Bad Brains [Original recording reissued]

What this results in is a collection of 16 tracks which alternate between blistering, highspeed punk and laid-back shimmering dub, incorporating such bona-fide classics as 'Sailin' On', 'Pay To Cum', 'I Luv I Jah', 'Banned In D.C.', etc etc. Bad Brains proved to be highly influential upon a diverse collection of artists over the two decades following their debut's release, but its primary influence can be felt in the modern alt. rock/metal scene, with artists such as the Deftones, Will Haven, Fugazi, RHCP and Rage Against The Machine amongst many others claiming their indebtedness to them. Essential.

I saw BAD BRAINS at the Ukranian Cultural Art Center in L.A. in 1981. To my complete surprise and delight, they simply performed this record, live, song for song. One could not ask for more. These guys know how to make both a great studio album (I understand about 3 of the songs on this original cassette release on ROIR are live) and do amazing live shows. Punk, generally, always had an affinity with reggae and nobody brings those worlds together as well as BAD BRAINS do.

The unbelievable guitar work, HR's vocals which, along with Iggy's I consider to be the best in punk and the foursome together so musically in synch, deliver an album that has never been topped in punk rock. They're so tight. They know just where they're going. The fast songs are fast. They sounded darned fast in the early 80's and they still sound fast, though maybe a tick less so given all the other fast bands that have come along since (ever heard the NEIGHBORS? They did a single European tour just before they broke up about 2003. Live they'd do like a 24 minute set of 22 songs with all 5 members simply playing as fast as humanly possible. It just sounded great. I thought for sure the singer was going to have an anurism when I saw them in 2002).

Don't like punk? Then don't get this record? Love reggae that's not chronically slow paced? This is the album for you but I don't know what it's like for a reggae fan to hear this album. I once made a tape of just BAD BRAINS reggae songs from all their records. Quite refreshing.

Of all their records, this continues to be their finest. Over the years I've seen them about 8 times and typically the songs from this record are the strongest and most appreciated by the audience.