2 of 3 thought this review was well writtenFormed in the late 1970s, the Urinals took elements of garage rock, no wave and surf rock to create a kind of minimalist early L.A. punk take on
Pink Flag era Wire, becoming highly influential to later greats such as the Minutemen in the process. Regardless of things like influence and importance, the quality of the music hasn’t diminished one bit; this is a record I could listen to all day.
Under recognized by those who fail to look beyond the more famous names of the era, the
Negative Capability...Check it Out compilation is the best way to discover the Urinals and includes their three self-released 7”s in chronological running order along with several live performances and assorted odds and ends. Outwardly crude in terms of overall sound and presentation, closer inspection of the material here suggests that the band were likely a good deal more sophisticated than most of their contemporaries. With most songs coming in at just over a minute in duration and stripped of all unnecessary components, it’s also an album that warrants repeat plays, as twangy, harmonized classics like “Black Hole”, “I’m a Bug” and “Sex” pack both pop smarts and inventiveness into their short running times. After renaming themselves as 100 Flowers in the early 1980s they would go on to make music of a slicker aesthetic but to experience them at their best, look no further.
