Reviews (page 4 of 8)
These guys are saying some undeniable things and they're sounding good while doing it!
yeah this shit goes so hard !! its so hard to imagine american music with any kind of political messaging now ... album kicks ass for a multitude of reasons!
I liked a lot of this and want to check out more from them. 4/5
Interesting. I have never heard anything like this before. 4/5
8/10. No jojo referance. Sad
7/10… punk
Early punk, more tongue-in-cheek than angry. Lives on the lighter, more fun side of the punk street.
Very interesting album, throws an aggressive idea after an aggressive idea. And some... a lot of those ideas still hold up today. Some were there as a sarcasm to show off humanity's fall. Experiments with changing speed, some songs are perfectly understandable, some make you go 'wait, you can speak that fast?' Relatively strong 4. I'm not sure if it's for me, but it has something, and it's better than the previous punk 4 I gave.
An all-out pummeling punk album. The social and political commentary may be too much sometimes but it's always delivered in this sardonic and cynical way the makes it more appealing for me. Surprisingly fun. Key tracks: Kill the Poor California Uber Alles Holiday in Cambodia
A true classic of west coast punk.
Better musicians than I was expecting. Has lost its shock.
Legendary Punk!
As a starting point for Hardcore this works really well, and i love this album, but i think it has some flaws, and plastic surgery disasters might be a better package overall
🤘
Remember downloading this form Limewire and listening to it so much at uni. Still love it. Melodies and messages and a sense of humour.
loud, fast, angry and a tonne of fun
I think this is the first Punk album in this list I actually enjoyed listening to. It's energetic and infuriating in the best way possible. If I was to fault it on anything I'd say it's a bit all over the place in terms of theme
Highlights: Kill The Poor, Forward to Death, Chemical Warfare, Holiday in Cambodia, Viva Las Vegas. In a nutshell: picking up the torch from The Sex Pistols. Fuck, this was a fun listen. I forgot how fun punk can be. Overall: 7/10
À la fois punk et prog, plus d’épaisseur et de recherche musicale que le punk auquel on pense spontanément, mais avec la même verve
I usually don’t go for this type of music, but The Dead Kennedys just know how to do it right. The vocals take some time to get adjusted to, but I liked it.
Is it perfect? No. Is it angry. Yes. Funny at times? You know it. Do I love it? Heck yeah.
nice punk album
I liked this more the more I listened to it. Nice to see some punk representation on the list. Better than the Ramones. Fight me. 4/5 Highlights: Let’s Lynch The Landlord Chemical Warfare Viva Las Vegas
DK. ‘Nuff said
Some fun punk music, it has lots of energy and anger about it, but I felt like it didn’t take itself too seriously. I really liked the tone of the lead singer’s voice.
OK so it's probably the smartest punk album of all time and it's still kicks you in the ass
jello biafra is kinda my perfect man if u think abt it…….. highlights: kill the poor, let’s lynch the landlord, california über alles, stealing people’s mail, holiday in cambodia (sep 2 2024)
Relatable.
I like this a lot. I've listened to a few songs in the past but never sat down with the full album. It's not rotten
Onestamente? 4. Finalmente qualcosa di politicante che è anche piacevole da sentire
I like punk apparently? Still feels very relevant 44 years (!) later
This album reminds of the first few seasons of South Park. It feels like it's trying really hard to be edgy and offensive, but with an undercutting cynicism toward both the problem and the solution to the problem. However, the medium works perfectly. This is high energy punk music that shows up to be rude and make you listen, and I enjoyed the experience.
I wish I had found this when I was younger. Like this now, would have loved it as a teenager.
kill the poor ultra geilomat sehr schnell sehr heavy. forward to death no schneller sehr aggro. d lieder sind so churz aaaaaah hahaha lets lynch the landlord aber echt mann. find alles goht z schnell zum ufschribe aber gnüsses easy s isch huere hässig aber mit grund und d musig goht looos. i like. guete punk. wow en 3-minütige song! wow er heisst california uber alles! de beat isch geil! er singt super! i kill children (cool äh ok). sie sind unglaublich edgy aber ich nimms ihne irgendwie ab. steaking peoples mail findi huuuuere funny. d songs sind eh huuere abwechsligsriich. holiday in cambodia isch goooooil. obviously e single. super. viva las vegas findi etz nöd nötig aber s het worschinli irgend en sinn im johr 1980 und d lyrics sind vilicht nöd die gliche wie im original?
FREUMIII hahaha omg es blecht und tuet und er chan nöd singe ich liebs LETS LYNCH THE LANDLORD SO GEIL actually es geils gitarresolo findi hahaha drug me isch sehr weird aber gaht huere ab chemical warfare het en mega geil break grundsätzlich hets immer wieder riffs und parts vo lieder wo echt überraschend und kreativ sind holiday in cambodia isch wieder chli es highlight, v.a. de ahfang findi supeer mitem hi hat vom schlagzüg also, s het nöd alles vollends überzügt, aber es isch sehr churzwillig, schaffts iwie funny und ernsthaft glichzitig z sii und immer wieder hets sache gha wo mich überrascht hend. knapps 4i
Pretty good.
It's virtually impossible to be this obnoxious and good simultaneously. Holiday in Cambodia and Chemical Warfare are personal favorites
Like the music. Not loving the vocalist. Vocals got better through the album.
There's just such a fun energy to this album. The vocal fry of the lead singer lends to the subtle sarcasm that the album projects to me. 4.5
V good
Some fun punk. I have always enjoyed It's a Holiday in Cambodia, but for some reason it sounded different to me this time around. Maybe I have been listening to a different version.
New respect for that kid in high school who always wore a Dead Kennedys tshirt
A cut above most punk bands of the time. Lyrically there's weighty issues wrapped in sarcasm. The band can play well and there's quite a bit of variety in the tracks.
My favorite Dead Kennedys release. Probably my favorite punk album in general.
Brilliant reflection of a desperate time in San Francisco. I went to live in London just before Harvey Milk was murdered. Missed the riots. I might have died if I stayed there.
Enjoyed it a lot
Finishing this album off with a cover of Elvis' Viva Las Vegas is genius. Punchy political parody packed into a punk-shaped pill.
