Screeching Weasel

Screeching Weasel: Boogada Boogada Boogada / My Brain Hurts [reissues]Boogada Boogada Boogada / My Brain Hurts [reissues] (2005)
Asian Man Records

Reviewer Rating: 4

User Rating:

Contributed by: AubinAubin
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 6th 2005It's hard to wax nostalgic about a band that is really not that old. Talking about the early-90's as a source of nostalgia makes Screeching Weasel seem very old and the writer seem very young, but discussing reissues somehow requires that you start talking in that Ken Burns sort of voice in front of.

It's hard to wax nostalgic about a band that is really not that old. Talking about the early-90's as a source of nostalgia makes Screeching Weasel seem very old and the writer seem very young, but discussing reissues somehow requires that you start talking in that Ken Burns sort of voice in front of a backdrop of sepia-tinted photos. In the end, what matters is not how recently they existed, but just that they were a great band and they deserve to be remembered fondly. This selection of reissues from Asian Man seems like the ideal way to start.

After all, the equation that led to Screeching Weasel was remarkably simple and "classic" in terms of its inspirations; Ramones-esque melodic punk, whether played slow or breakneck fast, combined with irrepressibly snotty vocals and topped off with alternately silly and astute lyrics. But what made the band so great was both the larger than life image that Weasel commanded, topped off with genuinely strong songwriting. The band released a handful of releases before really starting to really find itself with Boogadaboogadaboogada. It's just about as harsh and pissed off as anyone without X's on their hand can muster, but thankfully tempered with an endlessly bemused outlook.

Boogada bashes through twenty-six tracks in just under forty-two minutes, with the band certainly devoting as much energy to its Southern Californian skate punk sound as to anything else, but this simple record, with its barrage of memorable tracks like "I Hate Led Zeppelin, " "Stupid Over You, " "Ashtray" and "Hey Suburbia," is certainly impressive and left a sea of imitators in its wake. It's not the absolute best in the band's discography but of their many records, it stands as one of their strongest, and a worthy introduction particularly when coupled with the record that followed it.

The band really came into itself, however, with that next record and Lookout! debut, which is almost certainly the best disc in the band's catalogue: My Brain Hurts. The band decreased the tempo slightly, but the result was a record of almost unequivocal quality. From the opening snotty salvo of "Making You Cry" to the pop-punk bliss of "Guest List," My Brain Hurts doesn't let up throughout its short playtime and fourteen tracks. Equally impressive was the growing sense of nuance, and even empathy from the band. "Cindy's On Methadone" comes across as a rousing defence of a friend kicking a heroin habit, while "Science Of Myth" takes a pragmatic look - and Greg Graffin's thesaurus - to religion. Of course, the almost but not quite earnest cover of "I Can See Clearly" is actually quite listen-able beyond its original humour value. Even "Veronica Hates Me" comes across as possessed of a genuine sense of melancholy.

Of course, these are reissues, so all you cool kids who own everything they've ever released - including that cover album of the entirety of Ramones - are probably wondering if these are worth buying again. Well, these two albums in particular were plagued by the muddy production and mastering of the time, and the new masters courtesy of Mass Giorgini really sparkle. Every note is clear, and you can hear every speck of dirt and every ounce of phlegm. On top of that, the packaging, while not dramatically different, does include commentary from members of the band and from Joe Queer, as well as the standard assortment of fliers and photographs. The sound though, particularly on these early albums, is dramatically improved.

Overall, if you don't own these, they should definitely be on your short list of records to check out, and if you already do, I'd say it's worth it at least to grab the remastered versions of your favourites.

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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.

JonnyCrackUp (July 11, 2006)

Re: Ben Weasel on Donkey Punch Radio, talks about "Weasel Mania"
by JonnyCrackUp on Tuesday, July 11, 2006 at 9:58 AM (EDT)
www.myspace.com/jcrackup
BEN WAS RIGHT PUNK IS A FOUR LETTER WORD....THANKS BEN!!! YOU SAVED MY HIGH SCHOOL BAND THE CRACK UPS

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY PUNK BAND THE CRACK UPS YOU MISERABLE JERKS

ESPECIALLY YOU JOE QUEER I KNOW YOU LISTEN TO NIRVANA!!!

