•
Rating: Once upon a time in America, and among the many other things that existed in this wonderland, there was also punk rock. And among the many who played punk rock, the Black Flag, whether they wanted it or not, became a pivotal band, alongside very few others, of an entire movement, hardcore punk, which was nothing more than the sonic and attitudinal radicalization of the primordial punk rock.
"The first four years," as the title explicitly suggests, collects the recordings of the first four years of the Black Flag, including the three famous EPs "Nervous Breakdown," "Jealous Again," and "Six Pack," the song "Clocked in" from the compilation tape Cracks in the Sidewalks, the bonus track "Machine," and the single "Louie Louie." This is the material we can find on this optical disc (many years ago, I had it on vinyl, but then I gave it away!!!????? Damn stupidity!).
The raw fury that overflows from these songs is uncontrollable! It starts with "Nervous Breakdown" where Greg Ginn's guitar and Chuck Dukowsky's fiery bass attack you with kicks to the stomach for a few, painful seconds. The first 4 fantastic tracks are sung by Keith Morris (who would indeed take "Wasted" with his Circle Jerks) who sounds like Johnny Rotten facing his worst nightmares. Then it moves to "Jealous Again" where Ron "Chavo Pederast" Reyes sings, and "No Values" and the grand "You Bet We've Got Something Personal Against You!" deserve a particular mention with their 45" of insane ferocity. There is then the first unreleased track, "Clocked in" where Dez Cadena sings, and comes the EP "Six Pack," another major piece from our friends, where Dez, in addition to singing, also takes up the guitar.
The last unreleased track is "Machine" where Dez screams like a madman "Machineee....Machineeee..." before the track starts off at breakneck speed and in a matter of seconds, sinks in feedback and again in Dez's yells. "Louie Louie" and "Damaged" see Dez once again on vocals, closing this gem. There's no trace of Henry Rollins yet, but personally, I don't miss him at all, even though I love all Black Flag records.
What is incredible about this, however, and can also be found in other recordings of bands from the era (Circle Jerks, Minor Threat, 7 Seconds, Adolescents, Wasted Youth...) is the raw, untamable energy that these elementary songs convey, a destructive rage that no grindcore band with oversized ultra-metal guitars and growl vocals like a belch after 25 liters of beer and blast beats like a benzadrine-oiled Kalashnikov has ever matched.
And now excuse me, but I have my six-pack here, and my favorite TV series is about to start....
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Nervous Breakdown (02:09)
I'm about
To have a nervous breakdown
My head really hurts
If I don't find a way out of here
I'm gonna go berserk 'cuz
I'm crazy and I'm hurt
Head on my shoulders
It's going...berserk
I hear the same old talk talk talk
The same old lines
Don't do me that today, yeah
If you know what's good for you you'll get out of my way 'cuz
I'm crazy and I'm hurt
Head on my shoulders
Going...berserk
I won't apologize
For acting outta line
You see the way I am
You leave any time you can 'cuz
I'm crazy and I'm hurt
Head on my shoulders
Going...berserk
Crazy! Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!
I don't care what you fuckin' do
I don't care what you fuckin' say
I'm so sick of everything
I just want to...die!
02 Fix Me (00:58)
Someday
I'll feel no pain
Someday
I won't have a brain
They'll take away the part that hurts
and let the rest remain
Fix me
Fix my head
Fix me please, I don't wanna be dead
Someday
We'll all be rich
Someday
I won't listen to you bitch
I'll turn up the volume
And you can hear all the shit we play just for you
Fix me
Fix my head
Fix me please, I don't wanna be dead
Someday
I'll feel no pain
Someday
I won't have a brain
They'll take away the part that hurts
and let the rest remain
Fix me
Fix my head
Fix me please, I don't wanna be dead
Fix it!
04 Wasted (00:51)
I was so wasted
I was a hippie
I was a burnout
I was a dropout
I was out of my head
I was a surfer
I had a skateboard
I was so heavy man, I lived on the strand
I was so wasted
I was so fucked up
I was so messed up
I was so screwed up
I was out of my head
I was so jacked up
I was so drunk up
I was so knocked out, I was out of my head
I was so wasted I was wasted.
06 Revenge (00:59)
It's not my imagination
I've got a gun on my back!
