me smile. Overall, it's a decent record with a good bit of character to it. It's not necessarily my thing tho but that's far from me disliking it. Fav Track: Holiday in Cambodia
Jello Biafra is vindicated more and more every year. The Bay Area hippies gladly sold out San Francisco to the tech oligarchs that have taken over and made the city a dumping ground for the most annoying, overly affluent upper middle class freaks in the entire country. I wish he had won that mayoral race back in 1979
Each track more or less sounds the same as all the others from the album. I am still (patiently) waiting to hear some musically interesting ideas. Very little variance. I think there are worse records, but this has to be one of the least appealing and interesing releases I listened to.
One of the very best genre defining punk albums ever released. Top of my head I can only think of a handful of better ones such as: Sex Pistols - Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols, Black Flag - Damaged, X - Los Angeles, London Calling - The Clash & Minor Threat - Complete Discography. Maybe something by Husker Du? I don't know. I don't consider Television's life changing album 'Marquee Moon' to be a punk album in any way whatsoever.
Unbelievably hateful. Coming in a close second to GG Allin. I wonder when I’ll be assigned his slop.
Very much in the same vein of Black Flag, Dead Kennedys have a similar hardcore punk take. Great guitar playing, musicianship. Political lyrics and great singing. 4.
Глубоко уважаемые хлопцы
Totally conflicted. That is all. The photo behind the album cover (I read the wiki) had me hopeful for context and content. Mostly the singing was not wonderful.
Nope.
My co-worker thought I would hate this album, but I actually liked it. Early hardcore is good. 3.5/5
Pretentious, theatrical punk rock feels like a betrayal of an ethos. They’re all technically talented (with the possible exception of Jello who’s too busy with his sophomoric character study to let on). But It just doesn’t sound like anyone takes the music seriously; it sounds like a prop for Jello’s nonsense which pushes the band into the novelty act category.
Ever listen to Bob Dylan and think "this guy isn't political enough?" Ever listen to the Ramones and think "these guys need to trash more?" Ever listen to Dick Dale and think "hell yeah surf rock for life!" Well, boy do I have the album for you!
2.7 2x
Moderately like it. California Uber Alles is the good stuff. I was hoping for the guitars to ROAR more - maybe the production is a tad tame.
Nah. It all sounds the same.
not for me
5/5. For my money, Dead Kennedys are the best punk band. As a sign of how much I love their music, I gave this album a 5 and it’s not even my favorite Dead Kennedys record (for me it’s their second album “Plastic Surgery Disasters.”) Of course, frontman Jello Biafra is a good lyricist and great satirist, which you can see on opener “Kill the Poor” where he plays the part of a policy-maker proposing the idea of just nuking poor neighborhoods so the wealthy can have more space. But what really puts the Dead Kennedys above other punk bands for me is their rhythm section, where many punk bands are (albeit intentionally) loose and sloppy players, Dead Kennedys has a tight and precise style of playing where the members are always locked the hell in. There are a lot of great little bass riffs or short guitar solos to find here. As for the tracklist, it’s all killer no filler. Whether that be the big songs “Holiday in Cambodia” and “California Über Alles” or Greta deep cuts like “Chemical Warfare” or “when ya get drafted.” There just isn’t a dull moment to be found here, and it’s also paced extremely well so it glides by very quick. Also regarding California Über Alles, the version on this album is actually not my favorite version of this song. That honor goes to “we’ve got a bigger problem now” off of their “In God We Trust Inc.” EP which reworks the song to be about Ronald Reagan and is even more intense/angry.
Anarchic punk, with some really cool angular guitar moments that tickle my brain in a nice way. I think I’d grow to love this with a few more listens
Simpel aber effektiv
Pretty solid punk. 3.5 goin down.
Holiday in Cambodia er eina lagið sem ég þekkti og fíla en ég er ekki svo mikið fyrir pönk þannig að það er skiljanlegt
Brilliant album, like Buddy Holly goes punk :)
Oh hey, it’s still one of the greatest albums ever made.
It wasn't a sure thing that punk would be political, much less that it would be the succor to a generation of progressives in the wilderness. The Sex Pistols' anarchism was mostly an act, the Ramones' politics were... something. But the Dead Kennedys' sounds and lyrics were so radical and unforgettable that they revealed the political potential for punk from now until the end of time. In Green Room, a wonderful and weird movie about live music and white supremacy, a punk band suddenly realizes they are playing a skinhead club. Without much of a plan, they open their set with "Nazi Punks Fuck Off." Why doesn't this crowd lynch them? I thought, and I wonder if it is something in the power of this group to say, "No matter what sick shit you do with this music, we are never going away." Anyway, the skinheads lose in the end. Nazi punks fuck off indeed.
