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Adolescents

The Complete Demos 1980-1986
2005
Frontier

Adolescents - The Complete Demos 1980-1986 (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Jesse
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Frontier Records (link)

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Published on April 5th 2005

These, my friends, are all of the demos that the Adolescents have recorded over a six-year period. Yes, I am aware that the title of the album should reveal this fact to you brazenly, but I'm a little bit drowsy and it's a Sunday and the weather is nice outside and the last cup of coffee I drank was about two-and-a-half hours ago. Now this would be a problem had I not had this album loaded onto my iPod. See, I am working alone at the record store I work at right now, and if I fell asleep, that would probably cause problems. But I'm not worried about falling asleep.

Why am I not worried about falling asleep? Because the Adolescents are playing! And let me tell you, this album rocks my face. Somewhat recorded in a parent's garage, somewhat hastily recorded in studios, these sixteen tracks are the snottiest and brattiest 80's punk/hardcore I've heard in a long time. When I say snotty, I mean dripping and pouring out of the nostrils. When I say bratty, I mean a four-year-old clawing their fingernails into the floorboards while wailing at the top of its lungs.

Songs like "I Hate Children" and "We Rule And You Don't" grind their way through the speakers, making me realize that the immaturity of this band could only merit them their name. Full of frustrated angst, these demos are gritty and fast, sounding like a punk record should. There's no fancy production, no overdubs - just guitars, drums, bass, and vocals. Technically adept, we are graced by killer guitar solos every once and a while, but mostly this album is packed with three-to-four chord raw and catchy tracks.

Some might recognize an early version of "Amoeba," which is featured on the soundtrack from "Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3," while "Richard Hung Himself" is a studio track that was never released on the Welcome to Reality EP. Two versions of "Wrecking Crew" are placed back-to-back. "Do The Eddie" is a fast-paced song that features on the spot stop time, proving the bands proficiency with thier instruments.

Now I have to admit a blasphemy. I had never really heard the Adolescents before I got this album to review. And I regret it heartily. But the thing is, now that I've heard these early demos and how great these songs are recorded lo-fi, I'm not sure I want anything that was a studio release. There is so much raw energy and anger on these recordings that I can't stop playing them and they can't stop playing over and over again in my head.

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Posted by John_Doe on 2005-07-26 22:42:16

I liked this album, except that they had Wrecking Crew back to back. I thought my CD player skipped the first time I heard it (I didnt look at the track listing until I heard a song I liked).

But for me I like track 15 "The Liar" that song was really something that I liked.

Also, I am a fan of most of the Adolescents stuff, and I just got OC Confidential (in my opinion, good stuff, not the blue album at all, but probably deserves 5 or 6 stars out of a possible 10... hell, maybe 7 stars, but not higher than that.

Posted by Jesse on 2005-04-10 11:43:35

I mean, if you want elitist, read my other reviews.

Posted by Jesse on 2005-04-10 11:43:16

I never mentioned that the store I worked in was all vinyl in the review. I wasn't bragging about owning an iPod, I was just writing it as it was. I had an iPod at work. So sue me.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 10, 2005 at 12:07 AM (EDT)

This review is too elitist for me. The reviewer's bragging about 1) owning an iPod and 2) working in "vinyl shoppe." Hipper-than-thou bullshit shouldn't be in a review. What's the point in reviewing a demo collection if you've not heard the originals? These things are made for fans, not casual listeners.

I'm not a big enough fan of the Adolescents to buy this, but I do enjoy them.
I found the Blue album a few years ago for 99 cents. Good good.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 8, 2005 at 6:17 PM (EDT)

this disc blows badly. I can't believe Lisa Fancher put this turd out. This is right up Triple X's alley, though. Let's get this straight:

Blue album = ***** (five stars)
every thing after that? = * (guess how many?)

As a rule, if it wasn't good enough to release 20 some odd years ago, what could have possibly changed to warrant a release now?

NOTHING.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 7, 2005 at 12:40 AM (EDT)

Weezer has nothing on this band....Weezer has very little any great band for that matter. They are radio pop rockers with an "indie" (IE trendy) look......Blah! They sucked 10 years ago and they still suck now.

Posted by dazed on 2005-04-06 14:18:29
My Score:

You messed that up, the blue album by the Adolescents is better than anything by Weezer.

Posted by leftoverbud on 2005-04-06 13:27:15

Blue Album by Weezer is better than anything by this band.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 5:48 PM (EDT)

The Adolescents were a cool band.....not the greatest ever....but definitely awesome.

Posted by gladimnotemo on 2005-04-05 17:12:37
My Score:

The Blue Album is the perfect soundtrack to suburban angst.

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2005-04-05 15:09:21
My Score:

I love this band, saw the current lineup back in january and they're still great.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 2:11 PM (EDT)

The best american punk record EVER (blue album)!!! Adolescents are gods to punk rock . You just can't touch Rikk's songs.

Posted by inagreendase on 2005-04-05 14:05:42
My Score:

I'm in the same boat as Jesse here. Except for the working at a record store part. That'd be nice, though.

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-04-05 12:40:29

Yeah, the member sharing is crazy. Derek O Brien alone has been in every one of the big Fullerton bands. Social D, DI, Agent Orange, Adolescents. It blew my mind when I kept buying albums and videos and seeing/hearing him in them.

Posted by lushj on 2005-04-05 12:38:16
My Score:

"Richard Hung Himself" is D.I.'s signature song from their "Team Goon" record. Casey Royer is part of the whole Rikk Agnew, Tony OC group and was in a lot of the early Adolescents as the drummer? Not sure about that, but DI, Adolescents, Rikk Agnew's GREAT solo record, and a ton of other OC bands share members and tunes.

So yeah, if you like this cd, get the Blue album, get the first 2-3 D.I. records ("Team Goon" "Horse Bites Dog Cries" and "Ancient Artifacts"), get the first Rikk Agnew solo record "All By Myself" (this may be available as bonus material on the cd version of the Blue Adolescents record).

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 9:25 AM (EDT)

Try to find the "blue album" with the Agnew solo stuff on it. OC Life is one of the best songs ever written.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 4:31 AM (EDT)

You know its a good store when you add the extra "p" and "e" at the end of the word shop.

Posted by Jesse on 2005-04-05 03:16:50

I'd say so. We have a lot of old stuff, and a lot of good new stuff. My boss knows what's up. Stop in and introduce yourself sometime, only 4 people work there - my boss, a 30 something guy with grayish hair, a 26 something girl who is my co-worker, and a scrawny kid named Jeffery who was just hired. I'm the 20 year old in a black cap and usually lumberjack flannel.

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-04-05 03:07:59

I've walked past it before, but never been in there. Do you have good stuff?

Posted by Jesse on 2005-04-05 02:55:54

I work at Sound Gallery. It's an all vinyl shoppe.

Posted by thenightprowler on 2005-04-05 01:56:43

How could you not own the blue album? Buy it as soon as humanly possible. The Kung-Fu live DVD/CD is also a must have.

Posted by joeg on 2005-04-05 01:11:50

new tour, including east coast dates, this summer bitches.

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-04-05 00:09:41

Jesse Jesse Jesse, go get the Blue Album next time you're working (what store do you work at, if you don't mind me asking). It's one of my favorite albums ever. If you liked this, you'll absolutly love that one.