If I had a punk phase growing up, Dead Kennedys would definitely be one of my favorites. Raucous, silly, sharp lyrics, interesting lead vocals.
I would never turn down an opportunity to listen to some DK. Angry, aggressive, funny, sarcastic. All of this.
Enjoyed that 👍
I've always liked The Dead Kennedys. They're a bit ridiculous and hyper politically conscious. Many songs are sungs sardonically from the perspective of right wing warmongers and capitalists, but there's never any doubt about Jello Biafra'a leanings. Despite being a fairly niche band, they were a particular target of Tipper Gore and her crusade to eliminate bad words from the recording industry. Maybe their provocative name caught her attention. This is what the Dead Kennedys are best known for. And to top it off, the music is great. They were a punk band after most of the original punk bands had moved on, but they also included a lot of surf rock and a bit of experimentation. This combined with the biting political lyrics are what made this band. At least if you're like minded to Biafra. If not, expect to hate this album.
Such a classic punk album, although I feel like the Dead Kennedys always came with enough variety to make them feel like they transcend the confines of punk. Jello Biafra is both wild and intelligent thanks to heavy doses of sarcasm and seriousness in his lyrics and performances. His voice is one of a kind and his influence on singers to come is very apparent. The band is really tight for the genre too, still maintaining a raw sound but with levels of precision in the intensity that few other punk bands could reach. I completely agree to this being an album everyone should experience at least once, even if it’s not your thing.
Assault punk! I love these guys. The goofiness of Chemical Warfare sounds a bit like Mr. Bungle. Actually, I hear a lot of Bungle weirdness in this album. It isn't just a straight punk album, there's some circus rock, surf rock, odd breakdowns, etc. These guys stand apart from other punk contempraries. My favorite song on here is California Uber Alles.
The founding fathers of "Fuck You" Punk music
Formative hardcore punk record.
One of the best punk bands for a reason! 4/5
Classic punk album. I’m not well versed in the genre, but this was pretty good.
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. This was a great introduction to the Dead Kennedys!
A kamikaze mix of punk, hardcore, surf rock and power pop, and covering the topics of conservatism, violence, overbearing authority, and capitalist greed, ‘Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables’ is brutally satirical, darkly funny and extremely clever. And to top it all off, right at the end, their cover of ‘Viva Las Vegas’ is so absurd, it’s hilarious. I liked this a lot.
Very classic punk Can’t get past the vocals instrumentals are dynamic Lyrics good Nice quick songs
Potent stuff. High-energy punk. The pace is pretty solid and sets it apart as a defining record of this genre. It has that raw production that adds to its rebellious sound. I love it and think it's incredible. It's a must listen for anyone interested in the roots of hardcore punk.
Not a huge punk fan but this is a fun album.
One of the greatest punk bands of all time. Amazing album that’s still relevant today.
My old bones can't keep up with these young kids and their fast music these days. Can't we go back to a simpler time when no one talked about the problems discussed on this record? Top tier "fuck you" punk that is very much served by a great mix of melodic vocals and chants, combined with tight, punctuated guitar riffs.
Punchy instrumentation is fused with trenchant social critique in this blissfully bitter early hardcore punk declaration.
#242. This is way better than any of those 'classic' British punk bands could ever hope to be. The Clash and The Sex Pisols and all that were a bit trash, on the whole, but Dead Kennedys and Bad Brains and such helped turned punk into something actually worth listening to. This album isn't just 15 exactly the same songs like so much punk before it. 4/5: fresh
Fast-paced, entertaining, left anti-establishment messaging... all the hallmarks of early punk and of good punk, at least to my taste. My peace was disturbed a few times while listening through (Chemical Warfare, Kill the Poor, Let's Lynch the Landlord), but that's the point so it's not like I can fault for that.
relatable i like it
Crazy energy bomb. Loved it all the way through. Maybe the other album was better but that's mostly songs from this one so...
i love a clever album title, but i love a punk as hell album cover! i'm obsessed that the dead kennedys walked the walk. their music is so abrasive, like all punk, but is truly catchy. they don't have the mainstream sound that the clash did, but unlike "noise rock" (should not be a real genre), dead kennedys aren't making noise just to make noise. this alone sets them apart from other hardcore punk acts. what truly makes dead kennedys different is their commitment to social issues. i don't know the last time i heard an album covering such a range of social and political topics. sure, they can be blatant in their titles, like "chemical warfare," but what they were doing in 1980 was still decades ahead. "let's lynch the landlord" could have come out in 2020 during the pandemic and the Great Landlord Whining Session. "kill the poor" continues to be true and reflective of today's elite and powerful. "holiday in cambodia" is more relevant to the world events at that time, but the lyrics are remain sharp and biting. honestly, what's not to love?
This is the best album we've had in a little while - excellent punk energy, doesn't bother trying to be mainstream, but stays away from being deliberately impenetrable. Some savvy commentary in there, some of it is very specific to its context, but quite a lot of it translates pretty well to now. I don't think I'm punk enough to really really enjoy this album (to be honest, I'd have preferred a bit more tunefulness), but it definitely belongs on the list, it's got something to say, and it knows what it wants to be. 4/5.
"Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" is the debut studio album by the Dead Kennedys. Hardcore punk, this album made waves for their aggressive, politically charged attitude, the album art of burning police cars during the White Night riots, and, of course, the controversial band name. This album is packed full of fast, exciting tracks, with smart musicality and a remarkable lead singer. "Holiday in Cambodia" is top notch and their cover of "Viva Las Vegas" is to be noted.
fun and energetic album - lots of discordant melodies, fast drums, heavy distortion, and social commentary all packaged into first gen hardcore punk
Some of the songs were a little too chaotic to be enjoyable, like Chemical Warfare (which is probably the point of that song), but overall I liked it! Solid punk rock. Gave me sort of a Dropkick Murphys vibe minus the Irish.
surf punk mayhem of noise and politics
One thing I'm finding with this list is that I absolutely love punk. Specifically US-based hardcore punk. This record was the Dead Kennedys' debut, and man what a trip this is. Super hard hitting and in-your-face sound. Lots of critics at the time compared them to the Sex Pistols, but I don't really see the comparison? Maybe a similar vocal style. What really set the Dead Kennedys apart from their contemporaries imo is their creativeness instrumentally. The bass lines are outstanding throughout. They're not just spamming the same few guitar chords (which isn't to say that style is bad). There's even some prog-ish (?) breakdowns on here.
