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 | Dead KennedysFresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables1980 Alternative Tentacles 
 Review by: Aubin See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on June 30th 2001 Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables is a five star record. It is a perfect record. Now, let me be clear on something. To me, a five star record is more than just a record I really, really like. There are lots of those. To me, a five-star record is one that changed everything. Not just changed the scene, not just changed my life. It's something so rare that it doesn't happen very often. (I'd say the Clash's self-titled record is up there, along with Bad Religion's Suffer.) At this point, as any regular reader of my half-assed reviews will recall, I'll drop into a diatribe about how I discovered this particular record, with plenty of melancholy, and assorted bitter humour. Well, not to disappoint, here I go To really get an idea of what the Dead Kennedy's mean to me, you have to look back awhile. In fact, the seeds of what peaked my interest in punk were set long before I was old enough to have a tape player, let alone this album. I spent a part of my formative years (i.e. 0-12) in a small town, on the East coast of Canada. My parents, recent immigrants, were struggling to get by, and while I didn't see my dad much, I have to say they tried to get me into a good school. Or so they thought I suppose. So, in this small town, there were two schools. I honestly don't remember the names, as this particular memory comes from primary school. Anyway, the good school in this small town was a hardline Catholic school run by nuns. Ironically (or perhaps not so ironically) this was the place that led to my rather serious animosity towards those who deem themselves the voices of god. My parents weren't Catholic. Not in the slightest. So you can imagine that a hardline catholic school was hardly a place for me, but as I mentioned, they were new immigrants, I was in the first grade, and there weren't a lot of options. It's strange how you can remember things so vividly when they happened such a long time ago, but I guess some things are memorable, even if you prefer not to remember. Myself, I was a painfully shy kid. Probably still am, hence I write this instead of talking about it. (I hope you all feel special, I don't talk to anyone about this) Anyway, for the first few months of school, there was slow but steady diet of insults, negativity and general meaness from the staff at the school. It was well known that I wasn't "of the faith" and like two other kids, we were sent out of the classroom whenever religious matters were occured; of course, that means, every morning, every lunchtime, every afternoon, and especially during religious occaisons (i.e. Ash Wednesday, Christmas, Easter, etc.) So on a daily basis, this ogre of a teacher would send me from the room, muttering, well, yelling, that I was a hell-bound little heathen. Fun stuff when you've still got a lot less than ten years on life. So I used to come home crying, (don't laugh, I was seven or eight here) and terrified about going to hell, and afraid to tell anyone, especially my over-stressed, under-sympathetic parents. (To be fair, they had little time to be sympathetic, I suppose they could have used some sympathy in those early years themselves) But this continued for months. It was pretty painful. Of course, I was hardly prepared for what happened next. One morning, as we were sitting, being lectured about something or other, I had the misfortune of letting my pencil drop off my desk. Oblivious, I kept reading through the book. Of course, this was until the teacher stopped talking and walked over to me. She glanced down at the pencil, and yelled, asking if I had noticed the pencil drop. Of course I had, but before I had a chance to speak, she hit me in the face, sending my glasses flying across the room. I tried to pick up the pencil, but she hit me again, this time on the cheek. While she did this, she continued to yell about my hellbound future, my disregard for catholic decency, and then, as I went to pick up my glasses, she held the pencil a few inches from my nose, shaking it at me, and demanding to know if I needed my glasses to hear what she was saying. At that point, I was no longer upset, just violently angry. I slammed my fist on the desk (not very threatening coming from an eight year old, I admit) and stormed out of the classroom, until I collapsed in the hallway, completely unsure of what to do. In any case, I had learned a few things. Apparently, these catholics followed something called the "Bible" and it explained right and wrong, and what people were permitted to do. I went home at the end of the day, and asked my mother to buy me a bible; I supposed that it would somehow explain the actions of this "Sister of the Lord" to a helpless kid. So, in grade two, I had finished reading the bible, cover to cover, and I came up empty. Where did it justify this? What kind of god would have a teacher humiliate and physically hurt a child? I suppose at this point, you're wondering where the Dead Kennedy's come in. A friend lended me a cassette of Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, when I was a little older. And somehow, it all made sense. My distrust of authority, my anger, my hate for people like that teacher. I wasn't the only one. I don't doubt that Mr.Biafra went through something like me; probably something worse. But it probably helped me through something. It still does to this day. I still have a distrust of people who claim to speak for god, but seem to really just use it as an excuse to push their own bigotry, their own cruelty, and their own lack of fucking intelligence. So I guess I skipped over the review a little. Let me say this. If you haven't heard the surf-infected, hardcore-styled music of the Dead Kennedy's, you have no business aligning yourself with punk. Without exception, almost every punk, ska and hardcore band owes them a debt. Without Kill the Poor, there could be no NOFX; without Let's Lynch the Landlord, no Operation Ivy; without Nazi Punks Fuck Off, no Lifetime. It goes on and on. But for me, it's more than just a debt that punk owes them, it's a debt I owe them. Or maybe I just owe that teacher. Sometimes, I think about going back to that little school, in that little town, and finding that person. But what would I do then? React violently? Tell her off? No. I can rest assured that if there is a hell, she's spending a lot of time there. Sometimes the most negative thoughts can give you peace. Funny, that. People who liked this also liked:           Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
