Reviews (page 8 of 9)
Solid lump of punk.
Shouty, shouty, a tour de force of punk rock!
chemical warefare
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.
Best American punk band.
Doesn't sound like Slash is guesting on an Ocean Colour Scene song.
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.
Fast paced. Fun lyrics. Not sure on vocal delivery.
In the same vein that I am not a huge Ramones fan, I'm even less a fan of Dead Kennedys. That punk rock one minute long song that sounds the same as the last one just doesn't appeal to me. I won't say it's bad, and I recognize the effects these types of albums had on the zeitgeist at the time, but just isn't my type of music. Though, this album has Holiday in Cambodia which was on Guitar Hero so props there (also a 4 minute song!).
I know this group by name, but only know a couple hits. Lucky for me, the two hits I know are on here! "California Uber Alles" from a Tony Hawk game, and "Holiday in Cambodia" from Guitar Hero. Pretty foundational punk stuff, leaning heavily into the angst and angry themes. Track titles like "Let's Lynch the Landlord" and "Stealing People's Mail" are gonna make me laugh no matter what. Sonically, it's not exactly the kind of punk that I prefer, but I respect what they did here, and the hits are undeniable. Favorite tracks: Holiday in Cambodia, California Uber Alles, Your Emotions. Album art: Car on fire? Black and white? Love the title font and color. 3.5/5
Listened Before? Y Ohhhh man. This is a scorcher! This is one of the greatest punk albums of all time - beginning to end, amazing. The Kennedys demonstrate their mastery of politics and music in short 2-4 minute bursts. Classic. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Kill the Poor, California Uber Alles
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.
Brilliant, witty, daring and powerful, Dead Kennedys turn their ire on the powerful in society and really stick it to the man. Just half an hour long as all punk albums should be and one of the best cover versions of all time.
Bay area Fergal Sharkey does punk. Good stuff.
"Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables" is the debut album by the California punk band Dead Kennedys. And punk it is. Comparisons were made to The Sex Pistols" Never Mind the Bollocks." Members of the band include Jello Biafra (vocals), East Bay Ray (guitar), Klaus Flouride (bass) and Ted (drums). Great names! The lyrics are satirical and Jello takes aim at big business, conservatism, society, media, fascism, parents, the elite, democrats, western society, violence and the poor. I probably missed five to ten other areas. The album cover sets the stage as it shows police cars in fire during the 1979 White Night Riots in 1979 from the light sentencing of San Francisco mayor Dan White for the murder former mayor George Moscone and associate Harvey Milk. "Kill the Poor" starts out slow and goes straight to punk. A 60's sounding chorus. Jello's unique wobbly vocals. Nice tuneful guitar. A satire of the rich who would wipe out the poor with a bomb. "Let's Lynch the Landlord" is almost danceable. More anthemic and the guitar is more surf rock which is heard throughout the album. The mob is going to kill the bastard landlord. Let's singalong everyone: "Let's Kill the Landlord. Kill the Landlord." The second side begins with their famous "California Über Alles." More surf guitar and military drums. Very catchy. Slows down. Speeds up. An attack on then California governor Jerry Brown and his fascist vision of America. "Holiday in Cambodia" was written after the Khmer Rouge genocide in Cambodia and contrasts western college students that with Cambodia. That scratchy, Creep guitar open and melody. Great bass line. Finally...what we need in the world is more punk covers of Elvis Presley songs and we get "Viva Las Vegas" Jello goes Elvis. This pretty hilarious. Now, he's attacking the poor for gambling and using drugs. For the most part, this album totally rocks. Most songs are in the two-minute maximum range making The Jesus and Mary Chain look like their performing The Allman Brothers' live version of "Mountain Jam." The surf guitar sound works great here. Never a dull moment.
Fun Fast Fabulous Couldn’t stop bouncing to this. That little punk kid is still in there. It takes me back to the time when the magazine Smash Hits was still extant. I am standing at the bus stop after school reading the mag and memorising the lyrics to Holiday in Cambodia which were printed in there. I don’t think the album had even come out at that time, but I knew I loved the Dead Kennedys just from that song. And it still doesn’t disappoint. All the songs have a fierce energy and a blistering political stance - so full of social comment but laced with humour. I love that bite and edginess. But also tuneful with it. Who knew satire could be so catchy? I am all over this. Love love love!
I first heard this band in college. I didn’t really like them and couldn’t understand their lyrics at first, but after a while I grew to appreciate them. I love the fast guitars.
