better youth organization. 009 / 14 tracks / 1984

CAN: better youth organization. 009 / 1984

UK: better youth organization. 009 / 1984

F: better youth organization. 009 / 15 tracks / 1984

Approx. 18000 pressed of the US versions throughout the 80s. + lyric sheet. #1 - First US press with original Diane Arbus photo on the sleeve. #2 - Canadian pressing with re-drawn photo of first press. #3 - Second US press with completely new sleeve design (large band logo). Most on black, appr. 250 on red vinyl (1987), another limited edition on green and blue(?) vinyl. #4 - French/UK license pressing with yet another sleeve, kind of a mash up of the previous designs, with kid head on toy train. This version also has one bonus track: “Poor, poor, pitiful me” from It came from the Pit comp. #5 - Current US CD with sleeve #4, without the bonus track from #4.

This was announced and expected to be a super tough hardcore release back in 1984; but to many people’s surprise it turned out to be great melodic (and still tight) hardcore, completely in line with BYO’s other releases. The (mostly fast) songs and lyrics range from witty to political, and the band manages to stay clear of most of the hardcore clichés. A classic. [9]  

Die Überraschung des Jahres ’84; statt der erwarteten und angekündigten Ultra-HC-Scheibe entpuppte sich diese Platte als sehr melodisches und trotzdem kraftvolles Werk, eine typische BYO-Platte. Die Texte der durchgängig flotten Tracks reichen von witzig bis kritisch, Klischees gibt es erfreulicherweise kaum zu hören. Genial.

Tracks: broken toy / she’s not on the menu / money matters / i’m real scared / joyride / seein’ life through the bottom of a bottle / cannibal cafe // misfortune / plastic surgery kept her beautiful / the gravedigger / bodies in the wall / get off your ass / loser at life - loser at death / this is the end