new alliance records. nar-017 / 27 tracks / 1984

RI: sst records. 277 / 1990 (?)

SST version on CD, too (no bonus tracks).

Live, demo and home-recorded tracks from 1979-1983. The first seven songs (from a 1982 session produced by Mike Patton) are among their best, great blend of edgy political punk and minimalistic funk. Also interesting are the two acoustic tracks played by Mike Watts in his living room, and “Tony gets wasted in Pedro”, recorded in 1979 when the band was still called The Reactionaries - decent punk rock. Most of the others are recorded live, some are OK, some are boring, but none really stand out. You should get this for the first 7 tracks. [8]

Sammelsurium von Live- und Demoaufnahmen, die zwischen 1979 und 1983 entstanden sind. Die ersten sieben Songs aus einer 82er-Studiosession gehören zu ihren besten, genialer Mix aus politischem Punk und minimalistischem Funk. Dazu kommen noch zwei nette Songs aus Mike Watts Wohnzimmer und ein Punksong, den die Band 1979 noch als The Reactionaries aufgenommen hat. Der Rest ist vorwiegend live aufgenommen, ein paar annehmbare Tracks, ein paar langweilige, aber keine echten Erleuchtungen. Braucht man wegen der ersten 7 Songs.

Tracks: base king / working men are pissed / i shook hands / below the belt / shit you hear at parties / big lounge scene / maternal rite / tune for wind god / party with me punker / process / joy jam // tony gets wasted in pedro / swing to the right / ¡raza si! / times / badges / fodder / futurism restated / hollering / suburban dialectic / contained / on trial / spraycan wars / my part / fanatics / ack ack ack / the big blast for youth