The 1981 Listening Post - D.O.A. - Hardcore '81

D.O.A. - Hardcore '81 #136 April 22 1981 D.O.A. Hardcore ’81 Genre: Hardcore Punk 3.25 out of 5 Highlights; Unknown Requisite 80s cover: “Communication Breakdown”. This all the markings of a band that has access to studio time and nothing else to do. The Dickies will do this so much better but not as weird. Yes, we are including this. I know it’s 20 minutes long. Yes, I know there are a marillion bands out there for whom 20 minutes is one song. But D.O.A. calls this an album and who am I to argue? What can be said? It’s loud, it’s fast, it’s messy, it’s breakneck, the vocals are yelling, the guitars are slamming and it’s ahead of its time, while being of it’s time and almost like it belongs in amber. https://music.apple.com/us/album/hardcore-81/322204225

The 1980 Listening Post - D.O.A. - Something Better Change

 D.O.A. - Something Better Change

D.O.A.

Something Better Change

Genre: Punk

3.5 out of 5

Highlights: 

Get Out of My Life

The Prisoner

I didn’t know that D.O.A. was from Vancouver, CA. This sound so quintessentially punk that I would have thought it came the skateboard culture of SoCal or from Britain. It sounds like both, actually. Like a British punk band relocated to Souther California and led the charge of the Punk Brigade. 

That there are band members named Joey Shithead and Chuck Bisuits only add to the fun.

Fun Fact: Joey Shit was elected to the Burnaby City Council in 2018 under his real name Joey Keithley.

This sounds very very old these days, a sound gone by but, I believe, at the time, it was cutting edge, yes? Were there any North American bands making records like this in 1980? A few, right? And they sounded explosive back then. 

Having never heard it before it’s not making me wanna punch my fist in any air and I’m not sure it would;d have back then. But I can appreciate it for what it is. Was. 

Whatever. 

Let’s pogo!

https://music.apple.com/us/album/something-better-change-remastered/1097590632

The 1985 Listening Post - D.O.A. - Let's Wreck the Party

D.O.A. - Let's Wreck the Party

#280/914

July 1985

D.O.A. 

Let’s Wreck the Party

Genre: Punk….?

2.25 out of 5

I’ve run out of adjectives and simile. This is another band that’s lost the narrative. Relegated to the bargain bin of history. If they were relevant at one point they’ve realized they aren’t anymore and are trying to do…something. Covering “Singing in the Rain” is…an idea. One that Me First and the Gimme Gimmes will do so much better. One that Dead Kennedys paved with “Rawhide”. Here it just sits there. Like a big, gaping question mark. 

Talk about a band that has no idea what it is anymore…is it punk? Is it glam? Is it thrash metal? Is it snot?

It’s all and more!

And they aren’t exceptional at any of it. 

:(

https://music.apple.com/us/album/lets-wreck-the-party/362416899