Yank Crime

I'm sure I'll be in the minority here, but I really liked this one. Reminded me of Jesus Lizard and Black Flag. Great musicianship, insane energy. Cathartic.

I did not expect to fall in love with a hardcore album on this site. It's not a genre I avoid, but it's not one I actively seek out either. So of course I had no idea who Drive Like Jehu were, and I was pretty shocked to find such an aggressive sound after listening to 312 albums that sound nothing like this. What a welcome surprise it was. Yank Crime had my attention from the onset, but by the time I got to "Luau", a nine-and-a-half minute sludge fest with teeth-grinding guitar licks and driving drums and bass, I knew I had been served up something special with this one. The reviews on this site might suggest otherwise (this album is not for everyone and it will certainly be one I have to listen to on my own) but when you start digging into how Yank Crime is perceived among hardcore fans, you'll quickly find there is a reason this is on the 1001 list. I'm certainly glad the authors didn't ignore it. What a thrashing masterpiece.

Another awesome surprise. I had Rocket From The Crypt just over a week ago, fell in love with it, and then read that the singer from that band is also the guitarist in this band. This is different than RftC, but it's just as energetic and chaotic. The songs by this album are a little longer, harder, and more rhythmically complex. The songs from RftC are catchier and more pop-punky. I really really like both though. The guitars are dissonant, the voice is screamo. This will grow on me with more listens.

How have I never heard this!

Wow really good. Emo on an appropriate day. Four! Strong four! Let’s say FIVE

a personal favorite of mine

top 3 - Here Come the Rome Plows, Golden Brown, Sinews. Kinda wish I knew about them sooner because this is really great! Fun Listen and I was hooked from start to finish! :D

Never heard of them knew nothing of this album and loved it

very fun listen woot woot

OLE OLE OLAAAAAA JEHUUU JEHUUU pais do emo lendas completas o yank crime é AOAT do emo minha vida mudou no dia que eu conheci eles (e rites of spring logo antes mas não vem ao caso) inclusive, barulho p caralho. INCRIVEL

MAYBE I'VE BEEN CLONED DON'T LET THAT MAN INSIDE YOUR HOME IT WASN'T ME THAT PHONED DONT LET THAT MAN INSIDE YOUR HOME!!!!!!!!! acho lindo demais como eh sempre um SOCO NA CARA absurdo. barulheira gostosa, guitarrada bem feita, tudo de bom pqp. as construções das músicas são mto boas, não tem jeito. qdo vem a chuva de guitarrada, dá pra sentir até o chão tremer, bão pra caraio. um crime não ter unwound na lista, mas drive like jehu é MUITO merecido. os paizão da transição hardcore -> post-hardcore -> emozada. coisa BOA demais. ripzaço rick froberg o homem sabia gritar.

A post-hardcore artifact that should be revered as one of the best emo albums of all time. The top is adrenaline spiking motion, then dives into a mellowed rhythm. This is the kind of cool Brits wish they were.

Iconic Post Hardcore. This album is an experience which I found surprising by some of the song lengths. Seems that what they were up to was building a particular atmosphere and knew how to manipulate and tailor audio.

Thoughts before listening: These guys are a big influence on the emo/punk/hardcore scene, but I don't believe I have ever listened to them before. I'm sure this has some pretty meh reviews on this app, but I'm sure I'll enjoy it. Review: Ok so this is definitely considered a precursor to emo, but its got a lot more going for it than that description would indicate. This is musically adventurous hardcore punk that shifts between different tempos and features much longer songs than are typically thought of for the genre. I assume that is why it gets mentioned as an emo precursor, but this is reminding me quite a bit of more celebrated bands like Fugazi or At the Drive-In as opposed to Sunny Day Real Estate that are more closely aligned with emo. I can certainly see where this album is the bridge from Sieve Fisted Find to One Armed Scissor. I like this quite a bit, although I can understand why others aren't as into it. I was leaning 4-stars but this just got better the more I listened....5-stars.

:)

Beautiful

Good strings guitar! Vanguard of the hardcore.

kind of knew what i was expecting, but man. it's so incredible to find an album of these kind of genres that it's great from start to finish. even without knowing their importance or influence, it's stunning how creative and fun and intense their riffs and their songs are. truly a joy to listen to this

Wow. Thoroughly enjoyed this. Wasn't expecting much. Did I understand any of the lyrics? Absolutely not. Did I love the rawness, the energy and the guitar? 100 percent. I'm actually gonna give this a 5. On my second spin of this album today to really make sure I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. It's fantastic.

Lowkey punishing.

Initial impression of the first 27 seconds of this album on a pre caffeine Monday morning. 1st 9 seconds, heck yeah that bassline kicks ass. 2nd 9 seconds, what the heck?, tune your guitar. 3rd 9 seconds, oh no, this singer blows. Luckily the coffee started working and the album got better as it went along. It's an odd one for sure. Not many 7 to 9 minute punk rock tunes out there and this has multiple tracks like that. But I like the energy and it's a pretty good time once the guy stops caterwauling. If I had seen this band in a seedy dive bar back in the day I would've did some stage diving, gotten a few bruises, lost a little blood and probably remembered it as a great gig.

Never listened to this. Quality punk.

I’ve reviewed over 500 albums now and this might be my favorite new find. I didn’t love the squealing at the start of Super Unison but the rest is pretty great. Reminds me of Fugazi but with Greg Ginn of Black Flag on guitar. Also hints of the Minutemen and Rites of Spring

5 stars. No notes. Fuck me, one of my favorite albums and I'm surprised and delighted to see it here because I haven't put it on for a little while. Out of the gate, pedal the metal, masterfully hits the loud, the angular, the relief. I'm the first to complain about long albums (and long songs) and even though I guess people call this one-note, and they might be right, it never overstays its welcome for me in any capacity. Energy and tension like this shouldn't be sustainable, but here we are.

An album I probably never would have listened to but its one of the greats. Sinewd is so good

Surprisingly excellent. I'd somehow never heard of them, but this is as big of a surprise as the Big Black album. I loved it.

Instant favourite

Just brilliant, a breath of fresh air.

Where has this album been all my life? As a millennial who was deep into the post-hardcore and emo scenes in the early 00s, I immediately see the influence of Drive Like Jehu on all the bands I listened to as a teen. This sounds like the logical bridge between Fugazi and Thursday for instance. The guitars are so inventive and have the perfect punk tone. Propulsive drumming and satisfyingly expressive vocals. Side note, the band and album name rang a little bell and I realized while listening and reading that the guitar player was also in Rocket From the Crypt — whose album Scream Dracula Scream was another surprise 5-star from this list. That guy John Reis, he was onto something. Must-listen #263.

This album is insane. The only emo album on the entire list (somehow), but boy did they pick a fucking good one. It's own sonic space, like you're midway between your spirit leaving your body and time seems to slow down. That guitar tone is killer. "Luau" is a total earworm for me

A ton of my favourite albums are post-hardcore, but for whatever reason this record never clicked with me. I dislike the artist name, album name, and album cover, so maybe that subconsciously ruined it for me. I also preferred the more melodic side of the genre (can't say I have a preference anymore), and this record is a bit noisier and more discordant compared to most post-hardcore from the early 1990s (Fugazi, Fuel, Hoover, Moss Icon, Nation of Ulysses). Unwound were probably the closest in sound that I can think of from the same period. In retrospect, this measures up favourably to any of those bands (excepting Fugazi ofc). It's hard and noisy, but the sound is also controlled, lean, and rhythmic as hell. The use the loud/quiet dynamic amazingly, without getting soft or twiddly in the quiet parts. The pacing of the record, and particularly the longer songs, is impressive. Four of the original tracks are over 7 minutes, and two of those are over 9 minutes - and all of them wear it well. Glad I came back and finally heard the quality of this record more clearly. 5*

Banger

Exceptional album. It’s clear from the first song why it is so influential and beloved.

This rips! Luau is one of the coolest songs I’ve ever heard.

Fantastic

Phenomenal

To be honest never heard of this band before. I was hooked from the first listen. An album I will definitely return to. Loved it.

PEAK AFTER PEAK WHAT

Incredible album, haven't listened to this in an age

This was such a cool experience by a band I've never heard of before. But it was just GOOD punk. Sounds much more modern than 1994. I don't need to know why it's important to music history to thoroughly enjoy the listen. I did not like the noise in the middle, but it's so reminiscent of watching punk/metal live that I had to smile.

The absolute peak of “everyone individually is doing the coolest thing you’ve ever heard for 53 minutes straight but when you play it all together it sounds like it’s going to rob you with a screwdriver on the third floor of a parking garage in broad daylight”core

“Do You Compute” automatically comes out of me when an audio engineer says “okay let’s hear some bass”

This is interesting.