Color me surprised, this was excellent. Not my normal flavor, but good stuff is good stuff, and this was it. I get why this was influential and glad I listened. Proof that punk had something to say.
Hardcore isn't my favorite, but there's some great stuff going on here. I've long been a fan of "California Uber Alles" and "Holiday in Cambodia," but this was the first time I got to hear the whole album. Overall, I think this album could use better sequencing because although it is pretty varied for a hardcore album, a couple of the back-to-back songs sounded too much the same for my liking. other than that, though, the band can play and they mix it up, and Jello's lyrics are biting and hysterical and (sigh) still relevant.
Nope, didn’t need to hear this before I die. Sylvia thought they sound like a South Park parody band.
Absolute punk rock classic
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.
Sorry James perhaps this caught me off guard early in the morning but found this a bit much. Wasn't my bag
Just a superb album, I love everything about it. Dead Kennedys are the kings of satirical punk music and I love it. Holiday in Cambodia is my favourite, all about stupid american students who thinks they have gone to college and are now all worldly so they go on a holiday in cambodia knowing nothing about the atrocities that were occurring there.
One time listening…
Classic Punk rock. "Kill The Poor", "California Uber Alles", and "Holiday in Cambodia" were some of my favorites.
Not a fan of this one.
2 good songs but the rest is pretty awful
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
Pretty raw. Enjoyed it
Was instantly taken back to 2006 in my P reg Corsa with this one. It’s one of my best mate’s favourite ever albums so I used to listen to this a hell of a lot. I definitely overplayed it in the day and even the first few tracks which I used to love still sounded a little overplayed for me, but as it went on I remembered why I loved it. Holiday in Cambodia is still one of my favourite songs for tongue in cheek lyrics, and California Uber Alles still stands strong. Your Emotions is probably my favourite. Always disliked Viva Las Vegas though, still do.
Was pretty sure I'd like this but it was so much better than I expected. Clearly very influential on all the pop punk I like (particularly green day) but it was interesting, witty and weird in its own right. One of the best so far.
Feels kind of dated, not the most interesting thing to listen to.
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
This was good, kind of fun
I enjoyed this album a lot more than I expected!
Gonna kill, kill, kill, kill, kill the poor Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill the poor Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill the poor ton-ah-ah-ah-ight
not bad at all
Bloody racket
I'm a bit hit or miss on older British punk but Dead Kennedys are one of the good ones. Instrumentally complex enough to remain interesting and catchy, witty, politically savage lyrics.
Classic
As a huge punk fan, I dig this
Miserable lyrics but otherwise ok
The energy is impressive but it's just not an enjoyable listen for me.
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.
Great album. Haven’t listened to this in years.
Really really really punk rock. Would probably be great to see live with all their energy.
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.
Not my thing
Listen headphones or blasted. More repeats. Blast.
Awful. Nothing memorable of note, other than a sense of time being wasted listening to it. A generous 1 star.
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.
I knew nothing about the Dead Kennedys apart from being shit scared of a punk in the year above me at school. He had a mohican, wore size 10 DM’s and had Dead Kennedys painted on the back of his leather jacket. What was all the fuss about? This is pussycat music compared to Crass. You can hear the transition from the first wave of punk through to post punk. This is an album caught in No Man’s Land. It’s not dangerous, and it’s nothing to be scared of. It’s a good time fun album.
This was ok. I don't usually like punk, but this was fine. I wouldn't listen to it again, however.
BANGER ALBUM WITH BANGER SONGS
Too fast paced and arhythmic for my taste
Hardcore punk. ¡Vinilazo de los DK!
Enjoyed this 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.
This is an incredibly energetic and engaging album that tackles social issues with focus in poverty and the gap between the rich and the poor. Musically, this is just great driving punk with an eye forward to hardcore. Interestingly enough I hear in the music, especially the rhythm section, the seeds of what would later become thrash metal, another Bay Area subgenre. Though some of the language is objectionable, this album was really helpful in understanding the progression of the Bay Area music scene after the psychedelic hangover had long worn off.
