When I bought this CD and put it in my stereo, it was the first time I had ever heard Black Flag. I've usually heard them credited as the forerunners of hardcore punk, so I had (somewhat naive) expectations that it would sound something akin to Stretch Arm Strong or Sick of It All. What it DOES sound like is basically poppy Ramones punk with yelling vocals which hit no pitch in particular. The production is really rough and the syncronization of the instruments is not exactly tight. That being said, I think Black Flag has accomplished with this album exactly what they wanted to. This is how it's SUPPOSED to sound. The production sounds like crap because that's how punk production SHOULD sound. Admittedly, if I'm disappointed, it's probably because I expected it to sound different than it does. It's grown on me, and I think it has some really strong songs on it. For all I know, the more I listen to it and get more acclamated to what they were going for, I'll probably like it more.Read full review
Ground Breaking band and this CD set the standard for hard edge punk.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Essential to any punk collection...Rollins is at his best and this is the type of ground breaking work that has resulted in so much of what we hear today. There are some classic songs and some that sound like noise, but you need to read the words, think about the time, and put on your Van hightops and try some slam dancing...
Great for reliving my teen punk days of the 80's. Sound quality isn't the best but none of it was back in the day.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Here is the band that launched a thousand imitators. I remember when punk was not mainstream. It was exciting, a little dangerous, a little counter culture. Not the pop stylings of Green Day (not that there is anything wrong with that...)but raw, emotional punk. Greg Ginn's out style of guitar showed flashes of genius, with Henry Rollins seething vocals. This album was the "White Album" of my generation. When Henry shouts "I Want to Live... I wish I was dead." it is like poetry that sums up the adolescent angst of the Reagan era. A must have.
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