I was not ready for this. What an amazing album. “Super Unison” is a sonic adventure similar to groups like Sonic Youth. Hearing this, I can hear the start of bands like At the Drive In and Modest Mouse.

this album rocks so hard, what a pleasant surprise to see it on the list

### 🎸 **In-Depth Review of Drive Like Jehu's *Yank Crime*** #### **1. Lyrics and Themes** - **Lyrical Content**: Rick Froberg's lyrics on *Yank Crime* are characterized by their visceral intensity and thematic depth. They often explore themes of **distrust, societal critique, and personal anguish**. Tracks like "Here Come the Rome Plows" critique American imperialism (e.g., references to the Vietnam War), while "Luau" addresses the exploitation of Hawaii through tourism. Froberg's delivery is raw and confrontational, blending sarcasm ("keep your handouts, cupcake") with existential dread. - **Emotional Range**: The lyrics oscillate between aggression and vulnerability. For example, "Super Unison" features lines like "Ready, ready to let you in!" which juxtapose stylistic vulnerability with fierce instrumentation. This duality aligns with the album's overarching theme of **emotional persuasion through chaos**. #### **2. Music and Instrumentation** - **Guitar Work**: The dual guitars of Rick Froberg and John Reis are the album's centerpiece, creating a **dissonant, yet melodic tapestry** of sound. Their interplay is technically complex, featuring contorted structures, shifting time signatures, and piercing harmonics. Tracks like "Do You Compute" and "Luau" showcase their ability to weave feedback and noise into hooks that are both abrasive and catchy. - **Rhythm Section**: Drummer Mark Trombino and bassist Mike Kennedy provide a relentless, rhythmic foundation. Trombino's drums are described as "primal" and "hypnotic," while Kennedy's basslines add depth and propulsion, particularly on tracks like "Sinews". - **Song Structures**: The album defies conventional punk norms with extended song lengths (four tracks exceed 7 minutes). These sprawling compositions incorporate **dynamic shifts**, from quiet, tense passages to explosive crescendos, reminiscent of post-rock and math rock. #### **3. Production** - **Raw and Unpolished Sound**: The production, handled by the band themselves, emphasizes **rawness and intensity**. Unlike the slickness often associated with major labels (Interscope), *Yank Crime* retains a DIY aesthetic, with a mix that highlights the cacophony of guitars and Froberg's harsh vocals. - **Atmospheric Texture**: The use of feedback and distortion creates a dense, immersive soundscape. For example, "New Intro" instrumental layers noise over a melancholic waltz, adding to the album's emotional weight. #### **4. Themes and Conceptual Depth** - **Critique of American Imperialism**: The term "Yank Crime" itself refers to U.S. interventionism, with songs like "Here Come the Rome Plows" (referencing military bulldozers) and "Luau" (critiquing Hawaiian tourism) serving as pointed commentaries. - **Emotional Isolation**: Froberg's lyrics often convey a sense of alienation and defiance, as seen in "Do You Compute?" where he snarls, "Fuck you if you disagree with me". This themes of resistance and individuality resonate throughout the album. #### **5. Influence and Legacy** - **Genre-Bending Impact**: *Yank Crime* is cited as a foundational work in **post-hardcore, emocore, and math rock**. Its influence is evident in bands like At the Drive-In, Refused, and Botch, who adopted its blend of aggression and technicality. - **Cultural Resonance**: Despite its initial limited commercial success, the album gained cult status and was reissued in 2003 due to persistent demand. Its legacy is celebrated for inspiring the "San Diego sound" and emocore scene of the 1990s. --- ### ✅ **Pros of the Album** 1. **Innovative Guitar Work**: The dissonant, interlocking guitar melodies create a unique sound that remains influential. 2. **Emotional Intensity**: Froberg's vocals and lyrics convey raw passion, making the album emotionally resonant. 3. **Dynamic Songwriting**: The extended tracks masterfully balance chaos and structure, offering immersive listening experiences. 4. **Thematic Depth**: The critique of imperialism and personal vulnerability adds intellectual weight. ### ❌ **Cons of the Album** 1. **Inaccessibility**: The abrasive noise and lengthy songs may deter listeners unfamiliar with post-hardcore or math rock. 2. **Repetitive Elements**: Some critics note that the album occasionally overuses ideas or feedback, leading to moments of monotony. 3. **Vocal Style**: Froberg's harsh, shouted vocals are an acquired taste and may overwhelm those preferring melodic singing. --- ### 🎶 **Conclusion** *Yank Crime* is a landmark album that transcends its post-hardcore roots through technical innovation, emotional depth, and uncompromising vision. While its abrasiveness and complexity may not appeal to all, its influence on alternative music is undeniable. For those willing to engage with its chaos, it offers a profoundly rewarding experience that remains relevant decades after its release.

Класичний та культовий альбом. Вплинув на інші хороші гурти. Той самий ATDI багато взяв від DLJ. Я не можу сказати, що я колись прям горів цим альбом. Він дуже насичений, і на відміну від деяких теж класичних постхк альбомів, які я міг запускати по колу, з цим такого бажання особливо не виникало. Можливо це через нойзовий акцент в цій музиці. Років 5 мабуть не слухав, зараз із великим задоволенням переслухав.

Однозначно 5 зірочок, пощастило побачити їх реюніон наживо.

finally some real music

This was pretty damn good. Reminded me very much of Slint and I loove spiderland, so naturally i liked this one as well. Maybe a 5 is a little too much, but shit it was amazing

Je suis vraiment content de voir cet album dans la liste. Une des voix les plus singuliere du punk. Un band qui continue dans la voie de Fugazi mais avec encore plus d'urgence, de rage. Il y a de la complexité, mais jamais pour être complexe, ça accote l'émotion à fond.

Rattles along like a runaway train from second one, all chugging riffs, stop-start rhythm and throaty poetry. As the genre post hardcore suggests they took the aesthetic of hardcore punk, cut and shut it into something brand new a la Slint, Brainiac, Unwound. After a few plays you’ll have bits of John’s hooks and Rick’s lyrics going round your head at random like mantras. The only downside is that once you’ve heard DLJ and Hot Snakes no other rock band ever sounds as good.

2.69?!?! Common people, this album is great. I listened to it once a year ago and loved it, but for some reason never listened to it again. This is probably my favorite hardcore album that isn't Title Fight. There are just so many great riffs, and his voice matches the music so well. He really has a great scream. High 5!!!

Mental guitar riffs on this. Loved it.

What this list lacks in At The Drive-In, Refused, Polvo, Unwound, Q and not U, Sunny Day Real Estate, etc etc it makes up for with Drive Like Jehu. I don't really consider this emo but fuck it if theres no My Chem on the list this is the next best thing. This absolutely fucking rips, its from 1994 and you have all the best bits of noise rock, math rock, hardcore, and post rock all fused together in a tense and unforgiving hour. And best of all, it sounds like you are in the room with them and they are just hammering it out in front of you. The drums are barely holding the ramshackle chaos together, the guitars either blending seamlessly together or squealing like hawks, the bass, my fucking god the bass, it is fucking heavy as shit and holding the whole operation down. Rome Plows is one of my favourite punk songs ever. Right off the bat we are in 5/4 with a ripper of a bass line and straight in the guitars are fighting for air over separate dissonant lines. It is relentless, the only breaks when it switches to 6/4 while the guitars climb and a build section later in the song. Masterfully crafted energy that is holds between 10 and 11 the entire near 6 minute track length. I'm not even gonna bother listing favourites, this is a near 10 for me and I think its all essential. Without this album nearly all of my favourite bands wouldn't exist. My crime has been yanked thank you very much.

Finally, we hit a "kinda obscure" album that I owned. I miss this era, and this is the kind of music I will always think of when I hear the term "emo." The screams. The distortion. The anguish. After this, I just had to listen to some Rocket from the Crypt, No Knife, Fugazi, Rites of Spring, etc.

This is what punk should be. So fun. Loved luau and hand over fist

Very small band but I really liked this one

Experimental progressive punk. This is sooooo awesome. Never hear of them before. This os the reason I keep doing the one albuma day thing to discover stuff like this

didnt get past the first 30 seconds. sorry, too much to concentrate on w/o punk rock sledgehammering my brain. I'm giving it 5 stars, because as Punk goes, this magnificently worked instantly as an repulsive agent.

I’m already a fan of Rocket From the Crypt and Hot Snakes, two bands in the same family tree as Drive Like Jehu, and was way overdue to listen to this band. Between the complex, multi-part compositions and song lengths, this feels like operatic post-hardcore. I’d call it progcore, but it never feels especially fussy, indulgent or done simply to demonstrate musical virtuosity. Instead, the songs, from the pummeling noise freakout of “Luau” to the meditative “Sinews,” feel entirely unfettered and free, in service of conveying complex emotions. This album is rooted in the sonic fury of hardcore but expands by orders of magnitude on the genre’s restrictive musical palette.

noise and chaos. angsty rhythms. trancelike music interludes, with lovely progressive buildups. i'm listening at an office workplace but this would go hard as a running mix, especially "do you compute". kind of a dreadfull sonic violence. fantastic.