Well this got pretty tedious pretty quickly. A lot of noise in search of a song Only the Viva Las Vegas cover saved it from 1 star
Every song sounds the exact same, and that's not a good thing here. Favorite track: Holiday in Cambodia since it's the only one I've listened to more than once
No thanks Dead Kennedys.
to
Perfect, surf-punk - right up my street - with biting and clever sardonic lyrics, adrenaline packed beats and pumping bass lines. Listening to this record, makes the contrast of American punk (and even British punk) that came after this feel so hollow and weak. This is the real thing - from intensely funny 'California Über Alles', to the poignant 'Kill the Poor', from 'Holiday in Cambodia' and even in the perfect madcap cover of 'Viva Las Vegas'. Love it - a true classic.
I did not really like it, but also cannot fault it for not sounding like what I'm used to listening to or like to listen to more often. This album is loud, raucous, and unapologetic. As far as punk goes, the rhythms and structures of each song is more complex. Also, to me, they sound like a prototype of System of a Down, whom I absolutely love.
Classic punk. Heavily political and full of protest without ever not feeling fun. Makes me wanna drive through a brick wall.
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.
legendary head-bopping garage band punk with off-color, resonant, and relatable lyrics like hippie secret police, killing kids and homeless, and war profiteering. Not sure why they would recommend stealing mail though. That is a federal offense
скучно и плохо звучит
Good punk
A bit rough but pretty fun otherwise. Absolutely love the guitar riffs and bass. I wish the songs were longer, but their length gives them their charm. Really creative album title, and really cool cover. Fave track(s): When Ya Get Drafted, Let's Lynch The Landlord
Not a fan of early punk
A band I have always heard of but never actually heard. I grew up in the San Fransisco Bay Area and always knew them to be popular but they were never played n the radio stations ai listened to. So, I was interested to hear this album. Standouts: Kill the Poor, Your Emotions, Chemical Warfare, California Uber Alles, Holliday in Cambodia, Viva Las Vegas. Others: Forward to Death, When You Get Drafted, Let’s lynch the Landlord, ill in the Head
Pretty damn solid punk record. It was barely over 3 minutes and it just flew by. A problem with it is the songs blend into each other a little too much, but the songs are still all good, and the few standouts are excellent. Good listen. 3.5/5
Its ok. Holiday in cambodia is good
Solid punk album all around
I just knew a lot of song from this album and I loved it.
P good, one of the earliest punk albums to be worth some fun
Not my usual type of music but I loved the riffs, intensity and lyrics
Always nice when I can play an album out of my own collection rather than streaming on YouTube! This album is a neat signpost for how fast punk started evolving after it's emergence in 1977 (not the true beginning of punk, but that's when the big albums started coming out). By 1980 we were already ready for subgenres (as well as post-punk). This album shows the incipient hardcore punk style that would become popular in the years after this album. More than that, though, it was a truly political punk album that broke through to the mainstream in at least some meaningful sense, unlike the works of the Sex Pistols and the Ramones. The fun part about this album is that it manages to tackle big subjects without taking itself too seriously. It's often funny, personal, and crass. The music is what really makes this album. The guitar work is head and shoulders above what was present in most of the other major punk bands, and the rest of the band compliments that well. Jello's voice isn't amazing, but it's distinctive, and it works with this band 5/5 An absolute punk classic
Good solid punk album. Some great tracks, some also rans Hangs together well
I think I should’ve been listening to the lyrics
meh. mediocre punk.
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
I know it's a classic, I even know it's good. But Jello's voice just gets on my nerves like crazy. Way too theatrical for punk, at least for my taste.
One of my favorite punk bands!
Nice punk album. Voice of the singer remind me serj tankian.
Kick ass punk album. What else?
chaotic, love the titles
Tight
Ain't my thing.
Hell of a rendition of Viva Las Vegas.
Twas a hard listen for me personally for the majority of it. With the exception of Chemical Warfare, and the nice pleasant surprise at the end of realizing this is the band who sings Holiday in Cambodia, and Viva Loss Vegas! Luckily they were somewhat redeemed for me by the many hours spent as a kid playing guitar hero 3 so for that I will give this album a 3. Just wasn’t very good for a lot of the songs in my opinion. Guitar riffs felt boring/monotonous after a while and the vocals just horrendous to listen to for the majority.
