Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Excellent
This is an album I've cooled on since my teenage years, but upon relisten and reflection, it's still a perfect punk album. I don't turn to this album the way that I did when I was 18, and I'm never going to return to it like I did then ever again, but I can't help but acknowledge its greatness. I might not want to eat cheesecake every day, but I can still acknowledge that it's delicious.
This albums raw as hell
Oh, to be a outrageous and overcompensating teenager again. The fun and the fury of the album will never get old for me
Love this album. best version of 'Viva las Vegas' out there!
Quality punk album
Smashing
4.6 - Awesome. Jello Biafra’s voice roils with sardonic fury painting demented cartoons with characters lifted from a nightmare. Here’s an album that redeems punk rock for me. Highlights: “Kill the Poor”, “Drug Me.”
Amazing American punk band. Their influence on the West Coast and punk scene in general are huge. This album influenced my own music tastes and Jello Biafra is a legend. A solid banger after banger.
First one I knew already. What a fucking opener! Plays with the variety of punk songwriting in its time... but spooky! It's cool how California Über Alles pulls no punches on a liberal politician. And that it got to express the sold out promise of California hippies and the dark potentials hidden behind a freedom loving, spiritual image before the Lukewarm Red Jalapenos beat that premise to death. ...Pol Pot!
I really liked this, I like his voice. Loved viva Las Vegas.
This one really knocked me on my ass, clearly a big influence point for a whole bunch of bands I like a ton.
Great album, huge part of my personal punk renaissance of 2020-2022
Если Холидей то ?
Still love this album after all these years.
Love this, though took a while to get used to JB voice again.
I cannot overstate how much of a vibe this album is. Doesn't matter that it was made over 40 years ago.
one of the best punk albums ever..brilliant!
Great, with a couple of benchmark punk tracks and the others all very very good.
Nothing like a trip back to my punk high school days, love dead Kennedys, a great album
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
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
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
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!
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
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.
Hell yeah, makes me want to mosh
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
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
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.
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.
Intense!
++: 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
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
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.
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.
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
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 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.
Holiday in Cambodia was a high-repeat song back in high school. Happy to say this hasn't aged as much as I have.
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.
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!
Very punk and very fight the power. Didn’t feel like any specific song I loved
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.
Lyrical content that's just as relevant today as when it was written. Wacky vocals grow on you.
Classic punk album. Raw, fun, and unique. Some great stuff on here.
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.
I could see how repeated listenings could could help in the enjoyment of the album.
Delivers its messages bluntly, effectively and with style.
Great
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.
Good punk
Not my favorite DK album, but it's got California Über Alles on it, so that's a plus. The Sublime melodic structure of the vocals, juxtaposed with lilting instrumental styling creates an ambient, yet grounding rebuke to neo-constructive spiritualism. C'mon man. It's punk.
I like the themes the band explore, but the music is...still good! 4/5
A great debut. This is punk rock.
Great punk rock album. New to me.
A very good album, probably America’s best contribution to punk. Let’s Lynch the Landlord, California Uber Alles, and Holiday in Cambodia are fantastic standouts with a smart and funny satire. I think it’s just held back from being a 5 by just how quickly the first half especially progresses. Even by punk standards it moves at lightning pace, so it’s a bit harder to appreciate some songs individually. Still, a very good album.
One of the best punk albums - I find some punk albums can be fairly repetitive but this one kept things varied and interesting throughout. ‘Holiday in Cambodia’ is the obvious highlight, but ‘California Uber Alles’, ‘Let’s Lynch the Landlord’ and ‘Ill in the Head’ are also personal favourites.
Really solid punk/hardcore; I really like their chaotic song writing. I do wish I liked the singer's voice a tad more, but overall this was a really good album. High 4.
Dead Kennedys managed to bring their well known kenetic live show energy and jam it into every second of this record.
This is a loud punk album, with fast short rebellious songs about how things are no good. Which is pretty standard for punk. But what sets this album apart from other punk albums is Jello Biafra's warbling spooky vocals. It works so well and makes their songs so much fun even though the guitars and drums sound like you might end up in the middle of a mosh pit being trampled to death. Some American punk, like his album, feels like it is heavily influenced by the rockabilly scene and in a couple of tracks like 'Ill in the head' it feels like we move into psychobilly and had me thinking about the Killer Klowns from Outer Space soundtrack. I enjoyed this album and would listen again. Its a real party starter for me. (3.666)
Liked this more than I was expecting to, but I am an anarchist so of course I'd like an album with a track called Let's Lynch the Landlord. Are they actually great? Maybe not but it's a fun debut album. Shame they sold out.
Punk as
I have gotten "Kill the Poor" stuck in my head at least once weekly for decades. The most reliable earworm in punk.
As first wave US punk records go, this one is probably in the top 5 of ones you need to hear. Does it hold up? Mostly.
This is their only album I own.
Not my thing, but I can appreciate the politics
Punk as it oughta be. Angry, nasty, sarcastic, and fun.
This is good fun. I love the shortness of the tracks, so none of it becomes boring. Just quality quickfire punk.
great punk
Great old school punk album! Very good love the dead Kennedys
Four stars because of how many times I laughed
Awesome record, although there are songs I don't connect to melodically.
only listened to this once, but man it rocks. kill the poor reminds me so much of that Johnathan Swift satirical piece about eating babies. these guys went hard
Day785 - now more than ever we need more punks telling us to punch nazis,eat the rich and quit protecting pedos
This was so much fun, and i love when punk is good, and silly.
True punk, for better or worse. I hear the funky bass grooves that feature in the best punk rock music. The singer's delivery is more interesting and engaging than a lot of punk rock without getting into the "real" singing of pop punk. A very good punk album. You can hear how it influenced later horror punk. You can hear a musical kinship with contemporary peers like Big Boys. There's early gang vocals here. This is a really interesting historical artifact actually. 3.5
Yep this one goes hard. Frenetic, fun and ultra-political. Some great songs and some good ones that get catchier with each listen.
