Live At The Witch Trials

On my first listen, I approached with caution after hearing about The Fall's thorny and abrasive reputation. I enjoyed "Frightened", and then spent the rest of it trying to decipher Mark E Smith's incendiary rants. On my second listen, I started to lose hope that I'd find anything rewarding in "Live at the Witch Trials". It was initially intriguing, but quickly wearisome and seemed more like something to appreciate at arm's length. But then, on my third listen, I was suddenly confronted by the stench of sausage meat, docklands debris, dusty paperbacks and fermented whiskey. I turned round to see the ghost of Mark E Smith, hunched in the doorway and scowling at the books on my shelf. He had absolutely nothing to say to me, but I thought I'd better make conversation. I let him know I was listening to "Live at the Witch Trials" and struggling to enjoy any of it. "Why are you pissing away your time listening to something you haven't the brains or the balls for?" "Well, it's part of this online album generator, it's in the book of 1001 Albums to Hear Before You Die". "I always hated those fucking books. Imagine having to be told what to listen to- does this Robert Dimery bloke tell you how to get dressed or wank yourself off as well? Anyway, who the fuck would bother with all that nonsense? I can tell you now that the whole list will invariably be total shite." I steeled myself and pressed on. Told him I couldn’t really connect with the album's format. It degenerated into repetitive, one-note ranting, was poorly produced, had no display of musical skill, and was hindered rather than helped by its "recorded-in-one-day" slapdash feel. He rolled his ghostly eyes to the back of his ghostly head and said I reminded him of all the bum-boys at NME. After some more staggered back-and-forth, I thought I should try and look for common ground. "Do you want to hear what I have given five stars?" "Not really." "The Smiths- The Queen Is Dead." "Never could stand them. Pseudo-intellectual snivelly pap." "Pavement- Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain." "Those rip-off twats have never had an original fart, never mind a song." "The Beatles- Abbey Road." "What the fuck is this, 'Music To Be Breastfed To'?" I gave up after that. He did a very deep sigh, and reached for a swig of my beer but just poured it onto the carpet ("I'm always doing that", he said). He told me he really didn't care what I - or anyone on this website, for that matter - thought. He told me that we were all insignificant to him, he's a legend and we never will be, that if I didn't get it and would prefer to listen to The Beatles it's my fault, not his. So, all things considered, I don't feel remotely bad giving this two stars. Sometimes infamy and reputation just can't account for personal preference.

Close to what I like but not exactly

If you're not in the mood, this is just a drunkard singing pub songs. But i'm always in the mood, and when you are, this is one of the most most clever artist. Those bass-lines are proper good. It has a perfect mix of the madchester funkyness mixed with post punk. RIP.

Bit shite and it just goes on and on

Snarling, growling, like a dog in the corner, Mark E Smith is utterly terrifying, all bark and all bite as the band make incredible post punk. I think this might be genius. I think this might be a work of art.

We are the Fall Northern white crap that talks back We are not black. Tall. No boxes for us. Do not fuck us. We are frigid stars. We were spitting, we were snapping "Cop Out, Cop Out!" as if from heaven. PREFS: TOUT MOINS PREFS: RIEN

Easily one of the greatest album titles ever. I’m not sure it’s the best Fall record, but it’s a damn fine one and makes a for a good intro to the the band. If you like this one, check out Hex Induction Hour, which, surprisingly, isn’t on this list.

A surprisingly decent, very old album. Has meaningful and cryptic lyrics with an abrasive sound throughout

For a while I was waiting for traditinal songcraft to emerge from the assembled disorder of these boldly struck notes. But after spending a few moments considering the title Industrial Estate, I reckon cascading riffs, tumbling drums and vocals on the point of jumping up and running out of the room are better when only loosely connected. To borrow a phrase from Chuck Eddy, call it soundcraft.