Let’s go! 3 punk albums in a row!? And another San Francisco punk band at that. I’m fired up. This album is incredible. Some real ferocious stuff by the band with the best name in punk rock. Not to mention the monikers chosen by its members... When I was 12 years old I went over to my good friend Connor Cantelmo’s house and he sent me home with a paper Trader Joe’s grocery bag full of punk CDs. Included was a compilation that included both the Dead Kennedy’s sophomore effort, Plastic Surgery Disasters, and an EP from the year before, In God We Trust, Inc. To this day, I am surprised by how much I liked this CD. Everything about it told me I should hate it. Abrasive. Indescribably unpleasant—even cartoon-ish—lead vocals. Horrible lyrical content. Screeching, feedback-heavy production and recording. And so on. And being 12, I didn’t even understand it as far as it’s political satire, which, now, I truly find to be the main course here. But I took to it all the same. It had this draw. It seemed to exist of its own accord. In its own world. By its own rules. It had absolute soul in the sense that this band truly meant every word they said and every note they played. They had to. Where else would this sound have come from if not from someplace deeply personal and undeniably urgent? It was only a hop, skip, and a jump to DK's debut album Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables which contained fan favorites "Califronia Über Alles" and "Holiday In Cambodia." (Though my favorite DK song then and now was and is "Nazi Punks F**k Off" off In God We Trust, Inc.). I love that this album gives conservative parents and nay-sayers exactly what they want to complain about. It's almost like DK decided, "Let's make music for people who want to claim this as devil music anyway. Let's just give it them; give them the evidence. And be as controversial and in-your-face as possible. To every part of the system, Democrats and Republicans alike." I think that approach to being punk is beautiful. It really just takes the breath away from potential critics. It strips them of their power of interpretation. There's almost nothing you can say about this music because what it is so unashamedly blatantly awful. I think it ends up being more depressing to those critics that this music is actually popular than it is anger-inducing, which is a good trade. And it IS incredible this band became so popular. That they have a song on Guitar Hero for instance (!!). Conservative zealots be damned. The system sucks and instead of explaining why, we're just going to show you how the system can not only birth, but foster a band as blatantly distasteful as Dead Kennedys. What is the conservative majority of Reagan's America to do with that!? It makes me smile just knowing this band existed in the context they did. Musically, DK stands in a class of its own too. The way they incorporate decidedly non-punk elements between ferocious, hardcore riffs. There are moments of circus music. Some of more straight rock influences. Some wildly syncopated drum beats. Some of the great early-80s hardcore bass lines. Stop and start call and response moments. Sound collage. And more. All this seems wildly out of place for a hardcore act that had so much on its agenda already politically. That the music is so good, rich, and unique in addition to everything else going on satirically and politically is just gravy. Loud, abrasive, in-your-face-disturbing gravy. Viva Las Vegas. 5 stars.
Three punk albums in one week… all from very different eras! This might be my favorite time period. It just feels so silly and unserious, and then you get behind the lyrics and there’s more to it. I think the singer alone gives this album an extra star, he’s so unique. Holiday in Cambodia is pretty amazing. When he started screaming “Pol! Pot!” I must have been at peak Dead Kennedys. I really wish this album were mixed better. It’s a shame that it sounds like a pretty lofi, live recording… some more fidelity would have done a lot for me. Thank you punk albums for being so short! In and out and done! Thats how it should be.
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
Terrible contrarian provocatives masking bad music with aggressive titles
2.5
Was not felling it in the beginning but it won me over. Rocks hard
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.
Liked this quite a bit actually, but it's definitely not something I'd want to put on whenever. 3.5 rounded down.
Great lyrics
This might be easily the best punk album I have ever listened to. Surprised how much I actually liked it despite it not being my go-to genre. Starts and ends with absolute bangers, overall amusing and full of life.
Nope.
Very good, very unique, I enjoyed it
BRUH just yesterday i was wondering when i was going to get this album this is probably the greatest hardcore punk album i have ever heard, i even listened to it full five times
Pretty wacky. Exactly what you expect from DK.
Uber Alles.
is this allowed?
Punk sesentero. No me ha llamado la antención.
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
Never been my thing.
The first two punk albums I owned, Black Flag Damaged and this! Love it! "God told me to skin you alive"
Fuck yes
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!
Fantastic classic punk.
Meh. Screaming.
I might need to listen to this album a bit more before it grows on me. Felt a little formulaic from my perspective.
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...
Meh
Really great punk album that sounds extremely British, so it's a bit of a surprise to know they're an American band. Super energetic and never a dull moment. I love this album honestly.
Rowdy and lyrics centering on social issues. Fast-paced punk. Standout is "Kill the Poor"
Hated every second of this. Forgot it was real at one point and thought it was Matt Stone and Trey Parker titting about
Sex Pistols from Wish.Com
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.
