folkcore's Full Review: (MIA): The Complete Anthology by The Germs
The Germs have found their own niche in the history of punk rock and pop culture at large. They have been delegated to a place of importance, and countless bands have made reference to them. They have become fixtures in the conciousness of American the underground.
The most important thing about them is that they are good.
Very good.
The Germs were a band of true originals, and belong in the punk rock stratosphere with other legends like The Dead Kennedeys, Crass, Black Flag and the Clash.
What they had in common with these bands is that the Germs had their own sound, completely original. They were rarely imitated (well) because their genius lies in the distinct personality formed by the collaboration of eccentric and uncompromising musical visionaries.
Although sometimes off rhythm and poorly performed, this is punk music. 'Music' being the most important word. Just cause they're messy doesn't mean they're talentless.
They are everything punk rock should be; intelligent, brutal, drunken and creative.
If art is the communication of personality, ideas and freshness, than the germs are the definition of punk art.
Half their beauty lies in their sloppy idiosyncrasy, the other half lies in the fact that they just sound damn good.
Most of the time.
'M.I.A.', The Germs Anthology does have a couple of practically unlistenable tracks such as "American Leather" but even these songs provide a greater context in which to enjoy the band.
The Album opens and closes with the song "Forming", the second version being superiorally recorded and performed, but the first version is still perfect in its own way. It's followed by "Sex Boy", a live track where you can hear the interaction of the crowd, breaking bottles etc.; the album would be incomplete without it.
Tracks like "Lexicon Devil", "Ritchie Dagger's Crime" and "Circle One" are more accesible; true classics.
If you read the lyric sheet you might occasionally get the feeling that singer darby Crash is trying to hard to show you his grasp of the english vocabulary. His garbled, honest delivery makes up for all of this though.
And, It goes to prove that under the violent self mutilating posturing he has something interesting say and often makes astute observations.
His vocal delivery on "Round and Round", a Chuck Berry trip, is flawless.
Darby's stage performance walked the line somewhere between Iggy Pop and G.G. Allen. Perhaps slightly more cute in a way. But smearing himself with peanut butter and wrapping himself in licorice while beating his body seems to make a cohesive artistic statement for some reason.
It's just Kind of cool and it seems, oh so right.
Pat Smear's guitar work is one of a kind: odd, energetic, and sometimes sarcastic.
Their influence on modern punk and 'alternative' rock has been un-mistakeable, and this anthology chronicles their entire 'career'.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.