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THE REVIEW
Just the name says it all. It was indeed the so-called kids, children of the conservative middle class, with their rebellion, who transformed hardcore from a mere feeling of widespread anger into that social movement, organized and with an underlying ideology, that disrupted the social equilibrium of the States.
"Out Of Vogue", the first 7'' from the historic Californian band (led by the three Atta brothers), recorded even before "Nervous Breakdown" by their cousins Black Flag, is most likely the first hardcore record in history. In the self-referential scene of Orange County, indeed, where - according to Mike Atta, guitarist of the Middle Class - the bands of the era were either clones of the New York Dolls (or the Electric Eels) or, as in the case of Social Distortion or X, still had their roots firmly anchored in American blues tradition, it was precisely the speed of execution ("in our heads, we played faster than the Ramones") that made them surpass the old school punk-rock by a long stretch.
The legendary track that gives its name to the EP (do not hesitate to place it alongside, in importance, "Filler", "Big Takeover" or "Rise Above") is a true declaration of intent, where they shout, peremptorily, slogan-like, "out of fashion!", as hardcore will ALWAYS be (screw the revivals!) and will provoke that tremendous boom whose echoes are still heard today (screw the revivals again!). The other three tracks will continue in the wake of this blind fury, with those guitars that will inevitably remind you of the epileptic style of the late Johnny Ramone with a burning stick up his butt, but at the same time, will, at times, indebted to certain wave, make us understand which path Middle Class will take in the near future.
In the face of the newness they had brought at the beginning, indeed, in '82, they will give birth to "Homeland", where they will seem like a new wave band past its prime trying to mimic what the Joy Division and Gang of Four had said a few years earlier. Old (in the mid-eighties, Mike and Bruce Atta will even form a dance band, fortunately, short-lived) before aging? Perhaps, but that's another story.
What matters is that they were the first to hit the accelerator. FUNDAMENTAL.
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Summary by Bot
This review highlights Middle Class’s 'Out of Vogue' as likely the first hardcore punk record, marking a shift from raw anger to a structured social movement. The band’s rapid playing style set them apart from contemporaries in Orange County. The title track remains a powerful, timeless declaration of hardcore’s enduring defiance. Although Middle Class later shifted towards new wave sounds, their early work remains a cornerstone of punk history. The review praises the band’s pioneering role and lasting influence.Tracklist Videos
Middle Class
Middle Class are an American Orange County music group led by the Atta brothers. Their 7" Out of Vogue is cited in the review as an early, influential hardcore punk record and is recorded even before Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown."01 Reviews