Production: 13/20 Songwriting: 16/20 Innovation: 17/20 Bangers: 20/20 Emotional response: 16/20 =82 Fuckin crackin mate

I like the energy and attitude, but the songwriting just isn’t there in most cases. I could see later albums by this band really growing into something cool, but this debut just doesn’t do it for me

nope

My second album by The Fall in two weeks, which has put me in a strange place where I am ranting at the coffee shop and leaving strange notes for my postman. I even tried to fire my wife from the band, but she didn't know what I was talking about.

I was introduced to The Fall by a room mate back in 1979 with this album. It is an absolutely terrific post-punk clatter of an album with Mark E Smith's vocals to the fore. I still don't think it's the best Fall album, but what a debut. I went on to buy pretty much all their albums as they were released - until Smith died in 2018. This is an essential album.

Sounded weirdly raw and tame at the same time. A pleasant surprise though. Looking up their history, they seemed to have influence a lot of good bands that I've listened to and love including B&S.

consider my tickets to salem booked

The title gave me the impression that this was going to be some dark shit. Some Emperor like band the were going to flex in my face. What I got were two noisy songs that sounded like it was recorded on a karaoke machine in 1977. I'm good.

The Fall, what can I say about them and this album? As fans say, there is no middle ground, you either get and love them or you don't and hate them. Luckily for me I have loved the Fall since I was 16. I got to hear this a few years later when I bought it from a record fair, and although it's not their best from their golden period (1979-95), it's still great. 'Frightened' is the best, and I've always had a massive soft spot for 'No Xmas for John Quays'. This is the sound of a band with limited resources and equipment making innovative music, which was a signature of their early years. MES RIP.

I don’t know how many other participants here appreciated this album, but this is an album I’ve returned to time and again - and a band whose entire discography I’ve bought a couple of times over the past three decades. While not my favorite Fall album (one of the candidates for that category would be Hex Enduction Hour) it is a solid work and a quite interesting listen. Mark E. Smith is one of the most literate and well-read lyricists in post-1976 rock music and here his vocals are clear as a bell vocally- something that would sort of devolve as the years progressed. The basic formula of the band’s sound is here - the musicians (it was rare when any Fall studio album had the exact same lineup as its preceding release) vamping repetitively behind Mark’s wordy vocals - with personnel changes frequently noticeable from album to album. Look for a version of the album that also has bonus tracks that include the band’s first two singles “Bingo Master’s Break Out” and “It’s The New Thing” plus their early John Peel Sessions.

Loved this!

Mark E Smith’s nimbus – part beer soaked carpet, part full ashtray, part fruit machine emptying sounds – hangs so heavily across my impression of The Fall that it acts as a sort of plasma wall; he’s forever stooped over a jar in a Wetherspoon’s in Salford called The Surface of Last Scattering. Just as well we’re here right now, then – ready to be reminded that there’s more to The Fall than just what can be seen through a pint glass, amber-ly. “Live at the Witch Trials” is a coy, lithe record that sort of charms you with its repeated threats of teetering – repetitious without becoming droning, atonal without becoming discordant, scuzzy without becoming sleaze. It’s always just about at the edge of itself; and while it pushes at plenty of boundaries, the songwriting, playing and togetherness keeps the record entirely on track (and “serious” too; there’s certainly plenty of humour in here, but it’s never cartoonish). It’s a cosmic blessing, I suppose, that The Fall and this record – which was almost derailed by Smith’s being taken ill – ever came into being in the first place. From nothing, a spontaneously occurring assembly of elements – then quickly thrown to opposing corners of the universe to propagate, or synthesise, or become entirely new things. Behind the plasma wall, though, they’ll forever be playing this.

Ah excellent, early Fall. My education continues. New facts emerge, you might say. None of the 'well known' Fall songs here, but all the attitude and the discord, all while haunted by the ghost of punk. Two Steps Back! We're still one step ahead o' you. Yes please. Also, great album cover. And name. Note: the 8 minutes Music Scene is cut off from the linked version but Spotify harbours a remastered version within it's vast and secretive cape, so simply search the album up for the full tracklisting. Plus bonus decent stuff like their debut EP and It's the New Thing. All good stuff.

