Wow I really should've typed "review" after I typed "Plastic Surgery Disasters" into the RUclips search bar. Fuck, those were some disturbing results...
@@thirdpowerful1 well said, or he might just know something the masses arent privy to.... Take the titles of the songs on this album juxtapose to the headlines you see today in main stream media.... Riot Forest Fire Government Flu I am the owl....... Cause mass mischief and God spead!!!!!
Colin meat puppets II is one of the best albums of all time. Now when I get off work I’m gonna go spin that LP and it’s cause of your beautiful profile pic. Fuck yourself
***** Not anymore, man. They don't even have Jello in the band. The rest of the band members actually sued Jello because he didn't want their music in advertisements.
And here I thought was the only one who heard the strong surf rock element to the DK's sound. Then again I only have three friends so maybe not the biggest pool of people to represent the idea
Spot on review. I bought the LP when it released when I was 12 years old. I loved it. My parents were shocked and did not know what to think just from their name alone. I'm 47 now and this album is still not tired.
This was one of the first albums I ever bought for myself. I remember picking up a copy of 'Plastic Surgery Disasters + In God We Trust Inc.' at Tower Records in Fresno, CA when I was about 14 years old. Went home, popped it into my stereo, and had my fucking mind blown. As soon as 'Government Flu' started I was immediately aware that I had just discovered something really incredible. I would say that this particular album is absolutely, without a doubt, #1 on my list of Top 10 Albums that most influenced me, my outlook on life and the world, my darker sense of humor and my future musical tastes. It made a VERY big impression on 14 year old me. It's my favorite Dead Kennedys album as well. Rivaled only by 'Frankenchrist', which for whatever reason, I just wasn't quite able to *really* get into until my early 20's. But picking up this album was definitely one of the best purchases I've ever made in my life. I'd say my Top 10 albums that influenced me in my early years would roughly be: #1: Plastic Surgery Disasters/In God We Trust Inc. EP - Dead Kennedys #2: Leave Home/Road To Ruin - The Ramones #3: Feeding Of 5000- Crass #4: Death Church - Rudimentary Peni #5: Damaged - Black Flag #6: Locust Abortion Technician - Butthole Surfers #7: Human = Garbage - Dystopia #8: Witchcult Today - Electric Wizard #9: Day The Country Died - Subhumans #10: A Collection Of Pop Classics - Reagan Youth
Something about DK closers and how they always have a different vibe. Viva Las Vegas is such a misfitted track showing how really bad a place like Las Vegas really is. Rawhide is literally just a cover of the show with the name's theme song with that DK charm in its lyrics and sound Moon over Marin is such a care free song, despite clearly giving a vivid description of how gross and polluted the beaches in the bay area were it still gave hope that even after all, the moon would still shine over marin. Stars and Stripes of Corruption is such a great closer since it shows some of Jellos true opinions (for the time) on what have you instead of putting on a costume and giving you an act Lie Detector is such a miss and I'm confused why they had that as the closer and not Chickenshit Conformist, a song with legitimate meanng to the listener instead of the quick repetitive IGWTI song that'd plague Bedtime For Democracy. But its fine
Frankenchrist is def their best. Been listening since the 80's, and the only album I still listen to regularly is Frankenchrist. Darker sounding, and East Bay Ray's best work.
Nacht Schreck While I’d agree that _Frankenchrist_ was East Bay Ray’s shining moment, I personally feel that the album’s reverb-heavy production didn’t compliment Jello’s vocal style very well.
No mention of 'Well Paid Scientist'. My favourite lyrics - Pull up to your sterile home, you're drained Bite the heads off of your kids Chew them well, they taste like you, just slam the door
+Shane Rounds The Ramones and the Sex Pistols were both a bit "blurry" in that there was a lot of loudness to the group which muddles the instrumentation and the lyricism of both bands was pop-ish in their simplicity. Green Day is doesn't have the sort of energy and aggression necessary for the genre. That's fine to enjoy, but it's nowhere near as captivating or biting as Plastic Surgery Disasters or the mentioned Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. The Dead Kennedys are a very strange punk band in that they are just aggressive enough to be considered authentic hardcore punk but not enough so that they fall victim to the chaotic yet often tired qualities which plague the energy driven but technically simple genre as a whole.
