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Originally Posted by atsonicpark
PINK FLAG, my favorite "punk" album of all time. I've worn out 3 (!) burnt copies of this -- I bet I listened to it a million times my high school senior year. So, I finally bought it... god, it's so good. Been such a huge inspiration on me.... I can't even describe what makes it so good. If you've heard it, you know I guess. Or maybe not. The songs are deceptively "simple", there is actually a complexity to it that isn't apparent unless you really pay attention. The "rules" of "punk" -- power chords, short songs -- are a means to no end, in this case, in a way not many other bands have ever incorporated (Swell Maps, Minutemen, Hot Snakes, Rudimentary Peni, early The Fall, Crass, and maybe some early Wipers being some of the few other exceptions) -- also, the guitar tones are lethal, the production is dry and dark, almost like Spiderland in a way.
Just a perfect album -- ADDICTIVE. You just never know where this album is going, really; it starts out in such a confounding, non-obvious way; one chord for a while just drilling into your ears... when it gets to the disturbing "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPE" chant, you'll probably be confused.. and perhaps hooked. Strangely. Then it follows up with a punk song with about 5 changes and 15 stops in 27 seconds. Then, it kinda just goes back and forth between some of the strangest "punk" songs ever written, and some really dark anthems (the "dark anthems" being something they would explore, and take to their limit, on the next two albums -- but they would use synths, lots of effects, and studio trickery... in order to do so; here, they keep the experimentation to a minimum and just let the power of awesome songwriting lead the way)... until about track 15 when they start playing "pop" songs!
Truly a magnificant album. The title track... "Champions"... "1 2 X U"... "Reuters"... "Fragile".... jesus. Doesn't get much better than this.
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