This is a full-on menopausal hot flash. You feel the slight warmth move across your body and know you are about to be drenched in sweat. It accumulates on your scalp and rolls down the center of your back. You feel your face is flushed, your hair wilts, and your heart rate spikes, pushing more heat out in all directions, and your feet feel sticky. It's full on.
Spastic fits versus the straight four on the floor punk and hardcore of its day - not exactly experimental but it definitely cuts different. Guitar flourishes thrash as much as old Jello's bellows. I think they mean it.
Give me convenience or give me death. The problems of the 80s are still here, man.
I was not a punk fan when I was younger and would still not say it is a favorite genre, but I've learned to appreciate the style and the attitude, and this album definitely has all of that, and I understand why it is a classic. It was a fun listen that I would go back to in the future. To me, it doesn't rise to a 5 star album, but I'd understand if someone more into the genre would put it there due to the influence on the punk genre.
Great album that I expected not to like. A lot of my friends in high school listened to this and I always thought it was crap. Listening to it now, it makes a lot more sense and isn't as musically off-putting as some other hardcore punk bands. Not I think I understand why my friends liked it back in the day.
Not too bad!
Maybe the greatest American punk band.
I was just shouting the names of some of these songs to Lauren and she was horrified. This immediately brings me back to Tony Hawk. That breakdown in WHen Ya Get Drafted rules. Spooooooooky. Little surf rock action in Let's Lynch the Landlord.
classic
“Holiday in Cambodia” was one of my favorite songs in high school. Don’t think I ever listened to the whole album, but this was fun.
Best Song: Stealing People's Mail I like this. When I saw the genre "Hardcore Punk" I had to think, 'huh, isn't all punk hardcore?' The answer is no, this is hardcore punk and that is a perfect name for it. 4/5.
An enjoyable album for sure and good to expand the Dead Kennedys knowledge. Would listen again.
More relevant than ever?
Fast, fun, angry, political. Fantastic.
Hey look, I have a soft spot for this kinda stuff. Haven't listened to this for a while but enjoyed revisiting it.
They were "woke" before "woke" was cool. Antagonistic and focused while still being loud and snotty. Punk was born of its political elements, and this took it to another level. While the music itself seems dated, the sentiment is timely.
Yks omista suosikki punkkilevyistä all-the-time. Toimii ja menee monessa mielentilassa
I had listened to this in my own just a month before it was randomly generated. It's abrasive, at times unpleasant, but undeniably unique and energetic. To me, this and black flag are the epitome of hard-core punk.
Punk legacy and one of the most important albums in the genre, hard hitting, and relevant themes that resonate today. It's power come from the disruption of the status quo with their lyric and loud sound.
Schöne Erinnerungen!
We love punk rock
Raucous political punk debut from a hugely influential band. Deserves to be on the list
Very good and important punk album
A terrific, politically charged punk album. My only complaint is I would've liked a couple of tracks that aren't 100mph so I could take in the lyrics better, but I suppose that would lose some of the energy.
Ik ben in de war omdat dit blijkbaar geen Ierse punk is? Het klinkt echt ontzettend Iers, maar blijkbaar kan ik gewoon geen accenten herkennen. De gitaren zijn boos, de drums zijn snel, maar iets wat me opvalt; DE GITAAR IS NIET DISTORTED!!!!! HET KAN! Punk zonder een overstuurde distorted kutgitaar en met vocals die je gewoon nog kunt verstaan! Ja het is snel, ja het is boos, maar de Dead Kennedys Z I N G E N! God wat een verademing zeg, ok de zang is niet suuuper maar ik vind dit toch echt best wel goed te doen in vergelijking met het schreeuwzingen wat je vaker voorbij hoort komen in de punk hoek. Dit word hardcore punk genoemd, en dat snap ik ook wel want het is kei en keihard. Maar toch voelt dit een stuk melodieuzer dan albums van Dinosaur JR of andere Noiserock acts. Opzich logisch gezien de naam, maar ook de meeste punk acts die ik heb gehoord via deze lijst waren meestal een stuk heftiger dan dit. Ik denk dat ik mijn 'favoriete' punk album gevonden heb, alleen ben ik er nog steeds niet helemaal weg van. Ik denk 3,5 ster. 4 Is het me gewoon iets te punk voor. Ok nee, een punk cover van Viva Las Vegas? Fuck it, dit krijgt 4 sterren. Briljant, niets aan toe te voegen. FAVO: Let's Lynch the landlord, California Uber Alles, Holiday in Cambodia, Viva las vegas
Very nice
I prefer the 22 Mix and the singles. Great stuff! 14 songs in 32 minutes. Read the lyrics and sang along, realising I had been wrong all these years! This is more pertinent today than then. 1. Kill The Poor 2. Let’s Lynch The Landlord 3. California Uber Alles 4. Holidays In Cambodia Not a 5 because of Viva Las Vegas
Pretty good punk album. Heavy and fast but with just enough musicality to keep it interesting.
Fun and shouty and political and right up my street. Played with energy and anger and no little amount of skill. Even a wonky cover towards the end couldnt put me off.
Enjoyable punk with a righteous political edge that is very timely right now. I like the hints of surf rock/ pop and would like more of this and appreciate the running time. Get in say what you gotta say and get the fuck out of there.
This is the type of album I was too "scared" to listen to when it came out. I just thought I'd hate it, and the punks were a breed I didn't understand. It even took me some time to get into the post-punk that was coming out at the time too. This is the third or fourth late 70's/early 80's punk album I've gotten so far in the project, and I've really liked all of them. Including this. Of the ones I've listened to, this is by far the most abrasive and the most in your face. It's not a pleasant album to play, but it sure sticks the landing. The most messed up part is that these songs are still so prescient today, even though the names have changed. There are rants against both sides and they are valid, but the main target is corporate greed and could that be any more true now as it was then. One of the most sobering aspects of doing this project is when listening to albums from many years ago and the social issues of those times are still present, and in many cases even worse. Standout tracks were Let's Lynch the Landlord, Chemical Warfare, California Uber Alles, and Holiday in Cambodia. But all of the rest were very cool too.
