Link 80

Link 80: 17 Reasons17 Reasons (1997)
Asian Man Records

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: opivykidopivykid
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 28th 2004Ok, so a few days ago, I got bored, and started to listen to a few Against All Authority songs, that have been on my computer for ages. So, while I was listening to them, I thought to myself, "wasn't there a band that could pull this off, without sounding awful?" Then I realized, yes, yes there was..

Ok, so a few days ago, I got bored, and started to listen to a few Against All Authority songs, that have been on my computer for ages. So, while I was listening to them, I thought to myself, "wasn't there a band that could pull this off, without sounding awful?" Then I realized, yes, yes there was...

I present to you, the Link 80 CD, 17 Reasons

This is exactly how ska-core should be. It starts off with "Verbal Kint", a fun little song about Satan, and stays more to the ska side. Then, two songs later, "Enough" starts. This song will destroy you many, many times within its 2 minutes and 21 seconds. Other great songs on this disk are "Pretty Girls", "Jeff Acree", "Dime Store Hoods", "Slap", and "Dance Floor"... ahh what the hell, why don't I just name all the songs on the damn CD! If you like AAA, Choking Victim, Suicide Machines, or just good music in general, you NEED this.

Now, the bad news = Nick Traina, the insane vocalist on this CD, sadly succumbed to a heroin addiction, and died of suicide. He was manic depressive, and the lyrics show much of it, especially on "Slap", with "When I was a child, my castle was my home, now I walk down empty streets, memories and me alone, it's easier to burn a bridge that to cross it, to slip, give in, give up, move on, and try to forget. More has been said in silence than could ever be spoken in words, secret's shared, and promises kept, and feelings that will never be cured."

They ended up getting a new singer, and put out The Struggle Continues..., and Killing Katie EP, and while both of those CDs are still good, they can't compare to this. Nicks vocals were just perfect for this type of music, and it was sad to see him go.

"Dance floor its' my home away from home, the music's loud, I start to dance, I don't feel so alone, so much aggression, but I don't hurt anyone, I go to the show, and I dance and have fun... I found it, what I've been looking for! Paid my five bucks and go into the show, this is so great, I don't ever want to go…" - "Dance Floor"

Nick Traina - 05.01.78 - 09.20.97

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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.

GreenVandal (May 11, 2006)

Good Album. I like The Struggle Continues better though.

Anonymous (April 4, 2006)

his adopted fathers name was john traina not alex. and it was only her third husband.

Anonymous (September 28, 2005)

nick traina had a serious disease, not some disease where you take medicine and it goes away, which is what a lot of people say about it. Manic depression does not go away, medicine helps but it is always there stop making him out to be someone who was just depressed it was a lot more serious than that

Anonymous (September 28, 2005)

i definitally reccommend the book, and I din't think his mom makes him out to be a spoiled brat. She says he toook time and energy but because of his disease, not because he chose to

Anonymous (September 28, 2005)

If anyone wants to post info on nick you need to do some research first. He wasn't a druggie, he purposely killed himself because he was manic-depressive, a disease in which 60% of people try to kill themselves and at least 30% succeed. He was a great guy and people need to stop making him out to be some druggie

GlassPipeMurder (August 1, 2005)

I just finished "His Bright Light" - his mom's book/memoir/tribute to him, and I would definitely recommend it. PS. I think someone should really do a Knowledge review.

Anonymous (June 24, 2005)

"However, he didn't intentionally od, he was trying to celebrate his new band's first show. "

Don't speak unless you know what you're talking about. Yes, he did overdose on MORPHINE. BUT, YES, it WAS intentional. He knew that he had bad reactions to morphine, and not only that but he used 5 times the normal dose he tried before. He had every intention. He wasnt a 'druggie' either. He did them but he was pretty clean around the time of his death.