Muy buen álbum

Here Come the Rome Plows is one of the greatest things ever recorded

One of my favourite discoveries of this process so far, almost like prog Refused? The two long songs are my favourite and I'll definitely be returning to this one! 4.5*

#ВидатнийАльбомЩодня Drive Like Jehu — Yank Crime (1994) Цей альбом — як фільм, який спочатку не зібрав великої аудиторії, але з часом став культовим. Yank Crime часто згадують у списках найважливіших «гітарних» релізів 90-х, але знайомі з ним далеко не всі, і дарма. Drive Like Jehu — гурт, який проіснував всього 5 років, випустив два альбоми і не мав жодних хітів. Проте їхній вплив на музику виявився значно більшим, ніж можна було очікувати. Цей альбом часто називають предтечею «емо». Але це не “емо” в тому вигляді, який ми зазвичай уявляємо сьогодні, з усіма його сценічними атрибутами і певною стилізацією. Тут емоційність — це справжній крик тривоги, внутрішня напруга і напружена драматургія, яка виливається в музичну мову. І саме для передачі цього «стану» Drive Like Jehu робили свою музику такою ламаною, агресивною, з частою зміною ритмів і мелодійних ліній. Але при цьому вона не звучить хаотично. Навпаки, кожен трек — це продумана історія з несподіваними поворотами і постійним зростанням напруги. У 1994 році, коли більшість гуртів грали гранж, Drive Like Jehu вже прокладали дорогу для пост-хардкору, матроку і скрімо — жанрів, які з’розвинулися і стали популярними значно пізніше. Yank Crime - це забута класика, яка має величезне значення для розвитку альтернативної сцени 90-х і вплинула на багато гуртів, які ми слухаємо і сьогодні. Навіть якщо ви не є поціновувачем такої «шумної»музики - все одно раджу дати цьому альбому шанс - можливо, саме він стане саме тією знахідкою, яку ви давно шукали😉

Amazing album.

fuck yeah, instant 5. love it.

"Yank Crime" is the second and final album by San Diego post hardcore band Drive Like Jehu. The Wiki-listed genres are post hardcore, math rock, noise rock, post-punk and emo. You have my utmost attention now. Some members of the band would go on to form Rocket From the Crypt and those members in this band include Rick Froberg (vocals, rhythm guitar), John Reis (guitar), Mike Kennedy (bass) and Mark Trombino (drums). A lo-fi bass and a Mudhoney-like rock sound open "Here Comes the Rome Plow." Screaming vocals. Strung out and scratching layered guitars. There's an urgency to this sound that's great. "Do You Compute" has weird guitar keys and melody. Wow, here's your math rock. I've been lifted back to the Standard in Knoxville listening to Still House Plants. Why not just math rock it out for 9 minutes and that's what they do in "Luau." "New Math" starts out like the band is angry at the world. Hard, driving, guitars. Thrash bass and drums. The singer is angry at something but we already knew that from the preceding music. How the hell did I not know about the whole San Diego punk scene in the 1990's? I was living in Santa Barabara at the time. This album is fucking great; I ordered the vinyl a minute into the first song. Hard, melodic, adventurous, urgent, angry, great guitars, bass and drums. I'm not sure where the emo comes in but if this is emo, I'm a fan. A perfect way to end a music-focused vacation. An utterly fantastic album.

I a really really liked this. Loved the energy. Loved the music.

Ik vind niet alleen hiphop leuk, dit soort muziek luister ik ook regelmatig en heb ik ook veel geluisterd. Deze specifieke band heb ik echter nooit aangezet in m'n jeugd. Hardcore en Post-Hardcore was voor mij vaak net over een grens: te chaotisch, te schreeuwerig. Van bijvoorbeeld At The Drive-In vind ik sommige nummers bijna onovertreffelijk (Honest to a Fault), maar andere nummers van hun kon ik niet zoveel (bijv. Arcarsenal). Tegenwoordig kan ik het wat beter hebben, zolang het niet te wiskundig wordt. The Mars Volta vind ik denk ik nog steeds vermoeiend. Dit 'Rijden Als Een Joehoe' album zit nu aan de goede kant van de grens voor mij. Lichte chaos, ingewikkelde gitaarshit afgewisseld met beukende herhalingen en dat alles begeleid door een prettige vocalist en goede drummer. En natuurlijk af en toe even wat zielige rustmomentjes. Genoeg herrie om je stoer te voelen en één been voorzichtig zwevend boven het spectrum is genoeg om het nog enigszins te kunnen volgen. Ook deze zal hier vanaf nu niet elke dag aan gaan, maar toch ben ik een beetje aan het twijfelen tussen een 4 en een 5. Eigenlijk is een 5 net iets te hoog, maar ik heb wel zin om hem te geven. Hardcore (en mag ik emo zeggen?) voor de fijnproever.

Very At the Drive-In esque. 5

Noise, aggression, and fun. Yes.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Unbelievable,hardcore punk tracks that last longer than 2 minutes. Didnt know these existed!

Beautiful album. The fact this has like, a 2.5 is a sign of the narrow vision of a lot of people doing this -- Music extends beyond your limited perspective, past The Beatles and Rolling Stones. Allow music to wash over you on its own terms. The world of music is an ocean and you limit yourself to a puddle. Also, "oughhh it's too loud" "it's so loud" "ooh my ears" you're 18-39 and you don't know how to adjust the volume on your phone? C'mon now. Am I being disingenous? No more than the people throwing a 1 at this cause a guy yells a bit.

Die letzte Gitarrenband, yeah!

I wish it didn’t hurt my ears so much, because I actually think it sounds fantastic

This makes me want to run face first through a brick wall. The guitar work is really great and noisy. The vocals are perfect for the style. The almost thirty seconds of feedback at the beginning of Super Unison is awesome. The long songs give opportunity for the musicianship to shine.

Just one of those unexplainable perfect albums. These gentlemen accomplished their goals mightily with a powerful yet contemplative record for the ages

kickass as fuck

Oh yeah, pump that feedback into my veins!

Go ahead and sign me up for the 1001 Post-Hardcore Albums-list, please.

This was the one post hard-core album I really got into at the time. I always meant to properly explore more but never got round to it. Maybe nothing else would live up to it.

Love this

FUCK YES. I had no idea this was a thing. I love Rocket From The Crypt, I love At The Drive-In, and this is exactly halfway 'twixt the two. Guttural screaming and chaotic guitars. Enough energy to fuel a mission to Jupiter. Another reason to love the 1001 Albums project.

I love this album. Reminds me of college house parties where we would host hardcore bands coming through Tempe. Bummed to hear the singer died last year - he definitely has one of the greatest rock voices ever.

this is awesome. thank you so much

Painfully complex at times, you can see where their dissonance would make it hard to pick up broader acceptance.

I could not be happier that the list includes this one. Genuinely a top 5 album of all time. These guys are masters of tension + relief, and expert song craftsmen. This thing as held up spectacularly. Still sounds heavy to this day. Can not praise this enough 🙏

This rocks. hell yeah. extremely cool. The Constantines in their noisier segments sound a lot like this. Heard about this band a ton but never listened, had no idea they sounded like this or that it was so short-lived. Total breath of fresh air in the 1001 albums list. On my personal list, I might say that I prefer the bigger range the Constantines/Fugazi/etc. have and that sticking to tense nervous energy doesn't get the full potential of this kind of sound. On this list, easy 5. crime: yanked. (⌐■_■)

Rick Froberg forever

First of all: RIP Rick Froberg This album just rips. I'm a big fan of pretty much anything that John Reis and Rick Froberg have done. I seriously was excited to see this as my album of the day. My wife and I were both home today and I advised my wife to spend an hour outside sunning because I would be playing this one very loudly and acting a fool in the house while I did. I don't know. I just don't know what else to say it's just so good. A friend of mine has the cover art tattooed on his chest maybe he should be the one writing this review because I'm not qualified. 5 emphatic stars. If you like this album at all do yourself a favor and listen to their other album and then go get into Hot Snakes, Obits, Pitchfork, Rocket From The Crypt, and anything else those 2 fine gentleman made. Woooooo!