This album is amazing for its political stance but it’s also depressing when you realize not much has changed. Great tunes though
There's no better album to listen to during our current state of the world. They wanted to rebel against it all in 1979 and burn it all down. Similar vibes now. I hope punk comes back.
Pure punk. 4/5
I wanted to hate it as much as some of the other Punk albums... but it had variety!
Du bon punk! Paul a aimé aussi dans l'auto !
Råt og smadret med en killer åbner, og et par bangers imellem. Sjovt lyt fra start til slut.
Det bliver mest interessant når det lyder mindst muligt som Sex Pistols
Reminds me of college days (even though this came out several years prior). Is it just me, or do Jello Biafra and Fred Schneider sound similar?
Visste liksom att det var punk så visste vad jag skulle förvänta mig (dvs nått jag inte tycker om så värst mycket) men det här vibeade jag med! Fantastiska tounge-in-cheek texter, bra instrumentering, bra känsla!
Very meta album. Shit I might become an anarchist after listening to this. POL POT POL POT
This album is pretty much the encapsulation of everything that punk should be. It's heavily political, bold in a satirical way, filled with rapid fire performances that just burst with anger and frustration. The instrumentation is tight and full of tension and there is a real sense of urgency coming from the music. Ramones and Sex Pistols could learn a thing or two from this. This is how you do this type of music.
Holiday in Cambodia! 4th track is epic
Shoutout to Guitar Hero for my knowledge of the Dead Kennedys. I’ve been rocking out to “Holiday in Cambodia” for years because of its inclusion in that game. I still remember my shock and horror hearing the original version for the first time with the profanity included, instead of the Guitar Hero cover. Good times. It’s the best song on the album. Gotta say, they picked the right album this time for the book with this one. Now, I don’t know if it makes me biased, but I generally dislike Punk music that sounds this fast, and has songs this short. However, I had a super long and stressful day at work today, and this absolutely got me all the way through it and left me in a better mood because of it. Pair that with the inclusion of “Holiday in Cambodia”, which I already loved, and you end up with an album that I just absolutely ate up. It’s worth being said that on top of being good songs, some of these song names are the funniest things I’ve ever heard. With song titles like “I Kill Children”, “Stealing People’s Mail”, “Kill the Poor”, and “Let’s Lynch the Landlord”, it almost makes me wonder if this is supposed to be satirical in nature, or if this is truly just what Punk is like. Either way, I loved this album, and I wish we had some more representation by this band. Absolutely killed it with this one and saved my stressful day. Big ups. Will be returning to the Dead Kennedys for sure.
I had this one on cassette and couldn't believe how radical it sounded at the time. Just great passionate punk rock young people angry about their circumstances. While I'm old and this type of anger doesn't resonate with me like it used to there should always be a place for it in music. I did a satirical speech in freshman rhetoric loosely based on "Holiday in Cambodia". Good times, good memories 🙂
8/10
A classic album with many classic and important songs. I love it. But the ceiling for this type of punk album, for me, is a 4.
This would be a five, probably, if I liked Biafra’s vocal style more. As it is, there are a bunch of good songs and a couple of duds. I like that they are about something. And the one two punch of Holiday in Cambodia, followed by Viva Las Vegas is a great way to end the album. The first is a solid angry classic, and the second shows they don’t take themselves too seriously. I think I always like a punked up cover of a standard.
4/5 - Your Emotions, Holiday in Cambodia, Let's Lynch the Landlord are my favorites on this album. The lyrics are the real statement here; reading along is essential for the full effect, since Biafra's delivery escapes me at times. Not an everyday listen, but a worth inclusion on the list.
Dead Kennedys are the Chaotic Evil of punk music, and that's exactly why I love these guys so much. Each and every song here is very over the top in performance and yet somehow that doesn't make it any less impactful. Some of these lyrics are so absurd but also show just how fucked in the head a lot of these people were. All I have to say is just listen to the chorus of Funland at the Beach and you'll get what I mean. Their whole sphel is to satirize the world we live in by showing the madness of it all, and I think it is perfectly illustrated in the really out there song titles and lyrics. It is badshit insane at times and definitely worth anyone's time regardless if you are a fan or hardcore or punk.
The original Fast & The Furious -sharp, funny, and rocking
A punk masterpiece
2nd punk album in two days, good news! I really enjoyed Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables by Dead Kennedys. This is exactly what this challenge is about: discovering albums I somehow missed along the way. And what a discovery this is. I absolutely loved it. This is proper punk — raw, political, furious, and full of energy from the first second to the last. Let’s Lynch the Landlord might be the most relatable track ever written for anyone who’s lived in London. Pure anger wrapped in the perfect punk song. The whole album hits hard, keeps the pace, and never drops the intensity. I’ll definitely be coming back to this. Favourite track: The cover of Viva Las Vegas is good fun, and Holiday in Cambodia is a brilliant, biting way to close things out. Least favourite track: Honestly, everything is fast, energetic, and fun — nothing worth skipping. Album artwork: A very cool, very punk cover
i certainly see the appeal, and i like to lynch landlords as much as the next guy, but musically there's other punk, etc that speaks to me more. inarguably correct inclusion for the list though of course
This is just fun grunge and right up my alley. I love the Dead Kennedys. I love the instrumentals and the vocalist. However, I will admit there is a better version of "Holiday in Cambodia" on another album. Some of my favorite Kennedys songs are here tho. I didn't know I needed this version of "Viva Las Vegas" in my life. The guitar parts are fun. Good news - If you don't like a song, they are all short Liked Songs: "Kill the Poor" , "Forward to Death" , "When Ya Grt Drafted" , "Let's Lynch the Landlord" , "California Über Alles" , "I Kill Children" , "Stealing People's Mail" , "Funland at the Beach" , "Holiday in Cambodia" , "Viva Las Vegas"
7/10
This album isn’t going to get great reviews but it checks every box for what I love about punk. It’s loud, fast, and irreverent. One thing I have always liked is how Holiday in Cambodia basically sounds like a surf rock song in a minor key. It gives the whole track this twisted beach vibe that makes the message hit even harder. Jello Biafra is totally unhinged, the guitars are buzzing nonstop, and even their “Viva Las Vegas” cover gets new lyrics to make it more cynical.