5 One of my absolute favorite albums and my gateway into hardcore punk. I love the speed and cynicism that drenched this album. The bass is off the hook here, along with the drums. There was recently a new mix of this by Chris Lord-Alge and people hate it. Anyway we wouldn’t have so many awesome punk groups if it wasn’t for this album. Favorites: Kill the Poor, When Ya Get Drafted, Let’s Lynch the Landlord, Drug Me, Your Emotions, Chemical Warfare, California Über Alles, Holiday in Cambodia
5 Fuck yeah, love the Dead Kennedys. As probably one of the most politically charged groups of all-time (up there with Rage Against the Machine and Public Enemy), I've always felt that this band (along with the mentioned) "got it". Going into my review, I was actually prepared to give a 4 or 4.5 because, while I really enjoy the album, there are a handful of songs I don't return to as much. After giving this a re-listen now, I'm left wondering what the hell I was doing sleeping on them before. All killer, no filler front to back - an absolute punk essential (though Frankenchrist is also an amazing album imo). They say that the older you get, the more disillusioned you become with the punk mindset, and a developing exposure to the larger political stratosphere leads to a more complex and comprehensive mindset. I say - Dead Kennedys were right all along. RIP D.H. Peligro Favorite songs: Obviously Holiday in Cambodia and California Über Alles are bangers, but you can't go wrong with anything here. Let's Lynch the Landlord is probably the most underrated.
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
Amazing album. All great tracks and theres always room for jello. 5/5
Fucking 5
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
Went with the recent reissue and gotta say the slickened production is much more revelatory than off-putting.
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.
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.
old metal was wild lmao
Interesting
Hell of an album, hell of a band. So sad what became of this bunch, when they had nothing to do than fight against each other because of some money for royalties.
Nope. Nope nope nope. Noooope. I listened to about half a minute of 5 tracks. That's more than enough Dead Kennedys to last me a lifetime. Clearly a very representative album - but for my #1 most disliked style of music.
Cool!
Decent punk album, it doesn’t really hit my taste and the songs aren’t long enough for me to enjoy
Really good punk. Not quite sex pistols level.
yup, it's shock-punk!
I hate this, everything about it.
I can see why somebody might like. I can disagree with people
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
Of its time. Still a good noise but not a keeper
4/10 some good moments, but.
Loud and aggressive and interesting ideas on how terrible the world is but personally a little too much.
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.
Just not interested - was never my lane
Can't really vibe with these guys. California Uber Alles.. great song tho.
Probably the most creative and out-there hardcore punk debut, and it is so fucking tasty.
A debut that is fast and hard with a lot of humor and bite. What more could you ask for out of hardcore punk?
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
Excellent
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.
Terrible
Man, I really enjoyed that. The Kennedys are a bit more political than their contemporaries but always manage to avoid getting bogged down by preaching. It's an absolute romp of a record. Loved it so much I played it through twice. Which is easy enough since it's only 36 minutes long. 15 songs, 36 minutes. Love that vibe. Each song comes in hard, sticks around just long enough to make a point, and then we're moved on to the next one. No wasted time, no bloated verses, no pointless vamps. Just pure, distilled rock. So good.
Un peu dur de se mettre dans l'ambiance mais une fois qu'on l'est c'est sympa, un peu trop criant à mon goût.
This is an album I've cooled on since my teenage years, but upon relisten and reflection, it's still a perfect punk album. I don't turn to this album the way that I did when I was 18, and I'm never going to return to it like I did then ever again, but I can't help but acknowledge its greatness. I might not want to eat cheesecake every day, but I can still acknowledge that it's delicious.
This albums raw as hell
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.
Oh, to be a outrageous and overcompensating teenager again. The fun and the fury of the album will never get old for me
Love this album. best version of 'Viva las Vegas' out there!
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.
Well these guys can certainly play fast. Lots of energy here and this is much more listenable than say the Sex Pistols. Jello Biafra’s warbling vibrato singing and their political lyrics that try to shock seem very quaint and cliched today though. Not my jam but I’ll give a nod since they can actually play.
i mean, it was aight?