For this review, I will look at the original tracklisting and not include the bonus tracks with the 2003 re-release. I had not heard of Drive Like Jehu before today. They seem to have been a short-lived post-hardcore punk band from the 90s that released only two albums, with Yank Crime being the second. Listening to it, I was blasted away by the melodic guitar hooks, Mark Trombino's pounding percussion, and Rick Froberg's commanding vocal style. Adding to that experience were odd time signatures and more complex rhythmic structures akin to math rock. Then you get into the lyrics, and Rick gets visceral in his writing as topics range from fractured relationships on "Sinews" and "Do You Compute?" to self-destruction on "Golden Brown" to ecological disasters on "Here Come the Rome Plows" and "Luau". There's a great deal of poignant angst that comes across in the words and the sonic noise that carries them. I get that this abrasive style of music is not for everyone, but Drive Like Jehu delivered in spades within the short time they had together. It's apparent how later acts like At the Drive-In and Deftones took note of these guys. Give it a spin.

a rly bad dissociative day today so i almost didnt get to this but i threw it on while closing at work and its even better then i remember and kind of the best music ever if we're being honest. moments here that do with hardcore guitar tone what autechre do with a daw...pure vivid sonic worldbuilding that make me hear the stomps of 50 foot creatures (i dont know what they look like but i know what it feels like to be in their presence) and the crashing of upsidedown waves (in oceans of liquids that are colors that dont exist in our world). fills up the entire space of my ears and brain and heart so theres no room for anything else while its playing...exhausting, but obviously rewarding, i think im gonna keep this one in rotation a bit beyond this cursory project listen. this album could be ur life

Banger sur banger

5/5 - absolutely rad

Easily one of the best post-hardcore albums I've ever heard

I swear the people here will just hate anything that isn't Bowie or The Beatles. I get that this brand of hardcore punk can't be everyone's thing, but come on people at least give it a fair chance! I love this. The passion, the rawness, the emotion. All the way through it's nothing other than amazing.

Was not expecting anything close to post hardcore on this. Fuck yeah.

Reminds me a lot of Skeleton Key :) Now I want to hear the band Rocket from the Crypt as well.

Brilliant, brutal and unquestionably influential. I missed them when they were first around, only aware of them being spoken of in hushed reverential tones. I was massively into Fugazi and Nation of Ulysses back in '94 so am kicking myself I missed Drive Like Jehu. Anyway this is a fantastic album

Erratic and hyperactive is how I would describe this to anyone who hasn't heard At the Drive-in. If you have heard At the Drive-in, I'd say subtract a few levels of hyperactivity and crazy babbling lyrics from them and you'd have this record. Pretty good shit if it's what you like.

Fantastic album from Drive Like Jehu. It's a great post-hardcore record full of passion, energy, intensity, and incredible noise. It brings together a perfect balance of hardcore, punk, no-wave, and post-rock where the quieter parts are a bit Slint-like and the hard energetic parts are very reminiscent of Fugazi from the same era. No wonder this is slowly starting to gain a justified reputation as an overlooked masterpiece of its time.

Nice cross rhythms on the first track. Love the 2nd - quirky Pearl Jam in 3. Great 3rd. And 4th. 5th. 6th. Yeah, all the rest. Whatever this fellow is saying at the top of his voice, he means it. 2nd listen (!) for lyrics. 1. Shades of California Uber Alles. 2. Do You Compute? One of the best "fuck you"s I've ever heard. 4. Nihilistic anger. Grrr! Favourite riff: 9. Sinews 6:42 2nd favourite 10. Hand over Fist 3:35 (reminds me of the end of Unsung by Helmet). Lots of loud repetitive riffs and noise, which I've not been into recently, but I heard this early morning while writing an essay and it had the effect of background brown noise - the odd rhythms helped with this. Nice contrasts. Don't know how many more listens I'll give it, but I really liked this one. Yep, yep.

v cool. dig it.

4-5 Hammer, wegweisendes Album.

Post-punk emo of the best kind. Another of those bands like Hot Snakes / RFTC / At The Drive-In that seemed to influence every great band of the 00’s. These should have been so much bigger. Saying that, I used to listen to these a lot yet I dont think I ever had this record. Think I stuck to their debut and didnt venture beyond, managing to bypass their biggest record. Maybe thats part of their appeal: they sort of drifted by and created a cult monster in doing so. Who knows. This is class though

This ticked all the boxes for me, I generally like post-hardcore but this has just the right amount of aggression and complexity. From the first track I was hooked. Still amazed the guitarist was in rocket from the crypt, the jump from this to radio friendly ska punk is very unexpected. Definitely prefer Jehu. Wouldn't say I'm a proper fan of any 90s post hardcore bands but this could change with DLJ, loved this album and will be listening again excessively.

finally some good fucking music on this forsaken website.

4.5/5

Wow! This one is really surprising! I've seen this band referenced before but never checked them out. For 1994 this is incredible! This is probably a 4.5 for me... right up my alley when it comes to aggressive music. I'm kind of embarrassed for not knowing this one. I don't know how I missed this, must have just been the name, and timing, but this is a new favorite! Can't believe this has the same guy that did Scream, Dracula, Scream!

Oh... something new. I like the guitar and music overall.... Especially on Do You Compute. Not feeling the vocals. There is so much interesting music here... but those damn vocals. Okay.. in an odd way Super Unison's vocals reminds me of listening to Incesticide for the first time. I think I can forgive these vocals for the long-form experimental sonic goodies. I've been won over. 5 stars.

Iconic post-punk band. These guys definitely majorly influenced a TON of music I adore so I have so much respect for them. They don't suffer from the "Seinfeld is unfunny" syndrome either, this album absolutely rips.

This is an album I’ve always wanted to listen to but somehow never got round to. It’s cited as a massive influence by loads of bands I love, and deserves its reputation as an essential post-hardcore/emo record. It’s extremely my shit and I’ll definitely be revisiting this a tonne. This is what the club is all about! I’m very excited by this one.

Like Thursday before Thursday learned how to write songs.

Without this post-hardcore doesn’t become what it becomes. At the Drive-In, Thursday and many others owe this album a huge debt. It’s ferocious, catchy and downright unthinkably good. There’s something to the pure and unchained madness of this album and the band that made it. I fully fuck with this!

post-hardcore adiptivo. Excelente de principio a fin.

This seems like a legit hidden gem. The guitars are amazing and unique. The lyrics and vocals fit perfectly. The band just kind of disappeared after this album so it didn't gain a huge following. Great find on this list.

Loved this one. I could hear its influences in quite a few of my favorite bands today!

FUCK. YES. This is exactly the type of longform, noisy shit that I love when Sonic Youth does it, and this shit rocks hard! Whatever the singer is usually inaudible, and quite frankly, indistinguishable from the rest of the noise, but I hardly care, because this rocks so hard that I'm jamming harder than most albums have ever had me jamming before. I could perhaps understand this being annoying, but I'm too busy loving this to care, even if it is a little longwinded. If this is the closest we get to emo on the whole generator then sign me up to finding more noise rock like this. Fuck yeah!

Fantastic album for its time. Very Swans, trail of dead. Luau is fantastic.

Can see how this led to emo bands. Good stuff. Some of the albums on here aren't that spectacular in their own right but have spun off whole genres of music. That's why they are notable. That being said this is a solid album.

I still can't believe I went so long without listening to this. The runtime put me off initially, but I find that it helps with the absorbing of the record. This album is one that really demands all of your attention, whether with the screaming, or the chainsaw guitars that sometimes come out of nowhere. The title of "one of the essential emo classics" is well deserved. Favorite track: Here Come the Rome Plows ROME PLOWS! ROME PLOWS!

Fantastic

Including Drive Like Jehu's *Yank Crime* in this list and ignoring Fugazi's *13 Songs*, *In On The Kill Taker*, *Red Medecine* and *The Argument* is a crime all by itself (*Repeater* is a great album, but I would place these other Fugazi LPs before it imho). That (major) gripe aside, I cannot thank Dimery and co. enough for selecting this other seminal post-hardcore gem in their book. I was aware of who John Reis is because of all the nice acts he was a part of after Drive Like Jehu (Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Plosivs...), but somehow I had not listened to Drive Like Jehu yet. And boy oh boy, how was I missing out! Browsing through Wikipedia to learn more about this band, I was saddened to learn that the band's singer and guitarist Rick Froberg (also the frontman of Hot Snakes) passed away from "natural causes" two months ago. I had not heard of those tragic news, oddly enough. In a better world, more people would have talked about his sudden death. I'm not gonna beat about the bush any longer: *Yank Crime* is up there with the best representatives of the post-hardcore / emocore genre. And with a track such as "New Maths", you could amost say Drive Like Jehu initiated mathcore / math rock, and this in a very tongue-in-cheek manner (get your inner calculators ready to count the different time signatures there, lol). Apart from " New Maths", *Yank Crime*'s highlights are "Do You Compute", " Luau" and "Golden Brown". The first two are admittedly long compositions, but they're totally worth your time if you're a fan of the genre, thanks to their breathtaking, harmonically tense climaxes. And if you're a post-hardcore newbie, don't get too overwhelmed by the intricate and "difficult" sonic architecture of the album's opener. "Here Come The Rome Plows" is mostly here to set the tone, actually. Everything that comes after may turn out to be extremely rewarding if you want to get acquainted with post-hardcore or similar "punk" subgenres. Normally, I would give a 4/5 - 4.5/5 grade to this record. But given how unfairly low the global score for it is in this app, I'm gonna push that grade to a perfect 5/5 mark. People in here complaining that they "don't like being yelled at" should be a little more humble, I think. They're confusing their own personal limits with an "objective" stance. It's as if I complained about "being yelled at" when I'm being exposed to a bland Adele record: it's not because you're using all the clichés of what a singer is "supposed" to do on a purely technical level that the results can't be extremely grating to your subjective ears. Good art is not necessarily meant to be "beautiful" all the time anyway. And it does not necessarily need to be so in any conventional manner. Good art can also be dark, messy and blunt. Because that's a way for it to reflect our short and messy lives. Number of albums left to review: 435 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 263 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 135 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 170

Jeeeez, this blew me away. Hook it to my veins.

