Reviews (page 7 of 8)
So, that's the thing about shock rock. It's trying to satirically shake people loose from their complacency long enough to get them thinking. Problem is the other, more likely, reaction is for a knee jerk reaction because they think it's literal. Offended and now further entrenched, they remain complacent and bolsters in smug judgement. But yeah, this is punk through and through!
I don't hate this although it sounds a lot like the same song over and over (and over). I do love Holiday in Cambodia, though. Probably one bonus star just for that song...
I like the political messaging but not a big fan of 80's Punk
A few really great songs. Not enough of them. Anyone else seeing this comment? :P
has a unique sound but besides that it just fits into the punk category and it doesnt feel extra special to me
Oh yeah. time for a holiday. tough no nonsense lyrics.
Interesting
yup, it's shock-punk!
beetje te veel
La versió del punk nordamericà més propera a l'europea. Aquí, però, el nihilisme anglés no té cabuda, i les lletres intel.ligents de Jello Biafra són una part tan o més important que la música que les encercla. Dos temes de primer nivell, 'Holidays in Cambodia' i 'California Über Alles' i la resta tot un push d'actitud i d'agressivitat per una década -la de Reagan i Thatcher- que tot just començava... però que ja apuntava maneres
Hef aldrei almennilega hlustað á Dead Kennedys, en hllustaði nokkrum sinnum á spoken-word plötu Jello Biafra, I blow minds for a living, í gamla daga. Þetta er ekki beinlínis minni tebolli, en vissulega hresst og alls ekki leiðinlegt. En ég þarf þetta helst í smáskömmtum.
I was never cool enough to be a hardcore punk but this has 2 classics and lots of great tracks.
The name Dead Kennedys was a good name to choose since I knew the name of the band in the early 80s even though they got zero airplay in Sudbury circa 1980. The lead singer's choice of surname was also good since I know that Biafra was the name of a country in Africa. My friend's parents would try to guilt him into eating overcooked broccoli by informing him that "children are starving in Biafra". Mix that overcooked broccoli with some Jello and you can't help but think of this band. Decades later a neighbour lent me a Dead Kennedys' record since I had a turntable and he didn't. I moved from the neighbourhood, still have the loaned record and have never played it. I don't know why I never played it - well, now I know. I have no idea why, but I'm giving this a 3.
Hardcore punk is near the top of my list of least favourite genres, but of that mob, Dead Kennedys are the only group who I can name a song from. The choruses and song titles stay in your head, California über alles, Kill the Poor and Holiday in Cambodia, for example. Not to mention Soup is Good Food, from another album. Dead Kennedys were America's Sex Pistols with more satirical and hilarious lyrics.
i mean, it was aight?
A better and less superficial version of The Sex Pistols. Ferocious music and politically charged lyrics (although they're mostly undecipherable without the lyric sheet). Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Kill The Poor Date listened: 05/09/22
In het begin voelde ik hem echt maar echt niet. Maar vanaf song 3 ofzo begon het me wel te bekoren. Tof voor één keer te horen.
Very good punk album. Short & gets the messages across LOUD AND CLEAR. Fav song: Chemical Warfare
There was some interesting suff that I had never heard before. Great punk.
This has got a lot of energy, but the quality is pretty inconsistent.
First half of the album the vocals stayed at the forefront of the audio, distracting from the instrumentals. They could've used more vocal layering to add more texture to the audio. The second half of the album the sound of the vocals and instrumentals was balanced and provided more vocal layering. A lot of extremely varying tempo and generally a lot faster than the first half of the album. Overall the album has very chaotic energy and lyrics. Mainly upbeat and drum heavy as you would expect from most rock music. 'Outrageous' lyrics that were controversial for the time it was produced. Hard to understand lyrics - fun to listen to and sing along to.
No los había escuchado nunca, pero este viaje me ha hecho reflexionar que en realidad conozco muy poco del punk. Este disco es una buena entrada .
4/14, 29%
I respected this, but didn't like it. I could tell why it's on the list.
Old punk still isn't great. California Uber Allies is the only memorable song for a reason
El punk era esto. Aquí hay inspiración de más de una banda. Temazos como "Kill the poor" o "California Uber Alles". Esto si hay que escucharlo al menos una vez.
I remember this band, and I had heard a few of these tracks before. It was a good reminder for me that this album was recorded and released as long ago as it was. I didn't hear much punk or anything close to it until the mid- and late-80s, so my memory sometimes conflates my first hearing something with the time of an album's release, so I had always associated this band with late 80s. I actually like knowing those things because, for me at least, understanding the social, political, and cultural context in which an album was created and released adds a lot to the experience. Thinking of American culture and politics in the late 70s, and especially San Francisco's -- where Jello Biafra ran for mayor in '79 -- and the assassination of Harvey Milk, etc., the energy and frenetic style of this album feels spot on. This group performs so well. Weird, wild, and fun (as well as funny at times), but doesn't go so far off the rails that it all denigrates to my ears into abstract cacophony, which can happen sometimes for me when listening to punk/thrash and similar styles. Good stuff here.
Not a fan of punk music but quite enjoyed this. Holiday in Cambodia and Let's Lynch The Landlord are really fun. The vocalist is pretty enjoyable too.