These guys are generally very left-wing in their criticism of conservative politics and American love for property and violence, but they also criticize authority in general (including the current left-leaning governor of California) as well as hippies who they view as not doing enough to take action. Dead Kennedys are angry, and rightfully so. They criticize Khmer Rouge for their genocide, the US for their complicity, and the general public of western nations for their lack of care for fellow humans on the other side of the world. There’s some awesome protest songs in here, and on top of all of that, the cover of “Viva Las Vegas” fucking slaps.
Not my favorite album by them but still enjoyable. Favorite track: California Über Alles
High-quality punk album, catchy songs, rapid delivery, good flow.
I was between 3 and 4 starts for this. Definitely an important album, and I think "California Uber Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia" are what pushes it past 3 stars for me.
I remember borrowing a cassette from my friend in 6th or 7th grade and hiding it from my parents. I only listened to it judiciously and to be honest didn't really understand much of the content until I was a fair bit older. Now I look back on this music fondly as being in true punk rock spirit. The band is exceptionally tight and skilled. Jello's vocals aren't for everyone but I find them angry and smart enough to roll with. There are some duds on this album but overall it's more good than meh. "Stealing people's mail" and "Chemical warfare" are unsung favorites in addition to the well-known tracks like "Holiday in Cambodia" and "California über Alles"
4 or 4.5. Classic.
Absolute anarchy. The wildest lyrics and angriest delivery. But the music bops, there’s so much depth here, from the power chords, to the keys in the background, synthesized noises, it just infects you and gets the head bobbing. The material is absolutely wild, but it clicks. I don’t even particularly like the singing, but I don’t hate the final product. Wired rating for me.
Listened 3/12/24. Angst ridden and thought provoking. Sadly the topics touched upon here in 1980 are still relevant today.
Dead Kennedys are great. An absolutely vital energy and ethos and message. 14 tracks in 33 minutes is just what I want from a punk record too. Absolutely loved hearing this for the first time in quite a while.
Another great Punk album that proves that a 14 song album can come in at 33 minutes and be perfect. DK perfected the style of music being used for shock value and still conveying an important message. 4.5/5
At the beginning of the album, I wasn’t feeling it, but by the end, I was definitely feeling the energy of the album. It won me over. I liked how consistent this album was, and it didn’t overstay its welcome.
awesome
While it suffers from the same issues as most punk albums, that being extremely repetitive, it also has plenty to stand out against its other famous punk acts. Not only are Jello Biafra's vocals iconic, charming, and really suits the lyrics that are coated in so much irony they feel more earnest than any other punk act, and the alien-like guitar playing lends itself well to it all. Songs blend, but you're never gonna feel like resting while listening to this, instead you're gonna feel like causing havoc, and other iconic punk acts from the time can't say that, I feel.
I can see the value as this threw me into a rage.
The album has a good energy and a bit of variety. The songs, though a bit repetitive, are quick enough to not overstay their welcomes. I'm not a huge punk fan, but I mostly enjoyed this album, and it gains points for daring to mess with the United States Postal Service.
This album is good for what it is.
How about “Kill the Poor” as a first track on a debut album? The Kennedys were authentic, that’s for sure. I love it, and I get the sarcasm, the satire, and the baiting going on here. But congrats, Jello, you got me. I don’t like fantasies about murdering people, and I don’t like references to killing children no matter the level of sarcasm or satire or fantasy. You’re smart enough to make your point a different way. 4/5
this album is so creative. great lyrics and really shows the dead kennedys’ influence on the hardcore movement
Knew of the Dead Kennedys but have never listened to them. I loved this. Felt like it could fit into today’s music.
Listen at 3/2/2024
This is really well made and I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed it. There was range and a unique style. It sounded original. Production is great and the lyrics are incredible. Funny while still getting their message across. Their version of “Viva Las Vegas” made really sold it for me though. I have no complaints really, though it can get a tad repetitive. 4/5
Yeah diggin this shit. Reminds of Craig from Park Lane the cook. So sad he died. :/ But not before making me a super cool mixed tape with a bunch of cool punk songs like from these guys, and black flag, circle jerks etc. Good shit. he's the one who showed me Pulp Fiction first I think. At gmas lol 4 Stars
Love me some DK
Honestly my fav of all the DK records, Jello Biafra is so amazing patron saint of san francisco punk, he is the best. His political outrage and diy attitude to culture jamming should be emulated by futrure generatuions to come
Very good
January 11, 2024 “Holiday in Cambodia”, “Kill the Poor”, “California Uber Alles”, “Drug Me” I don’t know if punk will ever be my “thing”, but this seems about as essential as any punk release, hardcore or otherwise. Jello Biafra seemed to know where right-wing politics were headed in our present day, well before Reagan was elected. Chilling yet fun. “Holiday in Cambodia” is an all-weather classic as well.
Rating: 8.5/10 Great punk album, loved the energy, riffs, and sarcastic lyrics and vocal delivery. Many amazing songs on this album that have memorable guitar riffs and lyrics, the band definitely sounds one-of-a-kind for a genre that is normally pretty one dimensional. The incorporation of surf-like riffs was also done very well, a great juxtaposition to the stereotypical power chord dominated riffs of punk rock. Some songs did not land with me though, the combination of the singing and riffs is not always great, but I definitely see why this album is considered a classic and beloved by many. Favorite songs: Kill the Poor, Forward to Death, When Ya Get Drafted, Let's Lynch the Landlord, Chemical Warfare, California Uber Alles, Ill in the Head, Holiday in Cambodia. Worst songs: Stealing People's Mail, Viva Las Vegas.
KILL THE POOR
Fuck yes. 4.5/5
I like “California über Alles.” A bit repetitive, so it’s hard to pick standouts. But that’s the nature of punk rock sometimes. The bassline in “I Kill Children” is cool. “Ill in the Head” has a lot of replay appeal.
I still love how this album punches at nearly everyone.