Not my favorite type of music. Following along with the lyrics was entertaining though. Some songs were pretty great and some were pretty strange.
Another seminal album that helped shape an entire genre
Einfach nur Herumgebrülle! Simply bad, very bad!
The punkest of punk rock.
Aika loistavaa punkkia.
ME HAN ENCANTADO, KILL THE POOR TOP, política y música, siempre bienvenido
Please enunciate like 10% more
Untouchable energy
Angry and snarky, yet still very fun. Kicks a lot of ass while being more than just some dudes playing the same couple of chords loud, with influences including surf rock. Yeah, I love this and need to check out more by these guys.
Hardcore punk at its absolute finest. Perfuckingfection.
kill the WHAT? WHO?
Punk System of a Down. Really cool
Very fun album. Love the lyrics lol, and his voice is very interesting. When Ya Get Drafted and I Kill Children were my favorites. 7.5/10.
Not a genre I would ever seek out.
Yeah, nah. Probably a good example of that style, but it's an inaccessible style.
Hell yeah, makes me want to mosh
HELL YEAH!!! DK!!! Such an epic record from start to finish
Such a well-made classic punk record! Even though I enjoy listening to the 3-chord bands that built and defined the genre, projects like this one have more depth and replay value, so I'm looking forward to revisiting these songs.
Lustige Namen aber nicht mein Musikgeschmack
3
Cool, sexy, fun, exciting, clever and enjoyable. Just like the good old punk was intented to be.
I’m not 14 years old anymor
It’s the DKs. What’s not to love?
Not the worst album. Better than I thought it would be.
A punk band that can actually play. Fun tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
Hell yes! Aggressive, funny, weird, maniacal. Mostly straightforward hardcore punk, with some nice little flourishes along the way. Naming a song "I Kill Children" is so fucking funny. My wife absolutely hates this. POL POT. My only complaint is that my favorite DK song, "Nazi Punks Fuck Off", is not on here.
Thoughts before listening: Oh man. Definitely one of my favorites from my youth (I even had the DK sticker on my car) that I have not revisited as much as an adult. I find with many of these punk albums, I love them from a nostalgia perspective, but I often find myself turned off by the lyrics. This happens with rap albums as well. Maybe I've become a prude or maybe I just hear things through my daughter's ears now, but I find a lot of the lyrics to be distracting from the music. That being said, I know this album contains a number of DK's classic songs like "California Uber Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia", and the band's musicianship always helped them to standout from their peers who favored aggression and vitriol over instrumental prowess. Review: Dead Kennedys are certainly unique in the world of 80s punk rock. They play with the intensity of their peers, but with music that incorporates varying styles (i.e. surf licks, country/western twang, and in some instances carnival music) along with Jello Biafra's yelpy vocals on top. Its a fun listen that I do enjoy quite a bit. Lyrically, Jello mostly sticks to social and political commentary, and in general, he was always one of the more intelligent lyricists of his time. I do not always agree with his takes, especially on religion, but I can appreciate his point of view. I'll give this 5-stars as it was great to revisit such an important album to punk in general and especially to my own musical upbringing.
I have multiple of these projects going and just got this. Sorry, but I love it, it gets a 5. Listening again (and again) after all these years only makes me love it more. Don’t know, guess that’s the trouble with my head. 5 Boolean: yep, again and again
It's good album. I have always preferred Sex Pistols.
