For an all too brief time in the early 80's, I played drums in a hardcore punk band that rehearsed in the Bad Brains' loft on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. I knew of the band, but had not yet become a fan of what was their only release at the time, a legendary self-titled cassette that is now often referred to as the "best hardcore record of all time."
Because of that association, I purchased "I Against I," the Brains 1986 release the week it came out, and saw them perform for the first time at The Ritz. I have been a fan ever since.
I won't try to sell you on the band. I've tried in small doses in the past and it just doesn't take. I understand. The Bad Brains mix of hardcore punk, heavy metal and reggae is an even harder pill to swallow than any of those genres individually. But I would remiss if I didn't mention the reissue campaign that has been happening for a few years now.
Bad Brains records notoriously sell for good money, sometimes close to $200. But in December of 2020, the band acquired the rights to their material and announced new remasters that would be getting special releases starting in early 2021. "I Against I," my favorite Brains record, was conspicuously absent from the schedule. I could only surmise that it had something to do with SST Records, since it was the only Bad Brains album released on that label. Oh well, too bad for me.
Still, the reissues came and they were terrific. There were standard editions of their catalogue and special "Punk Note" editions, which had the album covers reimagined as classic Blue Note releases by artist and designer John Yates. The covers were all stunning.
Now, four years later, just when I thought the campaign was over, the band finally announced the release of their best selling album, my fave, "I Against I."
Check out the original album cover and the "Punk Note Edition" below.
I don't expect the tracks I've posted to change anyone's mind about the band or the genre. But I do believe "I Against I" is the most accessible record of the Bad Brains oeuvre, and if you find anything worthwhile about these tracks, the lovely new "Punk Note Edition" will be out on July 22nd.
8 comments:
Apparently Bad Brains singer H.R. is suffering from some health issues.
"Salad Days," a great documentary about DC punk history up through "Revolutionary Summer," is streaming free on Tubi and the Roku Channel. Includes clips and history of all the major bands (and quite a few minor ones), including Bad Brains.
Y'aint gotta sell me, dude. I sing to myself, frequently, and have for decades, "I against I against I against I against WHOOO!!!" and "Return, return to heaveeeeen" and (from Rock For Light) "We will not do what they want or do what they SAY!!!". Of all the 'sing-lyrics-to-myself' songs I have, BB has the most ("I had a job, and I had a giiiirl, I'd somethin' goin', Mr., in this wooooorld" and "What I did on my vacation, for the last ten years" are my top two sing-to-myself lyrics, however; thanks Bruce and X).
Years ago someone had synced up "Pay To Cum" with a dance scene from one of the Charlie Brown holiday specials from the 60s, and it was brilliant. It comes and goes on YT, but is there now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J72RJxn91zM
C in California
I dunno, i always kinda dug them.
Can’t wait! Sounds better ever to me now! Big Up and Thanks, Sal
When my ex and I were in the drug biz, we had an attorney to help us with legal and money matters. He was good. He was also very offbeat. Like a much more radical version of Barry Newman in "The Lawyer." He drove a pickup truck with a Bad Brains sticker on the window. Occasionally we saw each other socially. I asked him what Bad Brains were all about. He said it was hard to describe and that he'd take me to see them. We saw them at the Lingerie in 1983 headlining over a very early version of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and again at the Roxy a few years later, headlining over Faith No More. I liked the second time I saw them better than the first. They had just released "I Against I" and I felt that I "got them." They were a lot better musicians than most hardcore bands. And had better songs. They were black, but they sure weren't the Bus Boys. They even did a cover of "Day Tripper." I didn't see that coming.
VR
I love Bad Brains. Unfortunately, I only got the chance to see them once, and HR stood with his back to the crowd the entire show. It was still one of the best shows I've ever seen. They're such great musicians who get overshadowed by the term 'hardcore,' and HR is a one-of-a-kind vocalist. I lost touch with them after Quickness (which I loved)
e***
The Blue Note cover is great!
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