The Consumers

The Consumers: All My Friends Are DeadAll My Friends Are Dead (2002)
In The Red

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: BSDBSD
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on October 21st 2003So little is known about this Texas/California band, which is sad considering that the 11 songs they recorded in 1977 (1978 according to some sources) are some of the best of the era. This is their album that never got published. Musically, this is like good Black Flag (Keith Morris days, guys) w.

So little is known about this Texas/California band, which is sad considering that the 11 songs they recorded in 1977 (1978 according to some sources) are some of the best of the era. This is their album that never got published.

Musically, this is like good Black Flag (Keith Morris days, guys) with a bit more musicality... Non stop, hammering proto-hardcore. Their vocalist obviously wishes he was Johnny Rotten, the drummer keeps the beat simple and the guitars sound like buzzsaws, making the most of their evidently rudimentary playing skills (well, by 70s rock standards).

You can only guess at what these songs are about from the titles, and the infrequent amount of times you actually understand the singer's ultra snotty voice. They seem to be anti everything ("Anti, Anti, Anti", "Concerned Citizen"), out to shock ("Teen Love Song", "Ballad of the Son of Sam"), and POLTICALLY anti everything ("Media Ogre", "Punk Church").

The liner notes explain the motives of the band, and their all too brief history, and, I believe, are written by the only two surviving members of this five piece.

All of these elements come together to create one hell of a record. If this had come out in '77, you can bet the Germs (musically, not lyrically), Circle Jerks, and Black Flag would all have been deemed copycats.

Anybody with a taste for punk rock should try to find this, or order it. I found my copy in a used section.

Note: My score means nothing, I don't judge albums by how many stars they get, so don't complain about it.

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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.

VodkaTonic (March 10, 2009)

Great well written review...except where did you get TEXAS from? The Consumers were from Phoenix and were one of two or three punk bands around in 1977. They moved to L.A. in Feb 1978 with Don Bolles and Rob Graves along for the ride. After the Consumers broke up in the LA scene later in '78, guitarist Paul Cutler joined forces with his Phoenix brothers after Don left The Germs and Rob left the Bags and formed 45 Grave with Dinah Cancer.

Yes, this record KILLS. The lyrics, speed, attitude, and aggresion are a by product of living in Phoenix at a time when Country and Heavy Metal ruled the desert and most punks were in the closet.

Mint_Jelly (July 24, 2006)

If anyone can find the original vinyl of this recording from the 90's I will pay big bucks for it, just IM paullydparrot.

Anonymous (April 4, 2004)

Records don't get "published," books do.

BSD is a fucking moron.

Greenvandal (October 29, 2003)

Oh, i gotcha. heh. pint.

Anonymous (October 28, 2003)

i think he meant it in a teasing, joyously playful way, such as that which two comrades might share over a pint of fine lager at the local pub.

Greenvandal (October 28, 2003)

How can you say some one is a jackoff (or whatever you said) shit talker and mean it in a nice way? hahaha

Oh, BSD, hows www.elitistpunker.org coming along?

funkisdead (October 27, 2003)

i meant that in a nice way, even though it sounds pretty assholish, as i look back on it.

funkisdead (October 27, 2003)

dearest bsd,
you such a fucking wankjob sometimes.
sincerely
funkisdead

ps: i like this band, but you're still talking shit.

Greenvandal (October 27, 2003)

Wow, you kids are so rebellious. You are throwing down the oppressiveness of the star rating system. Its total online anarchy.

Maybe you should try informing us of this starless revolution like your compatriot Ms.Janelle, so we know what we shouldnt be looking at.

And yeah this is pretty rock. my friend has it.

Anonymous (October 26, 2003)

"Note: My score means nothing, I don't judge albums by how many stars they get, so don't complain about it."

ABSOLUTELY! I'm in the same boat - been getting a lot of shit from one Green Vandal about the subject! Good to hear there is at least one other with the same predicament.

-Janelle
(listening to Infa-Riot)

Anonymous (October 26, 2003)

How great is the album cover, though? Genius!

Anonymous (October 26, 2003)

You would all rather talk about Consumed because you have no musical depth or credibility. Have fun, 12 year olds.

-BSD

Anonymous (October 25, 2003)

i hate this emo shit

Anonymous (October 24, 2003)

The Consumed's album Pistols at Dawn on BYO is incredible. (And yes, we're all aware this is another band's review. I'd just rather talk about Consumed).

funkisdead (October 23, 2003)

the stuff they released in england only on a british indie label is fucking amazing... they never found their sound when they were on fat.

this score is for snuff.
the band.

Anonymous (October 22, 2003)

Fuck the Consumed.

CallingLondon (October 22, 2003)

i clicked on this review thinking it was for consumed. it's not.

Anonymous (October 21, 2003)

no, in new york we call them lemons. you just call them luudes.

funkisdead (October 21, 2003)

in california, we call them lemons.

BSD (October 21, 2003)

I wrote another review for the Subhumans, too.

Take that qualude now!

Anonymous (October 21, 2003)

This is a really really good LA punk record, if they had released this stuff then they'd have been mentioned in the same breath as The Germs, The Weirdos, and all the rest.
This came out on vinyl in the mid-1990s first, and came out on cd sometime in the past couple of years. If you like The Eyes, The Controllers, The Dils, and other What Records bands, then definitely get this.

funkisdead (October 21, 2003)

its cool to see you wrote a review, bsd.
i'll check it out.

Anonymous (October 21, 2003)