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is one of those albums that takes me right back to being a teenager with a skateboard, a bad attitude, and a growing love for punk rock. The Dead Kennedys were one of my first introductions to hardcore punk beyond the Sex Pistols and The Clash, and revisiting this album reminded me why they became one of my favourite bands of the era. From the opening satire of “Kill the Poor” to the blistering speed of “Drug Me” and “Your Emotions,” the band attacks every institution, politician, and social norm in sight. What stands out is that their outrage never feels fashionable or manufactured. Songs like “When Ya Get Drafted,” “Let’s Lynch the Landlord,” and “Holiday in Cambodia” remain surprisingly relevant, while “California Über Alles” still hits as hard as it did when it was my soundtrack for skateboarding at fifteen. Not every song works for me. “I Kill Children” feels like it pushes things a little too far, and “Ill in the Head” is one of the album’s weaker moments. But even when the band is being deliberately offensive, there’s usually a satirical point underneath the chaos. Jello Biafra’s unmistakable snarl, the surf-rock influences, and the relentless energy make the album impossible to ignore. More than forty years later, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables remains a landmark punk record. It’s fast, provocative, funny, and influential. Listening to it again reconnected me with that rebellious kid I used to be (though these days I try to challenge the system in more productive ways). It’s not an album I agree with at every turn, but it’s one I respect immensely, and one I’d gladly add to my collection for both its place in punk history and the nostalgia it still brings. 6.5/10
Ohhhhh one of the first albums I loved! Knew all the lyrics. Drove my mom mad. Had arguments about my general ignorance of what Jello Biafra was singing about AND the appropriateness of the names “Jello Biafra,” and “Dead Kennedys.” Good times. Oh, it is good times. I do love this album. Crazy how all the lyrics come back from when I was 13. I don’t think I have actually listened to this album as a whole in two decades! Or more. God it’s more. I’m getting old. I wish Winnebago Warrior was on this album. I guess all the others are compilations. And sadly, it seems Jello Biafra is a douche. Stole from his bandmates. How un punk rock. But what can I say, nothing will stop me from loving this album. Cover to cover. Over and over again. 5 Boolean: OH YEAH
sand
45 years on and the fruit is still fresh
I knew Holiday in Cambodia, but this album was an absolute discovery for me. I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed their version of 'Viva Las Vegas'??? I do wish I didn't have to read the lyrics to understand what their songs are about, but I guess enunciation isn't exactly 'punk'.
Nostalgija na max opet! Volim ovaj album, odrastanje na panku me dovelo i do njega dosta rano. Zasluženo mjesto na listi! 3/5, 6/10
Still not a major punk fan but this has been the best album I’ve listened to so far from the genre. Didn’t feel too in your face but was pretty punchy regardless.
First Listen: Gotta say, I've never felt so seen by a song as I did with Kill The Poor! I too hate the poor. When You Get Drafted and Let's Lynch A Landlord are both brief but fun tracks. The songs don't overstay their welcome, but get their points across. Drug Me almost has a Surf Rock feel to it. The vocals in the chorus are haunted. Love the waltz section directly into the explosion section in Chemical Warfare. This song continues with the shout gang vocals choruses. While they aren't catchy per-se, they really drill these lines into your head. The intro to California Uber Allies is sick. Another song with that trenned out surf rock feel. The breakdown speeding back into the chorus was incredible. There's an almost jazzy start stop in Ill In The Head which is pretty cool. Feels like Angine De Poitrine. Holiday in Cambodia builds tension in the intro beautifully. Eerie guitar lines work really well with the warbling vocals. The twisted surf rock vibes throughout this album provide a lot of ear candy in the guitar lines. Viva Las Vegas has an ironic country feel to it. Almost feels like Ween when they dip into that bag. This entire album drips with sarcasm, and I think this song exemplifies it. I know it's not part of the album, but I do wish the single remix of Kill The Poor was on the official tracklist. I think the whole album's mixing is pretty inconsistent, maybe to its detriment. I know punk isn't necessarily meant to sound the cleanest or tidiest, but mixing is something I value pretty heavily in a song. Still a great song though! OVERALL: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is a blunt, forward, and in your face album. The band leaves very little breathing room, front to back, but the surf-inspired guitar melodies provide respite through the cacophony. I love how blunt the lyrics are, leaving little room for interpretation. I'm sure somehow a right-winger co-opted the Dead Kennedys critiques of liberals as their own, but it sounds like the band is trying their best to ensure that that didn't happened (only reinforced by "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" a year later). I personally think some of the songs just after the halfway point lose a bit of the identity the other songs had, and the mixing on the album is noticeably inconsistent, but even at its lowest this album is a ton of fun. 8/10 T3: Drug Me, California Uber Allies, Holiday in Cambodia
Unfamiliar with Dead Kennedys. First Listen, the album was consistent from start to finish. The energy and tempo of the tracks would be something I normally wouldn't be too much of a fan of however, the vocals from Jello Biafra connect it altogether nicely. Jello's vocals makes and breaks this album; if it wasn't for his performance I don't think this album would be as fun as it was on my first listen. The vocals and instrumentals on (almost) every track keeps the energy flowing and had me constantly engaged. The lyrics are so absurdly "out there" that without Jello's vocals and the chorus accompany it the tracks' lyrics would just be weird nonsense. This absurd nonsense does have a really extreme, unique, and fun charm to it that I appreciate a lot. The song I Kill Children is my particular favourite for representing this absurdity. My head be boppin hearing Jello yelling about human hamburgers made of crushed little kids. I also want to shout out Ted (Bruce Slesinger) on his drums performance and East Bay Ray's guitar. Klaus the goat keeping everyone grounded with his bass; this album had me really noticing the bass player for once. Coolio. Overall: This album made me want to Kill The Poor and Lynch their Landlords. Of course, only while listening to Jello screaming about what I'm doing while I'm doing it. T3: Kill The Poor, Let's Lynch The Landlord, I Kill Children
One of my all time punk bands
What an amazing punk album, love the energy, the short songs, the lyrics. This album is what punk is all about. 1. California Uber Alles 2. Holiday in Cambodia 3. Kill the Poor
DK are okay. Good lyrics and music, but I don't like Jello's voice that much.