Funny little album
I don't generally like punk music, but I like this very much. The lead singer is awful, but compelling. This album, as the kids say, fucks.
Punk with a message man, scary how most themes still hold up in 2025.
In your face 80's hardcore punk rock in the vein of The Sex Pistols. The singing style/voice gets a bit one note but the songs and album are short and to the point so it doesn't get grating. There are some absolute bangers on this album dealing with subject matters that are still relevant today. If you want to get pumped up and ready to kill the rich go ahead and throw this album on.
Only knew Holiday in Cambodia and how unhinged and weird it is, I'd say the rest of the album matches the energy and wildness. Enjoyed it overall!
130/1001 Dead Kennedys - Fresh Fruit for Rotten Vegetables Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ✅ I'd heard California Über Alles and Holiday in Cambodia prior to this, but I don't know why I didn't explore more of their stuff, as this is right up my street...
I don't intend to kill the poor, still found this enjoyable.
Seminal record that introduced my favorite punk band to the world. Somehow it's undercooked and fully developed at the same time. Great listen though. Haven't spun it in far too long.
Raucous! Better than I thought it would be. Very good album.
Not only has a great message, but wastes no time getting to the point while also having a good sense of humor. Possibly the fastest album I've ever heard, and a little too loose for my personal liking. It is refreshing to hear hardcore punk without a god awful British accent
Takes me a little bit to get into the Dead Kennedys but once I’m there I really like it. No bad tracks if you’re a punk fan, nice versatility and perfect length. 4.25/5
very entertaining fast punk
Gahhh yes so angry and energetic. Love this shit. This one got me goin' today, and I'm eager to return to it when I need another kick in the ass.
Legendary debut album, paving the way for the shift towards a more hardcore sound in punk. Jello's voice can throw you off but he really uses it well and these are just some solid tuned.
Damn good punk album. Short, sweet, poignant, visceral, angsty and for all to enjoy. Some melody stylings on the album are not as good as others but it gives the DKs a touch of uniqueness.
High energy album with extremely based lyrics. However it is still lacking something... 4/5
# Album Name: # Artist: Dead Kennedys # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: One of the best punk albums ive heard on here so far. Great debut album imo. Ive heard of the kennedys but never got my arse in gear to listen to them. Theres some cracking tunes on here - Uber alles is the one most will have heard before. Some good energy and rhythm to the album. It definitely wont be for everyone thats for sure. Worth a listen if you are into punk. # Top Tunes: Cali Uber Alles / Holiday in Cambodia / police truck / kill the poor # Would I listen to it again? Yes
Great attitude, lyrics and delivery
Gunbitch que c'est bon. Y'a des tounes qui sonnent mieux que d'autres. Mais c'est pas trop grave. Le band rentre au poste.
Brilliant punk album that's a milestone in the American scene.
Gets darker and darker as it goes along, that Viva Las Vegas is unhinged in the best way.
7/10
Hell yeah
kinda annoying but enjoyable
Pretty good for this kind of music
3.9 Really good. A clear bridge between early UK punk (Sex Pistols) and the early pop-punknwave which came after (NOFX, Descendents, etc.) that I'm glad I've found. Always thought the New York Dolls were shite and not it. Some really good songs on there, and a fair bit which spreads outside of the punk genre, whilst still carrying the energy. My initial gripe was the audio quality, then afterwards I realised there was a remastered version on Spotify. 10x better. How was the initial recording so bad?!
Thoroughly enjoyable and nicely varied for a punk album. I didn't feel like I was listening to the same slurred song for thirty-five minutes like I often do with bad punk. There's also just a lot of great songs on here. 'Kill the Poor,' 'California Uber Alles,' 'Holiday in Cambodia,' I could go on. This was a great introduction to the Dead Kennedys! 4⭐️
No-bullshit, political, blistering punk rock that also isn’t sloppy, embarrassing, or boring. I can see Biafro’s vocals being an acquired taste, but his unique tone and impassioned delivery works for me.
Before: I've heard Nazi Punks Fuck Off, and well as KGLW's cover of Police Truck with Jello, but other than that I haven't listened to any Dead Kennedys. I'm expecting raw, rough sounds and lots of political commentary. After: What a sick record! Jello is such a great vocalist, he brings so much weird high energy to every track. I love when they dip into other vibes like the patriotic song or the surf rock one. This is the first punk record I've heard through this project that's really connected with me. I'll definitely dive deeper into the Dead Kennedys
Paras punkbändin nimi mielestäni koskaan! Levykin hiton jees! 4/5
Mainio punk-klassikko!
This shit rocked. Punk heads tap in, surely this is one of the better punk/post-punk albums out there no? Front to back this album was fantastic. Something I immediately caught onto was the level of cynicism this album brings is very forward-thinking, as is the case with a lot of good punk music. The opening “Kill The Poor” makes it very obvious. “Let’s Lynch The Landlord” was also ahead of its time considering the more widespread anti-landlord sentiment these days. The topics aren’t just what make this album so good, the deliveries and energy behind these performances is spectacular. “Your Emotions” is delivered sooooo well!! For that to roll into my favorite of the album, “Chemical Warfare”, WOW!! That’s all I can say. These guys are also excellent in changing things up right when they need to, like the 1:45 mark in “California Uber Alles”. Lastly, “Holiday In Cambodia” deserves the praise and placement on the GH3 track listing that it got. Really solid 4/5 here could be 5/5 if I listen to it more
CALIFORNIA ÜBER ALLES! Geiler Punk! California Über Alles war damals auf dem Tony Hawk's Wasteland Soundtrack. Dieses Projekt zeigt mir wie sehr die Tony Hawk Soundtracks meinen Musikgeschmack geprägt haben.
Due album punk di fila forse sonk un po’ troppo per i miei gusti. Però vabbè band storica e influenza innegabile
The only good music to have come out of L.A. is punk. Discuss. (I'm considering Compton to be a separate place)
Absolutely for me.
