Review:

on 2011-06-16 CharlesMartel Said:

There is a frequent, endless and rather pointless debate about the origins of punk rock which goes on intermittently and occasionally even rears it head on various message boards and chatrooms. No one denies that the impetus came from the USA and that, in all probability, the Ramones were the first punk band. But the Ramones didn't call themselves that, and to try to stress the point is rather like saying Jesus Christ was the first Christian and not a Jew. Punk, that is punk which called itself punk, acted, behaved and played like punk, originated in the UK in the mid seventies and died out before the end of the decade. In that sense, punk was a British thing. There may have been American origins to it, Americans bands who copied British punks, but none of that denies the veracity of the fact that punk was British. Some Americans struggled with that. Some still do, hence the debate.

If you need any proof that the Americans never understood punk in its principal British incarnation, then here it is. The classic tracks which shot the Dead Kennedys to fame are all here, and still worth listening to, but somehow this is just west coast middle class boys playing at being obnoxious. Jello Biafra was a loudmouth who thought he could play at being a punk. "Night of the Living Rednecks" is a typical example of his rantings - what did he expect was going to happen in the scenario he describes in that track! Talk about bulls and red rags. The awful "Kinky Sex Makes the World Go Round" could easily be about the Kennedy assassination, the Moon Landings or any other conspiracy which has alleged to have happened in the past five decades. Tinfoil hats are generally not worn as frequently in the UK as they seem to be in the United States (at least in public). Putting fillers on compilations strongly hints at a dearth of suitably class material.

What makes this record worth having are the classics of the Dead Kennedys' repertoire. Three tracks really stand out from the rest in this regard. "Too Drunk to Fuck" is obvious, but fun. Clears a room at a pop-pickers party quicker than any other track I know and is worth owning simply for that quality alone. "California Uber Alles" was pretty funny then but now is just horribly dated as it refers to a political event which happened almost 30 years ago now and has few (if any) lessons for the present. And in any event, what did many people outside California really know about Jerry Brown anyway? In some ways "Holiday in Cambodia" has dated equally badly but has been saved the same fate for two reasons  first because everyone knows about Cambodia and what happened under Pol Pot and second because it is such a rollicking good track and good music transcends any time.

But don't look for any fabulous inspiration, and specific insight or even anything with startling originality here. To my view the Dead Kennedys missed the point of punk. Punk was a stance first and foremost, a way British youth of the day expressed their disdain and disgust for the way in which they were ignored, lied to, duped and cheated. Being obnoxious was just one of the range of tools deployed to piss off the establishment which was responsible for their plight. The Dead Kennedys took being obnoxious to whole new levels, but somehow left the stance behind. This compilation, while worthwhile owning, does nothing to change that view.
Rating: 6/10

Review:

on 2010-07-21 gutterseed Said:

This album was outstanding. Anyone who ever got on a skateboard in the midst of a summer anywhere over 110 degrees knows it. Whether you're dropping in on a mini ramp or grinding a nice buttery curb, this album is a must have. The beat is angry, the sound is raw, the guitar riffs are simplistic, and the front man's voice was unique for it's time.
This album in particular show's the front man's love for spoken word and music, and is a must own in any music-lover's collection. The crew's anti-establishment tone and "Damn the Man" attitude only displays a common hatred for those who fit in all too fakely and personifies the "freak" in all of us and those too insecure to be different.
Perhaps one of the greatest storytelling bands in punk rock.
This album launches a verbal assault and paints a pertty picture of the minds of viscious leaders and anyone in a position of power who has become corrupted. It's a strong picture that, when painted into the minds of those 13 years olds, can absolutely save today's youth from becoming those that this band despises.
Rating: 10/10