So well done, Anthony. I'm 55 years old and grew up (from 18 on) with the DK's. Loved them then. Love them now. It's interesting to hear and see the co-relation of thoughts and inspirations of the songs and albums. Keep up the good work.
You know watergate hurt. But nothing ever really changed. A tiny bit quieter but we still play our little games. We still play our little games.....fav song from my fav punk band.
What are your thoughts on Jello's current project The Guantanamo School of Medicine, and also the current state of the band after everything that has gone on between Jello and the other three?
Theo Weath I dunno I thought Rancid was pretty good. But yeah, I can agree, the golden age of punk died in the 80s. I think punk is very subjective though
Easily my favorite punk album and possibly my favorite of any genre. Do you guys know of any punk bands with someone as smart and political as Jello Biafra?
Haven't found one with lyrics as dense as Jello's, but FEAR comes close with their aggressive satire, NoMeansNo chugs out prog-thrash punk even more finely tuned than the DKs, The Minutemen are as kooky with their lyrics and music but they aren't as aggressive. Check out FEAR's clips from Decline of Western Civilization. Let's Have a War is my favorite song. NoMeansNo is my favorite. The opening track on their album Wrong will amputate you then cauterize your limbs because it will fucking change your life. I don't know the Minutemen beyond their album Double Nickels On A Dime, but it's good shit.
ophidianima Actually fuck that. Check out Immortal Technique. I don't care if you don't like hip-hop. You'll probably like him more than any of my other suggestions. The only lyricists I value as much as Jello are Immortal Technique and Zach de la Rocha. There really isn't anyone else I know on their caliber.
No trend is more noisey and abrasive (at least the early stuff,) and its loud, hard and actually antipunk, but still great and has that underground 80s vibe. They talk about how humanity is flawed in almost every way, interesting stuff. Minutemens "The punch line" is my favorite of theirs, although only being a 15 minute with 18 songs. Reagan Youth is pure hardcore genius, aswell. While you're at it, definetly do check out Crass, Rudimentary peni, and the UK Subhumans.
I got the 2-in-1 CD combo of "In God We Trust, Inc." and "Plastic Surgery Disasters" and immensely enjoyed this album. The biting, relevant lyrics, Biafra's vocals, and Ray's guitar especially make this one of my favorite punk albums to regularly listen to.
When I first heard this band, my ears didn't know what hit them! It didn't even sound like music to me, then they became one of my fav bands. I think Give me convenience... is maybe a better album but still this is a good album and it holds up today.
Younger reviewers today tend to look at efforts by bands such as DK and DOA as hardcore. For those who lived through these times, efforts by those bands were seen as punk albums with an emerging hardcore edge. There are both qualitative and quantitative differences between the DK's and bands like SSD, B'last!, Slapshot, Agnostic Front, the Cro-Mags, etc...This would also be reflected in the fanbases seen at the shows. This is a great album but it is about as punk as it gets.
This is my favorite DK album. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is an amazing album, but there's no denying that Plastic Surgery Disasters was light years beyond their other works
This was a really well thought out and articulate review of one of the best albums from that era and what makes it so. Hats off to you and here u go.. take my subscription
What other punk guitarist was using an Echoplex in 1982? East Bay Ray has the most sinister tone ever -- great blend of surf, psych, and hardcore punk.
One of my favorite albums of all-time, definitely my favorite punk album. The lyricism is god damn flawless, and the instrumentation is complex but simple to understand. Totally at their peak here.
It's crazy as I've gotten older alot of my Punk Taste or musical taste in general has changed and growing up I didn't appreciate the Dead Kennedys as much as I should have but now I would honestly place them in my Top 5 🐆
Hey Anthony, so I've watched a lot of your reviews and so far I've agreed with the majority of them. So when you said this album was good, I gave it a listen. I was already into that genre (black flag, bad brains, etc) but never dead kennedys. After listening to it a month or so ago, I'm still in love with this album and I listen to it everyday like it's a ritual lol. So I wanted to know, could you recommend me some other punk albums of that type? I just got into punk a year ago and I'd really appreciate it. Thank you
I like Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables way more than Plastic Surgery Disasters. I understand that they progressed musically in many ways on this album, that's fine, but I think the songs are simply better on their first album.