What a great record. It’s a shame I never listened to it before.

Doet me gelijk heel erg denken aan At the Drive In. En de zanger heeft dan ook gezegd, dat zonder Drive Like Jehu er geen Relationship of Command zou zijn, oftewel hun iconische post-hardcore album. Dat net als Drive Like Jehu soms ietwat (te) experimenteel aan doet, maar ook gebaseerd is op een kakofonie aan gitaargeluiden. Het legendarische At the Drive In is daarna opgesplitst in the Mars Volta, die bijna nog experimenteler waren, en het door mij geliefde Sparta, waar gitarist Jim Ward lekker de vocalen mag schreeuwen. Maar waar de liedjes een stuk minder experimenteel zijn en gewoon lekker rocken. Aangezien Sparta vast niet in deze 1001 staat en zelfs At the Drive In niet (wat blijft dit toch een zelfingenomen snobistisch lijstje bij tijd en wijlen), zullen we het met Drive Like Jehu moeten doen. Die dus niet kunnen tippen aan hun eigen legacy. Maar omdat er te weinig van dit soort muziek in staat, geef ik dit 5 sterren. Ook ter compensatie van de 1en van anderen :-P

Lekker stevig! Speciale ritmes en melodieën ook

Unexpected suprise. This is riht up my ally. I love the rifts

Hearing this album for the first time completely rewired my DNA, and I wasn't even a teenager at the time. This is the goalpost to meet (and fail to meet because no-one else does it like this album).

I love this one. It sounds to me like a cross between the noisiest Nirvana songs and Slint's "Spiderland." For an album this old, it sounds really good today. All of the guitar tones especially hold up, and none of the energy of the performance is lost in the recording. On first listen, I was worried that a sound this abrasive would become overwhelming on such a long album, but I have grown to appreciate it more on the second and third listen. I had a conversation with Tom yesterday about how all of the harsh, piercing sounds on this record were clearly intentional, and the reason became clear once I started to pick up on more of the lyrics. This album is repeatedly telling the listener to fuck off. The abrasive nature is designed to support the anti-imperialist message. The band is trying to keep people out of where they don't belong. If you're on board with the message, it's a tense and exciting listen the whole way through. Cover Art 6/10: These guys sound like they would have terrible handwriting 👍: Do You Compute, New Math, Human Interest, Hand Over Fist, Bullet Train to Vegas 👎: none really, I generally don't like long songs, but I think everything on here is justified

An absolute masterpiece

Album brut et on sent qu'ils ont mis tous leur coeur, des morceaux variés

This has been a good week for me on 1001 albums generator. A lot of 4s, a lot of 5s, the page keeps giving me good albums, and as soon as I've heard that virtuoso but punk-ish riff at the beginning of "Here Comes the Rome Plows" I was like, "oh crap, this is going to be good!" And it was. This is basically emo mathcore and honestly, I'm digging it in a way I didn't expect. This album confirms my theory that, if I were born in a different decade, I would've been an emo, lol.

I want to listen to this again. Like WANT to.

Same thing I said about Stone Roses

This first track is a BANGER. I'm fucking out of breath just listening to it. If the rest of the album is like this it's another 5-star. The hooks in this album are GREAT. Yeah this is 5 stars. The writing is crazy. First time we've gotten two 5-stars back to back.

One of the more important proto-emo albums of all time; with every hook that a guitar riff would bring and the yearning and screaming that comes from the vocal, Yank Crime should be considered as one of the greatest punk albums of the 90s. If there was one album to end things on and plant a flag into the ground of what was to be the future of punk, this is the one.

punk fucking rock

This was my personality for a while in college

Really makes u want to move as u listen to this album. The tempo and the use of guitar and drums are particularly good here. Made me really want to get up and dance when it just starts to thrash. Only thing I would like more of is variety, have some more hills and valleys and that would really boost this up for me. Otherwise really enjoyed. Fab Track: Golden Brown

usually wouldn’t like this as much but the punk vibe was helpful for today. was really good

Really raw 90's punk. If it was a steak it would still be mooing - that's how raw it is. I like the musicality of the album. It is an album that you have to be in the mood for, but still, it is a really solid piece of work

I really liked this one. Post hardcore, noise rock. Had a Jesus Lizard, Boris "Pink", DC hardcore vibe going on. Maybe not an instant classic, but this will definitely be going into regular rotation.

Some times I get lost in all the genres and sub-genres, never really know exactly what they mean. “They” call this post-hardcore, but I just call it a really good hard rock record. It’s part punk, part alternative, there are elements of grunge. All to be expected for 1994. But there’s also something else that I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe that’s the post-hardcore part. But it’s really really good. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and it makes me want to delve deeper into whatever post-hardcore supposedly is.

Nyt on taas monella tapaa hyvä levy. Post-hardcorea. Kappaleet on rakenteeltaan aika erikoisia ja vaihtelevia, melodiat ajoittain tosi siistejä ja välillä hirveetä noisea, rummut on jotenkin tosi modernin kuuloiset. Tässä on tiettyä vaaran tuntua. Parhaat: Golden Brown, Sinews, Do You Compute, Luau

Just some good ass punk, simple as. 4.5 bumped down to 4.

Yes! That was really a great album. A bit on the longer side, but who am I to complain?

I never heard of this band before, but I gotta hand it to them. This music sounds 10 years ahead of it's time. It's a weird combination of stuff I like and stuff I don't like. I'm into the math rock/post-punk kinda thing, but less a fan of the emo (although I don't really hear much of that in here). Unsurprisingly, it reminds me of the post-punk I've listened to that I haven't been as big of a fan of. I think I like it more than a 3, so i'm going to give it a 4, but it's really somewhere in between.

I'm shocked this is in here, in a good way. MAN, I can't tell you the last time I heard this, but going back to it for this was a treat. I didn't remember this album being so all out aggressive, sort of a San Diego Unwound. Splits the head open. Very glad to see it in this book.

Not usually a huge hardcore fan, but this is clearly pretty good

Toca semana cortísima porque ayer fue feriado, el viernes hay paro nacional y mañana y el miércoles se trabaja de corrido: sólo hoy se escuchará la sugerencia del reto. No juno la banda pero por la tapa me imaginé el estilo de la banda. Y acá hicimos un párate porque no se pudo seguir, así que se retoma hoy lunes, también con semana de paro. Me gustó. El hardcore y el post-hardcore tienen su hipnosis y su agresividad. ¿Podríamos decir que logran un equilibrio que se acerca a lo perfecto? Dejamos la pregunta abierta Muchas gracias y hasta mañana

Post-Hardcore er en sjanger som lenge har vært litt mystisk for meg, men etter å ha hatt et gjensyn med Yank Crime, tror jeg at jeg skjønner det. Jeg skjønner fortsatt ikke helt hvordan vi gikk fra hardcore (punk) til dette, men jeg får bare bite meg i det og stole på at prosessen har blitt fulgt. De som ønsker mer av dette bør sjekke ut Unwound (som er enda bedre🤫).

Aldri hørt om det her, men det er ganske fett. Minner meg om debutalbumet til The Datsuns. Selv om det mangler noe av den punchen jeg liker så godt der.

Fint nytt bekjentskap. Herlig driv, støyende og melodisk. Minner tidvis om Sonic Youth.

Really cool album. Elements of noise, hardcore, early CA based pop punk, it's a cool time machine.

I feel like an angsty teen listening to this - and I like it!