Cet album a eu le mérite d'attiser ma curiosité étant données les récentes découvertes de mon camarade d'écoute eltrapeze au sujet de l'implication de Jim Morrison dans la mort de JFK. Affaire à suivre.
3/5 Herd this for the first time just last week, now here it is on this list. One of the best of the genre that I've heard. Chemical Warfare, California Uber Alles, I Kill Children, Holiday in Cambodia, and Even Viva Las Vegas...all songs I enjoyed!
My attitude about political or activist music has been going downhill a long time... It’s hard to feel like it really affects anything, and it all ends up on Google Play advancing the cause of neoliberal capitalism... still, this did dare to be more objectionable than most, and rocks pretty hard throughout. Biafra makes some weird singing choices but you can’t deny it’s distinct.
Classic punk album, I was surprised by how many songs I recognized (and liked). The rest of the album doesn't really hold up to the hits in my opinion, and I don't see myself really putting this on a lot.
Context is everything. Holiday in Cambodia and California, Kill the Poor and Über Alles are classic. But, if listening to this album for the first time and knowing nothing about Jello Biafra or the time of this album, I'd hate it. Eric Speichert had acquired the infamous Frankenchrist 12" (the album after FFfRV) with original fold-out insert and brought it to school. He was avid vinyl collector and super proud of that album. For me, my fourteen-year-old self was super-excited (pun intended) to see the penis / vagina insert (pun intended). But super-let-down when he showed it to everyone... LAAAME... "This is why everyone was pissed off...? There's no context... you can't even see anything..." Looking back on this, Biafra was the perfect loudmouth, antagonizer punk rock advocate for free speech. He (and ICE-T) helped build resistance against Tipper Gore's drive to censor musicians and scale back first amendment rights. But today, that's all forgotten, glossed over. We all understand and expect those rights. The 'free speech vs. censorship' fight no longer exists. That fight has evolved into who can out free speech each other? Who can be the most nasty, vile, personal, incendiary and provocative. Oh, and bonus points are scored if it inflicts in anxiety, mental anguish, or suicide. The genie is out of the box and looking back at some of Biafra's sarcasm, double-talk and weasely antics in today's world, It's hard not to discard him for being a troll who likes to hear himself instigate and watch shit burn. It's even harder to look back at your once punk rock icons like Biafra (and even Excene Cervenka) and think to yourself, "I know they weren't perfect, but is it possible they could've been terrible people all along...?" As for the music on this album, it's loud, obtrusive, maniacal and chaotic. Great for what it was and in the context for which it existed... but time moves on, and and this album hasn't time traveled well.
Better than I expected. I mostly avoid US punk.
DKs were massive when I was at school. I was only ever a casual listener. This was sure no holiday in Vietnam.
Another US act I've been meaning to check out, that got thrown at me this week. Good hard rocking punk.
Liked it! Don't recall ever listening to much from this group.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! Me gusta, me gusta, sí, ese aroma a lo que Duff McKagan aportó a GN'R, esa cosa cruda y cagarse de risa, total ya está todo mal. Sí, aguante.
3/5 did not make it.
Meget enslydende punknumre.
Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables Dead Kennedys 1980 Genres: Punk Styles: Hardcore 1. Kill the Poor (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Sátira en primera persona, con tono sarcástico, que celebra una bomba que mata gente pero deja intacta la propiedad (el debate de la bomba de neutrones de la época). Critica la lógica de las élites que valoran más los bienes que a las personas. 2. Forward to Death (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Tema muy corto y veloz. Por el tono parece un ataque a la mentalidad de rebaño y a marchar en manada, pero la letra es escueta y no puedo afirmar más que eso. 3. When Ya Get Drafted (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Tono burlón y antimilitarista, sobre el reclutamiento obligatorio y la presión social hacia el servicio militar. Salió en el contexto de la reinstauración del registro para el draft en EE.UU. 4. Let's Lynch the Landlord (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Fantasía exagerada de venganza de los inquilinos contra el dueño que sube alquileres. Es hipérbole satírica sobre la bronca por los alquileres, no una propuesta literal; el título es provocador a propósito. -Fav 5. Drug Me (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Habla alguien que pide ser sedado para no enfrentar la realidad. Por el tono es una crítica al escapismo con pastillas y drogas. No tengo certeza de comentarios de Biafra sobre este tema en particular. 6. Your Emotions (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Tema muy breve y de tono sarcástico, dirigido a una persona y sus reacciones emocionales. La letra es difícil de interpretar y no quiero forzar una lectura. 7. Chemical Warfare (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Tono oscuro y amenazante, con la guerra química como metáfora de un mundo hostil. No tengo certeza de la lectura exacta, así que no la afirmo. 8. California Über Alles (★★★★☆) -Contexto: Sátira del entonces gobernador Jerry Brown, imaginado como un dictador "hippie fascista" si llegara a presidente. Tono irónico y paranoico: critica el autoritarismo disfrazado de new age y buenas intenciones. Fue su primer single (1979). -Fav 9. I Kill Children (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Narrador psicópata, en primera persona, que se jacta de odiar a los niños. Es sátira de shock sobre la crueldad, no una postura literal, y es de los temas más polémicos del disco. 10. Stealing People's Mail (★★★⯨☆) -Contexto: Un narrador cuenta con gusto cómo roba correspondencia ajena. Es una burla del voyeurismo y del chusmerío, con música alegre que contrasta con el tema. -Fav 11. Funland at the Beach (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Escena absurda y siniestra ambientada en un parque de diversiones de playa. La letra es muy críptica y no puedo darte una lectura fiable. 12. Ill in the Head (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Tono oscuro y algo errático, sobre un estado mental alterado. La letra es ambigua y no voy a inventar un sentido. 13. Holiday in Cambodia (★★⯨☆☆) -Contexto: Sátira dirigida a jóvenes universitarios privilegiados y de izquierda de San Francisco: les dice que vivir bajo la dictadura de Pol Pot los haría madurar rápido. Tono sarcástico y amenazante, y mención explícita a los Jemeres Rojos. 14. Viva Las Vegas (★★★☆☆) -Contexto: Cover de la canción de Elvis Presley de la película de 1964. Versión punk, irónica y descontracturada sobre el kitsch de Las Vegas. Es la única que no es de la banda. -TOTAL = ★★⯨☆☆ (2,89) -Debería ser un 3 por promedio, pero es un 2 porque no lo disfruté tanto como para volver a escucharlo eventualmente o a algunas de sus canciones.