JONNY CRACK UP LIVES PUNK LIVES AND NIRVANA SUCKS THE BIG NIPPLE...

READ ABOUT MY BAND

WE ARE BETTER THAN RANCID'S FAKE MTV BULLCRAP!!!

SCROLL DOWN

NOW THAT THE RAMONES QUIT AND WEASEL QUIT

IM FOLLOWING BEN'S LEAD...ACCEPT UNFORTUNATLY I HAVE ALOT OF MONEY FROM SHITTY JOBS AND IM FUCKING TAKING OVER THE PUNK SCENE BABY

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! !!!

Sunday, July 09, 2006
punk

7:44 PM - I wish I was retarded Category: MySpace
I remeber back in the mid 90's when I first started getting into punk rock. I was in 5th grade. My mom was working at a "School for the handicap and mentally Ill". She woke me up one morning in a frenzy and told me I had to walk all the way down to the school and roll the retarded kid in a wheelchair back to our house and put the dude in our garage which was leaking and smelled like dead rat. My mom had some stuff to do I don't know what It was. Maybe she had another job, so she put me in charge of this handicap guy. Before you continue reading this( I have no problem with handicap people, I'm just using this for my story) Anyway, the drumset was in the garage all sparkling and, not so sparkling. It was filled with Operation Ivy stickers and holes were kicked in to the sides of it and the and everything was duck-taped together. Matt Crack Ups amp to the side and his guitar was sitting there also. So I wheeled over the handicap guy and put him beside the drumset. I plugged in Matt's amp and handed him(Handicap guy). We'll say his name is R.J.! I handed R.J. the drumsticks and he just started playing. The cold air from outside hit like a ton of bricks and I started strumming powerchords. It sounded like complete crap. I made a phone call to Matt and told him to bring his mom's piece of crap car over and the microphone. Dave was on his way too. R.J.started playing faster beats on the drums without me even telling him how to play the drums. Where did this wheelchair man come from? How did he learn to play a "Punk rock beat" on the drums so quickly? I was confused. Matt's mom's dildo looking car swarved into the driveway and Matt was blasting" Here comes the sun" by The Beatles. I hate that song. It makes me feel like a homosexual when I listen to it. I think the Beatles bring out some sort of homosexual feeling in everyone. Matt whipped the microphone out of the trunk and paused when he saw a man in a wheelchair sitting behind my drumset and me with his guitar in my hand telling R.J. to play it faster and stop messing around. Matt set up the microphone and we played "I need therapy" by Screeching Weasel". Billy shouted 1-2-3-4! and we begun. Pretty soon the cops rolled around the corner and told us to stopp playing. This is was walking around the side of the house with a leather jacket drinking a 40 oz. of Mickey's. So we had one cop, one handicap drummer, one drunk in public, Matt had to go to work in an hour, and I was all to blame.Officer friendly was curious. He kept asking If we were nazi's? I don't know why. He probably thought we were skinheads that were trying to beat up poor R.J. We were ticketed with some kind of "Noise Contol" keeping the peace in the neighborhood type deal, so people could watch there football games all day and make sure there grass is cut neatly, and make sure they dont miss the weather on T.V. We were ticketed 30 dollars! 30 dollars! For playing I need therapy! Officer friendly wrote the ticket with a smile. I think people should just start playing shows in there garages for christ's sake. Make the neighbors angry! I loved making the neighbors angry. Sometimes we would throw greta big bricks through peoples front windows in Chicago on Thanksgiving. Just to make them mad while they were eating there turkey. This was of course after me and all of my punk rock friends ate our own dinners at our homes. We were the definition of complete ignorant teenagers. Born in a generation of no end. The 1990's were a generation that is filled with punks, new wavers, hip-hoppers, b-boppers, rude-girls and boys, wanna be hippies, college graduates and druggies. Same as the 70's people go to college and get there degree and then they roll it up and smoke it in a doobie and tell you that "Punk sucks!". I don't regret throwing any rock at anything. I don't regret putting poor R.J. on the drumset and making him play punk at all. R.J. probably enjoyed it. He's probably at the record store now looking through all of the punk section. As for Dave the cops turned him in for public intoxication. Threw him in the squad car. Dave says that the cops tore his leather jacket and that they haven't reimbursed him yet. He still complains about it until this day. The price you pay for showing up to band practice drunk! Cops have nothing else to do but to mess with suburbanites who want to play music. Cops should be out investigating rapists and criminals, why can't they let us play our music. I blame cops for alot of the shows that went wrong. Yeah, they are good for big warped tour events where the dummy street punks think that they are overthrowing the government. But they do no good in the suburbs I swear.

