release date: Nov. 1982
format: vinyl (VIRUS 27) / cd
[album rate: 4,5 / 5] [4,38]
producer: East Bay Ray, Thom Wilson
label: Alternative Tentacles / Statik Records - nationality: USA
Tracklist: A) 1. "Government Flu" (4 / 5) - 2. "Terminal Preppie" (5 / 5) - 3. "Trust Your Mechanic" (4 / 5) - 4. "Well Paid Scientist" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Buzzbomb" (4 / 5) - 6. "Forest Fire" (4 / 5) - 7. "Halloween" (5 / 5) - 8. "Winnebago Warrior" (5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Riot" (4 / 5) - 2. "Bleed for Me" (4,5 / 5) (studio session) - 3. "I Am the Owl" (4 / 5) - 4. "Dead End" (4 / 5) - 5. "Moon Over Marin" (5 / 5)
2nd studio album release by Dead Kennedys, and my favourite album by the band. This is where they told all kind of stories about what goes wrong around the world, and the style is not one-dimensional as on the debut. Overall, it's punk rock, and mostly hardcore punk but elements of surf rock, rockabilly, rock 'n roll, psychedelic rock, and Ennio Morricone western movie soundtrack elements are heard on various tracks. The band's lyrics are not only focused on looking at the present administration or on one hate subject. The vinyl lp has a lovely collages 'scrapbook' (which initiated a tradition to include a scrapbook of some sort with their following two studio albums) with the fascinating art work of Winston Smith (who made art work and front covers for all their studio albums). I loved this album and bought it upon its release in '82, and I spent many hours listening to the album while looking into lyrics and collages. The front cover by photographer Michael Wells is like the music: right in the face: get it, morons?!
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5 stars ]
=> needledrop review
1982 Favourite releases: 1. Laurie Anderson Big Science - 2. Dead Kennedys Plastic Surgery Disasters - 3. Elvis Costello & The Attractions Imperial Bedroom