Fabulous album , really enjoyed it x

Honestly probably the most iconic Fall album right up there with hex enduction hour and nations saving grace, maybe the number one best. 5 stars absolutely no two ways about it. If u rated it lest than 5 you are wrong and need some new ears.

Yeah I fuck with it

What a mess

Although this is not an actual live album, despite the name, it really does have a raw, live feel due to its stripped-down, low-budget production. This is definitely one of my all-time favorite post-punk albums and The Fall’s debut. If you’ve ever been overwhelmed by their extensive discography, this is a great starting point. Besides the raw and gritty production and early punk elements, I love the keyboard work on this album. It adds so much texture and depth to the music, providing catchy and melodic hooks. And you can’t forget about Mark E. Smith’s vocals. When I say “singing,” I mean that very loosely. Smith is a master at delivering his vocals in the laziest way imaginable. It’s almost like spoken-word commentary mixed with humming and moaning to the music, but somehow it works perfectly. His vocal style is truly the driving force behind the band’s identity.

Abrasive, challenging, raw and so rewarding. Recorded in one day (!) in 1979 (!!) and sounds so fresh Added to my library, and set me off on an exploration of The Fall. Loved this!

Unstoppable energy. Killer rhythm section. Strong standouts like "Two Steps Back" and the album closer "Music Scennnnn-eh" really show Mark E. Smith's casual vitriol. (Find the 1979 version of this if you're new to The Fall - spotify version has 21 tracks and then bludgeons you with a second disk of live sessions. I love the lads, but that was too much even for me . . .)

I am pretty sure that I don't like this album at all, but I was in a peculiar mood on my walk this morning and found myself laughing at a couple of moments that I guess I found absurd...so maybe that is a sign that there is something there. On second listen...I was right, I really don't like this album.

If I had to listen to this at a witch trial, I'd be on my hands and knees begging to be burnt alive even and I'm not even a witch.

Fabulous, as good an introduction to The Fall as you could ask for. Genesis of all the shambolic dysfunctional chaos that was to follow in the next 40-odd years, all of it magnificent in it's inimitable way.

Hell yeah wear that funny hat and put as many Fall albums on here as you like. Knew you dickheads wouldn't like this. All my previous Dimery anger is now directed to any sub 3 star loser. Up the Mark E, down with lists. That most popular review is full of it.