Poliitiline punk. Minu lemmikpunk. Täitsa lahedaid lugusid on siin ja eripärased vokaalid aitavad Dead Kennedysil kõrva jääda. Eriline kõrvauss on Holiday In Cambodia, mida olen juba pikalt fännanud. Vot sellel muusikal siin on hinge ja toorust, mida eriti tänapäevases steriilses muusikaskeenes on igatseda. 3.6/5
For a punk band, they sure made the (absolutely correct) commercial choice to release California Uber Alles, Holiday in Cambodia, and Kill the Poor.
I kind of feel like Dead Kennedys had a huge influence on the political outlook of today’s alt-right.
It was a different era.
Full of big singalong choruses about horrific war crimes set to bouncy upbeat punk. So good. Timeless stuff
Some of the best punk so far on this project. Great guitars and edgy lyrics. A handful of the tracks are great, with the rest being good. Not quite enough for a 5 but good stuff overall.
Good
Fantastic album that is woefully relevant today.
Best thing about this is how short these songs are.
Intense!
not my favorite punk sound but definitely cool
this album felt as though it was intentionally made poorly, as a kind of punk statement which I understand was on brand but it just wasn’t an enjoyable listen for me
++: When Ya Get Drafted, Let's Lynch the Landlord, Drug Me, Your Emotions, California Über Alles, Stealing People's Mail, Holiday in Cambodia, Viva Las Vegas +: Kill the Poor, Forward to Death, I Kill Children, Finland at the Beach +-: Chemical Warfare, Ill in the Head 7,9/10
wasn’t for me had glimpses of being for me but it wasn’t
Raw. This could get almost anybody into punk, if they weren't already. If you're reading this thinking, "yeah whatever," you're probably part of the problem. This is fucking incredible.
It was pretty good. Let's lynch the landlord is amazing no notes. I think in general across the album my only qualm is the vocal style isnt really good. Theres just a few spots here and there that really needed some work but it was alright 7/10
6/10 - surprisingly good punk, even had my 2yr old headbanging
own
Perfect way to introduce to punk. This album is powerful and full of great lyrics and guitars.
Not something I vibed with
Naw
Fucking great album.
I enjoyed this musically, the guitars were interesting but perhaps the way songs developed both in terms of lyrical content and vocally perhaps left me wanting, for example, ‘Kill the Poor’ which sounded super interesting but then just seemed to repeat the same line throughout, but then I’m probably nitpicking a bit because on this day at least, I decided it just about deserved a 4th star.
This is great. So full of youthful energy. The Dead Kennedy's version of Viva Las Vegas is now my favourite, actually knocks Elvis out of the park. California uber alles is a great title for a song. This music was so of its time and so welcome back then. I wouldn't say no to the occasional play in the current era, but overall it's more of a period piece really.
Punk at its finest. I usually prefer British punk, with its sharp commentary on politics, class culture, and everyday life, subjects I relate more to than the generally attitude-driven approach of a lot of American punk. This record is an exception, however. The lyrics are hilariously satirical, the performances are fantastic across both vocals and instrumentation, and the overall sound is raw, energetic, and unforgettable. Essential punk listening that’ll have you laughing at the absurdity of American culture while still delivering genuinely great songs.
Quirky punk. Most punk rock post 1970s sounds the same, but the Dead Kennedy's bring some new things to punk that remind me of the value of the genre.
