OFF!
_
The First 4 E.P.s
2010
Vice
Following the acrimonious dissolution of hardcore punk legends the Circle Jerks iconic punk vocalist Keith Morris was left in limbo. Not one to rest on his laurels he continued writing songs with producer and Burning Brides musician Dimitri Coats. Realizing the potential of these songs the duo quickly enlisted the help of Red Kross bass player Steven McDonald and drumming sensation Mario Rubalcaba. Together they formed OFF! and now Morris had a platform in which to release these songs and deliver them to those who would listen.
The “First 4 EPs” package is adorned with the unmistakable comic book style artwork of Raymond Pettibon, the artist whose iconic imagery became associated with Black Flag through the 80’s lending that band an eye catching aesthetic. Looking at the cover it would seem that Morris wanted to recapture the spirit of those old Hardcore bands for whom aesthetic was just as important as the music.
It is interesting to note that OFF! is also a brand of roach spray, as is Black Flag, the name of the seminal hardcore punk collective Keith Morris helped start at the beginning of his career. At 56 years of age it truly feels as if Morris has come full circle with the release of “OFF! : The first 4 EPs.” Morris carries the same level of unrelenting energy and vitriol in his barked delivery as he did as a young man. The band tears through this set of 16 songs in just under 18 minutes with an unbelievable intensity and vigour not seen since the earliest days of the hardcore scene. What is apparent from the get go is that Morris is as legitimate and as hardcore as they come. With this set of songs he truly leaves frontmen half his age trailing in his unbelievable wake. The blink and you’ll miss them songs burst forth with honesty and raw emotion trimming all the fat and getting to the point with the refreshing directness only seen in the very best Hardcore. The songs are over before you know it – the longest is a mere 1 minute and 32 seconds long- and the songs are not what you would call complicated lyrically or musically but while this may be perceived to be a weakness to some becomes the collections greatest strength to others. The songs topics are not thinly veiled behind some flowery poetic symbolism but are instead laid bare for all to see. It’s as if Morris is getting right up in the listeners face and confronting them, screaming; “This is my position...what’s yours??”
The music itself is incredibly tight and proficient, so much so that OFF! sound like a band that have been playing together for decades rather than a mere 2 years. The music starts and stops on a dime and is delivered at breakneck speed. Distorted guitars and 3 chord riffs are the norm of this genre but rarely do they pack this type of punch, perfect for skating or slamming round your bedroom like a rabid cat with tourettes. This is first rate hardcore straight out of the old school. One of the original purveyors of this kind of noise has once again shown the younger generation how to do it. OFF! will have you slamming with the best of them and “The First 4 EPs is not simply the best Hardcore release of last year, it is the best true Hardcore release of the last decade. Essential!!!
Score: 10/10
For fans of: The Circle Jerks, Black Flag, L.A. Hardcore
BadIdeaDan for mlm
The First 4 E.P.s
2010
Vice
Following the acrimonious dissolution of hardcore punk legends the Circle Jerks iconic punk vocalist Keith Morris was left in limbo. Not one to rest on his laurels he continued writing songs with producer and Burning Brides musician Dimitri Coats. Realizing the potential of these songs the duo quickly enlisted the help of Red Kross bass player Steven McDonald and drumming sensation Mario Rubalcaba. Together they formed OFF! and now Morris had a platform in which to release these songs and deliver them to those who would listen.
The “First 4 EPs” package is adorned with the unmistakable comic book style artwork of Raymond Pettibon, the artist whose iconic imagery became associated with Black Flag through the 80’s lending that band an eye catching aesthetic. Looking at the cover it would seem that Morris wanted to recapture the spirit of those old Hardcore bands for whom aesthetic was just as important as the music.
It is interesting to note that OFF! is also a brand of roach spray, as is Black Flag, the name of the seminal hardcore punk collective Keith Morris helped start at the beginning of his career. At 56 years of age it truly feels as if Morris has come full circle with the release of “OFF! : The first 4 EPs.” Morris carries the same level of unrelenting energy and vitriol in his barked delivery as he did as a young man. The band tears through this set of 16 songs in just under 18 minutes with an unbelievable intensity and vigour not seen since the earliest days of the hardcore scene. What is apparent from the get go is that Morris is as legitimate and as hardcore as they come. With this set of songs he truly leaves frontmen half his age trailing in his unbelievable wake. The blink and you’ll miss them songs burst forth with honesty and raw emotion trimming all the fat and getting to the point with the refreshing directness only seen in the very best Hardcore. The songs are over before you know it – the longest is a mere 1 minute and 32 seconds long- and the songs are not what you would call complicated lyrically or musically but while this may be perceived to be a weakness to some becomes the collections greatest strength to others. The songs topics are not thinly veiled behind some flowery poetic symbolism but are instead laid bare for all to see. It’s as if Morris is getting right up in the listeners face and confronting them, screaming; “This is my position...what’s yours??”
The music itself is incredibly tight and proficient, so much so that OFF! sound like a band that have been playing together for decades rather than a mere 2 years. The music starts and stops on a dime and is delivered at breakneck speed. Distorted guitars and 3 chord riffs are the norm of this genre but rarely do they pack this type of punch, perfect for skating or slamming round your bedroom like a rabid cat with tourettes. This is first rate hardcore straight out of the old school. One of the original purveyors of this kind of noise has once again shown the younger generation how to do it. OFF! will have you slamming with the best of them and “The First 4 EPs is not simply the best Hardcore release of last year, it is the best true Hardcore release of the last decade. Essential!!!
Score: 10/10
For fans of: The Circle Jerks, Black Flag, L.A. Hardcore
BadIdeaDan for mlm