I was previously familiar with Holiday in Cambodia but not the full album. This is a punk album. The instrumentation is fine, albeit unremarkable, but I really don't care for the vocal style. I would not come back to this one.
Ik kreeg er stress van
No amigo, el punk en inglés no es lo mío
Not bad, short & punchy songs. 2.5 stars.
Pretty terrible.
By this point I know where I stand with most punk.
This feels so stereotypically British 😭. I don’t know how to explain it. I know the Dead Kennedys are a British group but this goes beyond that. Also not sure why we’re killing children on this album?
I’m just not in the market for rotting vegetables…I mean punk these days. It’s seminal, it’s energetic, I’m sure it’s something that would reward closer attention. I just don’t want to listen to it.
для любителей панка. слушать сложно.
it’s not for me and that’s alright
Has agreed badly and voice still grates on me.
Mostly noise.
They make a good noise, but as they passed me by at the time, I don’t feel obliged to catch up now. And shock is a bit of a one trick pony
I've come to the conclusion that I do not like punk rock at all. The only redeemable song on this is the random viva las vegas cover. Although I'd take elvis' version any day of the week.
Really want to like this but don't feel like it moved the needle when compared to earlier punk groups. And it's just hard to get past some of the song titles and lyrics.
Pretty manic tempo, felt like they crammed an hour of music into 30 minutes just by going double time.
Pas fini
not my thing but i respect it. i think?
I dig the music, but really not a fan of the lead singer's voice. It makes it difficult to listen to this despite the music itself being solid.
Reminded me in many ways of the early arctic monkeys albums. Short tracks with fast guitars and fast vocals. But if you don’t grow up with the nostalgia of it - I find those tracks hard to get into on their own.
The sentiment I'm here for, the yelling and banging not so much. I do respect it though, rock on boys, fuck the police
Not my cuppa
I like the politics but not the singing
Just annoying. Brit slop
fjas
Dead Kennedys oli aikoinaan hyvinkin kova juttu mutta aika on näköjään ajanut ohi; ei tässä oikein ole muuta kuin iskevä nimi ja provosoiva meininki. Ei tätä musiikillisesti oikein hyväksi punkiksikaan voi sanoa. 2/5
Just not my thing.
One of the bands that can be genuinely considered to be part of the original punk scene and this has a lot of short tracks as was the fashion of the genre. Uncompromising lyrics, constantly quick tempos, insistent rhythm guitars and an almost anti-music vocal approach. It became seen as the first dishonest side of rock n roll - we can't play and we're proud of it - and I can see why this view proliferates when listening to this album. This would not be seen as a great album to anyone other than the initiated.
Each track more or less sounds the same as all the others from the album. I am still (patiently) waiting to hear some musically interesting ideas. Very little variance. I think there are worse records, but this has to be one of the least appealing and interesing releases I listened to.
Nah. It all sounds the same.
Holiday in Cambodia er eina lagið sem ég þekkti og fíla en ég er ekki svo mikið fyrir pönk þannig að það er skiljanlegt
kill the WHAT? WHO?
Not a genre I would ever seek out.
I kind of feel like Dead Kennedys had a huge influence on the political outlook of today’s alt-right.
It was a different era.
this album felt as though it was intentionally made poorly, as a kind of punk statement which I understand was on brand but it just wasn’t an enjoyable listen for me
wasn’t for me had glimpses of being for me but it wasn’t
Not something I vibed with
Punk rock has never sounded more annoying. That's probably not true, but boy oh boy did I hate the lead singer's voice. This is a very hard pass from me, and I hope they don't appear again. 2/5
Intense listening.
not my bag
I see the vision but I don't think its my taste really 2.5
first 80s record on my roulette... not a huge fan. everything sort of blends together in an angsty, political blur. fast paced songs about screwing ur landlord or packing a wife for home from a vacation in cambodia, not really my taste politically, historically, or genre-wise. wouldn't listen to it if it weren't for the challenge but if i had to pick a favorite track, it may be chemical warfare or kill the poor - because the track titles are the chorus, and the most memorable lyrics. or let's lynch the landlord!