Anonymous (May 1, 2005)

Drága Nick,a gyertyák lángja ma csak a te arcodat rejti.Nem telik el úgy nap,hogy ne gondoljunk rád.Hiányzik a mosolyod,a hangod...hiányzol!A zenében fejezted ki magad,tehát te magad voltál a zene és ezt itt hagytad nekünk emlékül.A dalaidban tovább élsz.Happy Birthday!

Szeretettlel gondolunk rád
Rita

Anonymous (April 12, 2005)

I think that if Nick Traina were alive today, i would be in love with him. His voice in the music is powerful, meaningful, and you can feel the music. Im in love with Link 80, and i would be with Nick.

Anonymous (April 10, 2005)

"Now, the bad news = Nick Traina, the insane vocalist on this CD, sadly succumbed to a heroin addiction" - Nick Trania didn't die from heroin. It was morphine. And it wasn't like he was doing it to get messed up. He knew he was allergic to it and would die. His mother Danielle Steel even states that in the book she wrote about him called 'His Bright Light'

Anonymous (April 5, 2005)

Nick forever

Anonymous (March 12, 2005)

Dear "all I can think about is some spoiled brat singing about how spoiled and rich this kid was and how stupid he was for killing himself"

You deserve to go to hell. And I hope you do. Nick was not a "spoiled" "rich" kid. He was one of my closest friends ever.

You are a horrible, disgusting, thoughtless human.

Thanks for being the opposite of loving. Reap what you sow...

Cheers....

Anonymous (February 22, 2005)

Yeah I really don’t know where you got most of your info from but if you’re pretending to be some sort of fan to Link 80 you should really get your facts straight before writing stories about someone you never knew. I think it’s really cool that you show interest in Nick Traina and his music but you shouldn’t go around talking about what you don’t know. Nick didn’t die from a heroine addiction, he die as a result of his dreadful disease. Heroine never played a part in determining Nicks life. In the end he fell victim to the depression and died on an overdose of something far from heroin. And I also just want to clear up that it was Nick who quit Link 80, he wasn’t thrown out. Nick was the only reason for their success and in my opinion when he left the band no longer existed. I myself did not personally know Nick Traina but I have been a fan for a very long time and am saddened by his loss as are many people. He was an amazing person who was passionate, caring, and larger than life and I just wanted to clear some things up so you know that he never had a heroine addiction and it’s not how he died.

Anonymous (February 3, 2005)

This truely is the best album out there. I got into Link 80 after my cousin "introduced" me to Nick and i feel in love with the music right away. and as could be said before, there is another band out there. Its called The Knowledge, a band Nick joined after Link 80 as the album is called A Gift Before I Go. Cynic is my most fav. song on that album as well as Don't Give Up and well... i love the whole Cd! the saddest is Gnat(I'm All Alone) but it gets his point accross like he knew. -sighs- anyhow i've got to go.
Music=Life

Anonymous (January 21, 2005)

Verbal Kint is the King!!!!
Jason

Anonymous (January 20, 2005)

Nick Traina is the best and the Verbal Kint's a great song! I'll never forget you!
Nicky....forever...and...ever!!!

Riki
Hungary

Anonymous (January 13, 2005)

This is one of my favorite albums of ALL TIME. I've liked Link 80 since 1996 Nick Trania was vocals on 17 reasons... and Killing Katie. Mike Park (from the Bruce Lee Band) did sing some on a track on Killing Katie though. Nick also sung one b-side to 17 reasons... which is on the Japan version of the album called "Those Days." Also, of course he was the lead singer of Knowledge on their only album "A Gift Before I Go" which was released around the time of his death.

R.I.P. Nick

Anonymous (October 26, 2004)

I just want to say that i have read the biography of Nick Traina. It was really good... And there isn`t one bad word about the band, but only positive things about Nicks friends in link 80. I dont know if you are aware but as you can read in the book his mom came to many of the concerts and were very proud of Nick, and did anything to help him througt his life. If you really like link 80, I really think you should read the biography.