POSTED BY J. CRACK UP WWW.MYSPACE.COM/JCRACKUP

Anonymous (March 9, 2006)

50% to the reviews, 95% to the reissues
who gives a shit what the artwork looks like? didn't your teachers say don't judge records by their covers? the point is, the how to make enemies and irritaate people didn't have enough liner notes from anyone, i would have loved to get mike dirnt's liner notes on that record. the remastered songs don't sound better than the original... i'd prefer the original really. as far as anthem goes, theres no possible way to make that record better through remastering, its original quality was perfect. but really, noweasel reord deserves a pedastul position over any other weasel record, i own them all... proudly, and personally, i think weasel is the most overlooked and underappreciated band in the history of music. ben weasel, johnny ramone, and kody lillingtons are the three most important people in punk history... gimme feedback if you disagree... fucker

Anonymous (February 20, 2006)

Screeching weasel kicks ass. from Shows with wisconsins Garage Sale(xoxoxojohnny G)in 1986... to now. Screeching Weasel KICKS ASS> Please stop trying to diss a most important band in rock and roll history. Thanks ben & Johnny! As important as the Ramones. PS if you dont like this band, fuck off and put your bitching to better use, like perhaps a letter to a senator or the fucking monkey in the white house. What the fuck happened to Punk, its like a fucking popularity contest friggin soap opera now. Whats the prize again?

southpawnation (July 2, 2005)

>http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~dalporto/by_ben/dress.html

southpawnation (July 2, 2005)

>http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~dalporto/by_ben/dress.html

rkl (May 12, 2005)

it takes a band like screeching weasel to bring me out of the doldrums and remind me of more carefree days, when "pop-punk" wasnt neccesarily a bad word and kathy(whoever she is)was taking a bunch of pills and jumping off the roof.

lushj (May 11, 2005)

"sucks to see that Mike Park didn't spring for the cool ugly green cover with white tray like the original. "

Actually, the original cover IS that reddish/pink color, not the green cd cover of the Lookout repress.

ubershep (May 11, 2005)

If Ben Weasel begat modern punk, aka "THE BEST EVER!111", then I wish he was a dead man.

In my opinion the Ex are the best punk band to come out in any time period. They are smarter, funnier, and heck of a lot more talented than any of the bands in the genre. There is no contest.

Anonymous (May 11, 2005)

and when did people decide that punk music was supposed to be boring (see: Hey Mercedes, Hot Hot Heat, etc. reviews)?

Anonymous (May 10, 2005)

when did people decide that they were too good for three chord rock?

SkolarX (May 10, 2005)

to the nutter who wrote the huge inane post a few down, read this please, actually just read the last paragraph.

http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~dalporto/by_ben/dress.html

i also remember reading an article where ben said he didn't want his music called pop-punk. punk-pop always seemed a better term for it since the punk is more revelant in their music

Anonymous (May 10, 2005)

I think whoever posted that inane comment was aware of the bad grammar, using it on purpose. Note use of apostrophes.