Not much of a fan
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
Great record
Good punking I
Quality punk album
Masterpiece of hardcore punk rock. Sharp lyrics and vocals, over a music that's no less sharp. The best of both worlds, really. The biting sense of satire is everywhere, from "Kill The Poor" to that absurd "Viva Las Vegas" cover closing the album. And the instrumentation is often smart and inventive, with many infectious guitar-and-bass lines that are both angular and highly melodic, thus going beyond what the usual small fry in the genre can deliver. "Holiday In Cambodia" and "California Über Alles" are instant classics, and if their subject matters deal with news events from another era, their impact hasn't aged a day. Maybe because the times have only gotten worse. The Dead Kennedys had Pol Pot and Jerry Brown. Now we have Kim Jung-un and Donald Trump. One can't help wishing more folks had listened to Jello Biafra's politically charged vitriol at the time. But if general audiences listened to good songwriters instead of crooked politicians, maybe the world would be slightly less hellish as a result. On a sidenote, I also highly recommend the *Give Me Convenience Or Give Me Death" compilation. It has the single versions of the two last songs I've just mentioned here, and the sound and performance in those different recordings is superior to the album versions. Besides, this compilation also harbors other pivotal singles such as "Too Drunk To Fuck", along with incredible live documents showing how insane that band was onstage. If you're a fan of *Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables*, you can't go wrong with this one, really... Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 811 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory: 103 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 46 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): 41
What do these boys have against the poor and landlords anyway?
gross
Smashing
ja nou, soms leuk soms niet maar ik ga het niet nog eens opzetten
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.
4.6 - Awesome. Jello Biafra’s voice roils with sardonic fury painting demented cartoons with characters lifted from a nightmare. Here’s an album that redeems punk rock for me. Highlights: “Kill the Poor”, “Drug Me.”
punk 3 or 4 maybe? not my fave but a fast listen and +1 for being badasses.
Very good punk album. Short & gets the messages across LOUD AND CLEAR. Fav song: Chemical Warfare
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.
Too hard and fast
There was some interesting suff that I had never heard before. Great punk.
Sounds like very early punk, some cool sounds here but just a lot of noise. V political though up the boys.
not a fan
Amazing American punk band. Their influence on the West Coast and punk scene in general are huge. This album influenced my own music tastes and Jello Biafra is a legend. A solid banger after banger.
First one I knew already. What a fucking opener! Plays with the variety of punk songwriting in its time... but spooky! It's cool how California Über Alles pulls no punches on a liberal politician. And that it got to express the sold out promise of California hippies and the dark potentials hidden behind a freedom loving, spiritual image before the Lukewarm Red Jalapenos beat that premise to death. ...Pol Pot!
I really liked this, I like his voice. Loved viva Las Vegas.
This has got a lot of energy, but the quality is pretty inconsistent.
low brow political, i'm sure they had impact at one point
This one really knocked me on my ass, clearly a big influence point for a whole bunch of bands I like a ton.
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.
Buen disco. Punkcito clásico de San Francisco. Para días manija. Energético.
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 .
The songs were tuneless and all sounded the same.
Too close to noise for my liking.
4/14, 29%
Mérite définitivement une place dans les 1001. Un des meilleurs albums de early punk qui existe
Great album, huge part of my personal punk renaissance of 2020-2022
Song called "Let's Lynch the Landlord" = instant 5 stars Song called "I Kill Children = instant 5 stars 14 tracks but the whole album is barely 30 minutes? = instant 5 stars.
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
I only kinda dig it
Not for me.
Если Холидей то ?
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.
It's going to be five stars if you don't want to read the rest. Basically, when I was about 10 I heard about the Sex Pistols and they sounded like the most exciting thing ever. They were okay but a bit ploddy and the singer seemed like a Wally. This, with its breakneck pace, vicious humour and sheer anarchic fun, is the band I wanted the Pistols to be.
Engelse punkrock. Leuke melodie'tjes, maar beetje vervelende zangstem. Wel geinig, niet heel geweldig. **
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.
I respected this, but didn't like it. I could tell why it's on the list.
It is a punk rock album. The lyrics are really eccentric. It was kinda of meh overall but that is all punk rock albums. It was relatively short, but there were 14 songs. I will not be revisiting the album.
Lekker! De stem van Biafra is zo herkenbaar, ik word daar altijd vrolijk van.
Toen ik dit als tiener ontdekte, vond ik het zo geweldig dat ik er zelfs een shirt van kocht. De teksten zijn nog steeds net zo briljant, maar ik kan er echt niet meer naar luisteren. Verschrikkelijke punk en sound.
Lekker rauw, maar toch iets te punk en noisy.
Nope, not for me.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, wat akelig.