Good album! Classic punk sounds

This is #day644 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… face it, sometimes you just feel like putting on a post-hardcore record, don't you? Well, judging by this album's general rating, apparently not, which is probably another reason I'm giving it a higher score. I'm also a little biased here, since Deftones, one of my all-time favorite bands, covered "Caress" from Drive Like Jehu's debut. Anyway, this is a nice one for when you're angry. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day645.

I had this record in high school for a brief period. I don’t think I was ready for it back then. I like it a lot better these days. It sounds like what I love about mid-90s noise/indie rock. It kinda reminds me of Archers of Loaf, at least in terms of what they’re doing with guitars. It has more punk rock sensibility about it. I wish Drive Like Jehu had more interest in melody, but I like them pretty good for what they do. 7.5/10

Favourite Songs: Golden Brown Luau Super Unison Sinews

Wonderful find of a band I missed completely as a teen

Interesting and compelling. A good combo!

Never heard of this band or album, so let's check it out... WTF, where has this been?!? Instrumentation is awesome, production quality v good, there are some great tracks (I'm only half way thru). Definitely want to listen to more.

Solid!

mish

Album #139 Drive Like Jehu: Yank Crime Not an album I ever expected to be on this list, for the most part, so far I’ve either just been getting straight classics, commercially successful (yet often dated), or 90s electronic albums; Yank Crime doesn’t fit into any of those boxes. 90s post-hardcore is something which I’ve only been exposed to through Fugazi, who are a band which I love, yet I’ve never ventured further into the genre, mostly out of fear that the music would lean too far into screamo, which is not a genre which I remotely enjoy. Yank Crime thankfully keeps its aggression, without resorting to straight ear-rape. What I find so interesting about this album is that it has that traditional punk sound, yet the songs go on for a lot longer than most punk songs. Even Fugazi tend not to have tracks break four minutes, yet here we have half of the tracklist over 5 minutes. It is an interesting take on the sound, and it is cool to see how songs like this can expand over longer runtimes. I also appreciate punk that still focuses on guitar work and riffs, instead of solely the vocals. Definitely an unexpected album for me, I really didn’t have any idea what this would sound like. Maybe it’s just because I’ve been on such a mediocre streak that even Sheryl Crow seemed to be a step up, but I really enjoyed this one. Best Songs: Do You Compute, Here Come The Rome Plows, Luau Worst Song: Human Interest Score out of 10: 8.5

That was a fun gem. Very fun to work out to and think it’ll grow on me over time. I know nothing about the emo genre so can’t hear its specific influence on that. Rating: 4.0

A little long, but this is full of really cool, dissonant guitar work and challenging songs structures. Easy to see the influence this had on a lot of punk, rock, and metal. This is a great find and was definitely worthy of being on the list. 4.0/5.0: Great

71/100. A really good record that captures an intense post-hardcore sound about living in a state of pressure and instability. It feels like a work of controlled chaos where every jagged guitar riff and screaming vocal is placed with precise intent.

I like how angry they are

Weird album, good instrumentals, too many weird sounds and 9 minute songs for 5 stars

Earnestly embracing any post-hardcore showing up on this list, and this is a dang classic!

i dont like this band's name but I do like their MUSIC

9/10

Pleasantly surprised here. When I hear "post-rock" I think of long inaccessible sprawling epics like from Sigur Ros or Godspeed You Black Emperor, but the riffs were solid here and the songs kept me engaged throughout. Underrated 90s gem.

A surprisingly enjoyable listen. Their version of noise is a melodic one, and it sure hits the spot fairly often. The 90s kid in me will always love stumbling onto good music previously undiscovered from my formative years!

Pretty great. Excellent example of 90s alternative, on its way to what would eventually be emo.

surprising but I really like the singer's voice

Angular, insular, and mostly instrumental. An introspective take on hardcore, full of unique rhythms and riffs. I really dug it, it’s encouraging me to check out more math rock.

I'm a fan of good instrumentals, especially a solo,—a guitar solo—and I'm quite the fan of long listening; this album satisfies both. Super Unison's my fav track.

So my vibe, can't believe I've never heard this before.

I'm a sucker for an Interscope album! This was an awesome listen! It reminded me of early NIN combined with Nirvana and sprinkled with a hint of Faith No More. Im definately popping this onto a higher rotation and will give it a few more spins. How bold is that super fucking annoying opening note on the track Super Unison! Nice!

Ok I was really really expecting to hate this album because punk ain’t really my thing but holy shit was I surprised by this one. Would be so fun to hear live. The jams.

Sounds super modern considering how old this record is. Loved it

> the Beatles

4.0

Never heard of this before but right up my street. Very good noise rock, might like it even more on relistens. Human Interest especially very good.

4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/drive-like-jehu/yank-crime/ Difficult to judge on first listen, but I can see myself getting back to this and digging it even more. It’s loud, abrasive, fast, intelligent. Takes a lot of beats from (later/louder) Nirvana, which obviously is never a bad thing.

First time hearing of this band and I really really dig it. Very punk in nature, with lots of noise, grit and thrashing. The music appeals to me greatly and kept my attention the entire time. It was just what I need during a morning commute to work to expel some pent up energy. Going to explore this crew a little more!

Has a feel like The Shape of Punk to Come. Its not quite as iconic but you can feel and hear how much was influenced from it.

Nice blend of loud but catchy at the same time.

I like noise. A lot.

Good, heavy energy.

Nice surprise to see this album on the list. It's rare for early Post-Hardcore bands like Drive Like Jehu, Jesus Lizard, Unsane, and At The Drive-In to get the recognition they deserve. Now Turnstile is out here winning Grammys and Knocked Loose has two million monthlies on Spotify.

Liked this way more than I thought I would. Abrasive, loud, but extremely technical emo math rock. These guys know how to riff on a 3/4 beat better than anyone. A lot of this I'll probably never listen to again, but there were many "wow" moments that elevate this from any regular album.

Hörenswerter Lärm

Unlike Rocket from the Crypt (John Reis aka Speedo), Drive Like Jehu isn't junk punk but punk punk: the real deal, the bang-it-out-&-slam-it-out-in-order-to-feel-it-out-hardcore-variety. At the same time, they're properly post-hardcore & proto-emo: these tracks are long, they often slow down & meditate, & the lyrics aren't sanguine packages of wisdom. 'You weren't & it isn't & nobody's listening / & nobody gives a fuck what you do w/ your life'; 'This is my cause & my excuse / I'll take the loss but I'll get what I got due.' In reality, Yank Crime doesn't feel like '94. In Utero came out in '93, Ready to Die & Illmatic were the records of the year, & I just can't imagine a record this inventively abrasive would've sold. It didn't sell. Yet, a slapper.

W tej melodii jest jakaś historia, która chce być odkrywana z każdym kolejnym odsłuchaniem

Overall: 8/10 Despite some songs not earning their length, I thought this was awesome. I'm a big fan of bands like At the Drive In and The Fall of Troy and this sounded a lot like both of those bands at times. It's a shame this was their last album cause I would love to hear more from these guys. Fav Song: Sinews

These guys are bad ass. Didn’t know they were classified as post-hardcore.

Il like it already. A nice brick to the face. Reminiscent of the post punk alternative to grunge in the early nineties I used to listen to.

It's a familiar sound from this era. There are clear influences from Nirvana and RATM - The rawness of Nirvana and the rhythmic aggression from RATM add to this boundary pushing post-hardcore and noise rock album. Enjoyed it.

A really really solid post hardcore record, perfect to blow off the cobwebs first thing on a Monday. They're on really relentless form here, and while it gets a bit samey towards the end of an hour's runtime, there's this really intense energy at the core that I really like. One of those cult records I've never got around to listening to, and I'm glad I did! Well done greasy 90s bois.

hey this was a pleasant surprise

Actually a little surprised that this album showed up in this list. Is Yank Crime deserving to be included as an example of emotional hardcore with its sometimes lengthy tracks filled with a mix of quiet and loud, beauty and savagery? In my mind, it probably does not merit the inclusion in this list. That does not mean that this is a bad album at all. It is immensely enjoyable and having become reacquainted with it, I am likely to return to it in the future. John Reis has since this record’s release put out a ton of amazing records, and this albums finest tracks do stand out from other post-hardcore offerings of the day Luau, Golden Brown, Super Unison all standout as exemplars of what emo meant in 1990s as an outgrowth from Rites of Spring and a logical extension of the punk rock of Reis’ own band Rocket From The Crypt. These are uncompromising blasts of hardcore and still sound relevant today. What is interesting to me is that the genre has evolved since this release but these tracks if released today, would fit right in, and would not seem out of place in the modern post hardcore pantheon. Maybe it’s experience, but the shock value of the original release is not the same more than 30 years later. Still a terrific record. 4/5

Very distorted - I like this type of music typically, but at times seemed a bit excessive. I love this vibe in a packed small club show, but for the recording, the mix and production seems a bit too intense. Nevertheless, enjoyed it quite a bit. 3,5/5, but will be generous, so 4

Exactement ce qu'il me fallait !

