El_Shiznit
11-25-2004, 01:19 AM
Circle Jerks - Group Sex
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/el_shiznit/GroupSex.jpg
So, I'm sitting here eating Starburst and drinking egg nog when I realize that nobody has done one of the most definitive albums of hardcore. This is a must for any fan of old hardcore and loud, fast punk in general.
Album Info:
Released: 1980
Record Label: Frontier
Length: Roughly 16 or 32 minutes however you look at it.
This album technically contains 28 tracks on it. However, it is really just 14 tracks repeated a second time when the album is through. This is because of it's length. Although containing 14 tracks, the whole thing winds up taking 16 minutes of your time. So the Jerks decided to repeat this CD over and maybe give it more value per se.
Band Info:
Lead Vocals: Keith Morris
Guitar: Greg Hetson
Drums: Lucky Lehrer
Bass: Roger Rogerson
This is the original Circle Jerks line-up, and this is their first full-length release. The band was formed after singer Keith Morris left Black Flag to form his own band and this was the result. If you're interested in knowing more of their history, I will be doing a Circle Jerks Band Profile in the Punk forum for my next large MX project. Keep your head up for that.
Track Listing:
1.) Deny Everything
2.) I Just Want Some Skank
3.) Beverly Hills
4.) Operation
5.) Back Against The Wall
6.) Wasted
7.) Behind The Door
8.) World Up My ***
9.) Paid Vacation
10.) Don't Care
11.) Live Fast Die Young
12.) What's Your Problem
13.) Group Sex
14.) Red Tape
(Repeat for tracks 15-28)
Songs Piece By Piece:
Track #1 - Deny Everything
If you had no idea of the speed of the songs or the shortness of the CD when you are driven to buy this album, this track will tell you immediately what you're in for. It is the shortest song on the CD clocking in at around 27 seconds. It's not an intro. It could've gone anywhere in the CD. The song starts off immediately with all instruments and vocals. The structure is Chorus-Verse-Chorus. Being 27 seconds, the verse has to be short of course. The words are sung very fast and it is over in no time. As is the song. Good, but incredibly short. At least it puts you in the right mindframe for the rest of the album. 3/5
Track #2 - I Just Want Some Skank
This song however starts out and continues to be sort of slow throughout the majority of the song. It sounds like Keith is trying really hard here to sound serious, but with as strange lyrics as the Jerks have, it comes out sounding more comical than anything. After a short change in the music, it goes back to normal but only for a few seconds. Then a really fast drum fill solo thingy comes in and the song is given new life. I think it comes in a little too late though. Buuuuutttt, the song would've gotten a 3 if it wasn't for this truly excellent line that goes down as one of the best lyrics ever:
"I'll take you home to meet Mom & Dad
And they'll be so glad
They won't think their boy's a fag
Then we'll go upstairs and go to bed."
Pure genious. 4/5
Track #3 - Beverly Hills
Starts off with a slow type palm muted guitar. The lyrics are really the focus of this song. And guess what they're about. That's right! Rich, snobby people like we all know. Or do we? These are the 1980's we are talking about here. Instead of talking of them dressing up in Prada and the like, they talk about the rich wearing spandex pants and cowboy boots....... HAHAHAHA!!!! I wish I was around back then. This song is pretty dull most of the time, but it's not really all bad. 3/5
Track #4 - Operation
Here's where the CD finally picks up pace. The first songs are great, but starting at this song, the album has a lot more longevity and worth in my opinion and it's also where their hardcore sound begins making this an essential hardcore album. The instruments start out the song playing the verse except not palm-muted on guitar. This song is about about chopping off a guy's jewels from what I got out of it. It doesn't make sense. He says he wanted to do it, but it sucks that he did. Oh well, it's a fun punk song and you're supposed to just have more fun than actually think about what the meaning is. One of the longest songs on here clocking in at 1:30. Solid song. 4/5
Track #5 - Back Against The Wall
Starts off with a really cool guitar solo intro thingy. Then the song pulls into a slowish ska-but-not-really type verse. Then the vocals come in and they seem a little more raw and harsh then the vocals on the previous songs. The chorus is sped up quite a bit and there is a little sound effect of broken glass in there. Then the verse and chorus repeats itself. And then a really guitar solo of epic 10 second proportions comes in and builds up speed leaving itself wanting more speed. And you get it. Right after the solo the verse and chorus play again, but this time, much much much much much much faster. I love it. It's the best part about this song. I wish I could see them play this live. Also note that the bass in this song sounds really excellent despite the guitar taking up most of the credit. 5/5
Track #6 - Wasted
Some people may already recognize this song after the first lyric. If you know any Black Flag, this is essentially the same song. Except at least 9 times better. It's a lot faster. The chorus is chopped up you could say, but it is done really well and makes the song way more catchy. Not much to say about this one here. It is one of the shortest on here after all. Clocks in at 43 seconds. A classic song that you will be a singing in no time. 4/5
Track #7 - Behind The Door
This song used to be my least favorite on the album, but now the more I listen to it, the more I love it. The verse on the instruments is the same for the intro. It's really catchy music though. It doesn't ever seem to get repetitive even though it's used most of the song. Or at least variations are. The only real major difference in the music I can see is in a bridge-like thing where Hetson is just making music through the feedback from the guitar. It sounds pretty good too. Catchy song that might grow on you like it did me. 5/5
Halfway over. Continue on next post which will be by me....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v469/el_shiznit/GroupSex.jpg
So, I'm sitting here eating Starburst and drinking egg nog when I realize that nobody has done one of the most definitive albums of hardcore. This is a must for any fan of old hardcore and loud, fast punk in general.