While punk isn’t my goto genre, I really love the Dead Kennedys. Jello has a particularly impactful style of delivering his lyrics and the band can play. I was first exposed to them listening to Holiday in Cambodia and while is still have to be in the mood to listen, I think this album is great.
This is one of my favorite punk albums ever. It's got cracking tunes that barrel along at a breakneck pace, without becoming repetitive. The songs are smart and funny, and Jello Biafra presents them with force and charisma. It is serious, but never self-serious. Following Holiday in Cambodia (an all-time classic) with a cover of Viva Las Vegas is the perfect encapsulation of what is great about this record. There's always room for Jello.
Killer
Seminal punk album from the Dead Kennedys. Mixing a great sense of humour with serious political commentary, all delivered with a sense of malice and urgency. It's all super tight as well - the punk aesthetic slightly obscuring the chops of a band who can really play as well.
Legendary album. Maybe it gets a bit monotonous after a while. Still amazing.
this was the correct length for a punk album
boobies
4 stars
Fun, punk, garage sound!
Кайфовый ранний панкушник в стиле Sex Pistols и Clash. Нравится, что тематика песен радикальна, но не прямолинейна.
I used to like punk. I still do, but I used to, too.
Gotta love me some DK. One of the better albums. Between chemical warfare and holiday in Cambodia, definitely a solid album.
Nearly perfect punk album, I own and love it. Overly sarcastic lyrics, delivered in Jello's signature tone. Simple guitar riffs, barely 30 minutes, *chef's kiss*
I was a big Dead Kennedys guy back in the day; this brought me back.
CALIFORNIA! UBER ALLES!
great to be honest, I would listen to it again
closer to a three than a five. great album, but jello's voice begins to become a bit grating after a little while.
Classic punk album
Classic DK album
Interesting to listen to this after recently listening to The Hives. I've been aware of the Dead Kennedys since I was probably 13 or 14, and am pretty sure I've listened to this album before though never owned it or considered myself a fan. But a phrase like "let's lynch the landlord" registered much differently now than it did back then, and I think I've maybe put a finger on why I've been so cold on the 2000s garage rock we've listened to on this list. The tunes on this record are fun AND about something. It's in your face and up your nose and I think that helps give it a maybe unexpected longevity that others lack. Contrast that with the Hives; are any of their songs about anything?? If they were, I couldn't tell. And not that every album needs to be political in any way shape or form. I love plenty of songs that are about shit all. Half the time I'm not even paying attention to the lyrics anyway. But it's nice to hear music like this that takes aim at all of America's bullshit and puts it in an energetic package that's got less to do with talent than sheer willpower. The first song is called "Kill the Poor" and you can sing along to it! That's a potent combination that will probably resonate as long as America is still being all America.
4.25
I mean, this is one of those albums that got me into punk and hugely influenced by political pov growing up in the post 9/11, "War on Terrorism" era. For a 15 song punk rock album, the songs show a pretty incredible variety.
Overall not my sound, but I can understand why they are so popular. The lyrics are sharp, the guitar work is interesting and varied. Really seems like an evolution from a lot of the punk in the 70s
A great punk album with some well played surf rock and rockabilly textures. And you can never get enough of Jello Biafra’s highly distinctive voice and snide lyrics.
I’m not sure why this stands out among the other socially-conscious punk we’ve heard on this list but something about it just seems … more genuine maybe? Or maybe more radical. 8/10
Holiday in Cambodia, and California Uber Alles were the first two Dead Kennedys songs I heard, and they made me seek this album out. It has great energy throughout. I even like the Viva Las Vegas cover, despite cover songs that completely subvert the genre generally seeming like gimmicks to me. Just a great 80s punk album with sneering sarcastic lyrics and fast music.
Listened to all of it. Great sound and a nice change from rock.
Great punk album. While I liked most song song I didn't love everyone but still solid start to finish.
Great album.
You can hear the influence from The Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols, and, interestingly, jazz. I’m impressed with how varied the basslines are for a punk band; sold album.
Top notch punk. Love the vocal affectation, the surf guitar, the very forceful messages. Some unexpectedly creative musical ideas in here too, the guitar in Holiday in Cambodia is genuinely exciting.
Punk evolved. Never heard anything by them before, but it was most pleasant to listen to.
4.5/5
Now we're on my kind of music, some classic punk. Listened to this already many times, Dead Kennedys had a really interesting sound on here thanks to their surf-rock influence. Songs like 'Kill the Poor', 'Lets Lynch the Landlord', 'California Uber Alles' all are punk classics that I could listen to everyday and not tire of them. The only thing stopping me from giving it a 5 is a few tracks near the end running up to the legendary 'Holiday in Cambodia' which are a little weak and don't leave much of an impression even after all the listens i've given them. Regardless this is still a punk classic that anyone interesting in getting into the genre should listen through a couple times.
With the yelpy vocals, political lyrics and manic, twisted riffs this sounds remarkably like a System of a Down prototype in places, and that’s no bad thing. I find early punk pretty hit and miss, but this album is definitely one of the more interesting and fun examples of the genre I’ve come across. 3.5 stars, and a nice lil bump up for pleasantly surprising me.
entendible discazo teniendo california uber alles pero no es tanto mi kind of rock
Well for me, this is a classic formative album. I'll admit the vocals can be a bit hard to get used to, but conversely, there's just some fantastic songwriting here and some outright jams. Holiday in Cambodia is certainly a jam, as is California Uber Alles, but I must admit a big soft spot for Let's Lynch The Landlord which clearly states, unequivocally, exactly where their sympathies lie. IMHO a classic album that everyone should have heard at some point in their life... so a great inclusion on the list.
This got pretty repetitive listening to it all at once but I liked every song on the album. Good stuff to listen to but repeated listens are pretty hard.
Canciones rápidas y directas. Precursores de un estilo afilado. Los Sex Pistols americanos. Punk sin complicaciones
This band still cuts through - Holiday in Cambodia and California Uber Alles are such great tracks
"Energisyys" on aivan sallittava termi kuvaamaan musiikkia silloin, kun muitakin avuja on havaittavissa. OK, Biafran ääni on jollain tasolla "acquired taste", johon ei koskaan täysin totu, mutta biisimateriaali on huomiota herättävän vahvaa - enkä tarkoita pelkästään kunnianhimoisempia (?) popkappaleita, vaan myös punkvetoja kuten Forward to Death, jotka koukuttavat samalla, minimalistisella tavalla kuin hyvä rock'n'roll on aina tehnyt. Joten kyllä, annan häpeilemättä energian viedä itseni mukanaan. Voisiko se olla viemättä?