The final appearance from San Diego scene legends goes off with a bang.

Wow. Never heard of them but was very pleased with the sprawling, noisy, proto-post-rock soundscapes

15 year old me is so jealous she didn't know about this album.

Ya estamos cerca del meteoooooro, pero me costó desprenderme

i love noisy and experimental stuff, but there was something off in this one, yet bangers are present

This was pretty good. I've known of Drive Like Jehu for a long time but never listened to them much and never sat through a whole album. This is very much something I would have been into in the mid to late 90's I think had I been aware of them back then. 4/5

Listened to this before, but it's a really good time. Some of the songs I feel like could have been better if they were shorter. I'm not sure why there are multiple 9 minute songs on this album. This style doesn't really lend itself to long form. Knocking it down a bit for that, but overall a really good time. 3.75/5

4/5

I have somehow missed these guy my entire life, despite being a fan of punk/post punk/emo/math. Aggressive, intricate, and satisfying....this shit is my jam.

first listen fantastic energy

Mad 90s hardcore punk vibes with a touch of emo screamo where every song is treated like its own epic that needs to be trashed and screamed into existence, and I'm kinda glad it was. This is loaded with abrasive attitude and sick basslines and after yesterday's laid back Stereo MCs drivel, this was a prefect palette cleanser and energized me for the day ahead.

Honestly this is pretty cool. Long songs is not typical of punkish music and these guys do a great job composing. The mixing is awesome - super raw and the vocals sound fantastic for this type of genre. Maybe I need to try out more post-hardcore? It's like fast shoegaze, I really dig this. Never heard of Drive Like Jehu but this is a cool album!

I enjoyed the energy - imagin they were great to see live

Rough, agressive, and hard-hitting. Just the way to start a Tuesday morning.

Aggressive emo ala Rites of Spring with throat stripping vocals, high energy high frequency live wire guitars thrashing around, and a very tight rhythm section that’s feeling the funk a bit. SoCal Fugazi. Big on quiet/loud dynamics, post-hardcore riffs, and descending into feedback only for a gnarly bass line to emerge from the chaos and bring it back. Some longer songs go into a textural grimey Sonic Youth direction, layering on the guitars over the bass groove until they whip it up into a closing frenzy, laying the groundwork for post-rock/screamo crossovers. Goes very hard, damn.

AALOOOHAA! ALOHA, SUIT UP!

Generating this album on a day that the US government criminally murdered one of its citizens and a few days after it broke international law was... rather chilling. The album is great. Angry, straightforward, turn up the guitars and go hardcore. It might not become a regular favourite but you can bet if I'd discovered this 25 years ago it would have.

90s punk meets post-hardcore \m/ impressed at the number of 7-9 minute songs on this thing. Maybe a bit bloated, but the raw energy is still fuckin' rad

Jarring music, frantic production, desperate vocals, wiry lyrics all somehow work well together on this noisy fun album that will appeal to some as much as it will be detested by others. It's not some great mystery why Yank Crime had little to no commercial impact upon release (or years later for that matter) this isn't Simon and Garfunkel in the sense that it's baffling when someone doesn't like it - I fully expect you not to like this album and I'm certain the band wasn't surprised that it was all but ignored when initially released back in 1994. Somewhat to my surprise I really liked it and had fun listening to it while drinking my morning coffee- what a combo! "I feel noisy! I feel fast! I'm your friend- NO I'M NOT!" - Chelsea M.

Don't know how I missed this one in the 90s, but I'm glad thats been fixed by this project. Fuzzy, grungy, toothy. I liked this a LOT.

I kind of dig this. Hard core.

Only ever really heard of these guys, but this album is quite cool. Reminds me a bit of Superchunk but with longer songs.

it drags but man is it a sick album

I’m not normally into emo-type music. However, (most of) this album rocks.

Cool

I thought this was a really cool album that I am surprised I never heard of before, generally love this genre of music and love bands like at the drive-in. Four stars.

This was pretty enjoyable. I'd listen again! Loved all the long instrumental sections.

This is why we do this project! Loved this album! Definitely a few annoying bits that kept it from a 5, but im adding this album to my library

I remember hearing about this band back in the day, but I never followed up to track down any of their albums. Good stuff! I like this sort of thing. Well played, good energy, interesting songwriting.

Каждый раз, когда я его слушаю, я чувствую, что ВАЙБ, но запомнить ничего не могу. Но ВАЙБ. Лучшая песня - Do You Compute.

I think this all kind of sounded the same. Lucky for me I liked the sound.

I knew nothing about this band. Great rock album, lots of energy - would listen to this again.

This album is like early at the drive in and I love it

I liked it!

4 and a half. Some album.

Chaotic in a good way

This absolutely slapped

Never heard of this band, album was pretty solid, somewhat reminiscent of Nirvana at times

i started this album with a sinus headache and was prepared to hate it. and honestly, i'm not even sure i liked it all that much - but once the ibuprofen kicked in and i settled into the groove of the album, i had a surprising appreciation for it. noisy, ugly, relentless, and yet there's something mesmerizing about it. i saw a review on the wikipedia page call it "naggingly unpoppy," which is hilarious and true -- and yet it was still quite listenable? i don't know! this does feel like an important missing link between punk and nascent emo that's sorely underrepresented on this list. i'm glad i listened to it! i can't see myself ever picking it up again, but yeah -- another absolutely worthy entry.

cool post-hardcore/proto-emo album. definitely understand people not liking it but i've really grown to appreciate this raw sound and energy/passion over the years. reminds me of at the drive-in and early ...and you will know us by the trail of dead, which i love. favorites: here come the rome plows, golden brown, luau, hand over fist, bullet train to vegas

Never heard of this, but really enjoyed it.

++: Here Come the Rome Plows, Golden Brown, Luau, New Intro, Human Interest +: Do You Compute, Super Unison, New Math +-: Sinews 7,9/10

How does one even begin to explain an album as entrancing and musically dense as Drive Like Jehu's debut album Yank Crime. This isn't your typical kind of Post-Hardcore album as there is a more of an emphasis on the instrumentals than the lyrics. This album feels like mixing Swans and Fugazi together as the instrumentals can really get you into a "flow state" and the lyrics punch as hard as they are as dense as your typical Fugazi track. If you aren't a fan of the more Post-Rock elements I would avoid this despite all the rave reviews as that is a key element to the project with the secondary focus being the more Post-Punk/Harcore pieces. This album is an odyssey of sorts and takes a lot of patience and time to chew through, but is such a delight in the end even with the heavy subject matter and soundscapes. Really glad I got around to this and I'd recommend it to anyone even slightly interested in hearing as those 53 minutes felt like a lifetime in the best way possible.

yes please

Tää on taas vähän värittynyt arvio, kun tätäkin artistia on tullut aikanaan kuunneltua. Aivan satavarmasti vaikee levy kylmiltään, jos genre ei oo tuttu ja viimestään vokaalipuoli voi herättää epäilykset (lyödä vetelät pöxyyn). Näkisin (kuulisin) kuitenkin, että tällä levyllä on aurattu myöhempien vuosien menojalkapändeille latua. Kivoja biisirakenteita ja sovitusratkasuita. Tarjoo tehtaan takuulla vihaitkufiiliksiin resonoitia, mutta myös pohdiskelevampi angstaaja tästä syttyy.

Like the Rocket From the Crypt album on this list, but better. A more interesting, more angular brand of alt rock. I can totally see how every emo/hardcore/post hc band I listened to in the early 00s was influenced by these guys (ATDI, Jets to Brazil, Cap'n Jazz, etc.). Solid stuff, if not suitable for every mood/occasion. 4/5

I'm not super familiar with emo music, seems like a pretty cool rock album for its time and I enjoyed it

Where's the damn editor? Cut these songs in half and this one positively slays. So many good ideas. Room moving energy. Sonically thrilling. But almost every song is too damn long. Three because a 38 min version of this album is a 5+. Man. It's really just so damn good. You know. This is a game time decision. We're going 4.

First listen is good, will give it seconds and maybe thirds for luck. Had me feeling a bit At the Drive in...

An absolute gem, this. Why have I never heard of it until today?

Surprised to see this rated so low. I had fun

cool hardcore punk thing

Some really cool crazy dissonant moments to draw in you harder for the musical breakdown

Pretty darn good punk rock music, some good tunes on this one.

I quite enjoyed the rawness of this album. Throughout all of my reviews, I’ve found that to be a quality that I value, and I guess I never knew that. There’s a very fine line with noise rock, with one side being something I like, and the other side being something I hate. Fortunately, this lands on the former side. I liked how there is a particular riff that continues between some tracks. It ties it together into a good album, rather than a good collection of songs.