What a good punk album. Kill the Poor, California Uber Alles, and Holiday in Cambodia on a debut is no easy feat. Not very accessible but not too intimidating either. Jelo bounds you over the head with his lyrics that are at once over the top and incredibly dry. Just shy of a 5 for me.
loved the message but the sound wasn't my favorite
So clearly a protest album and I really enjoyed listening to it! Musically the guitar is very strong but it’s a bit repetitive in that sense. I feel like it gave a good picture of a certain subculture of that era and clearly influenced a lot of the rock I listened to in the 2000s
Punk rock political jags accompanied by guitars riffs; still relevant in modern conversation.
DKs led the American line when it came to punk music, and for extremely good reason. The raw, distorted and unapologetic sound they drove presented a welcome alternative to the more melodic punk music from across the pond. And punk is in a far better place as a result.
Man, that was interesting. I listened to this on the way into work. I also cut off 38 other drivers on the way in. These might or might not be realted comments. With songs like Forward to Death, Let's Lynch the Landloard, Stealing People's Mail, and Chemical Warfare, how can you go wrong. And they don't. Bonus points for throwing Pol Pot into a song (laughed when the threw one last "Pol Pot" into Holiday in Cambodia). Punk at it's finest.
I had fun listening to this album.
What punk is supposed to be - loud and politically charged. Highlight for me is always “Holiday in Cambodia.”
Sung with a trembling voice, the musty punk of the 80s is exactly what this point in the list needed. Thank you.
Rambunctious! and very political. Solid 80s punk 3.6
I love bands when they are at their raw-est.
Je connaissais pas mais très sympa ! Petite réserve sur la voix du chanteur que je trouve pas incroyable mais sinon j'adore les groupes dynamiques comme ça, la punk finalement. Pas trop de chanson préférée par contre, c'est très cool dans l'ensemble mais un peu toujours la même chose malgré quelques trucs qui varient un peu de temps en temps.
J’avais écouté quelques sons il y a longtemps mais c’était cool d’écouter davantage. C’est top et c’est dynamique ! Message impactant aussi de part le style et l’histoire du groupe
Dated yet fucking excellent.
Banger of the album: Stealing People's Mail Unexpected Elvis cover goes hard
Great early punk/hardcore. Enjoyed the simplicity of the lyrics.
Early Punk easy 4
This is good for punk rock, which I am learning to appreciate
Du punk américain qui sonne comme du punk british. Très efficace, des messages passent, ça n’a pas le temps d’être chiant, certaines deviennent même des hymnes instantanés comme “Kill the poor”. Défoulant et rigolo.
Much better than I was expecting musically and lyrically. Def had me speeding beyond my norm a few times.
-i’ve been wanting to listen to Dead Kennedys for a while now, having heard they’re one of if not the best punk band(s). i was not disappointed. this is so exciting and fun while also being really hard-hitting -definitely stands out as a contender for one of the best hardcore punk albums i’ve heard. would like to get more into this band i think -Favorites are Kill The Poor, When Ya Get Drafted, Ill in the Head, and Holiday in Cambodia
Based on the album name and cover I was a little worried about this one. Turns out it was pretty good, punk but different. It felt a lot like organized chaos. The guitar in Drug Me rocked. I don't really love violence as an answer so some were a little harsh but then again so are roaches up to your knees and water pouring through the ceiling. This is another album that makes me happy for this project, somebody new and different I would not have been exposed to otherwise.
"Let me start by saying, I'm utterly disgusted with the former members of the Dead Kennedys." - Jello Biafra Never listened to this band before. I like their style of punk rock.
The first song on this album was certainly an appropriate one to get today. We're just kicking the poor out of DC now? I wonder how Jane Fonda feels about that. A lot of this album is still very relevant today. The world keeps spinning, but so many things never change. Aside from its lyrical relevance, I also enjoyed how rockin' and raw and manic this was. The Elvis cover at the end felt very right for this too, lol. Great debut!
My anti-social high school days come crashing back as this one plays.
Hell yeah Jello
Last song was crazy. Drunken, menacing, and with a sudden abrupt ending.
It’s tempting to see Fresh Fruit… as a potted history of punk past, present and still to come: record opener “Kill the Poor” recalls the Sex Pistols (from a whole three years previous; an age, I suppose, at that most feverishly innovative point in musical history) as well as fellow example-followers like The Undertones and The Saints, while “Holiday in Cambodia” and its raging guitars and dark atmospherics harks back to Stooges while setting the scene for Husker Du, Mission of Burma, Killing Joke (and by extension Fugazi, Drive Like Jehu, Pixies…). It’s an album for posterity, for sure, but judged on its own merits it’s still a thrilling listen. Dead Kennedys do the impossible – and it really might have seemed impossible up to that point – and update punk’s sneer with a functioning sense of humour while losing none of the genre’s thrust and directness. This is still an angry record, a critical record – it’s just not taking itself so seriously (or, rather, it redraws what we mean by serious in the first place). I was sent pogoing around the kitchen by the clutch of triumphant choruses (is that Greenday I hear in the distance…), gasped in pleasant surprise at the moments of silliness and circus misdirection (and gasped again at the snatched sequences of mellifluous, albeit sarcastically rendered songcraft) and only once felt the smile leave my face (“Holiday in Cambodia” demands a stoney, solemn expression for its verses). In so many ways this is a joyfully disorientating listen. It stands to reason, then, that Dead Kennedys did more to give punk a life after the 70s than any other band.
This would have been a definite 4 when I was in my early teens and first discovered it. Now as an adult revisiting it after listening to hundreds of other punk records I'm not sure how to rate it. The good songs are by far some of the best punk has to offer (Cambodia, California) but theres a lot of stuff i'd now consider filler. It can't be lower than a three, I enjoy the speed and energy, theres no doubt Jello writes a catchy chorus and East Bay Ray's jazz influenced guitar lines are ultimately what puts this above many others. Yet Damaged by Black Flag came out 1 year later and I find Rollins chorus' more catchy and Greg Ginn's jazz influenced guitar lines far more effective. I'm going to give it a 4 with the understanding it is a low 4 and while definitely containing some of punks best songs, is not representative of punks best albums.
