I'm sitting here staring at a blank screen, trying to find words to express what I feel when I hear this extraordinary record. I guess that's why it wasn't reviewed on this site until now. It's weird - I was into punkrock for at least two years before I heard this and had already bought Black Flag's Damaged album long before, but whenever I hear or think about this one it's like it's the first punk record I've ever heard. Then again, it's not that weird - these songs are so primal, raw and... well, short, that it's like the first Ramones album, minus the tongue in cheek. Sorta like Greg Ginn thought he could do better than the Ramones and came up with this. But the best thing is that when you've listened to both sides and you hear the needle leaving the vinyl, what are you gonna play next? Minor Threat maybe. Can't think of anything else right now. This shit is just too powerful. And it's non-stop too: 'Nervous Breakdown' is simply one of the ultimate punkrock anthems of all time, 'Fix Me' is almost as good and 'I've Had It' is so intense it makes you wanna tear your fuckin' eyes out. The last song, 'Wasted' is my least favorite, even if I can (sort of) relate to the lyrics. But it doesn't matter - this is what I play when the time is near. All I need to hear is Ginn's insane guitar sound, Duke's growling bass and Keith Morris' insane screaming (ain't nuthing like it) to get me into destruction mode. "I'm...going...to...explode - I'VE HAD IT!!!" No time wasted. Get it.
-PETER