Honestly?
Such a rush. Some good good punk sound.
очень приятное введение в панк, так сказать
essential hardcore punk that's as silly as possible. Took a while to grow on me but probably one of my favorite punk records nowadays.
That's punk for you. Nothing else but pure rebelliousness. 4.5/5
I love a lot of the songs on this album. Jello can be an acquired taste and I get why so many people can't stand him. TBH, I liked a lot of the mix that spotify played after this album more than this but it's still a fun one. Glad it's on this list. Definitely happy to get this after that Robbie Williams bullshit.
Before today, the only exposure to Dead Kennedys I had was hearing Police Truck on Tony Hawk Pro Skater, and Holiday in Cambodia on Guitar Hero 3. For the purposes of this review, I enjoyed the album so much that I listened to the extended edition of it. Dead Kennedys have a really unique sound, mixing surfer rock with hardcore punk, and lacing in their political views (which are sadly still relevant today). Jello Biafra's vocal delivery sounds like the B-52's. Their version of Viva Las Vegas may be better than Elvis'! All of the members of the band are super talented! These guys pushed their message unapologetically, and largely without representation. I Kill Children, and Funland at the Beach both have roots in Alice Cooper style shock rock, really taking the listener by surprise when they start into them. Overall, a phenomenal punk record. The fact that this is a debut album is insane! I thoroughly enjoyed this deeper dive into their back catalog. I will definately listen again! Favourite songs: Police Truck, Too Drunk to Fuck, In-Sight, When Ya Get Drafted, Holiday in Cambodia, California Uber Alles, Chemical Warfare, Let's Lynch the Landlord, Forward to Death, Kill the Poor Least favourite songs: The Prey, Drug Me, Ill in the Head 4/5
It's just really high quality American Punk as the scales began to tip towards that musical direction. Jello's voice matched up with the high speed and intensity of the music makes it a very immersive album, ready to thrash about whenever needed.
not morally straight and differently abled version of system of a down. holiday in cambodia
It's a little crazy but mostly good.
Somewhere between a 3 and a 4.
So fun, so riled up, and deserves a place on this list and any other considering punk rock music. Fave tracks: Kill the Poor, Drug Me, Chemical Warfare, I Kill Children, Holiday in Cambodia
This is how I like my punk music - fast, loud, politically charged and irreverent as fuck. Fav Tracks: Kill The Poor, Chemical Warfare, Holiday In Cambodia
This was a great punk album. It’s crazy that there were times I thought I was listening to an early System of a Down. Had to influence them. 4 TBz 1. When Ya Get Drafted 2. Drug Me 3. Kill the Poor 4. Let’s Lynch the Landlord
3.5/5 punk
Ik vind het leuk. Moeilijk voor te stellen ook dat dit uit 1980 komt, het is echt een punkerige versie van System of a Down, dus ik zou het sowieso halverwege jaren 90 schatten. Het is ook maar goed dat het maar 35 minuten is, en zelfs dat is al iets te lang met allemaal chaosnummers van 2 minuten. Maar al met al wel erg leuk.
Loud
It's Dead Kennedys. That being said, this isn't my favorite album by them. I like later ones more. 4/5
Probably my favorite punk album of all time. Still sounds out of this world 40+ years on, everything about it works; Jello’s snotty performance, the strong musicianship, biting lyrics and memorable melodies. I’m glad we finally got to it. A-
Not a punk fan but this album surprised me. Was tapping along the entire time and had fun with it!
Decent punk
IDK why I like this honestly, but I do. It's so fast and in your face and there's not a very strong sense of rhythm. Yet, I can't stop listening. The songs are so short, they kinda blend together and I'll check to see if i'm still on the same song and i've listened to like 3 different songs and didn't even realize it.
D. H. Peligro was a gift to the world.
Great album, nice hooks, strong melodies with sparse and consistent instrumentation. Crazy to hear in retrospect the influence they had on SOAD's vocalist, Serj Tankian, not to even mention all the punk bands that came after them
Enjoyed
Shouty short bursts of perfect punkiness. What's not to like?
Solid lump of punk.
Shouty, shouty, a tour de force of punk rock!
Hated the start and loved the rest. The lyrics and instrumentation are really good I just am not a fan of the vocal delivery. If I could I would give it a 3.5.
Acerbic, caustic, other time fantastic. Jello's warbling but assertive voice sets nicely with the fuzzy diy musicianship. The lyrics are funny, provocative and excellent for precocious teenagers looking for a sharp edge to their politics. When I was 14 I bought this album for a girl I fancied who I believe still has it. Kill the Poor and Holiday in Cambodia are highlights. The album does sometimes disintegrate into sparse noise but that's sort of the point. Five star band but maybe a four star album.
I steeled myself to get ready to listen to this one, but was somewhat surprised how much I appreciated it today. I'd known some of the songs from mixtapes in the 80s. I mostly thought of the Dead Kennedys as just being shocking for the sake of being shocking, which, I must say, was a valid thing in the late teens. I didn't think it would translate well to my older self, however. It's still shocking, and Jello Biafra's voice is still creepily distorted. However, some things that I noticed this time: The music is good. I've heard some hardcore punk in this project, and I'd take this rock 'n' roll over many other works. The satire is darkly humorous, viciously biting, and much more clever than I'd remembered. I'd never be very comfortable calling myself a Dead Kennedy's fan, but in the realm of hardcore punk, they're up there.
Well, that wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. Not ever really embracing punk music. Surprised at how much I liked what I was hearing...at least for about 15 minutes...after that, it all started to get tiring and I found myself kind of blocking it out and it was difficult to keep my focus on the music. Still I think it was a pretty good punk album.
A very fine punk rock record. Fast tempos and clever lyrics that are both funny and horrifying.