Anonymous (May 10, 2005)

"If it wasn't for Screeching Weasel, there wouldn't be no Pink Lincolns."

We got us here a learn'd people yousin the interweb to posted they're oponions.

Anonymous (May 10, 2005)

I'm at a loss for words.

Not-To-Regret

At least have the balls to not be anonymous. You're stuck in a box and chained to three chords.

Anonymous (May 9, 2005)

Ramones: SELLOUT
Clash: SELLOUT
Jawbreaker: SELLOUT
Minor Threat: somebody's daddy bought him a label

Screeching Weasel: THE SHIT, the best bar none. There has NEVER been a better band. Not only is their music fucking genius, THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. Someday (and it will probably take 15 more years for stupid fucks to figure this out) Screeching Weasel will be considered as influential (or more) than The Velvet Underground.

If it wasn't for Screeching Weasel, there wouldn't be no Queers.

If it wasn't for Screeching Weasel, there wouldn't be no Pink Lincolns.

If it wasn't for Screeching Weasel, there wouldn't be no Teen Idols.

If it wasn't for Screeching Weasel, there wouldn't be no Squirtgun.

So not only did Screeching Weasel make the most important punk music of the last 15 years (if not ever), they singlehandedly spearheaded a revolution: the pop punk revolution.

If it wasn't for Screeching Weasel, there wouldn't be no Green Day.

The band was a major fucking force in everything we call punk today.

And that's not even touching the impact of their music. Jon Jughead is a fucking musical genius. His guitar playing puts Greg Ginn, James Williamson, Dr. No, J Mascis and the Sex Pistols' Steve Jones ALL to shame-- exposing them (Ginn/Williamson/Jones especially) for the wankmaster, metal wannabes that they really are. Every bass player SW ever had was kickass. Why, Mass G. is better than Chuck Dukowski and Mike Watt and Karl Alvarez combined. Dan Panic is a better drummer than Dave Lombardo or Keith Moon.

And then there's Ben.

Really, all I can say about the man is that he's the voice of a generation. Mr. Weasel/Foster has that unique ability to sum up the experience/feelings of a generation in terse, heart-tearing lyrics. Ben is, simply put, the living embodiment of everything worth a damn about punk, EVER.

Just look at HOW GREAT punk is today, and you can attribute the greatness of modernday punk ALL to Ben Weasel. Punk has NEVER BEEN BETTER than it is right now. The punk community is FINALLY at a pinnacle where the music is TOTALLY REVOLUTIONARY and popular too. The new school of punk puts that old horseshit like Minor Threat, The Clash, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, whatever... NEW PUNK IS THE BEST EVER.

And if you don't like that, well, maybe you just can't face reality. Maybe you should question your allegiance to punk, you fucking poser.

WEASEL FOREVER. KEEP ON PUNKIN'!!!

And FUCK YOU if you can't wake up from your dreams of "classic" punk and face it-- POP PUNK IS THE BEST. I mean, that's why it's POPular. And NOW is the best punk period.

slippy (May 9, 2005)

The first punk band I was into. Respect

SkolarX (May 9, 2005)

man i don't look at this thing for a few days and...

that kids thing had to have been a joke, there isn't any way possible that rant could have been serious. he sort of had me up until the academy is... stuff. the ramones were on a major because at the time indie labels either didn't exist or had very limited distro. in their aftermath indie labels flourished but that was after them. to call a band who played the same song 15 times an album for 22 years a bunch of sell outs is retarded. if they had suddenly released an album with wild guitar solos then maybe you could call them sell outs. when it all comes down to it, they were the AC/DC of the punk world. not sure why that rant just came out of me but there it is.

that said its been years since i've heard my brain hurts, i think i have it on cassette somewhere, but boogada is definately one of the major albums that defined the punk sound of the 90's, a classic in every sense of the word.