## In-Depth Review: The Fall - *Live At The Witch Trials* (1979) ### Overview The Fall's debut album, *Live At The Witch Trials*, released on March 16, 1979, is a landmark in post-punk history. Despite its title, it is not a live album but a studio recording completed in a single day (December 15, 1978) due to Mark E. Smith falling ill and canceling three scheduled studio days . Produced by Bob Sargeant, the album captures the band’s raw energy and establishes their signature blend of punk aggression, literary wit, and avant-garde experimentation. ### Lyrics: Cynical Rants and Social Commentary **Themes and Style**: - **Working-Class Alienation**: Tracks like "Industrial Estate" depict the grim reality of factory life with lines like *"The company air will fuck up your face"*, contrasting sharply with romanticized portrayals by contemporaries like Bruce Springsteen . - **Drug Culture**: "Frightened" (written by Smith at 16) explores speed-induced paranoia, while "No Xmas for John Quays" (a pun on "junkies") and "Underground Medecin" dissect addiction with bleak humor . - **Anti-Industry Vitriol**: The 8-minute closer "Music Scene" rails against music executives with sarcastic quips like *"Oh aye, you’re a good lad, and here’s a pound note"* . - **Existential Absurdity**: "Mother-Sister!" weaves cryptic, Oedipal imagery, while "Crap Rap 2/Like to Blow" delivers the band’s manifesto: *"We are The Fall / Northern white crap that talks back"* . Smith’s lyrics blend Mancunian slang, fragmented narratives, and biting satire, rejecting punk clichés for a more intellectual, if abrasive, approach . ### Music: Post-Punk Chaos and Innovation **Sound and Influences**: - **Genre Fusion**: The album merges punk’s rawness with Krautrock repetition ("Two Steps Back"), garage-rock organ (Yvonne Pawlett’s "twee" keyboards), and dub-inspired basslines (Marc Riley) . - **Instrumental Highlights**: Martin Bramah’s "Beefheartian" guitar work on "Mother-Sister!" and Karl Burns’ primal drumming create a claustrophobic, "schizoid" atmosphere . Tracks like "Rebellious Jukebox" feature serpentine basslines that "coil like inside-out dub" . - **Structure**: Songs eschew traditional verse-chorus formats for hypnotic riffs ("No Xmas for John Quays") and chaotic improvisation ("Music Scene"), prefiguring post-rock . ### Production: Lo-Fi Urgency **Approach and Impact**: - Recorded and mixed in under 48 hours, the production is stark and unpolished. Instruments are separated distinctly—bass, drums, and guitar occupy isolated sonic spaces—creating a tense, "edgy" sound . - **Strengths**: The immediacy captures The Fall’s live intensity, exemplified on "Frightened," where Pawlett’s keyboards and Bramah’s "smear guitar" build a "monstrous atmosphere" . - **Weaknesses**: Some tracks suffer from muddy mixing (e.g., "Live at the Witch Trials" feels undercooked at 51 seconds), and the rushed process limits dynamic range . ### Themes: Alienation and Rebellion - **Class Struggle**: The album channels working-class disillusionment, framing Northern England’s industrial decay as a backdrop for defiance . - **Anti-Conformity**: "Rebellious Jukebox" positions the band as cultural outsiders rejecting pop trends (e.g., ABBA) . - **Psychedelic Dread**: Drug narratives evoke psychological turmoil, with Smith’s vocals oscillating between sneering detachment and frantic despair . ### Influence: Blueprint for Alternative Music - **Post-Punk Foundations**: The Fall’s abrasive minimalism influenced bands like Sonic Youth (the "wall of sound" on "Frightened") and Pavement . - **Legacy**: Critics note its role in shaping gothic rock ("Before the Moon Falls" on *Dragnet*) and art-punk . The album’s inclusion in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* cements its cult status . ### Pros and Cons | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | **Lyrical originality**: Smith’s wit and social critique remain unmatched . | **Vocals divisive**: Smith’s "drunken rants" alienate some listeners . | | **Innovative sound**: Fusion of punk, Krautrock, and dub creates a unique template . | **Inconsistent production**: Rushed recording leads to uneven mixes . | | **Historical significance**: Captures post-punk’s ethos of rebellion against commercialism . | **Accessibility**: Lacks melodic hooks; challenging for newcomers . | | **Band chemistry**: Bramah’s guitar and Burns’ drums drive relentless energy . | **Underdeveloped tracks**: Short songs ("Witch Trials") feel fragmentary . | ### Conclusion *Live At The Witch Trials* is a seminal but polarizing debut. Its strengths—lyrical brilliance, sonic innovation, and raw energy—solidify The Fall’s status as post-punk pioneers. However, its lo-fi production and abrasive delivery may deter casual listeners. As Pitchfork notes, the album’s "wobbly and toxic" sound remains a defiant antidote to polished rock . For those willing to embrace its chaos, it’s a foundational text of alternative music. > **Key Takeaway**: Not a gateway album, but essential for understanding The Fall’s 40-year reign as "Northern white crap that talks back."

I don't even think I've heard of The Fall but this is awesome. Maybe my favorite album from this list yet, I've gone back to it more than any other. NO CHRISTMAS FOR JOHN QUAYS!!!

Genius. Should be on the curriculum.