Album Info:
Released: 1980
Record Label: Frontier
Length: Roughly 16 or 32 minutes however you look at it.
This album technically contains 28 tracks on it. However, it is really just 14 tracks repeated a second time when the album is through. This is because of it's length. Although containing 14 tracks, the whole thing winds up taking 16 minutes of your time. So the Jerks decided to repeat this CD over and maybe give it more value per se.
Band Info:
Lead Vocals: Keith Morris
Guitar: Greg Hetson
Drums: Lucky Lehrer
Bass: Roger Rogerson
This is the original Circle Jerks line-up, and this is their first full-length release. The band was formed after singer Keith Morris left Black Flag to form his own band and this was the result. If you're interested in knowing more of their history, I will be doing a Circle Jerks Band Profile in the Punk forum for my next large MX project. Keep your head up for that.
Track Listing:
1.) Deny Everything
2.) I Just Want Some Skank
3.) Beverly Hills
4.) Operation
5.) Back Against The Wall
6.) Wasted
7.) Behind The Door
8.) World Up My ***
9.) Paid Vacation
10.) Don't Care
11.) Live Fast Die Young
12.) What's Your Problem
13.) Group Sex
14.) Red Tape
(Repeat for tracks 15-28)
Songs Piece By Piece:
Track #1 - Deny Everything
If you had no idea of the speed of the songs or the shortness of the CD when you are driven to buy this album, this track will tell you immediately what you're in for. It is the shortest song on the CD clocking in at around 27 seconds. It's not an intro. It could've gone anywhere in the CD. The song starts off immediately with all instruments and vocals. The structure is Chorus-Verse-Chorus. Being 27 seconds, the verse has to be short of course. The words are sung very fast and it is over in no time. As is the song. Good, but incredibly short. At least it puts you in the right mindframe for the rest of the album. 3/5
Track #2 - I Just Want Some Skank
This song however starts out and continues to be sort of slow throughout the majority of the song. It sounds like Keith is trying really hard here to sound serious, but with as strange lyrics as the Jerks have, it comes out sounding more comical than anything. After a short change in the music, it goes back to normal but only for a few seconds. Then a really fast drum fill solo thingy comes in and the song is given new life. I think it comes in a little too late though. Buuuuutttt, the song would've gotten a 3 if it wasn't for this truly excellent line that goes down as one of the best lyrics ever:
"I'll take you home to meet Mom & Dad
And they'll be so glad
They won't think their boy's a fag
Then we'll go upstairs and go to bed."
Pure genious. 4/5
Track #3 - Beverly Hills
Starts off with a slow type palm muted guitar. The lyrics are really the focus of this song. And guess what they're about. That's right! Rich, snobby people like we all know. Or do we? These are the 1980's we are talking about here. Instead of talking of them dressing up in Prada and the like, they talk about the rich wearing spandex pants and cowboy boots....... HAHAHAHA!!!! I wish I was around back then. This song is pretty dull most of the time, but it's not really all bad. 3/5
Track #4 - Operation
Here's where the CD finally picks up pace. The first songs are great, but starting at this song, the album has a lot more longevity and worth in my opinion and it's also where their hardcore sound begins making this an essential hardcore album. The instruments start out the song playing the verse except not palm-muted on guitar. This song is about about chopping off a guy's jewels from what I got out of it. It doesn't make sense. He says he wanted to do it, but it sucks that he did. Oh well, it's a fun punk song and you're supposed to just have more fun than actually think about what the meaning is. One of the longest songs on here clocking in at 1:30. Solid song. 4/5
Track #5 - Back Against The Wall
Starts off with a really cool guitar solo intro thingy. Then the song pulls into a slowish ska-but-not-really type verse. Then the vocals come in and they seem a little more raw and harsh then the vocals on the previous songs. The chorus is sped up quite a bit and there is a little sound effect of broken glass in there. Then the verse and chorus repeats itself. And then a really guitar solo of epic 10 second proportions comes in and builds up speed leaving itself wanting more speed. And you get it. Right after the solo the verse and chorus play again, but this time, much much much much much much faster. I love it. It's the best part about this song. I wish I could see them play this live. Also note that the bass in this song sounds really excellent despite the guitar taking up most of the credit. 5/5
Track #6 - Wasted
Some people may already recognize this song after the first lyric. If you know any Black Flag, this is essentially the same song. Except at least 9 times better. It's a lot faster. The chorus is chopped up you could say, but it is done really well and makes the song way more catchy. Not much to say about this one here. It is one of the shortest on here after all. Clocks in at 43 seconds. A classic song that you will be a singing in no time. 4/5
Track #7 - Behind The Door
This song used to be my least favorite on the album, but now the more I listen to it, the more I love it. The verse on the instruments is the same for the intro. It's really catchy music though. It doesn't ever seem to get repetitive even though it's used most of the song. Or at least variations are. The only real major difference in the music I can see is in a bridge-like thing where Hetson is just making music through the feedback from the guitar. It sounds pretty good too. Catchy song that might grow on you like it did me. 5/5
Halfway over. Continue on next post which will be by me....