Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 02/10/1998
Run Time: 39:58
Hell yes. This was an extremely popular (and nicely varied) compilation of the balmy, blasting-off 1980-1981
L.A. punk explosion (100 new bands that flowed right out of the original 1977-1979 outbreak there) upon its release in 1981. It remains the best place to hear the truck engine-thick classic
Mommy's Little Monster lineup of
Social Distortion, who were never captured better outside of the
"1945" single, yet these two cuts, including the superior original version of
"Telling Them" were left off 1995's
Mainliner early-
SD retrospective. Similarly, this is the hot peak of
punk-era
Legal Weapon aside from
Your Weapon,
Red Cross covers
the New York Dolls'
"Puss 'n' Boots" before becoming
Redd Kross, and
Dangerhouse holdover
Rhino 39 likewise stand out with their speedy charge.
Modern Warfare are underrated,
.45 Grave are overrated but unique with their dry-ice keyboards, and
post-punk smarties
100 Flowers sound as clever and raspy as when they were the 1977-1980
Urinals. A pre-
goth Christian Death also opens up the formula. Only rote, three-chord crap never-weres
Secret Hate,
Conservatives, and
Super Heroines bore, dragging down this album's score. But like the
Public Service sampler that same year, a completely complimentary LP,
Hell's compilers showed discerning taste in brand-new bands. The alive feel of a wild time when 15 to 24 year olds pulsed with raw energy still inspires. By volume two, it was mostly all over.
~Jack Rabid, All Music Guide
;)
Listen
