Subhumans

Subhumans: The Day The Country DiedThe Day The Country Died (1983)
Bluurg

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: BSDBSD
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 23rd 2003The Subhumans are deservingly one of the most well known political groups from the 80s. Among hundreds of other groups including the likes of Crass, Conflict, and Discharge, they stood unique in the aspect that they didn't depend totally on the music (Discharge) or the vocals (Crass), creating a per.

The Subhumans are deservingly one of the most well known political groups from the 80s. Among hundreds of other groups including the likes of Crass, Conflict, and Discharge, they stood unique in the aspect that they didn't depend totally on the music (Discharge) or the vocals (Crass), creating a perfect balance of sonic bliss not usually found on non-Oi British political albums.

The lyrical superiority in both substance and delivery alone puts them head and shoulders above the average "three chords and a lot of heart" bands that cluttered up the music scene. Vocalist Dick, who brandishes a Johnny Rotten-ish voice is probably one of the single best singers of the era, right up there with Steve Ignorant. The band as musicians themselves are not too shabby... The guitarist and bassist both seem to emulate a fuzzier sounding East Bay Ray/Klaus Flouride approach.

"The Day the Country Died" is one of, if not THE, best political albums ever released. From the frantic opener "All Gone Dead", to the ultra depressing poetry of "Black and White", not even the supposed "filler" tracks like "Zyclone-B-Movie" stand in the way of this being a great album... All 16 tracks have the potential to be stuck in your head at any point of the day after listening to this only once.

As stated before, the lyrics are simply some of the greatest ever... The only exception being "Ashtray Dirt", an anti-cigarrette song, but that's excusable since it's as poetic as the theme will allow before reaching artsy pretention, and is more than made up for in classics such as "Mickey Mouse is Dead" and "Dying World".

So, what does this political band cover? All of the usual suspects, and then some. "No" is a pretty good lyrical example of where this band is going, with the opening line of "No, I don't believe in Jesus Christ, my mother died of cancer when I was five. No, I don't believe in religion, I was forced to go to church and I wasn't told why. No, I don't believe in the police force, police brutality isn't a dream." Not only does this band show contempt for an obviously corrupt and unbalanced system, but also for the society that is its backbone... The catchiest, yet most lyrically haunting song on the album is the famous "Mickey Mouse is Dead", which starts with a stomp and quickly explodes into sonic terror. Even without the singing, you could picture what this band was trying to get across through the pure musical intensity alone. The lyrics concern childrens' loss of innocence due to situations out of their control, among other things.

Over all, this album, or CD, is nothing short of amazing... Definitely an essential purchase for all those who are into UK82 or political punk.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (April 25, 2006)

Amazing album from one of punk's most amazing bands. Although my three favorite Subhumans songs aren't on here (Society, Religious Wars, and From the Cradle to the Grave), it's still such an amazing album that I have to give it a 9. Not perfect, so not worth a 10, but close.

idi (September 28, 2005)

m'kay avril watevers how freakin lame is that
you fuckin bunch off emo/hardcore CUNTS
you guys are fuckin fags

wow but the subhumans man they are fuckin great
i love this guys!!!

FUCK THE EMO CUNTS!!!!

Greenvandal (October 29, 2003)

Good stuff, good stuff.

Yes BSD, you saw it here first, I like this AND Thrice!

And Coca too no less!

Im almost getting as crazy as you and you anti-star antics. I better go take my rittilin now.

moldy (September 29, 2003)

does anyone know when is that live in a dive coming out

Anonymous (September 27, 2003)

well then rock on to your favorite "punk" bands like alkaline trio and the used and leave the subhumans to the rest of us you silly little asswipe.

Manman (September 26, 2003)

If this is "old-school punk" then Avril Lavigne is the "Mother of Punk." This stuff is more processed than anything Fat Mike can extrude from his fat can. Crap! I think you guys actually like this stuff. That will make this harder. It sucks. If this is punk, then count me out. The Beatles put on a better punk-scene than this, and they sucked! Trust me, if you want a good laugh, borrow this from a friend. This is not worth the toilet paper I put it on.

notfeelingcreative (September 25, 2003)

Yeah, they don't make 'em like this anymore!

Anonymous (September 25, 2003)

"Old school punk at its best! Too bad there aren't many other newer bands doing punk the way it was meant to be! But why the hell are they releasing a live album on Fat?"

Yeah, that'll probably be the only Fat CD I don't download... It may have something to do with Fat Mike giving them constant praise when it comes to who influenced his band... I mean, NOFX did blatantly rip off "From the Cradle to the Grave", and what seemed before to be the Minor Threat influence in some of their faster songs, is what most people now realize is the Subhumans approach.