Old punk still isn't great. California Uber Allies is the only memorable song for a reason
Low-variation punk. Not horrible, but does nothing for me. 2/5
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)
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.
Too heavy for me - appreciate the talent but I’m not into this sun-genre
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.
Their surf-rock influence really stands out here.
geggjað
Intense, interesting, lots of attitude and character.
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.
Dead Kennedys honed the hardcore punk sound unlike any other band at the time. While other big bands like Black Flag, Bad Brains, and Minor Threat got really good at playing loud and fast, Dead Kennedys did that while also wielding razor-sharp lyrics to give hardcore a pointedly political edge to it's attitude. Let's Lynch the Landlord, California über alles, and Chemical Warfare are not just for moshing in the pit! Stylistically, the boys pull from a few other sources for inspiration. Surf punk, notably used by the B-52's, gives Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables plenty of personality. This is combined with vocalist Jello Biafra, whose iconic voice and energy gives Dead Kennedys a lot of prominence. Further setting themselves apart from the other hardcore punks bands at the time, Dead Kennedys utilize varied songwriting to keep things fresh. Holiday in Cambodia, for example, uses dynamic changes in the intro and breakdown to great effect. When it comes to the simple high-energy riffs though, they still know how to bring the house down. East Bay Ray's noisy guitar and Ted's tight drums deliver killer punk sounds in spades. I would be remiss not to mention Klaus Flouride on bass, who expertly keeps up with the band while holding down a perfectly solid bass groove. This is obviously hardcore punk perfection. What more could you want from a band who calls out snide college leftists who think they know how great state communism is? Pol. Pot.
Although I love their politics I found them a little too one note.
Good punk album, reminds me of Sex Pistols a bit
Still love this album after all these years.
This album inspired me to become a poli sci major. When I was 14 I made a choker made from an old white crew neck t-shirt collar on which I sharpied the words "economy is looking bad, time to start a war." It went well with my homemade iron-on "jail to the thief" anti-Bush patch.
Fine.
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.
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
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!
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.
A pure classic hardcore punk album with intelligent and deeply sarcastic lyrics mixed with surf guitar and elastic band vocals. Lots of punks weren't expecting that. Best Tracks: Kill The Poor; Holiday In Cambodia; Viva Las Vegas
2.5 / 5. Not bad for a first listen. I can definitely get into this one. need to hear it more though.
Good, very Sex Pistols, completely unsurprisingly.
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.
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.
holiday in cambodia is the best song on this album and it still sucks
I get that it's an important album but fuck me Jello Biafra is insufferable.
Icky
Ulgh, another Punk Album with hardly any musical variation within the album and between other punk albums. Viva las vegas was the only fun song to listen too, but that's a cover..
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.
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.
One of my college roommates loved these guys. He was my inroad into hardcore punk. I did not not like it. The first time I listened to this album (this time) I was enjoying some of it. Nostalgia had something to do with it, but I’ve also come to like proto punk and other punk adjacent genres. There is some good guitar stuff throughout. The energy comes shooting out of the speakers. The lyrical social commentary is anti-establishment, pro-down-trodden, and anarchical. The poor get fucked over and corporations control everything. Not much has changed. Upon second listen (this time), my feelings are similar to those from college. My biggest issue is how Jello Biafra uses his voice, his affectations. It’s thoroughly annoying. The way he sings makes it difficult to understand the lyrics. Maybe that’s part of the point, but I had to look them up. To end on a positive note, I do like Holiday in Cambodia.
Love this, though took a while to get used to JB voice again.
Better than I expected. I mostly avoid US punk.
Once you get past the wobbly voice, there's plenty to like here. Best track: Holiday in Cambodia
I cannot overstate how much of a vibe this album is. Doesn't matter that it was made over 40 years ago.
Some good some not so good
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.
NAZI PUNKS FUUUUUUUUUUUCK OOOOOFF
It sounds a little bit dated, but still one of the best punk records of all time!
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.
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*
Thoroughly enjoyable and nicely varied for a punk album. I didn't feel like I was listening to the same slurred song for thirty-five minutes like I often do with bad punk. There's also just a lot of great songs on here. 'Kill the Poor,' 'California Uber Alles,' 'Holiday in Cambodia,' I could go on. This was a great introduction to the Dead Kennedys!
one of the best punk albums ever..brilliant!
Liked it! Don't recall ever listening to much from this group.
Great, with a couple of benchmark punk tracks and the others all very very good.
Dont like this type of music, really.
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