My top 5 favorite punk LP's: 1.Crass: Stations of the Crass 2.Conflict: The Ungovernable Force 3.Fugazi: Repeater 4.Minor Threat: Complete Discography 5.Discharge:Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing
I do still prefer their first album for the lyrics but you’re right, the sound quality and musicianship on the second album was a step up. And it rocks.
YES! I was hoping you would review this someday! This is easily one of my favorite Punk albums in general! When I started collecting a records a couple years ago this was among the first records I decided I needed to pick up.
I love the Dead Kennedys, my favourite album is Bedtime for Democracy. I know I'm alone with that opinion. Many of my favourite records come from this era, everything by Minor Threat and Black Flag, the first Adolescents and Scream record, "Is this my world?" by Jerry's Kids, "Identity" by Marginal Man, "Brotherhood" by DYS, "In Control" from Stalag 13 and so on... I really prefer this era of punk music.
INice job on this Review! t is arguably their Best, Iincontestably their Best imho, but some people underscore the technicality they displayed on Frankenchrist, which is great too. There is no flaws to this album, I just love it on every possible level. A great lyricist and frontman and the most original and brilliant musicians. Riot is possibly the most shuddering track, they mastered the blend between hilarity and the drama, but not only in the lyrics, their music also couples with the lyrics to make a point. East Bay Ray's guitar is one of the most original things in music. "Tomorrow You are homeless, tonight is a blast!" They found a clever and witty way to convey dramatic ideas, w/o being flat and obvious, that is Jello's and his only. Admirable band on every level. Best guitar in Punk? Best bass? Best drums? IDK but a top five w/o them is a major offence.
I've been a fan of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables for years, but for some reason I never took the next step and explored the rest of the Dead Kennedys' catalog. This review gave me that extra nudge I needed and all I can say is a really big THANK YOU! Plastic Surgery Disasters is AMAZING! Excellent choice and great review!
great DK review I have tried to ask myself which one was their best album, FFFRV or PSD, but I can´t decide, I am glad you did it for me. they also do modulation on some songs a half step up which is not what you would expect from a punk band? But they really do it in a cool way to push energy to the max. To me one of the greatest bands ever, no label here just "Band" just "Music" just great "Art"
Fantano hits the nail on the head one more time. Only objection I have (having lived through those times) is that bands like DK and D.O.A. are really "punk" bands with a "hardcore" edge. There's a big difference between the sounds and leftist political stances of these early bands and those that came to define the genre - such as SSD, Agonistic Front, Cro-Mags, Negative Approach, and of course their Youth Crew and straight edge heirs.
I remember driving to high school in the morning, with the 'Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death' tape playing in my car....this was in 2007-08 in a 2002 Neon. Still, I loved that tape and I miss it now. T .T
I agree, best DK album. I'm a huge punk fan, I first got into punk when I heard some of the 90's cal punk stuff but then fairly early got introduced to bands like The Clash, The Misfits, The Sex Pistols and started discovering what punk can really be.........then I heard The Dead Kennedys........whoah. A friend of mine loaned me a cassette of Fresh Fruit and I actually thought it must have been left in the sun or something when I heard Jello sing:) That was in like '95.......I still say they're my all time favourite band.......I still say Plastic Surgery Disasters/In God We Trust Inc. (I had the album version that included IGWTI ep) is their best release.
Plastic Surgery Disasters is good. VERY good actually! I think I still prefer Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. Edit: Buzzbomb fucking RULES!!! Probably my favorite song by them now. Edit 2: never mind everything I said, this album fucking RULES!!!
Great review! I think this is the strongest Dead Kennedys record, in the sense of a full length LP. There are DKs songs that I like more that are on the other albums, but as a whole continuous piece, this one is the strongest or any of their releases. This record, along with London Calling, Double Nickels on the Dime, and the Germs LP are probably the best classic punk records in terms of being complete units.
the best album from one of the best bands ever imo. front to back everything is just perfect, jello is one of the best vocalists ever and this is his best showing imo. delivering these cutting, thoughtful lyrics with an almost sarcastic tone in every track
Yeah,I completely agree about Plastic Surgery Disasters. But you forgot to mention the artwork and the well crafted bocklet with the lyrics and those wonderfully detailed and disturbing collages to every song wich makes this album a complete package.It's still a hallucinating thing to turn the pages while listening to the music.Like watching an old B-movie turned weird.
Wow I really should've typed "review" after I typed "Plastic Surgery Disasters" into the RUclips search bar. Fuck, those were some disturbing results...