4.5/10
I understand the love people have for this but the album it's just not for me. In the 'Keywords from Reviews' you find 'Hardcore' 'Political' 'Fast' 'Loud'. Totally on point but I guess punk rock is not my thing.
hmm, not a fan..
Du bruit
I liked the music but didn’t like the vocals. I know it’s punk music and the singing is secondary to the music but it just put me off. Let’s Lynch the landlord was great and Viva Las Vegas really surprised me
I appreciate where this was for punk in 1980. His voice reminds me of the B52s and I couldn’t shake it.
Définitivement, je n'aime pas le punk. Tout n'est pas inaudible ici, mais globalement : que de bruit !
Love the spirit and the energy, alas, don't love the actual music
★★½
Erinneret a SOAD eif musikalisch viel primitiver.
Tönt eif alles gliich ich han nd emal checkt wenn en song wechslef während em arbeite
Nearly had a panic attack
My prior 3 connections to Dead Kennedys were 1) playing Holiday in Cambodia on Guitar Hero 3 and realizing it was really hard to play even on a video game; 2) hearing the Disposable Heros of Hypophrisy (remember them?) play a cover of California Uber Alles in 1992 but directed towards Pete Wilson I want to say; and 3) seeing Jello Biafra in a bar in Columbus Ohio where celebrity sightings were very rare. Well here we are finally listening to a DK album. It kind of sucked.
Is this complete unlistenable? No. Would I seek it out? No.
I liek a lot
Screaming punk
Some great songs on this album. A full DK album is something I have to be in the mood for.
Ugh. At least it was over relatively quickly.
Just not clicking with me. 2/5.
The politcal satire is sharp, and the guitar is really cool, but I really struggle to get into punk in general. It's very one-noted and messy. If the album was more like Holiday In Cambodia I would've enjoyed this a lot more, that track gives itself time to breathe and build an idea. Favorite song: Holiday In Cambodia Worst song: Viva Las Vegas Cover check: Really liked the cover art, it screams anarchy
1.5 Greatest punk record of all time.
I'm sure this appeals to someone...I'm so sick of listening to masculine voices at this point. Particularly in the punk genre.
Didn't hate it, but yeah nah not my thing.
This is probably in my top five, at least top ten, of bands-that-I-know-should-be-more-familiar-with, or should have at least listened to more than once or twice. But I see why I never got into them. Maybe in 1980 it would have been more appealing, but not so much now. These guys come across a lot sillier than I was expecting. Anyway, glad I listened but won't be revisiting.
I'm sympathetic to punk, but Dead Kennedys don't really connect for me. Tried to go back through for a second listen to make sure I didn't miss anything, but I'm gassed out after 5 songs. I think it would be overly dismissive to call this "bad." I think instead I can only say that it really doesn't work for me. 2 / 5
Just had to get another punk album through before the end. Heard of California Uber Allies, pretty catchy. Holiday in Cambodia was the only other song of note.
Another entry for my mediocre music, annoying male vocalist, unintelligible lyrics collection.
2.8
Big 2 ça part trop en couille des fois
I can’t help but find this annoying as shit to listen to - I feel like I’m listening to a load of coked up teenagers smash at guitars & drums in their garage. It’s clearly got all the energy, drive & attitude needed for a classic punk record, but I just can’t get on with it. I know punk music is meant to be angry, aggressive, and unashamedly raw, but this one is too much for me.
stressful and unpleasant “punk” “hardcore” are not words i would use to describe my taste in music when reading the lyrics, it’s a strong message. classic youth revolt. establishing personhood. shock value. hard r viva las vegas cover is funny i like their messages just not the best way to get to me personally
didn’t like it was not my jam 4/10
yks parhaista punkkilevyistä mitä oon kuullu, sen ansiosta kakkonen
Giving it two stars for the social commentary, otherwise it would be one.
i will always stand for what punk is about and hope it never dies but i just hate how it sounds
It’s whatever, a little overstimulating imo. I dont hate the music, but the vocals are what dragged the score down for me. i saved 4/15 songs so 2 stars
Punk
it's like the singer constantly have one of those BS vibration workout machines... For me this band is a one hit wonder. The sound get old veeery fast. 30 min felt like an hour.
Meh not great.
checmical warfare good rest not good
It has the same energy as the leftist punk bar I went to in Kraków last month… love the bar but I don’t actually enjoy listening to this that much
...
If this is your thing probably great. But not for me.
Could barely listen to it!
punk - not really my thing.
I really hated it when I first listened to it, but I had a headache at the time, so I gave it another shot the next day. It was better the second time but only a star extra. As a piece of political art, it's great, musically it's so-so.
I always seem to get aggressive punk rock albums on days when I’ve woken up enraged by one thing or another. Didn’t help my mood.
Pretty punk!
The presence of Alison takes this from a 4 to a 5.
Political punk rock from the early 80s just sounds dated.
Eh
Boring punk with annoying voice
Early punk yay, still ass.
Historic hard punk. The details of the time are understudied nowadays. Sure you should know it happened, but it’s not necessarily an “enjoyable” album or one there are lessons to still be learned. I would rather like to see modern works inspired by this album.
Meh? I still don't get this kind of punk. Maybe it's because it's tainted by the Anti-authoritarian Uncanny Valley that is the Sex Pistols. Maybe it's because I don't vibe with genres where "reject EVERYTHING" is a founding principle. Either way, Better than the Sex Pistols, worse than the Clash. I could see this creeping up at some point, but I'm really not feeling it now.
