Once upon a time, hardcore was new. It sprang from the British punk movement with its own uniquely American flavor. The years from 1980 to 1986 were the apex of this musical style and the subculture it spawned. Author Steven Blush collected interviews with those he considered the primary participants and published the book American Hardcore: A Tribal History. He is also the executive producer of a recently released documentary adaptation by Paul Rachman, which debuted to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival.
This compilation CD is a great introduction to the energy and anger of that time. The first song is “Nervous Breakdown” by Black Flag. Fittingly so, as this was the band that single-handedly created a model and network for touring the US that later underground bands would follow, even to this day. And this was before cell phones and the proliferation of the Internet. Keith Morris sings on this, their first release in 1978. (A later singer, Henry Rollins, is better known as the front man of this seminal hardcore band.)
Hardcore was (and is) lyrically diverse. The CD contains explicitly political songs, such as “F****** Up Ronnie” by D.O.A., “I Remember” by MDC, and “Pay to Cum” by the Bad Brains. It also contains songs with more personal, angry lyrics such as “Filler” by Minor Threat, “Ha Ha Ha” by Flipper, and “Bad Attitude” by Articles of Faith.
While British punk bands came primarily from a working class background, American hardcore was populated by disaffected middle-class young white men, at a time when Reagan was in office cutting the education budget and attempting to practice “trickle-down economics.” Record companies were churning out identical-sounding pabulum, and youth was daily warned that social security was running out and that they’d never attain the material heights of their parent’s generation… who wouldn’t be angry? The songs reflect this concern and preoccupation with hypocrisy and betrayal.
The CD also effectively portrays the most influential regional scenes. Boston bands represent with Gang Green (“Kill a Commie”) and SS Decontrol (“Boiling Point”). Influential DC bands Minor Threat, Scream (“Came Without Warning”), and the Bad Brains each have a song on the compilation.
And of course, Los Angeles... The L.A. scene is represented by Black Flag, the Circle Jerks (“Red Tape”), the Untouchables (“Nic Fit”), and more. Smaller scenes are also represented, such as the Big Boys of Austin, Texas (“Brickwall”).
For listeners unfamiliar with the genre, or fans of the likes of Green Day who want to know where this band got its inspiration, this CD is a great introduction to the music of the early '80s punk subculture. For music lovers who sold off their LP collection to become an accountant or similar, this CD will remind you of what you left behind. Just don’t shave your head and start a cover band.
Article comments
1 - Asiankaos
The hardcore scene didn't start from the British punk movement. Because punk started in the U.S.
Second the hardcore scene in the united states was for the most part not middle class kids. Especially in NYC. Those kids had nothing. Anyways you shouldn't even bother reviewing stuff like this because if you don't know anything about the scene besides what you read then ou come off kinda foolish.
2 - gette
Yes, punk started in the US with MC5 and the Stooges, etc. Immediate to the period of American hardcore that is covered in this time period, however, was a lot of touring by UK bands like the Clash. How do I know this? I lived through this; I didn't read a book.
Since you are such an expert you would be a great addition to the Blogcritics team. Why don't you join us? See box below: "Become a Blogcritic." We always need more writers.