#475 Minor Threat - Out of Step

I'm thinking about getting rid of this "how I got here" entry. Its all lists lists lists these days, getting desperate for the newnewnewnew.

I've listened to a fair amount of punk lately, and found most of it more melodic than you might expect. After all, as I've argued, at the end of the day, the music is supposed to be enjoyable on one level or another.

This is pretty pure hardcore though, with relentless shouting, short songs, sheetmetal Gang of Four guitars and speed-metal-fast double-bass drumming. In fact, stripped down, skinny, speed metal is a pretty good reference point for what you're getting here, all blistering menace. Everything here is percussive, everything hits for points, nothing is trying to be much fun.

Except that last track. Man I love the last track turnaround. Often its a place to bury an unlistenable, experimental track where it can readily be ignored by the masses, but can buy authenticity with the snobs. The opposite happens here, as Cashing In delivers an oft-since-done sarcastic sellout song that is actually pretty tuneful, and ends with actual strings! Only slightly cacauphonous strings! Its a great little moment that turns the whole album. First of all: they're certainly earned the right to make that song after the 8 blunt instruments that preceded it. Second, it says: sure, we could be pop if we wanted. We're obviously capable of making a catchy, New York Dollsesque jam, but we decided to beat you up 8 times instead. There's some connection to the aforementioned Kid606 album that I'm just not quite willing to make right this moment.

Not exactly my scene when it comes to punk, but I can't help but admire it. Sharp dudes playing fast 3.5/5

You might like this if: you like fast, shouty punk that doesn't pull its punches. Well, except that last one.