+ShellacSoup Like when someone tricked me into thinking 'Attack' was a Grizzly Bear song
ShellacSoup, it's like searching up Discharge and forgetting to put the word "band" at the end
reminds me of when i googled BBC and forgot to make clear that i want to see black dicks
ShellacSoup Lord Quas
The lyrical content in this record is perhaps more relevant today then when this record was released.
Pogo1977. Jello is a prophet.
@@thirdpowerful1 well said, or he might just know something the masses arent privy to.... Take the titles of the songs on this album juxtapose to the headlines you see today in main stream media....
Riot
Forest Fire
Government Flu
I am the owl.......
Cause mass mischief and God spead!!!!!
Absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, but almost as relevant as when the record was released
It’s the most relevant right now
You should do more punk reviews because this was a great review
Colin meat puppets II is one of the best albums of all time. Now when I get off work I’m gonna go spin that LP and it’s cause of your beautiful profile pic. Fuck yourself
I'd like to see him review Meat Puppets self titled, wonder what he thinks of it
Maybe review some early UK anarcho punk like Crass, Rudimentary Peni or Amebix?
DK was the smartest punk band ever.
they still are, man
***** Not anymore, man. They don't even have Jello in the band. The rest of the band members actually sued Jello because he didn't want their music in advertisements.
+Diatonic5th Bad Religion. Don't forget about them.
Sorry but Fugazi exists
And Minor Threat, of course.
Terminal Preppie is one of my favorite punk songs EVER! Love this album.
"Win, win, I always play to win." Best line ever.
@@Lethargycahiss‼️‼️ wormrot‼️‼️
NO I’M NOT HERE TO LEARN *
I JUST WANT TO GET DRUNK *
AND MAJOR IN BUSINESS *
AND BE TAUGHT HOW TO FUCK! WOO
(* = do doot de doo doot)
Is this seriously the only review of this album on RUclips?
R3D melon is ahead of the game
No. The world is clearly about 3 decades behind. This record is amazing song-for-song.
I guess most people just know it’s a good album.
the only one i need cuz i love melon
Do a review of Bad Brains - Bad Brains or I Against I
+Noah Theologou He's mentioned before that he thinks Bad Brains first album is one of the greatest punk albums of all time
He needs more fugazi reviews
Pentex Sucks /Mini Monster/ word! So underrated
@Pentex Sucks he propably died like 2 years ago :)
@@Hardbody94 he doesnt do more than one classic review on an artist so unless they released something today then it probably wont happen sadly
Cool to see Joy Division, Pink Flag and Raw Power in the background! :)
And here I thought was the only one who heard the strong surf rock element to the DK's sound.
Then again I only have three friends so maybe not the biggest pool of people to represent the idea
Eric Bishton more on this than fresh fruit I see it
ME TOO!!
He should review their other albums.
superturkeylegs seriously I want to hear frankenchrist review
Dat boi Cam yesssss, IMO their best album
Spot on review. I bought the LP when it released when I was 12 years old. I loved it. My parents were shocked and did not know what to think just from their name alone. I'm 47 now and this album is still not tired.
You NEED to review "Milo Goes to College"
Fantanthony Antano please
+Awesome_Possum 2589 descendents suck
Joe Smith You suck
Descendents were just another band that turned out to be average.
maltman36 your opinion
"Still somewhat relevant today?" Hell, their music got MORE relevant.
Plastic Surgery Disasters
Milo Goes to College
Bad Brains self titled album
Greatest punk albums of all time
I'd also add the self titled Minor Threat album to that list.
Andrew Koloshinsky Operation Ivy - Energy
You've Gotta Get Out of It by The Ruts
Chardee MacDennis zen arcade
Dude Bad Religions first two albums! 😫
This is absolutely my favorite punk album ever, from my favorite punk band ever. They were the best. No one can touch them in this period.
This was one of the first albums I ever bought for myself. I remember picking up a copy of 'Plastic Surgery Disasters + In God We Trust Inc.' at Tower Records in Fresno, CA when I was about 14 years old. Went home, popped it into my stereo, and had my fucking mind blown.
As soon as 'Government Flu' started I was immediately aware that I had just discovered something really incredible. I would say that this particular album is absolutely, without a doubt, #1 on my list of Top 10 Albums that most influenced me, my outlook on life and the world, my darker sense of humor and my future musical tastes. It made a VERY big impression on 14 year old me.