I wasn’t sure how this would go down. These guys know their way around the instruments which raises it to the top of the punk music I’m familiar with. The lyrics are pretty darn clever too. A surprisingly enjoyable listen!
Much better than I was expecting. Not just stupid fast hardcore, but intelligent, punk rock that had substance and musically more diverse than your average punk band. Don't really want to say I thoroughly enjoyed, but I was intrigued and wanted to hear more. This is an important band and for some would be essential, at the very least they were influential and original.
4.0
When I first looked at this album and the Dead Kennedys (I'd not heard of them before), I wasn't feeling too positive about my enjoyment of the album. HOWEVER, I really enjoyed it! I love the witty hilarious observations about some of the shittier parts of society and the political messages. I think it's great that they were prosecuted for obscenity and seen as dangerous, what could be more hardcore?! Take the track Let's Lynch the Landlord, who couldn't relate and enjoy that other than actual landlords and their offspring?? I love that you can hear the lyrics clearly on a lot of the tracks and there is less of the noise I find stressful with a lot of punk music. It also reminds me of a friend from my open mic night who can whip up a similar hilarious song minutes after one of us shares a funny remark in the Whatsapp group. On first glance, the album looks quite long but every track is punchy and short. There are a few tracks in between which are more fillery to me and have more of that kind of noise I find so stressful so it's not perfect but I am so pleasantly surprised and excited to enjoy a hardcore punk album that I will rate this quite highly.
One time listening…
Fucking great, the best of 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 by that period
I always enjoy Punk Rock but had not heard much of the Dead Kennedys. Really enjoyed the album but I listened to the Expanded Edition which gets abit long with 20 songs. Highlights: Kill the Poor Holiday in Cambodia Let's Lynch The Landlord
I actually didn't like this as much as I thought I would..... But was still good. Holiday in Cambodia, kill the poor and chemical warfare were the best tracks
not bad at all
As a huge punk fan, I dig this
Love the energy
Jello
I've always liked the Dead Kennedys, more than most other punk acts of their time. Their debut album is probably their best album (compilations excluded), and so this was a fun listen. Fast and riffy, with Jello's signature vocals.
I really like Jello's delivery and heavy sarcastic humor delivered across the album. There's also enough creativity and variation in melody and delivery that keeps the album pretty engaging. Holiday in Cambodia stands out.
To me personally, feel like a step up into punk rock. Not to say anything before it was bad, but this seems to add onto the sound.
Listen headphones or blasted. More repeats. Blast.
One of those bands I forget about, and I have no idea why. This is an absolute punk classic, chock full of great riffs, incisive lyrics, focused righteous anger and plenty of humour too. I sniggered at Too Drunk (not on here, I know) as a schoolboy, and the serious point was a little lost on me at the time. But Kill The Poor as an opener shows the message behind these songs, and the album starts as it means to go on. So many great tracks here, and I have always loved the version of Viva Las Vegas, amping up the craziness behind the hazy American Dream that was Elvis' movie stint. Love it. A lot.
Awesome early punk. I like that they use more than just power chords.
Compared to the punk album I got yesterday, this was a lot better. More political, more overt. Some great guitar work.
It’s a good early punk album. They do something that’s at the same time classic but you can listen in modern times as well.
High school me didn’t fully comprehend the meaning behind a lot of these songs.
Solid punk album all around
Not my usual type of music but I loved the riffs, intensity and lyrics
Good solid punk album. Some great tracks, some also rans Hangs together well
4.5
I knew all about the Dead Kennedys but for some reason had never got around to listening to their songs before. I knew about them being their work as one of the pioneers of the punk scene, and it shows in their songs. There is definitely a whiplash I felt midway through when I realized this album came out in 1980 due to how their music sounds like. I gave it a 4 star but I can see myself coming back and giving it a better rating once I've become more familiar with the songs
High energy, very fun to listen too. 8/10
I've heard most of the songs from this album but I don't think I've ever listened to it from beginning to end. Awesome!
I remember being in high school in the early 80s, and my old beat friend Marty from elementary school, who I had stopped being friends with around 7th grade, showed up to school in a Dead Kennedys t-shirt. I was like, what the hell happened to Marty? We had grown up listening to Elton John and The Beatles, and I still hadn't moved much beyond that. (Sure, I now liked Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin too, but punk rock? That was a bridge too far.) Looking back now, I see that Marty was much more musically adventurous and open-minded, something that took another few years for me. Listening to this now in hindsight, I can see this as a natural evolution from the garage rock bands of the 60s and early 70s, for example The Stooges and The MC5. It's raw and rough around the edges, but still catchy. Marty, I'm sorry I was so stuck in my ways - it would have been fun to hang out and obsess over bands like this back in the day. 4 stars.
8/10 fun, but not amazing
One of my favorite punk bands!
Nice punk album. Voice of the singer remind me serj tankian.
Kick ass punk album. What else?
Tight
Actually a quite good punk rock album, especially comparing to all the other similar bands that I have seen on the list so far. The lyrics are funny, but surprisingly on point, even 40 years after release. The music is much more diverse than a simple punk 3 chords - we have here few interesting riffs, more energy, and more thoughtful experience. All in all, it's not an album that I would listen to more often, but because it's so much better than other punk rock bands on this list, I'm happy to give it 4 stars.
Some bangers and some duds, but I can see why they thrived. I also get some System of a Down vibes w some of the chaotic melody shifts and vocal swings
Hearing Dead Kennedys for the first time as a pre-teen Skate kid is one thing. Revisiting in middle-age is another. This band was my template for punk for some time to come—more than than the Ramones or the Sex Pistols. This wasn't the record I first heard (that was Frankenchrist) but it was a fast-follow. Some classic tracks here that have undeniable potency still. But it also lacks a depth I would soon crave in my music back then and still do to this day. In that way, I find this record lacking.
Very good, very unique, I enjoyed it
Uber Alles.
I have a soft spot for the DKs. One of the first punk bands I kind of got into. Jello Biafra is kind of an enigma to me as well...really hard to tell in his lyrics if he is just being ironic or laudatory in any way. 4/5
Pleasantly surprised for the strawberries on this record
Never listened to Dead Kennedies before, Jello Biafra's voice is brilliant and much variation in songs, more melody than much early punk.