Can't believe this come out at 79, greatest discovery so far

Just so completely insane and brilliant.

Rough shod and angry, not an easy listen at all and far from their more polished ( if the Fall could ever be called polished) later work. Grows on you with each listen. Mark E. Smith was a genius

Great album. Was playing while riding to work and another cyclist complimented me on my choice of album; so I told her it was my first time with it because of 1001atltbyd lol

So unrefined, and raw. For a punk album it captures the essence quite well.

About two years ago, I found my 'in' with The Fall. It was The Infotainment Scan. I tried this, their debut years ago and couldn't get into it, but this time I loved it. Sarky, angular, and 'difficult'. But difficult meaning it's trying to push you away in a way that only gets you more interested.

Such an incredible first album by this band. Industrial Estate is probably the stand out track or maybe Music Scene is. Anyway the blueprint for just about everything I like about The Fall is here somewhere all ready and perfectly formed. Who would have known just how prolific Mark E Smith would turn out to be. I'm looking in my music collection and I have almost 70 albums by The Fall. This is a definite 5 stars.

New band to me, love it!!

How have I never heard this? Loved it, will listen again for sure. It was noisy and fun.

Love The Fall! They're prolific as hell and I don't think this is their best, but it's still great. A very biased 5 since I doubt they have many albums on the 1001.

Unmistakeably the Fall and the tones of Mark E once you get past the attitude and toneless tirade is quite mesmeric. The band is marginally better than a pub band and the production sounds like it was mixed in someone's shed. But at the end of the day it's The Fall.

never heard oof this band before but this album is most definitely going into my rotation. such a good early punk album.

cool

The Fall and McCarthy/Stereolab are the best European bands from the 80s-90s. The generator already did a Stereolab, and now we get the debut Fall album. You could argue perhaps that later Fall songs were a bit more instant-melodic (LA / Hit the North etc) depending on which of the 1000 Fall members was in the band at a certain time, but these are just epsilon-differences. Life at the Witch Trails already sounds as the definitive Fall album. 10/10

i wish i'd been in the fall. i'd probably have been booted out after a couple of weeks of taking shit form MES but still, what a badge of honour.

Non-linear as MES is, already top form, we get a brief interpolation of our normal human calendar in Christmas song. You can read in the essence of a live album, a rhythm section drowning all else out. Skeletal but wonderful.

A raucous, melodic good time. Melodies and countermelodies balance the punk aggression without muting it in the slightest.

Love the fall and love this album

nice

Unhinged, weird, but I kinda loved it in all honesty. I think I prefer this one to another The Fall album the generator gave me a month or so ago, This Nation's Saving Grace. Favourite: Mother-Sister! "-Uh, what's this song about?" "-Uh, nothin'."

The Mighty Fall! Didn't know this first album, but as good as e.g. Wonderful & Frighening World of and Kurious Oranj. Saw them live once and was amazing, Mark E Smith made sure everything rhymes by e.g. putting "Uh" after each word, my FriendsUH dont count up to one HandUH!. 5 stars!

Wow I more knew of The fall and Mark E Smith before, but damn I loved that. Raw but crucially great tunes and lyrics, middle of the album sagged a little, but was great!

All I could think while I was listening was wow, what a strong debut album. I feel like the opening lyrics to 'Mother - Sister!' really encapsulates this album in the best way. "Er, what's this thing about? Er, nothing." I feel like the artists didn't worry about hitting you over the head with a message or conforming to what might have been expected from a debut album, they just created a series of rocking songs from start to finish. Some might dismiss it as sounding like drunken rambling at times, but I think that's what makes the album special.

what a fun album, really weird style but I loved it 10/10

This is some solid punk rock and it’s not just a bucnh of noise and it’s still the raw primal energy.

Shouty shouty obtuse lyrics

An auspicious debut from the Fall, and the sound is already there. I generally like the later stuff like with Brix better, I feel some of the brittleness of the sound is shed. But still good stuff.