It's my favorite Dead Kennedys album as well. Rivaled only by 'Frankenchrist', which for whatever reason, I just wasn't quite able to *really* get into until my early 20's.
But picking up this album was definitely one of the best purchases I've ever made in my life.
I'd say my Top 10 albums that influenced me in my early years would roughly be:
#1: Plastic Surgery Disasters/In God We Trust Inc. EP - Dead Kennedys
#2: Leave Home/Road To Ruin - The Ramones
#3: Feeding Of 5000- Crass
#4: Death Church - Rudimentary Peni
#5: Damaged - Black Flag
#6: Locust Abortion Technician - Butthole Surfers
#7: Human = Garbage - Dystopia
#8: Witchcult Today - Electric Wizard
#9: Day The Country Died - Subhumans
#10: A Collection Of Pop Classics - Reagan Youth
found my first Cramps CD at that same Tower Records
PSD is my favorite DK album too! Besides it being my favorite track on the record, "Moon Over Marin" is such a great closer to the album.
Something about DK closers and how they always have a different vibe.
Viva Las Vegas is such a misfitted track showing how really bad a place like Las Vegas really is.
Rawhide is literally just a cover of the show with the name's theme song with that DK charm in its lyrics and sound
Moon over Marin is such a care free song, despite clearly giving a vivid description of how gross and polluted the beaches in the bay area were it still gave hope that even after all, the moon would still shine over marin.
Stars and Stripes of Corruption is such a great closer since it shows some of Jellos true opinions (for the time) on what have you instead of putting on a costume and giving you an act
Lie Detector is such a miss and I'm confused why they had that as the closer and not Chickenshit Conformist, a song with legitimate meanng to the listener instead of the quick repetitive IGWTI song that'd plague Bedtime For Democracy. But its fine
Moon Over Marin will remain one of my favorite songs of all time for all time.
Frankenchrist is actually my favorite.
Lobster Punk Music & Art that's amazing too but God everything by DK was awesome
_Frankenchrist_ and _Bedtime for Democracy_ were happily the albums that kept Tipper Gore up at night during the 1980's >:3
Cease
Frankenchrist is def their best. Been listening since the 80's, and the only album I still listen to regularly is Frankenchrist. Darker sounding, and East Bay Ray's best work.
Nacht Schreck While I’d agree that _Frankenchrist_ was East Bay Ray’s shining moment, I personally feel that the album’s reverb-heavy production didn’t compliment Jello’s vocal style very well.
No mention of 'Well Paid Scientist'. My favourite lyrics -
Pull up to your sterile home, you're drained
Bite the heads off of your kids
Chew them well, they taste like you, just slam the door
that was the first song he mentioned
Fresh fruit for rotting vegetables is a masterpiece
Please review more of DK's work. I was so glad to see you reviewed one of their albums!
Welcome, Swifties! If the TTPD review brought you here, you're cracking the code! 🎉
honestly i truly love plastic surgery disasters but my favorite album by the Dead Kennedys would be frankenchrist
how bout them hogs?
Soup is Good Food.
Completely underrated.
100%
MTV get off the air is one of the greatest punk tracks ever recorded
This was the first punk album I bought and heard as a little guy. And it opened my eyes. "Because there'll always be a moon over Marin..."
Anyone here from the Taylor review trying to figure it out
Whar?
Milo Goes to College by Descendants
Best punk album EVER... period
What about "Nevermind the bollocks here's the Sex Pistols", "American Idiot", and "Ramones"
+Shane Rounds The Ramones and the Sex Pistols were both a bit "blurry" in that there was a lot of loudness to the group which muddles the instrumentation and the lyricism of both bands was pop-ish in their simplicity. Green Day is doesn't have the sort of energy and aggression necessary for the genre. That's fine to enjoy, but it's nowhere near as captivating or biting as Plastic Surgery Disasters or the mentioned Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables. The Dead Kennedys are a very strange punk band in that they are just aggressive enough to be considered authentic hardcore punk but not enough so that they fall victim to the chaotic yet often tired qualities which plague the energy driven but technically simple genre as a whole.
+Rane Shounds Green Day...punk?...Troll?
+Logan Wendt I like the Clash but this DK album is my cup a tea.