Quality punk. Good riffs, perfectly irreverent vocal delivery and lyrics, short and to the point. Shame that the single version of Cambodia had such better production - that and having Police Truck on the final cut would have probably pushed this to a 5. Kill the Poor (8/10) Forward to Death (6/10) When Ya Get Drafted (7/10) Let’s Lynch the Landlord (8/10) Drug Me (7/10) Your Emotions (8/10) Chemical Warfare (8/10) California Uber Alles (8/10) I Kill Children (7/10) Stealing People’s Mail (9/10) Funland at the Beach (7/10) Ill in the Head (7/10) Holiday in Cambodia (10/10) Viva Las Vegas (8/10) 7.7/10
I really liked the song titles and I do enjoy rock music but I feel like the songs were too similar. The violence theme gave me a good laugh though
Nostalgic, fast, political, pretty much everything I love about punk in this band. It's not perfect, but it was fun, and catchy in a chaotic sort of way. Loved going back to this.
jello? can you hear me? I had kinda forgot how formative some of these songs were until adrian reminded me of how many of them were featured in ski/snowboard/skate films and games that I'd watch on repeat growing up. So that gets a spare star add
The vocals here are unerringly entertaining. I find that, with punk, the singing can either make or break the music. As they should in any genre – because, generally, vocals are the focal point of any piece that includes them. Jello Biafra isn't exactly technically good with his voice, but he has this playful raspiness that really lifts the experience past most of the Dead Kennedys' contemporaries. The instrument playing is a bit brutish and (for the most part) lacks technique, but in this case I'm convinced that's an artifact of the genre rather than of these specific players. In Drug Me, the guitar and bass start absolutely shredding and you realise that these Kennedys are very much Alive. Staying true to punk rock, the album is mostly focused on underdeveloped motifs, loud noises, and sticking the finger to a perceived "musical establishment." The way I see it, the Dead Kennedys made the best of a bad trend. Then there are the lyrics, which normally I don't pay much attention to but are simply too comedic to let pass: "Oh, life's a dream with you Miss Lily White / Jane Fonda on the screen today / Convinced the liberals it's okay / So let's get dressed and dance away the night / While they kill, kill, kill, kill, kill the poor" "I am Governor Jerry Brown / My aura smiles and never frowns / Carter power will soon go away / I will be Führer one day" "We're gonna steal your mail / By the pale moonlight / We better not get caught / We'll be dumped in institutions / Where we'll be drugged and shocked / Till we come out born-again Christians" 4/5 Key tracks: Kill The Poor, Chemical Warfare, Viva Las Vegas
1980 California punk written to shock and to rile. Also, it's pretty funny and catchy. This isn't as musically innovative as a lot of things that I rate highly on this list, but I think we all need to listen to Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. If song titles like 'Let's Lynch the Landlord' don't give you an idea what you're in for, I can't help. My favourite tracks are 'Holiday In Cambodia' and 'Kill The Poor', with additional props to their surprisingly straight cover of 'Viva Las Vegas.' Top notch, old-school punk. You should listen. 4/5
Острый, ядовитый и искусно-грязный.
Eerste deel van het album vind ik vrij matig. Kon me wel goed voorstellen hoe deze muziek boze pubers in de jaren '80 heeft laten rioten. Het album werd voor mij interessant vanaf Chemical Warfare. Die laatste minuut was erg cool met name. Holiday in Cambodja verdient een mention, blijft een mooie. En was ook onder de indruk van Ill In The Head. Heel leip nummer
Coll album
one of the punk debut ever
Fast and furious, very few missteps. Kill the Poor is a strong opener and we don't slow down much after that. When Ya Get Drafted has some of the best riffing. Let's Lynch the Landlord does offer a brief respite from the breackneck pace (if not the social commentary) but Drug Me is even more brutal. Super quick playing with horror movie strings - killer. California Uber Alles is another top track, slowing down in the middle to chug along before the catchy verse and chorus return. Great outro riff too. Holiday In Cambodia is as good as ever and easily the highlight of the record. Expanded edition is worth playing too, especially for Police Truck on the second disc. Do I wish the production was a bit better and some of the songs were longer? Maybe, but that's missing the point. So much raw aggression captured here and 45 years later their anger is still very relevant. Still torn on the rating, but it's between 4 and 5 stars.
Oh yes! How can we forget the Dead Kennedys? I used to love this album back in my late teens. It definitely provided an outlet for all my angst and confusion. What really hooked me was Jello’s witty sarcasm. Although the lyrics no longer resonate with me, it’s fun to revisit this album for old times’ sake. Plus, how can you go wrong with the fast-paced surf guitar riffs that the Dead Kennedys are known for?
A standard for hard core punk. Solid band, solid album. A top pick for punk fans. The politically charged lyrics and solid riffs make this debut standout among others.
Reminds me of my teenage years!
Love this band
According to these lyrics, not much has changed in society.
A late punk masterpiece from the Dead Kennedys!
Punk can be hit and miss for me, but this was great. 2022 mix itself sounded decent, songs were surprisingly varied, can hear the influence they had on System of a Down as well on tracks like 'Chemical Warfare'.
Not bad
Raw, against everyone and everything while not being even slightly pretentious and not trying to be musically likeable. True punk as it should be. Also beautifully gives an understanding of the chaotic absurd and cruel world we live in.
4/5 Explosive punk tunes without a censor, not one bad tune. They found their sound and style and hit you with it full throttle, without fault, for just over half an hour. Top 3 Songs: Holiday in Cambodia Chemical Warfare Kill the Poor
Jello is an asshole but he makes good music, what else can you say?