I guess I like The Fall. This was a lot of fun and fits the overall vibe the generator has been giving us lately. Anyone else notice the overall quality of the albums we’ve been getting lately? Of our last 30 albums, the global review of 17 have been below 3.00. Of the remaining, only one has been above 3.30 (Fear of Music). The average global review of those 30 is 2.9943333 To put it into context, the average global review is 3.4. I guess, some things to consider are we’re listening to 1001 albums, so a pocket of 30 like this doesn’t seem so note worthy in the grand scheme. But, when you’re in the thick of it, it can feel a little tiresome. Hopefully this means we’ll get a good run eventually. Also, our group’s average rating of the 30 is 3.51, which is right around our average.

7.5/10 Liked this a lot better than I expected. It may be a bit rough, but still sounds pretty good. Highlights: Futures and Pasts Music Scene Frightened Rebellious Jukebox No XMas for John Quays

Mark E Smith is a fascinating individual and one of the most difficult men to ever pick up a guitar. His contempt for his bandmates, contemporaries, and audience is pretty apparent in most everything he did, said, and made. This band has had 66 members during its lifespan for a reason. Although, people attempted to put up with him for a reason: the man was kind of, sort of a genius in his own weird way. Live At The Witch Trials is an extremely interesting debut. The Fall can be lumped in with the other post-punk bands at the time, but no one did it like this. This isn't to say that The Fall was far ahead of the rest of the scene, but they were kind of a singular, inimitable thing. For a band that really isn't *that* aesthetically extreme, there is something disproportionately alienating and caustic about The Fall's music. I think a lot of it may be that it seems like Smith had very little interest in keeping the band's energy from hurtling off the tracks, especially for how intricate some of these songs come across as. It kind of feels like everyone is pulling in a different direction, but the forces all balance out. And on top of all of it, Mark E Smith is *ranting*, it almost feels like he's trying as hard as possible to keep everyone from settling into a groove. And as a result of all this, The Fall's sound feels chaotic and nervous. I will also say that The Fall is really not for everyone, and they really don't seem to care that a not-insignificant portion of the population is left in the dust here. Despite that, I would really urge everyone to give this one a shot, it probably isn't The Fall's best, but it is *very* good, and is honestly probably one of their most accessible. It's really the kind of thing you struggle to find anywhere else.

I always thought The Fall was some sort of a "difficult" band, but this is very easy to like. Maybe it's because of the recent resurgence in post-punk by bands clearly influenced by them.

Happy to see a 2nd album from these guys. After our first album hit the list I took a little journey into their portfolio and I can say I'm a fan. I think Mark Smith has very unique voice that just fits perfectly with the bands sound and style. Great energy throughout and there's not much to dislike, if you're a fan of the punk sound. This album is a little raw, but it's from 1979. Favorite tune is Frightened, but again, I pretty much liked most of the songs off this album. Thought the opening of Bingo-Master's Break-Out sounded a bit like a Clash tune. Also liked the reference to President Carter. After all, he loves repetition too! For shits, I checked to see if they were still around and I'm sorry to hear Mark has passed. So much for trying to see live. I can imagine this would be a pretty fun concert. This is a good one and really have enjoyed my listens. Spotify then kicks in with some solid music picks too! 3.5

Scratchy with grooves. A great noise with longevity.

Surprised to not have known this band, I feel like they deserve to be in the same group of household names as sex pistols and buzzcocks. yet they were new to me. Pleasantly enjoyed the punk vibe and thought they have considerable talent. The drummer shreds, bass lines were steady and lyrics entertaining . Just complex enough to be super interesting and straight forward enough to be legit punk.

Not terribly familiar with the band, never heard this record, but I like it! Feels a bit like a less polished more punk Gang of Four, which is high praise. I'll have to give these guys a bit more playing time in the future.

Curmudgeonly, challenging, and singular.