David Ugarte well pop punk I wouldn't exactly call them a hardcore punk, but they deserve recognition for pushing punk into the mainstream
What do you think of Black Flag's " Damaged" album?
FUCKING AWESOME
he's said that he prefers My War but really likes Damaged
I actually do like My war much more than Damaged haha willr455
+Joe Eduardo Reyes_AFC How?? Damaged sounds so much nastier!
Paul L
I love Damaged because of that raw sound, but My War is much better.
Forest fire is one of my most favorite DK songs. The bass opening always caught my ear.
So well done, Anthony. I'm 55 years old and grew up (from 18 on) with the DK's. Loved them then. Love them now.
It's interesting to hear and see the co-relation of thoughts and inspirations of the songs and albums. Keep up the good work.
You know watergate hurt. But nothing ever really changed. A tiny bit quieter but we
still play our little games. We still play our little games.....fav song from my fav punk band.
What are your thoughts on Jello's current project The Guantanamo School of Medicine, and also the current state of the band after everything that has gone on between Jello and the other three?
+J-Roms really wish he would do that
I would love to see a review of the White People and the Damage Done album
Wow that name is amazing 😂
On my Facebook feed right now
"Green day probably has written the most punk song ever"
Jim Green day is shit
They had a good period, from Kerplunk 'till Nimrod.
ur dum
Schlomo Shekel ok
Theo Weath I dunno I thought Rancid was pretty good. But yeah, I can agree, the golden age of punk died in the 80s. I think punk is very subjective though
Easily my favorite punk album and possibly my favorite of any genre. Do you guys know of any punk bands with someone as smart and political as Jello Biafra?
Haven't found one with lyrics as dense as Jello's, but FEAR comes close with their aggressive satire, NoMeansNo chugs out prog-thrash punk even more finely tuned than the DKs, The Minutemen are as kooky with their lyrics and music but they aren't as aggressive.
Check out FEAR's clips from Decline of Western Civilization. Let's Have a War is my favorite song.
NoMeansNo is my favorite. The opening track on their album Wrong will amputate you then cauterize your limbs because it will fucking change your life.
I don't know the Minutemen beyond their album Double Nickels On A Dime, but it's good shit.
ophidianima
Actually fuck that. Check out Immortal Technique. I don't care if you don't like hip-hop. You'll probably like him more than any of my other suggestions.
The only lyricists I value as much as Jello are Immortal Technique and Zach de la Rocha. There really isn't anyone else I know on their caliber.
wow this is really helpful. thanks loads! I do like hip-hop and I love Rage Against the Machine. I'll still check out the rest of these.
Awesome. Sorry if I came off as condescending. It's cool that you're open to new music. :)
No trend is more noisey and abrasive (at least the early stuff,) and its loud, hard and actually antipunk, but still great and has that underground 80s vibe. They talk about how humanity is flawed in almost every way, interesting stuff. Minutemens "The punch line" is my favorite of theirs, although only being a 15 minute with 18 songs. Reagan Youth is pure hardcore genius, aswell. While you're at it, definetly do check out Crass, Rudimentary peni, and the UK Subhumans.
Fav track - 'Bleed for Me'. And yeah DKs are my #1 band and this is their best album in my opinion.
I got the 2-in-1 CD combo of "In God We Trust, Inc." and "Plastic Surgery Disasters" and immensely enjoyed this album. The biting, relevant lyrics, Biafra's vocals, and Ray's guitar especially make this one of my favorite punk albums to regularly listen to.
When I first heard this band, my ears didn't know what hit them! It didn't even sound like music to me, then they became one of my fav bands. I think Give me convenience... is maybe a better album but still this is a good album and it holds up today.
The first punk album I bought! As a band geek, I was pleasantly surprised to hear a clarinet on Terminal Preppie.
Trust your mechanic is one of my favorite punk songs of all time
And one of my fav songs of all time in generall
Absolutely fucking love this album
Agree. My favorite of their albums.
you should review sonic youth or dinosaur jr or morrissey :-)
Annika Boswell Daydream Nation
Annika Boswell yes sonic youth please (if there are any now please redirect me)
What is "pick etiquette"? Been playing bass since 99 and never heard that before
I saw them live in Frisco in 1984
Younger reviewers today tend to look at efforts by bands such as DK and DOA as hardcore. For those who lived through these times, efforts by those bands were seen as punk albums with an emerging hardcore edge. There are both qualitative and quantitative differences between the DK's and bands like SSD, B'last!, Slapshot, Agnostic Front, the Cro-Mags, etc...This would also be reflected in the fanbases seen at the shows. This is a great album but it is about as punk as it gets.