Promises you made
Never become fact
We're gonna get revenge
You won't know what hit you
We're tired of being screwed
Don't tell me about tomorrow
Don't tell me what I'll get
I can't think of progress when
Just around the corner
There's a bed of cold pavement
Waiting for me
Revenge!
I'll watch you bleed
Revenge!
That's all I'll need
I won't cry if you- die! DIE!
We're gonna get revenge
You won't know what hit you
We're tired of being screwed
Revenge!
REVENGE!!!
07 White Minority (01:02)
Gunna be a white minority
marvelously the majority
gunna feel inferiority
guunna be, white minority
WHITE PRIDE, your an american
why can i hide, when and where i can
Gunna be a white minority
dont beleive theres a possibility
well, we'll just wait and see
gunna be, white minority
WHITE PRIDE,your an american
why can i hide, when and where i can
Gunna be a white minority
theres gunna be, large casualties
were the damn majority
well, gunna die
08 No Values (01:45)
I don't care what you think
I don't care what you say
I've got nothing to give you
Why don't you just go away
I've got no values
Nothing to say
I've got no values
Might as well blow you away
You're just a hole in the corner
Always loaded to the hilt
I could try some satisfaction
I could destroy everything you build I've got no values
Nothing to say I've got no values
Might as well blow you away
Don't you try classification
When you know it won't work
What if I try some annihilation
Throw your face in the dirt I've got no values
Nothing to say
I've got no values
Might as well blow you away
Don't you try pretendin'
Telling me it's all right I might start destroyin'
Everything in my sight!
No values
No values
No values.
10 Clocked In (01:33)
i tried to apply
i can't get loose
my day is to myself
put my brain in a noose
[chorus]
buzzer sounds, gotta move
feet move, legs move, hands move, brain moves....
real slow
i gotta' be on time
just to collect my reward
i gotta stand in line
makes me feel so fucking bored
'boss barks orders at me
but i can't yell back
'cause whenever i try....
get that son of a bitch off my back
[bridge]
i have this problem every morning,
i gotta' face the clock;
punch in, punch out, it makes me so pissed off
one of these days i'm gonna smash it off the wall!
go home!
11 Six Pack (02:19)
''I got a six pack and nothing to do
I got a six pack and I don't need you''
$35 and a six pack to my name
SIX PACK!
Spent the rest on beer so who's to blame
SIX PACK!
They say I'm fucked up all the time
SIX PACK!
What they do is a waste of time
SIX PACK!
I know it'll be OK
I get a six pack in me, alright!
My girlfriend asked me which one I like better
SIX PACK!
I hope the answer won't upset her
SIX PACK!
I was born with a bottle in my mouth
SIX PACK!
Now I got a six so I'll never run out
SIX PACK!
I know it'll be OK
I get a six pack in me, alright!
$35 and a six pack to my name
SIX PACK!
Spent the rest on beer so who's to blame
SIX PACK!
They say I'm fucked up all the time
SIX PACK!
What they do is a waste of time
SIX PACK!
SIX PACK!
SIX PACK!
SIX PACK!
''What do they know about partying
Or anything else''
12 I've Heard It Before (01:39)
I've heard it before
I don't want to hear it again
I've heard it before
I just want to shut you up
Fuck all you people who can't see my side
I've got my own strategies for my life
I've seen the emptiness in your ways
Don't tell me how to make my way
I've heard it before
I don't want to hear it again
I've heard it before
I just want to shut you up
Pressure rising pressure falling almost everyday
Going clear outta my mind Oh god another day
Don't forget you socks don't forget your shoes
Mamas little baby, fuck no
I've heard it before
I don't want to hear it again
I've heard it before
I just want to shut you up
Fuck all you people who can't see my side
I've got my own strategies for my life
I've seen the emptiness in your ways
Don't tell me how to make my way
I've heard it before
15 Louie Louie (01:18)
Louie, Louie!
We gotta go.
I said now Louie, Louie!
We gotta go.
You know the pain, that's in my heart,
it just shows, I'm not very smart.
Who needs love, when you've got a gun?
Who needs love, to have any fun?
I said now Louie, Louie!
We gotta go!
Said, now screwie Louie!
We gotta go.
Louie, Louie!
We gotta go.
I said now Louie, Louie!
We gotta go!
Loading comments slowly
