sxepunk's Full Review: Complete Discography by Minor Threat
"I've got the straight edge!" These words inspired sXe, a movement that still infiltrates punk nowadays. Ian Mackaye and Minor Threat during their short legacy made a massive difference in punk music and have influenced most true punk rock bands. Though only around for a few years and releasing but a few singles and only one full length, Minor Threat is revered by so many as the greatest hardcore band and one of the greatest punk bands of all time.
Lead vocalist Ian Mackaye formed Minor Threat with Brian Baker on bass, Lyle Preslar on guitar, and his best friend Jeff Nelson behind the kit. These four young men played fury inspired hardcore punk in Minor Threat between 1981 and 1983, changing the face of punk and sparking a new way of life, unintentionally. That would be by way of the straight edge. Ian's aversion to drugs, alcohol, and promiscius sex inspired him to right the title tune, which started the movement. The irony that lies here is that Ian never intended to start any sort of movement, and disassociates himself even today with anything straight edge, except for living by it. This is because many modern straight edgers have turned into anti-drug Nazi's who beat the living hell out of those smoking a joint or enjoying a beer. Ian is disgusted by these fascists, and beating up someone because of their personal choices should not be condoned nor replicated by anyone. The whole point of sXe is to live without self-destruction, and that meaning is taken away by those who destruct others.
Now, rambling aside, on to the music. Minor Threat's brand of hardcore is angry, raging and furious, and quite unapproachable to your average music fan. Ian's furious bellow mixed with Lyle Preslar's heavily distorted guitar work and Jeff and Brian's pounding rhythym section make for hardcore that is fast, p*ssed off, and in your face. This album is also very uplifting and charging, the blood flows quickly through my veins every time I pop the disc in my player.
The lyrics here are amazing, Ian lays a blueprint for a lifestyle that was absolutely unheard of in punk rock. Just a few of the things Ian speaks out on are loveless sex, smoking, alcohol, religion, drugs, racism, and friendship betrayal. He sings without regard to the fact that what he is saying is completely controversial and exremely polarizing.
26 songs fly by in a matter of 42 minutes, the infamous "Straight Edge" is a mere 43 seconds long. Few tracks last more than two minutes. The way this album moves
is partly indicative of the band's fury.
HIGHLIGHT TRACKS:
1. Filler
My favorite Minor Threat song, this is Ian's tirade against being PW'd, and losing one's self-character to religion.
"You're brain is clay, whats going on?
You picked up a bible, and now you're gone!
What's in your head, what's in your head?
Filler!
You call it religion, you're full of sh*t!"
4. Straight Edge
Here it is folks, the 43 second masterpiece that inspires my way of life, minus the assholes who beat others up.
"I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
Than sit around and f*ck my head
Hang out with the living dead
Snort white sh*t up my nose
Pass out at the shows
I don't even think about speed
That's just something I don't need
I've got the straight edge.
8. Minor Threat
Ian sings, or shouts, should I say, about his joys of growing up and his disgust with urging to be an adult.
"Early to finish, I was late to start
I might be an adult, but I'm a minor at heart
Go to college, be a man, what's the f*cking deal?
It's not how old I am, it's how I feel"
12. Out of Step (with the world)
Another hardcore blast against hedonism and drug use, and what not.
"I don't smoke
Don't drink
Don't f*ck
At least I can f*cking think
I can't keep
Can't keep up
Can't keep up
Out of step with the world!"
13. Guilty of Being White
Ian was getting f*cked with by kids who hated him cause he was white. Here's his answer.
"I'm a convict
Of a racist crime
I've only served
19 years of my time!
Guilty of being white"
14. Stepping Stone
Minor Threat's wonderful cover of the Sex Pistol's cover of the Monkees song. One of the more mellow MT tunes.
"I, I'm not your stepping stone!"
18. Look Back and Laugh
Jeff and Ian had some bad blood between them at the time, particularly because Jeff wasn't completely down with Ian's sXe attitude. This is one of the many songs about their broken friendship, which, I'm sure has been fixed by now considering the two still run Dischord Records together.
"One day something funny happened
And it scared the sh*it out of me
Their heads went in different directions
And their friendship ceased to be"
23. Cashing In
Full of irony and sarcasm, our favorite bald sXe'r jokes about becoming a sellout.
"We'll steal your money,
We'll steal your shoes"
25. Good Guys Don't Wear White
MT's cover of an old folksy tune. One of their best, the highlight here is Lyle's laid back strumming.
"Tell your mama and your papa,
Good guys don't wear white"
Minor Threat's discography spans two quick years of all the music they made together as a band. 20 years after the band broke up, MT music still plays on. If you ever buy one of the albums I review, or any album period, buy this one, you won't be disappointed.
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