What can I say? What could I say? Everybody’s familiar with this – everybody must be. One of the best records ever released. Larger than life. From one of the most outstanding bands ever. Bigger than death. I’m pretty sure there are still people out there who haven’t heard this band yet – check these tracks out and then buy all official MINUTEMEN releases.
What always puzzles me when I hear this (or “The Punch Line”, the first and best 12″ by the MINUTEMEN): It’s Hardcore. Plain and simple. However funky they might sound – it’s Hardcore. A perfect record. Music can’t be more exciting than this. When I was in the states in 1986, a lot of those people I met were still in shock of the tragic death of D. Boon and kept telling me stories about him. I will never forget that.
I didn’t realize until now that I ripped this EP, how much background noise (humming) it has. What a shame they didn’t have better studio equipment (or then the mastering job sucked).
Validation.mp3
The Maze.mp3
Definitions.mp3
Sickles and Hammers.mp3
Fascist.mp3
Joe McCarthy’s Ghost.mp3
Paranoid Chant.mp3
24 Comments
Untouchable. This one and the Punchline 12″. There’s some great videos floating around. Of course people didn’t knew how to react when they played. At least that’s what is seems like when watching some early shows.
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Imagine we could have seen them live in the early 80s ….. Wow!!! “Somebody” should post that Punch Line 12″ soon …..
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Such a great band. So many masterpieces. Punk funk jazz — even the filler is killer.
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I think “Search” from the Punchline 12″ is the band’s best effort. Very original band and very cool.
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yes, yes, yes & YES! A benchmark record in my book…this little marvel is probably one of my all time favourite singles – it is pretty much perfect – urgent, creative, short & sweet. How did they fit so much heart & energy into 7 songs & in about 8 minutes too? They sure were on the econo – theme from the outset. Last song ‘paranoid time’ is just incredible. Also agree ‘punchline’ to be similary great…first side of ‘politics of time’ also has some pretty essential songs – esp. ‘shit you hear at parties’ (shame the b side is pretty filler-esque).
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when justin posted his share of this band i searched up and dow on his and your blog for this and nothing until today. thank you so much man!
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could I be so humble to request the ‘bean spill’ ep? the one thing I aint got & never heard…cheers
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I saw Mike Watt play a free show when he did Firehose (?) at my local college. He was an absolute smartass to the soundman and kept bitching about “feedback” that was inaudible to everybody else. Wow man, those Seinfeld bass slaps had too much twang. Fuck you Watt. May have once been a hXc hero, but on that day he was a rock cock. Has he changed?
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One of a kind……..
Superb…
Thanks once again for the perfect rip Erich..
Punk like Funk….. D. Boon was a great man
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GREAT BAND!!! Everytime that i listen to this band i think of Texas REALLY RED. Maybe is the almost dance beat and the clean guitar sound. FANTASTIQUE!!!!!
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I’m one of those who haven’t actually heard Minutemen until now. The name is familiar of course and it’s possible I heard a song or two on a comp but they didn’t impress me. Now this is different. Can’t stop playing this EP on my iPod!! Funky, jazzy but still Hardcore. It’s a miracle!!!!!
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I saw them around this time as opening first act on a bill that included Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Fear, T.S.O.L. etc etc. At the time I remember laughing at the super short songs and the fat guy yelling about World War III!
The other great early tune released about the same time is “9:30 May 2″ which is on the comp “Cracks in the Sidewalk”.
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i reviewed this on my site hardcorepunkreviews.blogspot.com
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“i felt like a gringo” is one of my all time favourites of all genres, because of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ8guPePzEw
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Erich, I found your blog a few months back and have followed since. I got even more excited when I read that you used to do Off The Disk! I would thinking of doing a story/history piece on the label for a zine I put out called, Seven Inches To Freedom, and would love to ask you some questions. If you are interested please get in touch. Also, sorry to contact you like this, I wasn’t sure how else to get a hold of you. Hope to hear from you…if not, keep up the good work! – Joe (hiszeroisgone@yahoo.com)
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My first introduction to them was opening for Black Flag at Stardust Ballroom in Hollywood. This record made my mom very angry…hahaha. masterpiece.
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Masterpiece indeed! So much creativety in such short songs. This and the Punch Line are totally killers, but the stuff after that doesn’t do as much for me. I saw Watt playing with J Mascis some years ago and it was great.
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@ Sean: Some people have all the right to be “smartasses”. Mike Watt belongs to them, I think. I have nothing but respect for him & MINUTEMEN and ever since I saw “We jam econo”, I can’t help but thinking that he’s a man I’d love to get to know in person.
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Opened for Watt some years ago (post-near death experiance, he was doing Stooges covers with J. Mascis) and dude was super nice and approachable, not at all rock star douchbag “smartass” but you know, everyone’s allowed to have a bad day. Geeked with our bassist about BOC and apologized profusely for getting our name wrong. I know jocking them is pretty old hat for any indie musician but the guy really is top notch as far as humans go. Not a bad assist either.
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Bassist that is.
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Hey Peter aka Bolibomba, I saw the Minutemen play with Black Flag in ’82 so where were you????
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Hey “eddie” aka analowl, I saw Spy and Blitzen in 1980 so where were you????
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“When I was in the states in 1986, a lot of those people I met were still in shock of the tragic death of D. Boon and kept telling me stories about him. I will never forget that.”
thanks for this. it really touched me.
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the .jpg image of the front cover is no longer available through this site, could you please re-upload the image? please and thank you!
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Admin Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 19:24
It’s right there, where it should be.
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[...] and that pretty much sums up everything. It’s joyful, a bit lighter and more accessible than “Paranoid Time”,the band’s first EP. More MINUTEMEN here and [...]
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