I knew only a few Dead Kennedys songs before I listened to this album, all of which are on here, but I enjoyed what I had heard. I wasn't sure what expect of this album, given that punk is kind of hit-or-miss with me, but I thought it was good. The album has a nice energy to it. The songs manage to differentiate themselves from one another. I also like this singer's voice quite a bit. This a very solid punk album. My favourite song was California Uber Alles.
Ca demenage t c’est du tres bon punk, j’ai adore. 4.85
Didn't expect much—I'm pleasantly surprised. The crazy 'Chemical Warfare' and also the odd-timed 'Ill In The Head' push the band into prog-punk territory. I'm all for it.
Cool!
Really good punk. Not quite sex pistols level.
Oh, that voice was really...something haha. Anyway, I love how unapologetic this record is. What I found interesting was that my enjoyment of the song greatly depended on how I felt about the opening guitar hooks. While I didn't feel strongly about many individual songs (either way), I would put this album on as an overall atmosphere/vibe. 3.5ish but closer to 4.
From band name on down, Dead Kennedys thrive on confrontation. How apt is it that their battleground would be 1980s California, the once home of a former acting couple that governed the state and who would soon be President and First Lady. Not only them, but targets would include authority figures of all kind and all corners would be fought in the way only the band would fight. Fresh fruit for rotting vegetables indeed. Favorites: Kill the Poor, Let's Lynch the Landlord, Drug Me, Your Emotions, Chemical Warfare, California Uber Alles, I Kill Children, Holiday in Cambodia, Kill the Poor (single version).
I'm not a hardcore guy but this album has just enough melody to keep me returning to it and lots of classic songs...Kill the Poor, Holiday in Cambodia, Let's Lynch the Landlord it's a landmark allbum of the genre. 4 stars
09/19/2022 Happy birthday, ficat!! :)) Don’t even have to finish this album to know I’m giving it four stars. DK are one of my favorite punk bands. Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death was always in my rotation, but this one will definitely be a part of it now too. The versions of California and Cambodia are way better on this album. This kinda music just gives me so much energy and also makes me want to punch a nazi. Love it, love it. — Only 10am atm, got a long week ahead of me. Still have some lingering anxiety from the past few days, but I’m gonna use that as motivation to be well and take care. Will probably write in my journal and update here soon. Today has been rough and really long. I’ll be happy to get home. Gonna crochet or get in the shower to try and feel better. Sit with the pain a bit instead of trying to drown it out.
Great record
Good punking I
punk 3 or 4 maybe? not my fave but a fast listen and +1 for being badasses.
I'm glad that this album fell right after The Clash. I know they weren't released that far apart from each other, but I feel like the Dead Kennedys successfully picked up the torch from 70's-era punk and passed it on to the Green Days and Nirvanas of the 90s. I feel like this album represents a little bit of a fork in the road too. Like, if you make it just a little more radio friendly, it's 90's alt-rock - a little louder and it's 90s metal. For that reason, it gets a small bump in my rating.
Sounds like very early punk, some cool sounds here but just a lot of noise. V political though up the boys.
Buen disco. Punkcito clásico de San Francisco. Para días manija. Energético.
Mérite définitivement une place dans les 1001. Un des meilleurs albums de early punk qui existe
Reminds me of playing Tony Hawks on the ps1 and I love it for that
this feels like a bunch of teenagers with strong political opinions coming together and writing beserk but powerful songs
Baaaaangers man stor fyra!
Bangers with little to no downtime inbetween. This albums reminds of something that I’ve noticed while listening to quite a few classic punk records, that being the music’s suprising sophistication in comparison to it’s stereotype of being simple
Ganska bra!!!!
how they make music if dead
This is punk rock. Well informed and insightful lyrics, fast paced and driving sound, middle finger to the establishment. I think I have to go overthrow a government now.
Side A: American punk was inevitable, and its characteristic elements are nice to hear even if the genre tends toward one note. The B side blows all that away. The Kennedys get weird, timeless (California), and manage to pack the second half of a brief record with impressive musical working.
Kill the Poor - 9/10 Forward to Death - 7/10 When Ya Get Drafted - 10/10 Let's Lynch the Landlord - 10/10 Drug Me - 10/10 Your Emotions - 9/10 Chemical Warfare - 10/10 California Uber Alles - 8/10 I Kill Children - 5/10 Stealing People's Mail - 7/10 Funland at the Beach - 6/10 Ill in the Head - 7/10 Holiday in Cambodia - 6/10 Viva Las Vegas - 9/10
Classic punk rock! Proudly own a copy of this.
Lekker! De stem van Biafra is zo herkenbaar, ik word daar altijd vrolijk van.
Now I’m not a fan of punk but this is something I can actually get behind. While it’s angry and still kind of ugly it does have a sense of fun that I’ve not heard from other first wave punk bands. The original pressing doesn’t out stay it’s welcome and I was even pleased to heard Police Truck on the extended version (as the whole thing did make me want to listen to Tony Hawk songs)
Their surf-rock influence really stands out here.
geggjað
Intense, interesting, lots of attitude and character.
Good punk album, reminds me of Sex Pistols a bit
La punk serait elle en train de devenir seduisante? Les Dead Kennedys nous font nous poser la question quelques albums après leurs camarades des Hives. Les cannettes de bières et les coliers à piques semblent en effet avoir été abandonné par la cause punk. Affaire à suivre.
If you were angry and disaffected in the 1980s, the Dead Kennedys were your band. There is a singular anger and urgency to this music that's startling the first time you hear it. It's noisy, snotty, hectic, and full of attitude. But there's more. There's point of view and and a sharp satirical edge. The comparisons to the Sex Pistols are apt, except DK are smarter, more musically sophisticated, more politically minded, and not at all concerned with their own image. Their lyrics are far more caustic and outlandish. But sometimes they're also incredibly incisive. "Kill the Poor" is basically "A Modest Proposal" for the nuclear age. 40 years on, some of the politics feels almost quaint (like, who would write a song about Jerry Brown now?), but some of it is still timely in today's political climate. Jello Biafra's vocal is perfect for this kind of music - authoritative, pissed off, occasionally snide and/or bemused. This isn't for everyone, but it's a really important album in the development of American punk and hardcore, and it's never boring. High 3, bumped to 4. Fave Songs: California über alles, Funland at the Beach, Viva Las Vegas, Holiday in Cambodia, Stealing People's Mail, When Ya Get Drafted
This is one of my favorite punk albums ever. it's got cracking tunes that barrel along at a breakneck pace, without becoming repetitive. The songs are smart and funny, and Jello Biafra presents them with force and charisma. It is serious, but never self-serious. Following Holiday in Cambodia (an all-time classic) with a cover of Viva Las Vegas is the perfect encapsulation of what is great about this record. There's always room for Jello.
