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Rating: One of the cult bands formed in the whirlwind of the American hardcore of the eighties is undoubtedly represented by Suicidal Tendencies, led by that street kid known as Mike “Cyco” Muir.
Although the attitude, sounds, and charge of corrosive irony and provocation of this group are of clear punk origin, Suicidal Tendencies managed to gain a great following even among fans of extreme metal which was taking its first steps during those years and achieving great success thanks to the usual renowned names and the myriad of bands coming out of the Bay Area of San Francisco.
This was thanks to a personal way of presenting a certain type of sound, very crossover, that combines fast hardcore and more rhythmic and cadenced pieces in a distinctly heavy style. The album I propose is the reworking of their debut “Suicidal Tendencies” with the addition of three bonus tracks, namely, “Still Cyco After All These Years.” Obviously, this reproduction boasts a better recording than the original and, therefore, a cleaner and more pleasant sound.
Musically speaking, the album is a punch in the stomach. Tracks like “Two - Sides Politics,” “I Shot Reagan,” “Won’t Fall in Love Today,” “Memories of Tomorrow,” “Fascist Pig” are like slashes that pass by you swiftly like lightning. Mike's singing is powerful and equally fast, nothing like the gargles of the front-men of the various nu groups that are currently so popular. But the album remains intense even in the more rhythmic and obsessive tracks like “Subliminal,” “I Saw Your Mommy,” “Suicidal Failure.”
But the true strength of the Los Angeles combo is to be found in the lyrics, both in the purely ironic ones and those with a more hardcore attitude, thus denouncing the societal ills. In “Two-Sides Politics,” Muir's anger, cynicism, and anarchic charge are vividly portrayed (“I’m not anti-society, society is anti-me, I’m not anti-religion, religion is anti-me, I’m not anti-anything, I just wanna be free…”).
“I Shot Reagan” is a clear message aimed at the former U.S. President (in reality, his “wish” is symbolically directed against the institution itself, as evidenced by the small note where it is explicitly stated that the fact that at the time of the record's release the office was held by Clinton did not change the situation at all). Institutions are also targeted in, precisely, “Institutionalized,” where they represent the enemy in which society is mired and must combat. In “Memories of Tomorrow,” instead, the anti-militarist charge of Muir and company explodes. But the peak of irony and provocation at the same time is reached in the lyrics of “I Saw Your Mommy,” where they boast about the corpse of a friend's mother slowly decaying, and especially in “Suicidal Failure,” where Muir plays a suicidal aspirant who, failing his attempts despite various methods (gun, poison, “drove my car off a ridge,” “overdosed on heroin”), begs his father to kill him.
An album, in conclusion, that will undoubtedly delight the tastes of both lovers of the most politicized and angry hardcore, as well as old fans of the typically Bay Area sounds.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Subliminal (02:48)
Flashing pictures on my screen
Shown too quickly to be seen
Does not register in my conscious mind
Propaganda of another kind
They're Fucking with me subliminaily
They're Fucking with me subliminally
Danger - Nightmare
Doomsday - Nightmare
Murder - Nightmare
Nightmare, Nightmare
Watching T.V. I start to cry
For no reason I don't know why
Could it be from messages on my TV
Which I'm getting subliminally?
Mind control the easiest way
Sponsered by the C.I.A.
It's a weapon you cannot see
It's propaganda subliminally
04 I Shot the Devil (01:50)
I shot Reagan I shot Sadat
I'm gonna shoot you dead in heaven you'll rot
You're gonna rot in heaven, hear an Angels voice
You're too bad for hell although it's your first choice
Rot in heaven, you're too bad for hell
Rot in heaven, cause you're forgiven in hell
I shot Lennon, I shot the Pope
I shot the devil now you ain't got no hope
You're gonna rot in heaven, hear an Angels voice
You're too bad for hell although it's your first choice
05 Won't Fall in Love Today (00:51)
Baby don't you be blue
You know that I'll always be true
You know that I'll always love you
And we'll always be together too
Over a thousand things I can say to you
Half of which would be un-true
But the one thing for sure I can say
Is that I won't fall in love today
Baby when you hold me tight
You know everything will be alright
So let's not take any time to fight
Because you know I love you with all my might
Baby you make me feel like a man
When we're rolling in the sand
So come and take me by the hand
And do the things you know we can
06 Institutionalized (03:30)
Sometimes I try to do things, and it just doesn't work out the way I want it to,
and I get real frustrated, and like, I try hard to do it, and I like, take my time, but
it just doesn't work out the way I want it to, it's like I concentrate on it real hard, but it just doesn't work out, and everything I do and everything I try, it never turns out, it's like I need time to figure these things out, but there's always someone there going:
- Hey Mike, you know, we've been noticing you've been having a lot of problems
lately, you know, and you should maybe get away, and like, maybe you should talk about it, you'll feel a lot better.