This is my favorite DK album. Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is an amazing album, but there's no denying that Plastic Surgery Disasters was light years beyond their other works
"Moon over marin" is one of my favorite DK songs. A great album for sure.
This has been my favorite album since I was a kid, glad it's getting some attention.
Interesting analysis. The album is really amazing. East Bay Ray was actually fascinated by the music of spaghetti westerns during his childhood.
This was a really well thought out and articulate review of one of the best albums from that era and what makes it so. Hats off to you and here u go.. take my subscription
What other punk guitarist was using an Echoplex in 1982? East Bay Ray has the most sinister tone ever -- great blend of surf, psych, and hardcore punk.
One of my favorite albums of all-time, definitely my favorite punk album. The lyricism is god damn flawless, and the instrumentation is complex but simple to understand. Totally at their peak here.
Holiday in Cambodia may have hooked me, but it was this album that kept me loving this band.
I was 12 when I first heard this album and it's been an all time favourite ever since. Good on you Anthony Fantano.
This is my favorite album of all time. You should review Flipper's GENERIC ALBUM.
It's crazy as I've gotten older alot of my Punk Taste or musical taste in general has changed and growing up I didn't appreciate the Dead Kennedys as much as I should have but now I would honestly place them in my Top 5 🐆
Thanks for choosing the albums you chose for classics week. These videos have been great so far.
Can't go wrong with this album. One of my favorites along with Black Flags Damaged.
I saw dk at the time of this album and it is still the tightest most awesome band I have ever seen.
This review was released on New Years Day.
TAYLORS ALBUM IS A ONE.
I just listened to some Dead Kennedy’s, I think I just found the guitar tone I hear in my dreams.
East Bay Ray was a genius
Hey Anthony, so I've watched a lot of your reviews and so far I've agreed with the majority of them. So when you said this album was good, I gave it a listen. I was already into that genre (black flag, bad brains, etc) but never dead kennedys. After listening to it a month or so ago, I'm still in love with this album and I listen to it everyday like it's a ritual lol. So I wanted to know, could you recommend me some other punk albums of that type? I just got into punk a year ago and I'd really appreciate it. Thank you
I am the owl is my favourite track. The bassline is so simple, yet so pulsating
this for me is one of the greatest albums of all time, nothing can compare to the lyrics all through this album.
I like Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables way more than Plastic Surgery Disasters. I understand that they progressed musically in many ways on this album, that's fine, but I think the songs are simply better on their first album.
My top 5 favorite punk LP's:
1.Crass: Stations of the Crass
2.Conflict: The Ungovernable Force
3.Fugazi: Repeater
4.Minor Threat: Complete Discography
5.Discharge:Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing
An album that has grown on me over the 30+ years I have been listening to it
I do still prefer their first album for the lyrics but you’re right, the sound quality and musicianship on the second album was a step up. And it rocks.
YES! I was hoping you would review this someday! This is easily one of my favorite Punk albums in general! When I started collecting a records a couple years ago this was among the first records I decided I needed to pick up.
You are right, this is by far the BEST DK album by far. It is the culmination of DK's work when they matured and honed their talent to perfection.
I love the Dead Kennedys, my favourite album is Bedtime for Democracy. I know I'm alone with that opinion. Many of my favourite records come from this era, everything by Minor Threat and Black Flag, the first Adolescents and Scream record, "Is this my world?" by Jerry's Kids, "Identity" by Marginal Man, "Brotherhood" by DYS, "In Control" from Stalag 13 and so on... I really prefer this era of punk music.
Well "Cesspools in Eden" is as good as the best songs of any DK album.
first dead Kennedys album I ever bought way back in sophomore year
Love the fact that you have the raw power album back there on your shelf, nice tutch to this review.
INice job on this Review!
t is arguably their Best, Iincontestably their Best imho, but some people underscore the technicality they displayed on Frankenchrist, which is great too. There is no flaws to this album, I just love it on every possible level. A great lyricist and frontman and the most original and brilliant musicians. Riot is possibly the most shuddering track, they mastered the blend between hilarity and the drama, but not only in the lyrics, their music also couples with the lyrics to make a point. East Bay Ray's guitar is one of the most original things in music. "Tomorrow You are homeless, tonight is a blast!"