Pretty good for punk.
Protest music that was controversial and shocking over 40 years ago can seem tame today and the lyrics feel silly in retrospect but the music still goes hard. A lot of similarities with the Pogues despite the musical style being different. Jello is a funny name
I wonder if I would think this was solid 5/5 bangers if I hadn't listened to it before. I like it way more than yesterday's.
4.5
I actually like this a lot more than I thought I was going to most '80s Punk is kind of a turn off to me cuz most of it's just thrashing aggression but this one for the most part feels like 50s music on copious amounts of uppers and cocaine with 10,000 watt amps. And when they leaned into that I really enjoyed this album i also love the political biting and this comes at a very interesting time as Reagan was about a month away from being elected, but you can feel the sting of satire for what's to come. (8.35) ★★★★
I am not rhe biggest hardcore punk fan, but this was goodfor its genre. 3.5 stars
I always want to like this album more than I do. While I appreciate the satirical political lyrics, hardcore punk isn't always my jam. Still, there's some cool stuff here like "Kill the Poor", "Let's Lynch the Landlord", "California Uber Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia". The Elvis cover is also inspired and super cool. 4 stars.
3.5
Holiday In Cambodia is a phenomenal track and it’s good that this album was made so that this song could feature on Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock. It’s mainly that and the ironic Viva Las Vegas cover at the end which are gold as everything else is a bit hit and miss and honestly super distasteful at times. It’s not ‘Kill The Poor’ it’s ’please may we kill the poor’. And it’s not ‘Let’s Lynch The Landlord’ it’s ‘let’s consult the landlord to see if he or she or they would entertain the idea of being lynched’. California Uber Alles? I don’t need to catch an uber to California! A frustrating album overall but with some fresh cool gems.
I enjoy the idea of the Dead Kennedys more than I enjoy actually listening to the Dead Kennedys. But there is the occasional fun guitar work and the politics are on point.
Holiday in Cambodia was a high-repeat song back in high school. Happy to say this hasn't aged as much as I have.
Oh hey, it's the band that had that tough-as-nails song on Guitar Hero!
I really enjoyed it. Punchy and doesn't overstay its welcome.
I know it goes without saying but these shows must have gone fucking CRAZY. Once again you’re never going to recreate that experience through a recording, but this is a pretty good attempt. I don’t have to look to know that this album is extremely divisive but it definitely belongs on the list- you can’t reasonably deny the impact DKs continues to have. Garages and house parties across the world would never be the same.
Certified punk classic.
falta escoltar
I could never get into Dead Kennedys BITD, mostly because of Jello Biafra's voice, but I was more a postpunk kid than a punk. I loved hearing this fresh. Jello's voice is still, uh, distinctive, but it doesn't feel challenging or painfully abrasive like it used to. Now it sits at "classically abrasive" on the vocals dial, while still being one-of-a-kind and one of the greats. What I really loved was the guitars. Great sounds, and a huge diversity of sounds, rough but well-played. Overall, this record surprised me. Belongs on the list? Yeah. My list, probably, yeah. Think I'll listen through the rest of their discography. 5/5
pretty ok for ounk
Punk rock has never sounded more annoying. That's probably not true, but boy oh boy did I hate the lead singer's voice. This is a very hard pass from me, and I hope they don't appear again. 2/5
It's fine enough
Thank you for hearing my complaints, list generator algorithm. This is one of the first albums I ever bought with my own money, truly as a poser move because I knew they were a cool punk band and I wanted to be a cool punk kid. It turns out they are a cool punk band. Incredibly powerful album especially in 1980. Fun, smart, funny at times, and incredibly well written
Lucky for me I had two young children in the ‘80s and had no time to listen to this garbage.
I grew up loving DK. Love all the politically charged lyrics and it was taboo music for a young teenager. Reminds me of Tony Hawk. There were only a couple songs on here I didnt enjoy.
Punk!
tosi hyvä punk albumi ja meininki on kovaa ja rajua!
Intense listening.
Cool hardcore punk with good songs and a guy who sounds like an old horse on vocals. I've heard better. I don't get the hype. His voice is stupid.
