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BLACK FLAG
"Damaged"
(SST; 1981)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
I figure if you're going to start with a Black Flag album then you may as well start with this debut/classic/forever-copied-by-other-bands disc. I use the form "disc" loosely because this mad mesh of punk and hardcore was released on a vinyl Frisbee with some awesome cover art work for its time.
Since this epic album was released there have been a handful, or should I say fistful, of bands that have covered songs off this bad boy: Sepultura covered "Rise Above" on their disc titled "Nation". A Perfect Circle covered "Gimme Gimme Gimme" on "eMOTIVe". Pennywise covered it, too. Hatebreed covered "Thirsty and Miserable" on their cover disc "For the Lions."
The whole disc runs only 34:56 but it's one that has awesome, crazy, jazzy guitar along with Henry Rollins ranting about everything under the stage lights. The production isn't great but if you want a polished band then I can't help you. This stuff is raw and, when it was released, it set the tone for punk and nothing has been the same since.
Black Flag: Henry Rollins – lead vocals; Greg Ginn – lead guitar, backing vocals; Dez Cadena – rhythm guitar, backing vocals; Charles Dukowski – bass, backing vocals; Robo – drums, backing vocals; Mugger – backing vocals.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2009 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights
reserved.
Revised:
18 Nov 2024 12:18:25 -0500.