The band that influenced System of a Down
It's The Suede Denim Secret Police 1001 Albums Generator 50 (06/11/2025) 50 albums in, wow! Dead Kennedys are one of the most popular hardcore punk bands of all time. They are a band who I was familiar with for years before I started listening to any punk, and this is in part due to their highly controversial name. One thing that I think is so interesting is that their name was actually against the assassinations of JFK and RFK, as opposed to what many contemporaries (and modern listeners) believe. Dead Kennedys are defined by the unique voice of Jello Biafra and the angular, surprisingly technical guitar playing of East Bay Ray. Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables, donned by a picture of cars on fire taken during riots in San Francisco, is the debut album by Dead Kennedys, released in 1980. This album is full of hits on hits. The opening song, Kill The Poor, features satirical lyrics sung from the perspective of someone offering a solution to the poverty in the US. In the words of Sam Hyde "we're just gonna kill em". The chorus is so catchy, and I caught myself singing it throughout the day, forgetting what the words are that I was saying. California Uber Alles has been my favorite Dead Kennedys song since the first time I heard it. Although the specific politician Biafra is singing about is long gone from any sort of public knowledge, the song itself is so timeless. With its surf punk undertones and the great bridge that cuts to half time, this song is just so unique. Holiday In Cambodia is their biggest song. I know Biafra said "the word" but come on, this song is so great. East Bay Ray's unique, heavily delayed guitar parts are so weird, and once again, the chorus is great. Also, does punk get better than the build-up of Pol Pot chants near the end? Just awesome. This album is also weird as hell. The manic energy of Drug Me's verses is insane. I can't claim to know a single word that Jello Biafra is saying in this song except for his signature vibrato'd "drug me" in the chorus, but I love how it sounds. Chemical Warfare features a cursed carnival part before erupting into just pure chaotic noise with the sound of people having been bombed in the background. The most underrated song on this album by far is the progressive Ill In The Head. I cannot believe that I haven't ever seen someone mention how much this sounds like a Voivod song, 4 years before Voivod released their first album. This is the only song that featured founding guitarist 6025, who left before Fresh Fruit was released, supposedly due to musical differences. The one complaint I could understand about this album is that Biafra's vocal style can be offputting. Hell, the first time I heard this album, I was not a big fan of his voice, but it has grown on me. I can't imagine a song like California Uber Alles without his amazing vibrato. Besides a few more forgettable songs in the tracklist, such as I Kill Children and Funland At The Beach, this album is quite consistent in quality. Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables is a hardcore punk classic for a reason. From its scathing satirical lyrics (remember when leftists were actually cool?) to its surprisingly diverse sound throughout its runtime, Dead Kennedys knocked it out of the park with their debut. 4.5/5, rounded down to a 4. Favs: Kill The Poor California Uber Alles Ill In The Head Least Fav: Funland At The Beach
skemmtilegt popppönk. hlustaði mikið sem unglingur. alltaf haldið upp á þá þó svo að hlaupkallinn sé líklega fáviti.
Nydeleg!
America needs more Dead Kennedys. Take that however you will.
Personal favorite from my youth. Sadly, it is still relevant tonally if not always topically.
no los conocia y me ha encantado super punki super en mi onda . sin duda los escuchare mucho mas’!!! 9/10
Enjoyed this album. Vocals not favorite but enjoyed it.
Going into this I was loosely familiar with the Dead Kennedys' heavier punk and political messaging but was only familiar with Holiday in Cambodia (shout out Guitar Hero III). As someone that has hated all of the harder rock and punk that has been thrown at me during this gauntlet... this bumps. I love how fast the songs move, they don't outstay their welcome. (I listened to the 2022 Mix) All of the songs were understandable and layered extremely well. What a strong debut album
it rocks
4/5
You know, I really kinda needed some punk rock. Dead Kennedys aren’t my favorite but this was pretty good, not too abrasive but still pretty solid punk.
I’m not super familiar with The Dead Kennedys. They’ve always been one of those bands that I’ve known about and known I’d really like them, but never go into. Maybe I didn’t first learn about them at young enough age? This was fantastic.
I like california uder alles
I left my veggies out in the rain
Enjoyed it!
A classic that I am happy to revisit. Great singing, great lyrics and great energy. 4.25/5
I was in a bad mood.
Amazing. Raw, direct, very garage sound.
3.5
This was a banger, love the energy, the variety, and the great insight into how landlords should be treated.
I would have loved this when I was 15. Still pretty good now tbh
There’s a reason Dead Kennedys were so important to punk and hardcore, and that’s because they were formative in the movement. This isn’t brilliant, but it’s very, very good - California Uber Alles, Holiday in Cambodia, Kill the Poor are all absolute classics.
Dead Kennedys were not one of My Bands as a youth, not sure why. Maybe this album is just particularly rad, but it caught me off guard. Musically a lot more interesting than I ever gave em credit for. Good band.
Pretty good
Absolut wegweisende Punk Historie 🔥 🖤
Punk Classic. Fav Track: Kill The Poor
Classic early punk album
Seminal punk rock right here. The genre was burgeoning around this time and beginning to evolve into a more hardcore sound. Enter Dead Kennedys to usher things along; with their rapid surf rock based sound and the funny-sounding, yet unmistakable Jello Biafra on vocals. Politically charged, sharp and witty vocals, and jam-packed in just over 30 minutes. About all you can ask for from an early 80's punk rock record.
Look, I know it's from a different album, but since I don't know if that one will come up here I just want to make sure it gets said, because it needs saying: Dear Nazi Punks (elected and otherwise): FUCK OFF.
Energetic, chaotic and rebellious. This is my first proper listen of the Kennedys and I really dig it. Definitely will re-visit this one.
Short, and to the point. Nice
Since Minor Threat was my first love in punk everything before always struck me as hokey and underpowered, this included. And Jello Biafra's voice was an immediate turn off so I really never gave this a chance. Big. Mistake. Like lots of early punk stuff this IS just basic rock-n-roll played harder faster and louder, they keep the surf rock style and guitar solos and everything, but it's blistering paced on the verge of chaos at all times, sped up so much that there's a qualitative transformation: it distorts into deforms itself something else entirely: like a band trying to reach escape velocity. Amazing to hear zero subtlety political satire that still feels super relevant - probably because it's full of righteous rage but also funny and direct and not milquetoast indie liberalism full of vague universals.