Never listened to Dead Kennedys before. A little repetitive.
Loud punk... not my cup of tea, could've been worse
Fast, loud, and quite annoying. 2 stars or D+.
Att den här är lika gammal som nervous breakdown
It's ok for punk, but I don't really like classic punk.
The only positive of this album was I didn’t have to listen to another British punk band from this era. Still didn’t enjoy it.
It's fast, it's loud, it's rocky and cacophanous - it's punk rock and it's all kind of the same.
2 Stars (5/15)
80s punk. Debut. Not the kind of punk I enjoy, chaotic, fast, not melodic.
I love the politically charged messages, but don't love the sound :/ I'm just not punk ig
Na dawg
punk but not good punk...
Love the message and attitude. Music is underwhelming tho
Nothing against this, just not for me. Kinda sounds like if spongebob got emo and sung a punk album.
I know the name but not sure I've ever heard their music before. I was not into this sound in 1980, too young to even consider it. I like the punk vibe and energy , but this dude's voice is too Johnny Rotten for me to enjoy. But I will give him props that I can understand him which isn't always the case with punk infused music. The guitar work stands out ("Kill The Poor", "Let's Lynch The Landlord"), that's rare with a punk album. He sounds like a manic nutjob on every song, I just can't get past that. Thankfully most of the songs are 2 minutes long. I had to fast forward through a few ("Forward To Death", "Drug Me", "I Kill Children" on title alone, and "Stealing People's Mail". I will bet their shows were high energy, sweaty, events with true mohawked punks back in 1980. Kudos to the band for staying power, the least listened to song has over 1.5M listens, the most has over 22M. More impressive than most albums on this T1001 list. 2 stars is the best I can do, and that's generous.
Das Album geht von 0 auf 100 in zwei Sekunden und wenn es stoppt fühlt es sich an als wäre man gegen eine Wand gefahren. In meinen Ohren hat es sich hauptsächlich nach Krach und Chaos angehört, aber es wird mit Sicherheit seine Hörer gefunden haben
Mit Punk werde ich nicht mehr warm. California über alles is ganz gut.
2.75
non mi sono impegnata troppo ad ascoltarlo tutto ma non ce la faccio I am sorry
In my opinion, there are only a handful of really talented punk rock bands and these guys are not one of them. They sound like a Saturday Night Live parody of the Sex Pistols, which are one of the great ones. Give me The Clash or the Ramones or the Patty Smith Group any day. The only good thing about this band that I could hear is the fact that they can play their instruments. But the singer sounds like Johnny Rotten on a bad day.
3/10 - I don’t like his voice and the message was not the best in my opinion
This was tough for me to get through. All of the songs sounded the same, white people were using the N word, and the named target of their rage was...Jerry Brown...? What? I don't hate all punk rock, but all of the features of punk that I don't like can be found in this album. Overly simplistic politics, noisey and repetitive.
It’s interesting how I gave another Dead Kennedys album 4 stars and this one o ly two. Didn’t have the same inpact
Whoa. Its too much.
I wasn’t really in the mood for this and then I realized maybe I never would be. I liked 2 songs though
Not my jam
Packed with wild energy and sharp humor, Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is a fun listen, though Jello Biafra’s intense vocals can be a bit much over a whole album.
2edgy5me. Reading up on them its interesting, and I can understand the angle at which the music comes from given the backlash to it, but outside of the cultural moment within which it existed, I think the music isn't particularly good.
Ok music with vocals by a frightened wizard.
I don't understand the lyrics too fast even with headphones
It may have been fun to listen to at the time but it hasn't aged well at all. Hard listen if you're not big into punk. I'm not convinced it is an all timer album that anyone needs to hear, even though I am perfectly aware of its place in the punk genre. For those of you who think that the Dead Kennedys are raging against the Reagan administration, just know that his album came out well before that national election. These guys are so far left wing that they are raging against the peaceful friendly Jimmy Carter, who was president at the time, and Jerry Brown, the Mr. Softy, as Governor of California, both of them Democrats.
I know these guys are THE punk icons but they almost sounded SKA in this album. Drug me was unlistenable but overall it was fine but I didn’t love it
Not really my vibe but I liked how political it sounded
They have a sound. For me it’s too much for an album
Not my style.
Couple of recognizable songs. Not my style
Main focus is speed....all other aspects suffer
Not into it
I felt indifferent to this album.
I'm a little surprised at myself for not giving this a 1. It's not great, and definitely not my genre, but was a slightly catchy at times.
Not my jam. Respect to those who rock like this
What Billy said with an extra star purely for Holiday in Cambodia. Is he called Jello because he constantly sounds like he's being physically shaken while singing? 🥴
pretty good but I tuned out near the end tbh
A few alright ones in there. I could picture the bar fight scene as the music played, but overall eh, 2.5 1 - would not listen to again 2 - if some one played it, I'd probably just zone it out 3 - didn't hate it, didn't love it 4 - saved some songs from the album 5 - would buy the album or already own it
This feels like parody. It may have been fun to listen to at the time but it hasn't aged well at all. Hard listen if you're not big into punk.
Meh. Angsty punk.