Anonymous (October 7, 2004)

hell yeah. it's one of the great albums. up there with rancid's first and afi's!

Anonymous (October 7, 2004)

THIS IS A CULT FAVORITE AND IT DESERVES TO BE. it captures such a special moment, right after Green Day broke punk, but well before teh crappy suburban shit took over. It still has the grit and urgency taht makes punk rock punk rock.

Anonymous (October 5, 2004)

Nick was great, This is a fine CD.
He did mean to kill himself, he had attempted 3 or 4 times before, so theres not a lot of doubt about it. Being a sufferer from MD i think this CD prteety much sums up how i feel at times.

P.S - Check out Knowledge (A gift before i go) Amazing

RIP Nick

skad4life (August 12, 2004)

17 reasons has and will always be one of my favorite cds. anyone who thinks the struggle continues is better than 17 reasons must be blind... wtf kind of lyrics are
"...I have an evil twin...his time is wearing thin..."

Anonymous (July 15, 2004)

No other band w/ 16 year olds in it have/can/will ever sound this good. This cd is Asian Man's only good stuff.

Anonymous (June 22, 2004)

cult record! Must have!

Anonymous (June 3, 2004)

"all I can think about is some spoiled brat singing about how spoiled and rich this kid was and how stupid he was for killing himself."

exactly

Anonymous (June 3, 2004)

"A shame, one of the unsung deaths in punk rock (up there with JM Thirsk and Bradley Nowell)"

when I read that I thought my head was going to explode, Unsung? Punk Rock? Wha? Junkies kill themselves, they're already dead when when they need the junk to survive, Unsung? that's pretty silly!

Anonymous (June 3, 2004)

I will give it that it is alright as far as ska goes but never was my cup of tea.

I don't care what any of the music says, all I can think about is some spoiled brat singing about how spoiled and rich this kid was and how stupid he was for killing himself.

Anonymous (June 2, 2004)

This album does rule for sure

Anonymous (June 2, 2004)

it wasn't herion that killed him, he was manic depressive, they did a whole thing about in on 20/20 right after it happened

Anonymous (June 2, 2004)

From what I've heard, this album is good, but "The Struggle continues..." is WAY better, both musically and vocally. Also it is very fitting that they would start the CD off with "Addiction".

Leif

Anonymous (June 1, 2004)

"I can confirm it. His mom is Danielle Steele."

Nick was her son with her 4th husband, but adopted by her 5th (I think his name is Alex Traina, I'm not sure).

A shame, one of the unsung deaths in punk rock (up there with JM Thirsk and Bradley Nowell). Traina-era Link 80 is so great, so raw, I love it.

Anonymous (June 1, 2004)

pretty good album - didn't know he died so young.
is anyone going to review guttermouth's eat your face ?

Anonymous (June 1, 2004)

"So, while were at it, why dont we get reviews of other crap that came out years ago."

we do, jerky.

ObeyYourParents (May 31, 2004)

A nice piece of late nineties, Asian Man ska. Not the greatest record, by any means, but enjoyable nonetheless. Its probably my favourite release by these chaps.

Not bad for a bunch of high school slackers.

Anonymous (May 30, 2004)

I don't think his mother understood that he was playing in an underground band on an underground label. She was all like "you could just tell that he was going to be a huge star someday" and I guess all mothers want that for their children when they express interest in something like music or acting or whatever, but really. Asian Man my brutha.

opivykid (May 30, 2004)

Ok, ok, I'm aware now of my fuckup. If anybody wants to/can change it, just swap "satan" for "the dude in The Usual Suspects"

Anonymous (May 30, 2004)

Verbal Kint is a refrence to the Movie The Usual Suspects and not Satan, it kinda gives away the ending to the movie but if you haven't seen it already too bad

Anonymous (May 30, 2004)

listen to operation ivy and you know this is real shitty stuff

Anonymous (May 29, 2004)

So, while were at it, why dont we get reviews of other crap that came out years ago.

maverick (May 29, 2004)

I got this record for free, and I still felt robbed. Awful stuff.