Very punk and very fight the power. Didn’t feel like any specific song I loved
5/5 for their politics
my bag
not my bag
Alright 3/5
ist okay
I'm such a Dead Kennedys lightweight I only really know the compilation Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death. It's a weird cultural kink that UK punk found its strongest and best adherents on the US west coast, especially given the primacy of New York punk. I suppose that's the geographical rivalries and differences I can't fathom. Jello Biafra's voice is so instantly recognisable but it was only with this listen that I realised how much it is a perfect distillation together of Joe Strummer and Johnny Rotten. Lyrically he also has Strummer's earnestness and Rotten's snark.
Another disagreement between me ans the kiddo. He says 5 stars, I say 4 stars. I'm giving it 5 stars because I'm glad he learned to fight the power at such a young age (thanks Dead Kennedys!).
Political punk rock with a wonderfully twisted sense of humor to go along with it. A good political song makes you think, but a great political song makes you dance without even realizing you're hearing something political at first—until you listen to it again and again. 'Holiday in Cambodia' is a great political song!
7/10 Buen album, buenas canciones aunque algunas partes son bastante pj, pero no baja el nivel
Whee another 5-star punk album. Every minute of this is great. Compelling, rhythmic punk rock. It's got Jello's vocals, and the humorous but also strongly political lyrics (still relevant, unfortunately). "Kill the Poor," "California Uber Alles," "Drug Me," "Holiday in Cambodia," "Viva Las Vegas" - What else do I need to say. 5 stars. 5 stars
I was always confused how "Holiday in Cambodia" wound up on Guitar Hero - now I know that Jello Biafra lost the rights to DK's music to his other bandmates, who he called 'spiritually republican', in the early aughts. Fucking lol. This album rips.
Highlights: Kill the Poor, When Ya Get Drafted, Let's Lynch the Landlord, Drug Me, Your Emotions, Chemical Warfare, California Über Alles, Stealing People's Mail, Holiday in Cambodia, Viva Las Vegas A record laced in snide mockery for the sake of mega-dumb humor. They really just fucked around with everything they could think of - no one was spared. But that's a good thing since it's very fun to listen to. Short runtimes help the themes from overstaying their welcome. Listening turned into looking out for the next stupid line that's gonna bless my ears, but if you played an instrumental version of the majority of these songs, I would have a hard time differentiating them. Therefore, I'm not sure if this is something I want to listen to a hundred times over and over because it has this "wow factor" that will definitely wear offleaving you with monotonous fuckery. I already felt the fatigue by the end of the record and it's visible by the omission of some of the later tracks, but it might as well just be that the start was much stronger. But yeah, it was very dope.
Lyrical content that's just as relevant today as when it was written. Wacky vocals grow on you.
Ready to go overthrow something
Classic punk album. Raw, fun, and unique. Some great stuff on here.
3/5
Good punk album, even if some of the tracks bleed together for me. Some real dark song titles too. Highlights: “Your Emotions”
this was so punk rock man
Possibly THE American punk record. I heard this when I was a kid and there was nothing like it.
Dead Kennedys have always been too hardcore for me. the riffs are too dissonant. the vocals too… whatever that is. its just scratchy noise rock to me.
I could see how repeated listenings could could help in the enjoyment of the album.
Delivers its messages bluntly, effectively and with style.
They were lowkey spitting with all those things they said about landlords, but it really isn't my favorite style. Vocals and instrumentals just weren't as interesting to me as the lyrics.
I believe this was the first punk-era punk album I ever listened to, almost certainly copied onto cassette by a classmate, probably heard after I’d already begun being reprogrammed by its descendants, so it sounded a little light and prosaic to me. Now? A solid, short rock album by a band that knows its strengths and uses them. Jello’s voice is too cartoonish for my taste, but he works with the material. Respectful 4.
Fucking great, some of the best American punk by far. Crazy I got to live in CA more than 30 years later, and Jerry Brown was still governor! Luckily the suede/denim secret police had been abolished in the interim, following the Status Quo pogrom of 1986
Great
This was so stupid :) haha
Holiday in Cambodia was one of the first punk.somgs I ever heard. The snarl, the skewering of complacency; all appealed to my 16-year-old self. I'm not however familiar with their albums but went into this with a little trepidation because I feared it might be style over substance. I quite enjoyed it though, and as someone from a family of golf bores, I had the urge to play them the song about waging chemical war at the country club.
Immediate 5. My vote for the greatest punk album ever made. Each track has it's own identity and style, but they're all undeniably DK. Jello is a snotty-nosed little brat (complimentary), the blend of surf and punk, the politics that generally hold up, even if some of the language doesn't. Fully deserves its place on the list and holds up incredibly strongly. 5 all the way.