release date: Oct. 1985
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,78]
producer: Jello Biafra
label: Alternative Tentacles - nationality: USA
Tracklist: 1. "Soup Is Good Food" (4,5 / 5) - 2. "Hellnation" (3 / 5) - 3. "This Could Be Anywhere (This Could Be Everywhere)" - 4. "A Growing Boy Needs His Lunch" - 5. "Chicken Farm" (3,5 / 5) - 6. "Jock-O-Rama (Invasion of the Beef Patrol)" (4,5 / 5) - 7. "Goons of Hazzard" (3,5 / 5) - 8. "M.T.V. - Get Off the Air" (4 / 5) - 9. "At My Job" (3 / 5) - 10. "Stars and Stripes of Corruption" (3 / 5)
3rd studio album release by Dead Kennedys. The album was more than three years on its way, and fans began to wonder if they had split. It was a difficult time to keep releasing punk rock material as punk had been declared "dead" before 1980 when they released the debut album, but DK definitely had a special status with their political statements. Musically, the album shows a new side to their punk-style. This is not the high speed hardcore punk but a more subdued punk rock clone of rockabilly and surf rock with focus on Biafra's narration (just listen to "Jock-O-Rama (Invasion of the Beef Patrol" or "M.T.V. - Get Off the Air"), and several tracks have a long playing time, which is quite contrary to the style of hardcore punk. With the album, they show that they still have much to say, and it may not be as great as the '82 album release but some of the tracks are exceptionally great songwriting pinning down all American values. And the cover art photo is hilarious with all its subtle references. The vinyl album was released with the art poster "Penis Landscape" [org. poster] (or: "Landscape XX") by Swiss artist H. R. Giger, which led to a controversy with a lawsuit and a trial against the band that ultimately led to the disbandment, although they released one more studio album and despite the fact that they were freed from all charges. So, in a way, Dead Kennedys lost to moral majority.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]