Not a fan of the vocals or how he sounds like he is blubbering while singing?
Um punhado de canções excessivamente diretas e aceleradas, sem nenhuma sutileza melódica. Alguma insinuação de conciliação métrica entre ritmo e melodia em "Let's Lynch The Landlord", com um bom momento de guitarras e baixo; e na satírica "Viva Las Vegas". Fraquinho!
11 year old Guitar Hero playing me would've enjoyed this a lot more.
I actually kinda liked this one. This is like a 2.7-2.8. Some of it reminds me of a Tony Hawk soundtrack. I can hear how this inspired other groups. Also, I could identify the diversity in these songs.
kind of repetitive..but gave political insight. not really my style.
Thrashing, frantic, and perfect for the 1001 Must Hear List. You can tell by their name, the Dead Kennedys are here to disrupt the norm. And they do. I Kill Children, Stealing People’s Mail, and Funland at the Beach is perhaps the most disturbing three-in-a-rowfer ever put to vinyl. These rebellious droogs never got that popular because the subject matter of their songs was so dystopian they couldn’t be played on the radio. California Uber Alles and Chemical Warfare are interesting concepts. The album is politically charged and politically incorrect - it comes in at (2.4*s)
I'm finding myself more and more surprised how much representation punk bands are getting. It's an iconic genre for the edge, attitude and presence it can maintain from generation to generation despite fans aging out of the punk scene over time. I've never been a big punk rock fan, and often find a lot of punk acts pretty annoying after 15 minutes or so, but I appreciate the music and scene for what it represents. Dead Kennedys are iconic for their outright political satire identity. As mentioned above I can typically enjoy the first 15-20 minutes of a punk album but by the end of it the formula is played out so there is diminishing returns as each song ends. This one surprised me and went the other way despite the inane lyics and whatnot. I found myself enjoying it more and more as I got through it which admittedly wasn't much at the beginning. This isn't something I would listen to with any regularity but in the right environment I can see why people go crazy for punk rock even if it isn't really my thing. 2.21 stars
no me mola
Really loud
Interesting Elvis cover. The rest is a solid punk record that is not my cup of tea to be honest.
A fun and noisy album, but listened to this on a day that was not what i was looking for. Not my style, but I enjoyed the craziness behind it!
Not my thing overall, but I always liked them for being out front with their sound and high energy. It’s not repulsive, just not something that I’m gonna go to on my own.
Just wasn’t my style, but I can see why it was an important album
My reyt run endeth here. First the positives: I quite like the name of the album and the dreadful noise only lasts a relatively short time. The negatives: The aforementioned dreadful noise.
Those vocals were meant to be a joke, right? If not I feel sorry for the lead singer for thinking it sounded good. Other than that it was mediocre I guess. 2 stars
lame
Pre-listening thoughts: oh brother more punk... our amazing streak is over... Post/during listening thoughts: yikes! Wow this was not very good. I try to reserve my ones for things I had to skip through because they were genuinely unlistenable/gave me a headache and this cut it pretty close but I'm feeling kind so it will be a low 2. 3/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no Fav tracks: Let's Lynch the Landlord Least fav tracks: Chemical Warfare but also most of this tbh. That was just a standout bad one
I hate Jello Biafra's voice and musically this strikes me as basically just angry noise. "California Über Alles" is pretty good as long as you don't listen to the lyrics too closely, which are dumb just like the rest of the lyrics to these songs. It seems like punk can either be completely nihilistic/hedonistic, or advocate for cliched "fuck the system" politics. While I think "fuck the system, burn it to the ground!" is fine if you’re a 16 year old white suburbanite, what about a mother of two kids with disabilities who relies on “the system” for support to feed her kids? “Well that’s just a band aid and we need to tear it all down so people like that will revolt and make real change!” Well how many people have to die for that revolt to happen? Are you volunteering to be one of them or is it just the poor and the old and the disabled? And are you going to rebuild a new system that continues to do the limited amount of good that our current system does? And is this hypothetical new system not going to be just as bad as every other system people have had in place since we invented agriculture? This time is going to be different? Punk rockers are like the angry dude pretending to want to fight the big guy who pissed them off at the bar while their friends are holding them back. They can only spout off at the mouth because they are safe in the knowledge that they can't actually do anything so they won't have to suffer any consequences. If you gave a random assortment of punk rockers the ability to make actual change they would wilt just as fast as the fake tough guy telling someone "you're lucky these guys are holding me back!" would if his friends let him go. I agree the system sucks in a lot of ways. But I don’t want to tear down the system. I want to keep the beneficial parts of our current system and work to make gradual change that builds a fairer and more just society. But that message doesn’t really help you sell records to angry teenage boys.
Not a big fan, some songs that were decent
Aluks mietin että miten jaksaa kuunnella. Vaikka aika tasapaksua kamaa, aloin lämmetä puolivälissä. Irtonainen meininki. En tiedä tuleeko palattua kyseiseen levyyn, mutta ei vituttanutkaan. Alkuaikojen punkin kuuntelu jäänyt vähiin. Yleisenä hankaluutena arvosteluissa itselleni on: koittaako asettua julkaisuvuoden kuuntelijan asemaan tai miettiä, minkälainen vaikutus ollut tulevaan musaan vai arvioiko puhtaasti sen mukaan, miltä itsestä tuntuu/kuulostaa tässä hetkessä?