Good, very Sex Pistols, completely unsurprisingly.
Ooh some punk! The album opens with the song kill the poor the start of the song is rather anthemic but after a short bit of time it forms into a rather good punk song. Then is forward to death a fast paced minute long rocker it does good for its time limit but not great. Exactly the same with when ya get drafted. Lets lynch the landlord is a banger though a proper punk tune screaming, poor production just great amazing energy! Drug me like tracks 2-3 is a ball of pure energy but somehow I just prefer this. Your emotions on the other hand is just a good piece of energy nothing too special but works. Chemical warfare ends side one it’s one of the longer, better ones yeah just great really especially when it slows an odd highlight. Starting off side two is California über lines it has a great build up at the start this is one of the longer and slower songs but it’s still brilliant for a punk band. I kill children starts off quite cool with the spoken bit, the song eventually turns into a punky affair filled with lots of pauses and silence for effect. Stealing peoples mail is another one of those just great energy but little song kinda things still good though. Funland at the beach goes for a similar thing but it has some brilliant guitar work in comparison to the other short energetic ones. Ill in the head is alright probably my least favourite I mean it’s alright but the guitar breaks don’t work for how frequently they occur. Now for the penultimate track and the albums longest ( by far) holiday in Cambodia the intro to this is odd and unnecessary but after it forms this amazing track great guitars especially yeah the best song! The album closes with an Elvis cover in the form of viva las vegas it’s only really a song that I know through the chorus but it’s actually a decent rendition better than I thought they would do. One of the better punk albums but not my favourite the typical rule here is the longer the song the better.
I find myself quite conflicted. "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" is political, fast, and urgent, with much brilliant pointed commentary and erudite references. It is also satirical almost to a fault, and trying to parse the attempted wit from the caricature that is Jello Biafra may be futile. The spirit behind the album is passionate and infectious and quite commendable, but listen too closely and it may fall apart a bit. Biafra is apparently not an anarchist, though you could understandably mistake him for one on some tracks. It's the overboard satire that seems designed to push all of the buttons that leads to confusion. But not an actual anarchist, which is good, because while an interesting thought experiment, anarchy is idiotic. "California Uber Alles" was the most notable shark-jumper for me. Comparing Jerry Brown to Nazis is a bit much. And here I thought comparing anyone slightly more fascist than yourself to actual Nazis was more of a 21st century thing. And through no fault of this 1980-released album, today may have been the wrong day to listen to "I Kill Children," regardless of the intended meaning and effect of the song. There is a lot to like here, though, and Dead Kennedys' influence cannot be mistaken. Political punk this angry rose to the surface again in the 1990s with Rage Against the Machine and System of a Down, the latter of which I definitely hear developing out of DK's surf-rock spaz. I think both of those bands do it better though, toning down the satire a little in exchange for more bite.
Once you get past the wobbly voice, there's plenty to like here. Best track: Holiday in Cambodia
još uvijek imam u bilježnici maloj koju mi je Lucija kupila da si zapisujem iza Becka šta je sve bilo jer se inače ne sjećam baš kristalno jasno, jutro sutradan. al se ipak sjećam kad su mi jedna grupica ljudi pisali u tu bilježnicu albume koje trebam poslušati, inače pankeri su i to društvo znate. ovaj album je odmah bio prvi za preslušavanje, prošlo je 4-5 godina sigurno, a ja se nisam udostojio poslušati u cijelosti album ili bar ono sjetit se to preslušat, i evo ga, došlo je vrijeme. /// razumijem da, veoma važan album na punk sceni, energetski potkrepljen, sirov, buntovan, anarhija brate! Pogotovo je sjeo sinoć nakon živciranja.
It sounds a little bit dated, but still one of the best punk records of all time!
I loved DKs as a teenager, so great to find that their music definitely holds up. I love Jello Biafra's warbling voice, which is filled with equal parts scornful disdain and childish humour. Also love East Bay Ray's trademark surf-style guitar which is so characteristic of the DK sound. Some of the songs the puerile silliness gets too much, but this still blows must punk albums out of the water. 4.5*
I've listened to this a couple of times before a few years and it never really hit me properly but I really enjoyed it this time round It's just incredibly frenetic and unapologetic punk, with some really bizarre lead guitar lines and inspired vocal delivieries that make it stick out from the more by-the-numbers punk bands
Enjoyable but I agree that Jello Biafra’s vocal delivery leaves something to be desired. Still, highly amusing.
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?
politically we agree. sonically we do not. wait.. did they… say the n word?
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
My co-worker thought I would hate this album, but I actually liked it. Early hardcore is good. 3.5/5
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.
not for me
Simpel aber effektiv
Pretty solid punk. 3.5 goin down.
Not my favorite type of music. Following along with the lyrics was entertaining though. Some songs were pretty great and some were pretty strange.
Aika loistavaa punkkia.
Please enunciate like 10% more
3
I’m not 14 years old anymor
Not the worst album. Better than I thought it would be.
A punk band that can actually play. Fun tongue-in-cheek lyrics.
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
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.
DK are okay. Good lyrics and music, but I don't like Jello's voice that much.
Good
Best thing about this is how short these songs are.
not my favorite punk sound but definitely cool
6/10 - surprisingly good punk, even had my 2yr old headbanging
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.
Pretty good for punk.
I am not rhe biggest hardcore punk fan, but this was goodfor its genre. 3.5 stars
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.
Oh hey, it's the band that had that tough-as-nails song on Guitar Hero!
falta escoltar
pretty ok for ounk
It's fine enough
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.