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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death is an essential collection of odds, sods, classic singles and non-album rarities from the Dead Kennedys. Heavily socio-political punk forerunners of the 1980's US Hardcore scene, San Francisco's notorious anarcho-satirists The Dead Kennedys were probably the most comic and influential troupe of insurrectionists in the history of American popular music--just ask the pro-censorship lobby. As evidenced by such songs as "Holiday In Cambodia" and "California Uber Alles"--both included here--nobody could beat them for shock value. And although it all ended in tears--and in court, several times--the righteously rabid diatribes of singer Jello Biafra still continue to pack a punch. For anyone unfamiliar as to why certain institutions kept files on them (the DK's were no friends of organised religion, big business, racial intolerance and American high school sports coaches) well, it's all right here. For sheer prescience, for example, how about the early LAPD inspired b-side "Police Truck" (all together now, "Going downtown gonna beat up drunks") which tackled the subject of lawlessly thuggish, baton-happy cops years before the controversy--and riots--surrounding the Rodney King incident. --Kevin Maidment
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Dead Kennedys made a huge impact on the early 80's US Punk Scene, inspiring future bands like Rage Against the Machine, Nirvana and Green Day - and this album is a great introduction to their music.
POLICE TRUCK and TOO DRUNK TO FUCK are fast-paced, punky 3 minute tunes, but simplistic compared to the Kennedys later output. LIFE SENTENCE is a great song about teenage rebels selling out once they become adults and get a job. However, the best song here, and maybe the high point of the Kennedys musical career is the yuppie-baiting HOLIDAY IN CAMBODIA. Its an angry, sadistic song concentrating hate on one particular person - 'Like a Rolling Stone' updated for Punk! Check out Jello Biafra's voice - one of the most distinctive in popular music. Its mocking (like Johnny Rotten's), urgent, majestic, even god-like in places. Many of the songs use humour to get their point across - witness the hilarious SHORT SONGS and the anti-popstar PULL MY STRINGS with the poetic lines "Is my cock big enough? Is my brain small enough? For you to make me a Star"
Its just a shame hardly any bands in the States are capable or willing to question and subvert the status quo today. But while I await the saviours of political agit-pop music, GIVE ME CONVENIANCE OR GIVE ME DEATH will more than do.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an excellent CD. The DKs at their best with old tracks and some that I have found hard to come by elsewhere. Buy it and find out for yourself. You will not be dissapointed
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Contrary to what some kook wrote in another review, GIVE ME CONVENIENCE... ***IS NOT*** the FRESH FRUIT... album with a few extra tracks tacked on. It is a collection of singles, B-sides, and other non-album tracks.
I was a huge DK fan back in the day, but I had to admit that some of their tracks were forgettable throw-aways. By FRANKENCHRIST I thought they were starting to lose it, and after BEDTIME FOR DEMOCRACY I was almost glad they packed it in. Which is why I was so pleasantly surprised when CONVENIENCE came out. There are some real gems amongst these non-album tracks.
Back when I bought it, the last track "Buzzbomb from Pasadena" was only included on one of those lame flexi-discs. But it's a hilarious version of "Buzzbomb" redone from the viewpoint of a little old lady.
If you are new to DK, of course FRESH FRUIT FOR ROTTING VEGETABLES has to be your first album, but GIVE ME CONVENIENCE OR GIVE ME DEATH wouldn't be a bad second, though it doesn't have the cohesion of a normal album.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
DK's download
Cracking album - wary of doing downloads as still a vinyl buff but this was easy and to be fair the quality cannot be knocked.
VERY easy using Amazon download. Read more
VERY easy using Amazon download. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mr. David Laing
The definitive Dead Kennedys album
Give me convenience or give me death is the definitive Dead Kennedys album! If you like the Dead Kennedys and have not heard this LP then prepare yourself for a treat. Read more
Published on 15 Feb 2001 by 10000@talk21.com
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