The Fall...every time I listen I hear so many of the contemporary bands that I love. Massive influence. Mark E. Smith has such an amazing delivery. 4/5

I love this kind of stuff. A+ album title, too

Nice and dark, it's the sound of a group of people who probably don't like themselves very much. They dislike other people even more so. Spiky bass, snappy drums, demented keys, ringing guitars and drawling vocals make for some compelling sounds. Swirling and manic, the noisy production underlines the hypnotic compositions. Favourite tracks: Rebellious Jukebox, No Xmas For John Quays, Two Steps Back, Music Scene

I like the guitars on this

Masters at work

Not likely to have a calm time at the diner with THAT jukebox. Post punk at it's postiest-punkiest. They know how to be thrashy/snarky/sneery/ bass line right there punchy drums punching. You were calming down? Here comes the screech!

Say what you like about Mark E Smith. Yes, he was curmudgeonly, awkward, difficult, annoying, obstreperous, angry and he hated Southerners (British). But boy was he prolific! And distinctive! And I have more time for him and his very recognisable, unforgiving style than most of the dross around. Anything that sarcastic and edgy that puts a smile on my face deserves credit. RIP you angry man!

Ah, Mark E Smith and The Fall. Smith is one of the most literate and irascible figures in music, and he arrives fully formed on this debut album. He, like Johnny Rotten and Karen O, so dominates the proceedings that it's almost hard to hear the band behind him. They're a bit raw on this one, though I was into it on today's listen. There are three Fall albums on this list, which is probably two too many as you're either going to enjoy Smith's "singing" or it's going to irritate the hell out of you. But if you dig it, boy are you in luck, because there are about 1.5 million Fall albums, and they're all good. Having said that, I think they're best served by the two compilations A-Sides and B-Sides.

Angry northern man shouts at the world!

Quintessential The Fall. Does what it says on the tin!

Such a distinctive vocal style old Mark has. Doesn't feel like it should've been released in 1979 but equally I can't really compare it to much later music either. Great post punk sound though I think this was better than the infotainment scan but not as good as nations saving grace so that puts it at 3.5

I really dig the jangly, raw, discordant music. Wish I had known of this one earlier.

Bonkers.

I see there are three Fall albums on the list, which is a pleasant surprise, though I'd include Hex Induction Hour over this. This one probably deserves a four, but This Nation's Saving Grace will get a five when it comes around.

If you don’t like this then you just have objectively bad taste.

very good punk album, will listen some more. probably 4.5

Of the many bands I have not heard of on this list The Fall will most likely be one of the more memorable ones that I probably won’t listen to often. These guys rip. The Fall were so ahead of their time. The guitar work is primal and beautiful.

Very nice album, I enjoyed a lot and I got the chance to discover The Fall

3.5

This is the second album from The Fall I've gotten, the first being This Nation's Saving Grace. I like this better, the raw production fits their sound a lot better.

Added this to my collection. Classic old punk vibes.

This is an interesting one. The instrumental choices are quirky in a good way. I like it.

Like the style and the punk vibe. Short album that I could easily listen to again and again.

I do enjoy some British punk music.

Breath of fresh air after the Ramones album. Now this is the kind of punk I like: ill-tempered, brash, rough-edged, just wants to get off work and head for the beer. I’m sure there are better Fall albums but this is the first one I’ve listened to, and I’m glad I started with their first so I can see where they go from here. Sure, it’s a must-listen, #48.

Kinda ok. Interesting. I can see why that album is part of th mix, and why it's a well rated one, or a poorly rated one. I may listen to it again. It has something a bit special. 4 stars.

Un punk como nunca lo había oído; apasionado y profundamente novedoso. Disfruté de esta corriente musical con mucho gusto. La música es excepcional y contestataria a una realidad exterior gris y cada vez más gris.

I have many Fall albums...never heard the 1st album...much rawer, stripped down and heavier.. a little early Gang of Four-ish... Not bad at all and I'm old.. RIP Mark E. Smith