-Scott

Anonymous (May 29, 2004)

ummmm...hardcore ska.

Anonymous (May 29, 2004)

what the hell is ska-core?

Anonymous (May 29, 2004)

from what ive heard from the guys in the band is that the biography paints them in a really bad, inaccurate picture

i still have yet to read it thought, but if you do, dont believe everything she says

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

I actually enjoyed The Struggle Continues more than this record as a whole, though this was a damn good cd.

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

KILL LINK 80!!! AHHHHH i get it

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

I for one, like DESA. I like DESA alot actually, and if any east bay band should get as much hype as the Matches, it's DESA.

Also, Adam, the original bass player from Link 80, has a new band called Thought Crime, whom are unfortunately disbanding next month. But oh well, they're good for a mention.

www.desadesadesa.com
www.thoughcrimemusic.com

hubitcherkokov (May 28, 2004)

I believe he died of a morphine overdose, not heroin, but I can't quite recall.

Anywho, this CD is badass as is the Killing Katie (Kill Link80, get it?) EP. Knowledge was badass as well. Worth noting is their Misfits cover of "Who Killed Marilyn?" which is a secret track. Its a really neat take on the song.

Also, I thought his biography that his Mum wrote was pretty good.

CrookedSuperhero (May 28, 2004)

I couldn't be bothered to look through all the posts, but in cas this hasn't been said, Verbal Kint was about the protaganist in the movie The Usaul Suspescts, not satan.

Good album though

slippy (May 28, 2004)

I could never get into ska except for Slapstick.

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

Yes this is a great cd, but nick was on one other cd dont remember the name and knowledge wasn't bad too

opivykid (May 28, 2004)

Shit, my bad about the verbal kint thing, thanks for pointing that out. There's probably few more mistakes in this, as I wrote it pretty quickly. But ya, I could NEVER get into AAA, and they really do annoy the shit out of me, which is where the 1st paragraph came from. Sorry for the fuckups though...

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

it bums me out that they took down the 17 reasons sign (pictured on the back of this cd) down from the top of the "thrift town" store on mission street in san francisco. i freaked out when i first moved to SF and saw it for the first time.

lushj (May 28, 2004)

Musically, Against All Authority, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and Operation Ivy all leave this band in the dust.

Nick was a troubled kid, and ended up od-ing. However, he didn't intentionally od, he was trying to celebrate his new band's first show. His mother's put together a pretty cool foundation that helps screwed up teens. Props to her for putting her power and her $ where her hurt is.

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

verbal kint isnt about saten. its about the movie "the usual suspects" the main character in the movie was named verbal kint

and also nick was still alive for the killing katie ep

also you forgot to mention knowledge. nick was kicked out of link 80 for his drug addiction before his death. he went on to form a new band called knowledge and demoed a cd with them before he died. asianman put out the demos on a cd aptly titled "a gift before i go"

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

I can confirm it. His mom is Danielle Steele.

Don't believe me?

Go here.

http://www.nicktrainafoundation.org/main.htm

inagreendase (May 28, 2004)

I've been meaning to check this out for a while...now that I have a job again I may as well send $8 to Mr. Park for it.

His mom is Danielle Steel...

This is the weirdest factoid I've heard in a long time; can someone confirm it?

notfeelingcreative (May 28, 2004)

Great band, but leave the AAA and choking victim comparisons out.

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

Nick is so overrated, as is this album. The struggle continues is the best thing they have ever put out.

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

wow. to say such blasphemy of AAA. i'm at a loss.

Jesse (May 28, 2004)

This record is worth a 7 or 8 MAYBE.

losingstreakca (May 28, 2004)

yea nicks last cd with the band was killing katie

Anonymous (May 28, 2004)

His mom is Danelle Steel, and I don't recommend reading the biography on him that she wrote. His mom makes him out to be a spoiled brat.