Sounds like punk music shrug
À bit too punk for me !
Not my thing
Really fun to listen to some punk rock because I wouldn't usually. Fun listen on a fast run but think I'd hate it in most other contexts
I wanted to give this a 3 really badly. I like the punk purity of it, but I just don't really enjoy the sound. It is a lot more musically engaging than something like Public Image Limited though.
Punk
Lyrics are still very poignant by and large. Instrumentation maintains a very rapid, unceasing urgency. Especially love the drums and bass on Drug Me.
It was good. But I probably won't listen to it again.
Панк, видимо с политическим контекстом, и сатирой Наверное здорово, но по музыке не зашло послушала 3 песни, походе на менее мелодичный соад
A lot of the songs sounded the same. It also sounded so frantic.
Better than I thought it was going to be, but still not anything I’d listen to again.
Not good. I would never listen to this again.
Not my taste. Fun for one song, but not a fan
"Kill kill kill kill kill the poor". Duidelijk. We krijgen punk in zijn meest kinderachtige vorm. En toch. Het is wel catchy. Toch even opletten dat ik straks aan tafel met de kids niet dit refrein zachtjes zing...
If you want to listen to some proper punk you should listen to Houmous & Chutneys 11th studio album ‘Hey Guys! This Is Proper Punk’ 2.3
слишком панк, долго я такое не выдерживаю, спасибо)
That was just awful. (Tim admires their moxie.)
Not an album I’ve listened to before knowingly and not one I would seek out as my punk loving days ended about the same time as mainstream punk did. Would have liked this back in the day but I hardly listen to any of my punk albums bought then so this would have suffered same fate. That said all the songs were entertaining but like a lot of punk stuff became a bit boring due to repetitive three chord riffs. 2/5 11/2/25
I made it through. Seemed rather monotonous and angry to me.
I like punk, and I like angry music, but it's got to have some variety and *some* level of musicality. This one had one or two tracks I thought were good, the rest was pretty meh.
Stop, he's already Kennedy
I appreciate their influence they made with their punk/hardcore punk music - their playing is tight and very precise. The songs on this album are short and well made. But I don't like the singing and this kind of hardcore music is not my cup of tea at all, so I rate this album based on this.
Niet mijn smaak wel goeie gitaar 2.4
more generic rock
So this was one of the 8 bands that shaped punk rock? Ok great, not for me though.
2.5
I really wanted to like this album but I hate Jello Biafra's voice. I love a little satire and shock value but the lyrics were just barf. For being a big punk album it was a real let down for me.
Ok
Kozak. dojebana fajna przyjemna
it was fun, but not really my jam
I’m a big punk fan but DK has always been a little bit cringy to me.
I liked this more than I thought I would but it's still a bit too rowdy for me.
Wasnt that good tbh. quite boring
Didn't stand out from the usual grunge I listen to.
The cover artwork for Dead Kennedys' "Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" features burning police cars, symbolizing the outrage following the White Night Riots. While the concept is powerful and aligns with the band's anti-establishment ethos, the execution falls short. The grainy black-and-white photograph lacks clarity, making it difficult to appreciate the details of the scene. This lo-fi aesthetic might resonate with punk's rawness, but it detracts from the impact of such a significant moment in history. Overall, while the artwork attempts to convey a strong message, its visual quality undermines its effectiveness, earning it a mere two stars. Album artworks rated: 14/1001 Music's great tho.
Reasonable in parts, but overall the album style and content isn't for me.
I did not like this album.
Ægte punkrock, masser af tempo og rå vokal
Loud and fast, if you like that sort of thing.
I'm of the persuasion that there are no good songs under two minutes in length (with the notable exception of You Gave Your Love To Me Softly), so this was more than a little challenging for me, to say the least. On the bright side, this did resonate with me more than the other albums I've listened to on this website. I may appreciate it more on a second listen
A hardcore punk staple of the genre that ultimately feels dated to my ears.
I like punk, but to be honest I’m not too fond of the very fast punk like this. But I did bob my head and tap my feet listening to this record though.
I wasn’t really feeling this album tbh. I think punk music has come a long way since the days of Dead Kennedy’s and Sex Pistols. The most refreshing part was the cover of Viva Las Vegas lol
Um, this was just not for me.
Not my thing
I don’t think I would have been a punk.
Some of the songs where kinda fun, but it's not something I would ever choose to listen to.
Yeah lead singer’s voice ain’t doing it for me. Guitar guy is killing it though
Punk sesentero. No me ha llamado la antención.
Ouf ça crie pas mal à mon goût, eeeeurgh 2 étoiles et n’en parlons plus
I think ultimately punk is just not really my thing. I can take it in small doses.I think maybe it's because of the vocals and the drumming being delivered in such a 1,2,3,4 on the beat pace. Strangely enough, if you take some punk guitar riffs and play them to a cut time drum beat, it gives it more of a groove. You hear examples of it with RHCP, RATM, and Alien Ant Farm. That, I can get.into. I remember my old college room mate was really into NOFX, Lagwagon and early Blink 182. Those bands seemed to be 90 percent of what he listened to all day and sometimes I'd need to leave the room because of it. I eventually introduced him to Deftones and Tool. This album was fast, furious, chaotic and in your face, which seems to be a main goal of punk from this era. It had a lot of energy. The recording sounded low quality and like it was done in a garage. The vocal tone of the singer to me was bordering on obnoxious, which again may have been the anti establishment goal. I found 'Stealing People's Mail' and 'Holiday In Cambodia' to be standouts.