Dead Kennedys ... as always creative, innovative and simply very good punk
Oh yes! How can we forget the Dead Kennedys? I used to love this album back in my late teens. It definitely provided an outlet for all my angst and confusion. What really hooked me was Jello’s witty sarcasm. Although the lyrics no longer resonate with me, it’s fun to revisit this album for old times’ sake. Plus, how can you go wrong with the fast-paced surf guitar riffs that the Dead Kennedys are known for?
A straight-ahead rocker. Dead Kennedys might be a 'love them or hate them' band, I suppose that whole genre is kind of the same. I love this album. It's not perfect by any means but if it were perfect it wouldn't really be a punk album, would it? Yes, it's repetitive. No, the vocals are not fantastic (relative to other genres I suppose...). Yes, the music is simple. But it's a really raw and strong record and that’s all it is trying to be. Great political and social commentary. Like it or not, I think they nailed what they were trying to accomplish with this one. 4/5
It's early April 2025 - the global economy is being melted for no real purpose. Tracks like "Kill the Poor" land a little different. Or maybe they don't.
Punk how I like it. Raw, energetic, uncompromising, critical lyrics. A great sequel to the Sex Pistols.
Awesome!
Finally a punk rock album with some character. I enjoyed the energy and rebellious lyrics. Bonus points for having a Guitar Hero 3 song: Holiday in Cambodia
Holiday in Cambodia
Ticks all the punk boxes.
Holiday in Cambodia
better than expected
incredible attitude.. hallituksen roistot, fasistipaskat. 19984 , vuosi on tuhat yhdeksänsataa tuhatta kahdeksan neljä, ja perkele asiat on mennyt aivan vinksalleen. vapaa puhumislaki riistetty kaikilta, lisäksi kaikki ihmeen ihme henkilöt sirkus groteskit kävelee kadulla eikä tomaattia heitellä palvotaan vaan. ihme irvokkaita palvotaan vaan menkään vaan, saa vapaasti mennä naisten vessaan irvokkaat.. lentokoneella lennätetään kaikki vintiöt tänne, hei nyt käytetään kaikki resurssit että tuodaan vintiöt tänne.. huhhuh onneksi näin ei käynyt ja sen sijaan vapautettiin ehkä tämä puhe, saa puhua nyt onnekx.. holiday in cambodia
Punk as punk can get.
Okay I really liked this. I knew Holiday in Cambodia, but that's it. I've always been a casual punk listener and am happy to use this project as a way to fill in the gaps. This is one of my favorite punk albums that I've heard (so far).
4-
4.5/5. Would’ve been a perfect score if it had Nazi Punks Fuck Off.
With refrains like "kill kill kill kill kill the poor" and "economy is looking bad, let's start a war / fan the fires of racist hatred, we want total war", just shows that time is a flat circle. What big business wants, big business gets... Face kicking punk for you fuckers
I did not expect to see a Dead Kennedys album, that’s for sure. What I’ve heard of and what I had listened to from these guys did not prepare me for this album. What I knew was politics and anger and the same tempo music at every turn. I was right after listening to this but I was also surprised with the catchiness of most of the songs. I was surprised to find out that Let’s Lynch the Landlord was their song after I had heard the much different Faith No More version. The band is better than I thought . I was a DK fan first through nostalgia but I’m now invested. I can’t say the same for you, dear reader. I do not know what you seek to find. Choice cut: Let’s Lynch the Landlord
Lots of fantastic tracks somewhat let down by a poor recording.
Found the 2022 Mix and was much better on the ears.
fun above-average punk album with extra charm and some lyrics that would no doubt be truly meaningful if i could make them out
начало в When Ya Get Get Drafted пиздец напомнило мне Бременских Музыкантов
Classic! Though I do hate Jello Biafra's weirdly warbling voice and he's way too loud in the mix.
Jello Biafra’s voice hits the perfect warble during California Uber Alles, which feels as dangerous today as it did as in 1980, if not more so with our current political situation
Elemental powerful U.S. punk with classics. Some brutal raw guitar.
I enjoyed this one. I'm not sure why I haven't heard more Dead Kennedys, I was only familiar with one song on the album.
I really respect the Dead Kennedys, they are such punk pioneers and a lot of bands I like (punk/new punk and not punk alike) wouldn't be here without them. But I can't listen to them for too long. Maybe it's Biafra's vocals. Maybe their style is a little too frantic or they use too many off kilter rhythms. But there is no other band quite like them. Clever/witty as hell and energy for days. I don't think you can spell subversive without Dead Kennedys. They absolutely nail it on Kill the Poor, California Über Alles, and Holiday in Cambodia. I also got a kick out of Let's Lynch the Landlord, Chemical Warfare, I Kill Children, and Stealing People's Mail. It may not be the best album ever made, but it's an important one.
A cheery punk dystopian album. Heck, it starts with a cheery song about killing the poor. If that's not genius, I don't know what is. Really fun, clever punk album, with a lot of surprisingly unusual guitar sounds and progressions (for punk, at least). Jello Biafra has a kind of insane way of singing, but I dig it. The whole album is a little too insane to call a 5, but I'd definitely revisit. Favorite tracks (but I liked pretty much all of them): Kill the Poor, When Ya Get Drafted, Let's Lynch the Landlord, Drug Me (really cool unusual chords in this one), Chemical Warfare, California Uber Alles (classic).
The singing style of Jello Biafra I'm sure will turn many off on the Dead Kennedys. That being said this is a great album if you like punk music from the East Bay. This album has classics like "Kill the Poor", "California Uber Alles," and of course "Holiday in Cambodia." No journey down the punk rabbit hole is complete without a listen to this album.
Ancestral mosh music
Tis a Holiday in Cambodia
I was fully prepared to not like this at all - I am no lover of punk music - but I had fun listening to it! Incorrigibly cheeky and much more musically varied than I thought. Probably not one I'll reach for in the future, but I had a good time listening to it.
Would have loved this back in my punkier days. Now, just ok.
Made it through my teenage punk rock phase without ever listening to Dead Kennedys. What a great album!