Description

I've always considered the Nervous Breakdown 7" to be the finest 7" ever made, which is saying a lot and, actually, virtually impossible to say considering there's so many amazing ones out there. But this one is something special. And when you hear it with the other 3 records here it shows you that BLACK FLAG created some of the finest hardcore punk rock ever. In fact, after their first album, Damaged, they stormed off the charts themselves, into some sorta experimental punk yuk, excluding, of course, the wonderful 2xLP, Everything Went Black of these same songs done by a variety of their earliermore… singers.

I'm old now. 51. When I heard these songs as they came out in the late 70's and early 80's each record tore our heads off. The intensity, the pure punk, the distinct guitar and nihilistic lyrics all came smashing together as a pillar of punk as it formed in those years.

They had some difficulty with some record label that caused them to not release maybe as many records as they might otherwise have over those first four years. We can at least be thankful that these records exist as well as the favor they did us releaseing Everything Went Black. There's not too many live shows floating around from that period either, a real loss.

Let's review the songs shall we?
Nervous Breakdown is so intense. The whole 7" benefits by having Keith Morris on vocals, the perfect match. I still get worked up when this song comes on.
Fix Me. An excellent plea for mental health services, in a very punk rock way. Abrupt, sharp, short. Punk rock man.
I've Had It. And I mean it maan. Pure power, pure punk.
Wasted says it all. Drugs, out of control and blasting into a brick wall.
Jealous Again. One of the beauties of punk rock is that it takes the antithisis of rock when it comes to love songs. Funny thing is, this is a love song, well, you can't tell cuz it's a punch in the face too. Love with a cobra. In all its glory.
Revenge. Who can ask for more vocally? The total punk package.
White Minority. RAW POWER in Italy covers this song with an Italian accent. Wonderful.
No Values. Nihilism in the extreme. Another song that just blasts me off still.
You Bet We've Got Something Personal Against You! One of the finest lyrical openings of a song ever.
Six Pack. I barely drink but I get so into this song. It's the power and intensity and perfection of punk rock that they deliver. I'm bellowing 'six pack' at the end.
I've Heard It Before. Ever get frustrated? Wanna release? Just listen here and sing along. The cure comes and so quickly.
American Waste. Ya want politics? The beginning of the end for BLACK FLAG but at least this 7" and the Damaged LP still had guts and musical intensity, not that nonesense of the later albums.
Machine. I'm not a machine. Ode to industrial living.
Louie Louie. I think most of us were surprised they covered this back in the day. No body covered old songs like that, least punk bands, not that I remembered. But they did it with pinnache. Possibly an effort to get on the radio. That's ok. Everything they did in the first four years was punk heaven.
Damaged I. The Henry influence begins its terrible journey. I'm so intense. Fortunately, he didn't drag them totally down and out yet, or whomever's fault those later albums were.

If yer a punk and you don't own this (or the 3 7"s and the 12") then your punkness is incomplete. I don't know how they came up with these songs but they're as perfect as punk ever got. All hardcore. Short songs. Angry. Intense. Powerful in every sense. Thank you BLACK FLAG. This music will live as long as humans do. I'm just wondering what I'll think of it if I make it to 71 or 91? Probably just laugh. A lot. chrisbct@hotmail.com

Tracks

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Info:

Category:

Music > Albums

Case Type:

CD

Release Type:

Retail

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Cover Info:

Title:

Black Flag - The First Four Years (1990) Retail CD

Part:

Back

Dimensions:

1524 x 1200 px

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214 KB

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13/11/08 by musicworld

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