And I go:
- No, it's ok, you know, I'll figure it out, just leave me alone, I'll figure it out, you know, I'll just work it out myself.
And they go:
- Well, you know, if you wanna talk about it, I'll be here, you know, and you'll probably feel a lot better if you talk about it, so why don't you talk about it?
I go:
- No, I don't want to, I'm okay, I'll figure it out myself!
And they just keep bugging me, they just keep bugging me, and it builds up inside,
So you're gonna be institutionalized
You'll come out brainwashed with bloodshot eyes
You won't have any say
They'll brainwash you until you see their way
I'm not crazy - institutionalized
You're the one who's crazy - institutionalized
You're driving me crazy - institutionalized
They stick me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself
I was in my room, and I was just, like, staring at the walls, thinking about
everything, but then again I was thinking about nothing, and then my mom came
in and I didn't notice she was there and she called my name and I didn't hear
her and then she started screaming:
- Mike, Mike!
And I go:
- What, what's the matter?
She goes:
- What's the matter with you?
I go:
- There's nothing wrong, mom
She goes:
- Don't tell me that! You're on drugs!
I go:
- No mom, I'm not on drugs, I'm ok, I'm just thinking, you know, why don't
you get me a Pepsi?
She goes:
- No, you're on drugs!
I go:
- Mom, I'm okay, I'm just thinking
And she goes:
- No, you're not thinking, you're on drugs! Normal people don't act that way!
I go:
- Mom, just get me a Pepsi, please, all I want is a Pepsi
And she wouldn't give it to me! All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi, and she wouldn't give it to me! Just a Pepsi!
They give you a white shirt with long sleeves
Tied around you're back, you're treated like thieves
Drug you up because they're lazy
It's too much work to help a crazy
I'm not crazy - institutionalized
You're the one who's crazy - institutionalized
You're driving me crazy - institutionalized
They stick me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself
I was sitting in my room, and my mom and my dad came in, and they pulled up a
chair and they sat down, they go:
- Mike, we need to talk to you.
And I go:
- Okay, what's the matter?
They go:
- Me and your mom, we've been noticing lately you've been having a lot of
problems, and you've been going off for no reason, and we're afraid
you're going to hurt somebody, and we're afraid you're gonna hurt
yourself, so we decided that it would be in your best interest if we put
you somewhere where you could get the help that you need.
And I go:
- Wait, what are you talking about?! WE decided?! MY best interest?! How do
you know what MY best interest is?! How can you say what MY best interest is?! What are you trying to say? I'm crazy?! When I went to YOUR schools, I went to YOUR churches, I
went to YOUR institutional learning facilities?! So how can you say I'm crazy?
They say they're gonna fix my brain
Alleviate my suffering and my pain
But by the time they fix my head
Mentally I'll be dead
I'm not crazy - institutionalized
You're the one that's crazy - institutionalized
You're driving me crazy - institutionalized
They stick me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself
It doesn't matter, I'll probably get hit by a car anyway.
