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
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.
This (see bottom of the review) 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 #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 mind frame 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 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
Track #8 - World Up My ***
A Circle Jerks classic. The lyrics begin a little before the first snare is hit. Pretty good chorus following the verse that starts the song. Verse and chorus played again before launching into a guitar solo. A Jerks style solo that is. Short and sweet. No unnecessary bullshit. A chorus finishes the song. I like how during the song, Morris changes the way he sings the title every single time he sings it. It adds a lot. Trust me. One essential song for the new Circle Jerks fan. 5/5
Track #9 - Paid Vacation
A nice rolling drum beat begins this song with a cool guitar part thrown in there too. Then the song changes up quite a bit for the verse. The pre-chorus has almost the same instrumentals as the intro. Just a tad different. The chorus is the best part of this song and it's gosh darn awesome. It's pretty fast and catchy. This is another one of the songs on here that I would particularly like to see them play live. There is no second verse really. After the first chorus, the intro is played again, then straight to the pre-chorus and the chorus again. The intro also doubles as an outro! Tough deciding between a 4 or a 5 for this song. I guess I'll try and be completely opposite of biased and go with a... 4/5
Track #10 - Don't Care
Second shortest song on this album. Only 35 seconds long. The words "I don't care" pop up in this song almost every line surprisingly [/sarcasm]. It's really fast and a damn fun song overall. I use the phrase "I don't care" a lot in my daily life and every time I about say it, I sing this song. It's cool, but no one else I know has even heard of this band, so they get confused. A good, great, near perfect, eh....... it's pretty much perfect. 5/5
Track #11 - Live Fast Die Young
Another classic from this band. Drums are the intro to this song. The lyrics focus on not wanting to live old. The age examples Morris uses are 34, 43, and 57. The great part of this song in my opinion is the guitar solo. The other instruments stop playing at certain points during it, where you just here the guitar. It sounds pretty cool. On the outro, the guitar parts from the solo are thrown in. One of my first favorites by this band. This song especially got me hooked on them. Download if you can. 5/5
Track #12 - What's Your Problem?
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent song. In my opinion, actual music with a guitar, bass, drums, and vocals cannot really get too much better than this. The song itself is pretty fast all the way through. The slowest part is the palm-muted bridge, but that's even pretty fast. I love the verse guitar riff. The drums in the chorus are really great and I break things in the surrounding area from drumming on them everytime I hear this song. Second verse is the greatness lyrically. Just read this:
"Got a date
Can't be late
If she don't show up,
I'll masturbate!"
Love it. Now that's not even the best part of the song. After the bridge, a last verse and chorus comes in. But the verse is sped up soooo damn fast, you just want to jump into the nearest pit, even when you're by yourself. Download this one. You need it. You try, you like. You like, you buy. 5/5
Track #13 - Group Sex
I don't know if I would actually call this a song. I will rate it anyway. Not gonna be good. I consider it more filler than anything because Morris is basically talking about organized orgies the entire time and the actual music is nothing special. Not really Circle Jerks style, it's just kind of background music. The entire time, you hear voices in the background laughing and saying "Group Sex" a lot. Remember, that it's not really a real song, so don't let this bad score deter you. 2/5
Track #14 - Red Tape
Probably my second favorite on this album and what a way to close the CD. The drums in this song are so much great that you can't help but feel inferior to them. I actually don't think it's anything way too complicated, but the way they are played makes this song soooo good. The lyrics aren't too awful hard either and it's a great song to jam out and sing to once you get past the words "Bureoucracy and Burgeoise" (spelling?). There's a choppy guitar solo starting at 31 seconds into the song. It pretty much continues in the last verse where before, only drums were played. Quality. 5/5
Analysis
Okay, this CD I think everyone should give a try. Maybe it sounds like a rip-off seeing as how you are only getting essentially 16 minutes of song. I was skeptical at first too. But I took a risk and got it. This is my favorite record from this phenomenal band. Maybe you are not all that into punk music in general. Well, the Circle Jerks were the first "real" punk band I listened to. They changed my whole view on music as a whole. Could happen to you as well. I will review more of their albums later on after I do their band profile. And if you still are skeptical, check out the news from another wise Jerks fan and one of the best MX posters in my opinion:
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Originally Posted by DrGolovaCroxby
i honestly think the circle jerks are one of the most mutually respected bands on MX.
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