I mean, it's okay. Sounds very 'formula punk'. Nothing really original. And every track sounds only ever so slightly different to the last. Not convinced.
Not really a fan. The best punk bands had split up or moved on to better things by 1980. Silly voice too!
nah
I appreciate the politics more than the music.
Kill The Poor // California Uber Alles // 2.5/5
Ah. American Punk. It has/had it's place, but it's place is not in my music collection. I enjoyed it once though, so it's two stars rather than one.
Uninspiring punk with repetitive track list. Exhausting to listen to. Terrible sound quality. Some good riffs from time to time.
Nog meer punk, joepie!
Es un punk mezcla con ska bien crudo, a mi particularmente no me interpela y me revienta la cabeza. Por ahí en otro contexto, que no sea estudiando, se valora y disfruta más.
Punk rock band does punk rock things. Edge lord singer does edge lord songs. Nothing out of the usual or remarkable, maybe just how they were noticeably worse at doing punk than any other punk band I’ve had so far.
Some punk hasn't aged well, and most of this album falls into this category apart from their single "Holiday in Cambodia" which I quite liked, and the quirky cover of the Elvis song "Viva Las Vegas".
It was ok. Sounds a bit dated. Not really for me.
Hectic
They've got the spirit, reminds me a lot of System of a Down. Probably because I listened to them in reverse order this one sounds undeveloped, rather than influential
US punk always seems basic to me, un melodic.
fila þetta bara ekki neitt
Um yk I feel like fighting the man but like all this kinda music isn’t my cup of tea. I bet I would like it more in a mosh pit tho.
It's an alright punk album. Not the biggest fan of the vocals and the lyrics are pretty corny but I guess that may just be it aging poorly. The instrumentals are pretty good but they tend to blend together from song to song. 2.5/5
1.5
I don't like punk music in general. This album occasionally had some funny or interesting moments, that's why I rate it as 2, not 1.
Higher artform music
Punk sesentero. No me ha llamado la antención.
One thing I’ve learned from this 1,001 albums project: I really hate punk.
Not my style. Can’t appreciate much about it.
Fine but monotone
I can't deny that it's the punkiest punk that punk can get. Perhaps it is if sounding annoying is a feature of the genre. I appreciate the concept and the punkiness, but I wouldn't listen to it again.
I quite liked the singles from the album when I first heard them but had no real interest in exploring anything else by the band at the time and still don't now.
favorites: your emotions, holiday in cambodia
meh
Very fast paced punky rock songs, could be mistaken for sea shanties. They're all just a bit disorganized for me and the melodies don't make up for it in my opinion. Lyrics are also quite random. Could see them being fun to listen to in a pub, but honestly nowhere else
Other than 'California Uber Alles' this was not enjoyable.
I really didn’t like this album. For some reason it bothered me- I think it was too scratchy for me and not classic enough which I know sounds like I have a closed mind but it just really irked me.
Not my cup of tea, but I can see how people that enjoy this style of music would enjoy this band.
Malo tvrdo za moj ukus. 4/10
Interesting but dated. And not in a good way. Less a document of a time than an album that no doubt sounded radical (tm) and wevolutionary (tm) (in my best rik Mayall voice) when they’d finished. There’s perhaps a hypothesis - let’s call it Lewis’s hypothesis - the more offensive the artist name, the less interesting the music. Again maybe too harsh. But … give me never mind the bollocks or Ramones.
not my favorite genre
Not really my thing but it's not like it was bad
Partly heard before Saved ?/14 Top track:
I had high hopes for this album, as I am a fan of punk rock. However, I was disappointed by the lack of originality and creativity in this debut album by the Dead Kennedys. The songs sound like a poor imitation of the Sex Pistols. The music is fast and loud, but also monotonous and repetitive. The vocals are shrill and annoying, and the production is poor and amateurish. The only song that stands out is “California Über Alles”, which is a catchy and sarcastic satire of the hippie culture and the political situation in California. The rest of the album is forgettable and boring, and the final track, a cover of “Viva Las Vegas”, is a terrible way to end the album. It is a mockery of the original song, with distorted vocals, distorted guitars, and distorted lyrics. I would not recommend this album to anyone, unless they are a hardcore fan of the Dead Kennedys or punk rock in general. I give it 2 out of 5 stars.
Musically, so much better than the Circle Jerks rubbish we had on here recently. But I can’t stand the vocalist. So it can’t be any higher that a low 2 rating because of him.
Another from my teens when I know no better! Good old US Punk. 'California Uber Alles' and 'Holiday in Cambodia' always the standout tracks. Loved Jello Biafra's vocal delivery. Haven't listened probably since my teens, as moved onto more mature listening experiences, nice to revisit and enjoy. So a gets a high 2
Ihan punkkirallikimara. Ei kuitenkaan mun intohimo
I suppose that's the lamest in all the "classic punk" era
Lead singer has an annoying lisp. Songs just kinda feel flat. Pretty stereotypical 80s punk rock. Kinda reminds me of background music in a tiny hawk game.