07 War Inside My Head (03:29)
War inside my head
War inside my head
War inside my head
War inside my head
War inside my head ain't a pretty sight
But I don't want no sympathy
It's happened a thousand times before
It's just a harsh reality
CHORUS
War inside my head-can you sense it
War inside my head-can you see it
War inside my head-can you feel it
War inside my head
Can you hear the-pain
Can you see the-pain
Can you sense the-pain
Can you feel the-pain
Can you help the-pain
Can you fix the-pain
Can you hear the war inside my head
The only thing real is the way I feel
And that's the pain that's deep inside
The battle from within is gonna begin
And there ain't nowhere to hide
CHORUS
War inside my head every night and day
I never get no piece of mind
It ought to be a sin, I just can't win
And pure hell is all I find
10 Possessed (02:01)
When I go down the street
The people watch me shiver and shake
I'm a prisoner of a demon
I think my head's about to break
It stays with me wherever I go
I can't break away from its hold
This must be my punishment
For selling my soul
Too much pressure, my pulse is rising
My heart is pounding, my head really hurts
I can't take it, all this pressure
From all these things inside of me
Everywhere I look I see them
Everywhere I go they're at
What did I do to deserve this
Why won't they just leave my body
Are they people or are they spirits
Do they belong to the human race
Why do they want me so bad
Why won't they come out of their hiding place
i can't see them, but I know they're here
i can feel it in my veins
All this pressure on my body
Is causing all my strength to drain
Am I crazy, or am I insane
Or have I already lost my mind
Is it real, or is it fake
Or am I in a permanent bind
Am I in power or am I a slave
Who in hell is in control
Am I still living, or am I dead
Do I still have a soul
I know I can't keep going this way
I have to give my mind some leisure
If I keep on going like this
I never again will taste pleasure
If they will not break the oath
I will have to disband
I have lost all control
this thing has now taken command
11 I Saw Your Mommy (04:51)
Yesterday, as I went out the house
I saw a body lying down quiet as a mouse
Lying face down in the sewer
I got up close and realized that I knew her
All her organs coming from her insides
Slashed up skin sliced up hide
Turned over and saw the tire tracks on her head
That's when I realized she was dead
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
Twisted body chopped off feet
Her body was minced meat
Bugs crawling on her arms
She's dead, can't do no harm
Gnarled up legs, broken and bent
Her last breath has been spent
I wonder, how much would I pay
To get your mom killed in such a bloody way
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
I watched her as she bled
Chewed off toes on her chopped off feet
I took a picture cuz I thought it looked neat
But the thing I liked seeing the best
Was the rodents using her hair as a nest
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
Twisted body chopped off feet
Her body was minced meat
Bugs crawling on her arms
She's dead, can't do no harm
Gnarled up legs, broken and bent
Her last breath has been spent
I know, that she won't really be missed
But make it look good at her funeral
and giver her a little kiss
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
I saw her lying in a pool of red
I think it's the greatest thing I'll ever see
Your dead mommy right in front of me
I'll always remember her lying dead on the floor
I hope she dies twenty times more
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
I saw your mommy and your mommy's dead
Twisted body chopped off feet
Her body was minced meat
Bugs crawling on her arms
She's dead, can't do no harm
Gnarled up legs, broken and bent
Her last breath has been spent
I wonder, how much would I pay
To get your mom killed in such a bloody way
12 Fascist Pig (01:12)
Tense atmosphere in the air
Riot written everywhere
Riot squads coming from over there
Time to go home if you're square
Riot squad, bash their heads
Kick their ass until they're dead
I want to be a fascist pig
Love to fight, what a thrill
We don't stop until we kill
I want to be a fascist pig
Throw a bottle in the air
Put them up to their dare
We'll just laugh while they stare
Let them hit us, see if we care!
Get attacked by them
You'll never heal
They'll rob your conscience
Your sanity they'll steal
They'll beat your brains until they spill
That's the fascist favorite meal!
13 A Little Each Day (03:52)
Took a walk down under the street
Never thought that I'd see the day I would meet
Came and whispered in my ear
But I tried to pretend that I didn't hear
Turned my head and walked away
And I tried to forget what they had to say
Put on a smile and I tried to hide
But I couldn't keep myself from crying inside
CHORUS
Oh, I...So I turned my head and I walked away
Oh, I...And I tried to forget what he had to say
Oh, I...And I chalked it up as another day
Oh, I say...I died a little today
Took a journey through my brain
And they saw the scars and they felt my pain
Saw the things I didn't want to find
Knew the dreams I had over a bottle of wine
Thought if I lied I was going to win
But they said the battle wouldn't even begin
Thought about the lies that I said to myself
But I knew it's too late to find the help
CHORUS
I die a little each day
15 Suicidal Failure (02:39)
Father forgive me for I know not what I do
I tried everything, but I'll leave it up to you
I don't want to live, I don't know why
I don't have no reasons, I just want to die
I'm a suicidal failure, I've got to get some help
I have suicidal tendencies, but I can't kill myself
I'm tired of this way of life, my patience has expired
I'm barely just 19, but my life I will retire
I went down to a rifle store, I bought myself a gun
I pointed it at my head, but I couldn't get the job done
I took all my mothers sleeping pills
I jumped off a freeway bridge
I drank three kinds of poison
And drove my car off a ridge
I beat myself with a bat
Put a noose around my head
I overdosed on heroin
But I'm still not dead
Death may not be the answer, it can't be all that great
But me I'm not into living, with life I can't relate
By some masochistic reasoning, I think that it will be fun
I want to start my second life now
So shoot me with your gun
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