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THE REVIEW
I won't talk about this album because it would be easy to rave about it.
I won't talk about this album because I really want to understand its importance in the world of Californian punk straddling the '70s and '80s. Actually, I'm not interested in discussing the songs on this album, or how they changed punk history. What I'm interested in is comparing it with the quintessential Flag album, 'My War'.
Because, according to my thesis, 'Damaged' hasn't historically influenced the world of music like the Black Sabbath-style 'My War'. Let me state first that Damaged is an excellent work, but songs like Can't decide (I don't know English, but I don't give a damn) are fantastic because they foreshadowed the raw grunge of Bleach, or Melvins' Ozma, years ahead. In this album, the hardness, the slowness, and the brutality of the sound, anticipates for years, works like Superfuzz by M., or sheds light on sonic obsessions like those from Tad or even gives early insights into stoner.
An album like 'Damaged' — is it really that decisive? And, above all, has it genuinely influenced artists like Nirvana, or the Melvins, or the M., or was 'My War' more instrumental? Kurt Cobain always said that Damaged inspired him, but maybe that album was 'My War'... People have accused me of writing provocative and shitty reviews, yet I keep going down this path because I believe life is made of provocation and also paradoxes.
How can it seem like a paradox to say that 'My War' is better than 'Damaged'?
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Summary by Bot
The review questions the historically perceived impact of Black Flag's Damaged, suggesting it may be less influential than their later album My War. While praising Damaged's raw, brutal sound as ahead of its time, the author challenges its credited influence on bands like Nirvana or the Melvins. Instead, the review provocatively argues that My War might have been the more important album in shaping punk and grunge music.
Black Flag
Black Flag are an American band widely recognized as a foundational act in hardcore punk, formed in Southern California and closely associated with guitarist and primary songwriter Greg Ginn.14 Reviews
Other reviews
By Mr.Moustache
Black Flag were THE band, who best interpreted what was the only possible approach English punk could have in the metropolises of California.
A loud, sweaty, and revealing Fuck You to what was shaping up to mystify the America of the Golden-Boy graduate, careerist, sexist.