They found a clever and witty way to convey dramatic ideas, w/o being flat and obvious, that is Jello's and his only. Admirable band on every level. Best guitar in Punk? Best bass? Best drums? IDK but a top five w/o them is a major offence.
Your reviews are great, I love listening to your reviews especially on punk albums. You should review One Wing by The Chariot
I've been a fan of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables for years, but for some reason I never took the next step and explored the rest of the Dead Kennedys' catalog. This review gave me that extra nudge I needed and all I can say is a really big THANK YOU! Plastic Surgery Disasters is AMAZING! Excellent choice and great review!
Are the CD's in the back a preview of what's to come because if so then I can't wait for the Wire - Pink Flag review
great DK review I have tried to ask myself which one was their best album, FFFRV or PSD, but I can´t decide, I am glad you did it for me. they also do modulation on some songs a half step up which is not what you would expect from a punk band? But they really do it in a cool way to push energy to the max. To me one of the greatest bands ever, no label here just "Band" just "Music" just great "Art"
Fantano hits the nail on the head one more time. Only objection I have (having lived through those times) is that bands like DK and D.O.A. are really "punk" bands with a "hardcore" edge. There's a big difference between the sounds and leftist political stances of these early bands and those that came to define the genre - such as SSD, Agonistic Front, Cro-Mags, Negative Approach, and of course their Youth Crew and straight edge heirs.
Good call. I think some of the acts you mention are the ones Jello is railing against in "Chickenshit Conformist".
W best punk band (IN MY OPINION)
I remember driving to high school in the morning, with the 'Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death' tape playing in my car....this was in 2007-08 in a 2002 Neon. Still, I loved that tape and I miss it now. T .T
X - Los Angeles. That would be a cool one to review.
Dead Kennedys is a super underrated band.
Juggling Juggler No, The Dead Kennedy’s are fucking legends within punk.
This album Is on my 10 albums to have on a deserted island list.
When it came out on vinyl I wore it out and had to replace it in about a month
DK should have a Superbowl halftime show
pull my strings, but massive
Love this band and their entire body of work with Jello.
Refused - The shape of punk to come
Frankenchrist is awesome too
I'd love to hear you review Refused's The Shape of Punk to Come.
best punk album ever made i think, really creative just like the rest of their stuff!!
Moon over marin juist sounds beautiful
I agree, best DK album. I'm a huge punk fan, I first got into punk when I heard some of the 90's cal punk stuff but then fairly early got introduced to bands like The Clash, The Misfits, The Sex Pistols and started discovering what punk can really be.........then I heard The Dead Kennedys........whoah. A friend of mine loaned me a cassette of Fresh Fruit and I actually thought it must have been left in the sun or something when I heard Jello sing:) That was in like '95.......I still say they're my all time favourite band.......I still say Plastic Surgery Disasters/In God We Trust Inc. (I had the album version that included IGWTI ep) is their best release.
Plastic Surgery Disasters is good. VERY good actually! I think I still prefer Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables.
Edit: Buzzbomb fucking RULES!!! Probably my favorite song by them now.
Edit 2: never mind everything I said, this album fucking RULES!!!
Great review! I think this is the strongest Dead Kennedys record, in the sense of a full length LP. There are DKs songs that I like more that are on the other albums, but as a whole continuous piece, this one is the strongest or any of their releases. This record, along with London Calling, Double Nickels on the Dime, and the Germs LP are probably the best classic punk records in terms of being complete units.
the best album from one of the best bands ever imo. front to back everything is just perfect, jello is one of the best vocalists ever and this is his best showing imo. delivering these cutting, thoughtful lyrics with an almost sarcastic tone in every track
Keep clicking 4:04 LOL
I was not disappointed.
Impeccable DI that made my day
Yeah,I completely agree about Plastic Surgery Disasters. But you forgot to mention the artwork and the well crafted bocklet with the lyrics and those wonderfully detailed and disturbing collages to every song wich makes this album a complete package.It's still a hallucinating thing to turn the pages while listening to the music.Like watching an old B-movie turned weird.
one of the greateshshsyt albums out there
I also love how I can almost listen to half this album during the review.