-BSD

Anonymous (September 25, 2003)

This is the only Subhumans album I own. I should really pick up some more...
I gotta agree with BSD on the Steve Ignorant comment. My favorite punk singer of all time... As snotty as snotty gets.

...evildeadalive

Anonymous (September 25, 2003)

man, what's so good with this?
it has too many guitars.

captaincrackhead (September 25, 2003)

Old school punk at its best! Too bad there aren't many other newer bands doing punk the way it was meant to be! But why the hell are they releasing a live album on Fat?

Leandro (September 24, 2003)

not one review with less than 10 stars...i think that says something

Anonymous (September 24, 2003)

okay, okay. I dont care. Just listen to the fuckin thing

THAT_GUY (September 24, 2003)

Ok, I understand your viewpoint, but I wasn't knocking this band or your taste, I said the way you described it, it sounded to me like it deserved a 9. Is that hard to understand ? I didn't say "You suck, this band sucks, Jawbreaker kicks all of your asses." Did I ? I stated 2 albums which I thought were "10"s. I also LOVE Lagwagon and No Use For a Name, and out of the close to 15 combined releases by both bands, I'd only give one "10", and that would be to NUFAN's "More Betterness". See what I mean ?

Also, I'm not big into the "if he gave it a "10", I should buy it" thing. I listen to the CD or tracks from the CD before I buy a CD, not go on some random person's opinion.I was simply critiqing your rating system.

Anonymous (September 24, 2003)

Well, maybe you should fucking listen to this CD before you judge how I should have scored it... I said that there's one weak track, and it's only weak compared to the rest of the songs... I could say the same thing about you not infringing on my musical tastes... It's just, most people who like pop punk and emo will of course not think that an album by a British 80s political band will be a "10"... As I said before, I don't really even believe in the scoring method... If you're gonna buy a CD based on how many "stars" it got, then this CD is probably not for you...

-BSD

Anonymous (September 24, 2003)

I love those 2 CDs I mentioned,I find no fault in either, but it sounded to me like this CD wasn't a "10". And I have that EP-LP CD, with like 30 songs, and I must say, it is quite enjoyable. But I shoot more for mid 90's emo and quirky pop-punk. I didn't say anything bad about anyone, so don't say shit about my musical tastes.

THAT GUY

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

i love this cd

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

"Should have given it a 9, not a 10. You found fault in a few parts of the CD it sounds. Not knocking the CD, it just seems to me that "10" is reserved for albums like Jawbreaker "Dear You", Millencolin "Life On a Plate"...."

Hahahahahhahahahahhahaha...

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

Don't pay attention to the score... Actually using the "rating" system isn't really what I am about... And, this album is ten times better than the two you mentioned anyway.

-BSD

THAT_GUY (September 23, 2003)

Should have given it a 9, not a 10. You found fault in a few parts of the CD it sounds. Not knocking the CD, it just seems to me that "10" is reserved for albums like Jawbreaker "Dear You", Millencolin "Life On a Plate"....wait, I'm not an "old school" fan. Just a casual listener. Feel free to put it as a 10, I'm just saying...

Oh, good review, and good live band.

skankin_in_the_pit (September 23, 2003)

Great album, Great review. On a side note I've had peroxide by these guys stuck in my head for a week now. It is kinda driving me crazy.

joeg (September 23, 2003)

the subhumans rule. end of story. go get this gem of a punk fucking rock record.

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

this review was by me. and I mispellt Zyklon

-BSD

TheOneTrueBill (September 23, 2003)

Clasic. I'm listening to EP-LP at this point, and I remember why i love this band.

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

outstanding fucking album. this is the subhumans at their absolute best. political, angry, snotty, brilliant. seen them live a couple times and the crowd fucking went off whenever they played tracks from this one. great to see reviews like this and the stiff little fingers one up on this site.

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

Wonderful. I'm so happy to see a BRILLIANT review of this record up here. I commend you. "No" is the best track off this LP.

Seeing them this April was amazing...And DISCHARGE last night was awesome!! (Had to get that in there...).
-Janelle

punky (September 23, 2003)

chimericalburst (September 23, 2003)

thats a good point. in 5 years when everyone forgets about story of the year and matchbook romance, subhumans will be remembered for their amazing music.

Anonymous (September 23, 2003)

Finally, a real record gets reviewed. All you matchbook romance, simple plan, brand new listening fruitcakes should pick this up if you want to hear a real PUNK record. Maybe not though, you'll look really funny blasting this in mom and dad's range rover!!!!1