There nothing I can really say that already hasn't been said. So the only thing I can add is the Dead Kennedys are fucking amazing. Fantastic review. It feels good knowing there are others like You. great review, great album. its nice to see other people care about the messages as well as the music too:) Amazing Review, I don't have a story like that, but just a life that got me into punk some way or another. Great review for a great album. Fucking awesome column Aubin. oh, my world. It is great. ;) the best part about this band is 90% of their songs are actually catchy enough for an average listener to appreciate, as well as the most die hard of punk rockers. By far the best Dead Kennedys album and one of the top 10 most influencial punk albums of all time. I just can't explain how much I love this album. Perfect 10. By far the best Dead Kennedys album and one of the top 10 most influencial punk albums of all time. I just can't explain how much I love this album. Perfect 10. An absolutely amazing album. Best alblum ever...... that might be stretching it, but I have yet to see another worthy contender for this crown. My personal favorite ttarcks are "Drug Me" and "When Ya Get Drafted", but there is not one song here that even crosses the barrier of mediocrity. I enjoyed the cover of "Viva Las Vegas"...... Jello's vocals along with a somewhat new take on the lyrics make for a hilarious combination. I love this record, and would recommend it to anyone with any knowledge of punk, hardcore, or genuinly fucked-up music. This album got me into punk... i too am going threw a catholic school... it sucks ass. teachers are critizing of punks or what ever fucking long hair, belts what ever and i hate them...they want us to be like them but no. the school is ran by queer-bashing football players. oh my god. this album made me a punk. still, everytime i get down or i feel oppressed in the slightest, i put this record on and boom. instant karmic rebound. i cant believe that the young kids i've seen at the shows don't respect these guys. it doesn't matter how "fucked up" jello biafra's voice is (was) or that you don't like that there's not enough screaming (honest to god, some kid actually said this to me). what sets them apart other than the bizarre vocals and the anti-practically-all-forms-of-authority themes to the songs was that they could actually play music. i mean, fuck man, east bay ray cannot be touched! that was the genius that was DK, seriously. these guys, indi from the get-go and still contributing long after the disintigration of their band. fucking revolutionary. And yes, the Dead Kennedys CREATED punk. They are the greatest. The Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Ramones were all in another universe. Dead Kennedys started punk. There would be no Ramones without the Dead Kennedys. And if you dont like them because you just dont care for their style of music you should be killed and hung on a rope to set an example. great fucking album. i love "let's lynch the landlord". i think "plastic surgery disasters" is a better album though. ha Vegeta that's funny it's been months since i've listened to DK. i dusted off this album the other day for old times sake. good god. after all these years they still kick the shit out of any band out there. This album is wonderful. Not only does Jello do an amazing job with writing lyrics that actually have meaning and are important, yet they are also funny at the same time. That's not an easy thing to do. I think the way this album comes together is amazing. With great songs like California Uber Alles and Holiday In Cambodia, and a personal one I think, I Kill Children are great. I don't think this album could be over-reated at all. It's too good for that. By far Dead Kennedys best album. No c.d. by that band, or many other bands could compare to Dead Kennedys music and Jello Biafra's unique lyrics. I think that if you want to get into Dead Kenedys, BUY THIS C.D. Or, if you say you like Dead Kennedys and NEVER heard this c.d... go out and buy it. wow, i've had similar experiences. i feel for ya man. and people wonder why some are so hostile towards religion. growing up in a fundamentalist christian church, i have been fucked over many times by the so-called "children of god". i was seen as a "troublemaker" because i thought for myself and asked a lot of quesstions they couldn't answer. i've never seen ignorance, stupidity, and cruelty better represented in such a small place. fucking religious fascists... Great review dude. 'Nuf said. =) great review man. it held my attention the whole way, as so few long reviews do. you should be writing for a zine somewhere, or maybe you do, hell idunno. anyway, dk were great, punk through and through. if you do run into that teacher one day, dont be violent, just vandalize something of his/or her's. trust me, it's much more fullfilling and it's less time in jail. peace- fathead Awesome review. Track that teacher down and kick her in the shins. Do it for me. i think reviewing old albums is to make the review library complete. i mean, what review section would be cool without a few classics thrown in the mix- fathead This album IS GOOD. But, what is up with all these reviews of older albums? This is a kick ass record, but i ani't gonna give it 10/10 just because i wanna prove how i am so into old school. Best review ever. Kick ass review. Even before I checked the author, something inside told me that only Aubin could do something so well-written. I personally havent heard this CD yet but I will be looking in to it shorty due to thsi review Kick ass album, kickass review. Man you got talent ;/ Great reveiw, truely one of the top ten punk albums ever. Nice story too, it sucks that most of us who became punks had to go through a period of humilation, alienation, or other such feelings and life experiences. But i feel that beacause of the pain i experience in my formative years, i became a better person, punk or not, at least i can make up my own mind, and think for myself. Fucking awesome column Aubin. Great review, great album. Though it's sad to see how this album is now considered decent and mild, when back in the day this was the work of the devil. It was an album by a band that gave punk a good kick in the ass right when it needed it most. You can thank bands like the Dead Kennedys(And a few others) for saving punk in the 80's from being totally wiped out and commercialized into pop and new-wave. |