Liked it way more than i expected to. Reminds me of Shellac’s 1000 Hurts. Felt like something that needs to be played *loud* to properly appreciate. 7/10, 4 stars, really liked “Luau”.

Damn good punk album, that was fun. Felt a little bit like Refused

Only very vaguely aware of this band - and they’re fantastic, finally this list is coming good. Sounds like a bit at times like sonic youth, fugazi, toadies, at the drive in, trail of dead.

This record is a breath of fresh air. I loved it. I would be a 5 if it were shorter. Albums over an hour are just too much.

Wow this is awesome, the songs blend into one another but it’s an awesome energy and vibe, it’s like taking the rawer songs of Nirvana and making it into a whole album. Feels a bit long after a while though.

On dirait un jeune Jack White, dans l’urgence et le jusqu’au-boutisme. Exactement le rock avec lequel j’ai grandi

I'm glad there is music like this on the list, noisy unapologetic post-hardcore that never sees the light of the Billboard 100. The opener is a barnstormer of a track and my favorite here. There are moments for calmer songs on here as well, but they don't interest me as much. Overall a bit on the long side perhaps, but a good and angry album to listen to.

This was unexpectedly a very solid album. I really like how dark and raw it feels. I also love the instrumentation, I can tell they are all very good musicians. The songs are highly creative and original as well. The album cover also somehow perfectly portrays how the album sounds which I love.

Beaucoup de souffrance, surtout au niveau des guitares. C'est très bon mais j'étais pas mal tanné avant la fin. 3.5 étoiles

Stoked this is in here. Love my Swami boys. Has John Reis ever been in a bad band? There should also be some Hot Snakes on this list but that may be asking too much of old mate Rob. RIP brother Rick.

Quite good. More inventive than other thrash / emo stuff I've heard. I think it's also better than the Rocket from the Crypt album on here (the two bands share a guitarist), mainly for being less repetitive.

Hardcore brilliance

Pleasantly surprised to unearth this album, particularly on this list. It’s got a lot of really great drum grooves, interesting and noisy guitar work, vocals are raw and emotional without feeling too ‘emo’. As an album it works cohesively, but it’s long. It teeters right on the brink of being interesting and artful, or being a noisy mess - and with its length its easy to find the album a bit of a meandering slog by the end. On the whole, it has its moments, it’s a strong 90’s rock album that feels ahead of its time, and its influence on hundreds of artists I’ve grown to love since cannot be understated - but, to put it bluntly, I’d much rather listen to the groups it influenced than the album itself. Here Come the Rome Plows (8/10) Do You Compute (9/10) Golden Brown (8/10) Luau (8/10) Super Unison (9/10) New Intro (8/10) New Math (7/10) Human Interest (7/10) Sinnews (8/10) 8/10

Slap

3.5

Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime [1994] On the very first song I really wanted to hate it, not necessarily by preconception but when it started I just figured this was going to be one of those albums that was a bit too abrasive for me. But I didn't necessarily hate the song. By the second song I actually really decided I like this band and enjoyed the rest of the album even though it's not a straight up go through it was thoroughly entertaining. I hear a lot of people talking about his screaming voice but honestly to me his voice though it doesn't sound like Cobain reminds me of Cobain's more screamy deliveries. And even though this music does not remind me of Nirvana's music necessarily it does remind me of at least in Nirvana spirit of *Bleach* a little bit more loud in your face but still a locked and groove. In fact I really loved some of bass grooves that would pop up every once in awhile. I'm going to start this off at a light 4★s, but I can actually see it kind of grow on me a bit. (*Bleach* did and my initial rating of that was lower than this) 8.25 ★★★★

I love this. Underrated.

Honestly this album was not what I was expecting when I first put it on, but I did like it. I enjoyed how it explored different areas of its genre, and it allowed certain tracks to really stand out to me. One of those was the very pop-punky Super Unison. While everything else either tended to stay in the same area of the genre or at least had another track like it, I believe Super Unison was completely unique in its sound. I also liked the contrast between the songs that was created by the order they’re played it, like going from the up-beat thrashy Human Interest to the more mellow instrumental-only Sinews. Sinews and Sinews (Original Version) reminded me of the closing track on Pearl Jam’s Ten, with their mellow instrumentals and also the sheer length of the songs, with both version of Sinews being over nine minutes long. All in all I really enjoyed this album, but I feel as if it’s one I’ll have to listen to fully solidify my stance on it. Favourite track - Human Interest

This is exactly what I needed today. Favorite song: Sinews I love albums with gritty unpolished guitars and vocals that sound like they embody raw emotion. This album is that. I'm sad that this is their only album. It's such a vibe.

This entirely passed me by when released, and yet it is truly up my street with its math rockiness. Joining the library.

Puffff! Me ha flipado! Un post hardcore increíble con mazo progresivo Le doy de un 8/10 en la escala wow

Good album, enjoyed it more then I thought

What a choice for this list! Heavy, raw, angry, NOISY music to pummel shit to. I already know some of my associates in this group will not care for this album, but to me, this is what post-hardcore is all about.

PRIMAL, ENERGETIC, MENACING, NOISY, MATHEMATIC. MUSIC TO RAM THROUGH A FUCKING BRICK WALL 👹🐂 Standouts: Luau, New Intro, Sinews

Absolute banger album and a highly underrated one at that

Sounded a bit like Slint in places, and, strangely, like Mastodon in others. I felt I didn't give this the attention it deserved due to a mild hangover, but it's still an easy four stars.

нормалек. увидев слово пост-хардкор ожидал услышать что-то другое.

Really? This is the one and only emo-adjacent album on the list? What gives? Well, apparently, the creators of the 1001 albums book are biased as fuck. There's literally a whole paragraph on the page for Arcade Fire's Funeral calling emo "garbage." That's just unprofessional. So yeah. No My Chemical Romance, no American Football, no Sunny Day Real Estate, but we get Drive Like Jehu? I don't understand this list sometimes. Anyway, the album's good. It's not peak music or anything, but I get the appeal. The sound is cool. It's definitely on the more harsh and aggressive side, which can work, but not always. Fortunately, I think it works on this album. These songs are pretty good and it's largely because of the awesome instrumentation. The singing is basically just screaming, but in like a kind-of cool way. I don't know. It fits the vibe. The writing is interesting. This isn't just "I hate everything and the world and you." It has songs about history and stuff! Neat! Overall, I don't know if this is an essential listen, but I like it nonetheless. Cool album. Light 4/5.

Three tracks in. I keep thinking that surely I should hate this. I don't normally get on well with shoutiness and fast rhythms combined. In fact the words "post hardcore" filled me with trepidation. But, so far, I'm being blown away by the incredible guitar-playing and the emotion. Not to mention the insanely good rhythm section. Let's see how we go... hoping to hear more of the singer's really nice tone and a bit less of the shouting, although, as I say, I'm finding the emotion is compelling and I'm enjoying how the music frequently (but not too frequently) changes up. Next three. Luau didn't engage or move me in the same way, and was really long. I wasn't mad on Super Unison, either, although I liked the long outro. New Intro lured me back; I liked it (and it was a break from the shouting!) Final three tracks (I don't do bonus tracks in this project; there isn't time!) Once again I found myself weirdly enjoying this band: New Math - great lyrics and loved the rhythm change when it came; insane drumming. Human Interest - interesting but I'm flagging. Finally, Sinews. The gorgeous opening riff took its time and made me think that the 9 minutes could be quite a journey. It was an aptly-named track; twisting and tortuous; ultimately satisfying. So overall, to my surprise, I liked this; it has intensity, virtuosity, energy, great chords, power and authenticity. Am I likely to sit through it all again? Probably not: whilst the vocal style works perfectly for what he's saying, it's not a style that normally makes me reach for my headphones. But its quality as an album was evident to me.

4/5

This one grew for me considerably on second listen. I'm not sure it will ever be an all-time favorite but I can definitely dig it. 3.5/5

I need to get into more albums like this wow I loved it

Wow, what a discovery! I loved it. Post-hardcore with the edge and anger of punk, plus creative and interesting signature change-ups, beautiful parts, ragged parts. An album, and a genre, I look forward to diving deeper into.

I liked this album a lot. You could have easily convinced me that this is the same band that made 2004's Porcelain under the name Sparta. There was a lot of urgent guitar work on here, which I really enjoyed. It might be a little too long and samey but I'm planning on listening again and the songs may differentiate themselves better as I hear them more.

This was an unexpected pleasure. Wild frenetic guitar playing with harmonic surprises around ever corner. Vocals did irritate me after awhile though.

I dunno who these cats are BUT I LOVE THEM, thanks for rescuing me from the mediocre last dozen albums.