Anonymous (May 9, 2005)

"As for the hilarious band The Academy Is, not even the bandmembers' parents would consider them better than Jawbreaker, so you can't expect anyone to believe that one."

not to mention, I can hardly imagine how Ben Weasel or Joe Queer would react if you told them their bands (or Squirtgun or whoever...) were better than that bunch of sell outs the Ramones.

CantSitStill (May 9, 2005)

sucks to see that Mike Park didn't spring for the cool ugly green cover with white tray like the original.

"hey suburbia" will always live in my "top 10 punk songs ever" list.

phdecontrol (May 8, 2005)

oh i forgot to add that Screeching Weasel is fucking classic. great shit.

phdecontrol (May 8, 2005)

If I ever see a comparison of Jawbreaker and The Academy Is... ever again........oh i just dont know. that's completely and utterly rediculously ludacris and psychotic to try to compare the two and say that Jawbreaker sucks....christ almighty. it almost makes me laugh to think that you have such a tiny brain to think that way.

Oh well, you're probably just a kid that's never listened to jawbreaker enough to truely appreciate them, or you're actually a member of The Academy Is... trying to start shit so people will listen to your band to see how you compare to Jawbreaker. But in the end, no matter what your true motive is, no one will believe that The Academy Is... - a bullshit, rehashed, unoriginal, boring band that couldnt possibly write song lyrically that could even touch a Jawbreaker song - could be better than Jawbreaker.

Anonymous (May 8, 2005)

I agree with the guy below. I would add that SW always seemed more unpredictable too. The Ramones were ok, but they're just sort of boring to listen to.

Anonymous (May 8, 2005)

its taken me some time to reach this conclusion, but i like weasel better than the ramones. mostly for the following reasons:

better lyrics
amazing vocal harmonies
those awesome 3 note guitar leads

i'm not that into boogada but the reissue of MBH sounds incredible. so does wiggle. and any weasel fan will love the liner notes and band commentary.

Crookedsuperhero (May 8, 2005)

They did the monster mash.

It was a graveyard smash.

XmeepX (May 8, 2005)

I honestly just hope that guy is completely serious, because that would make him awesome in his own special way, even though I bet the signer of the academy is likes to suck dudes off. And red scare is correct, that lillingtons album is great, as is the connie dungs. POP PUNK IS MAKING A COMEBACK!

Anonymous (May 8, 2005)

to the guy below me:

I find it amusing that you rip on the Ramones for "selling out" and going on a major label, yet at the same time, praise Rise Against.

Hypocrite.

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

"I'm entitled to my opinion, especially when that opinion is so goddamned right on, so dead on target -- pure truth.

I guess it makes all you old fucks mad that somebody comes along and tears down their "classic" icons. Well, baby, I am an iconoclast.

Here's what it all comes down to: read it and weep.

Screeching Weasel is probably the best punk band EVER. They're so much better than the fucking old tired Ramones, why, it's ridiculous. the Ramones were nothing more than wannabe rockstars with their long hair and their major label bullshit. Screeching Weasel, The Queers, Borace The Sprinkler, The Methadones, the Teen Idols, even Squirtgun-- they're ALL fucking KILL The Ramones. At least all of those bands stayed indie and kept it true, unlike the sellout Ramones.

The Tossers are better than The Clash, even thought the Clash's first couple of albums (before they sold out with "London Calling") are pretty good. The Tossers absolutely SMOKE the fucking Pogues. That drunk Shane McGowan couldn't touch T. Duggins' lyrical mastery no matter how hard he tried. Duggins' lyrics are pure poetry while McGownan's are just the drunken ramblings of a poser who wishes he was in a real Irish band.

Rise Against is so much more valid than Minor Threat EVER was. They have something REAL to say, instead of creating some stupid straight edge trend, wearing that like a badge of honor-- which was Minor Threat's ruse to distract attention away from their piss poor "music." Rise Against comes FROM THE HEART man, and what they say is REAL. That's why their music comes off as so immediate and fucking powerful, while Minor Threat just sounds like a bunch of whining jocks.

The Acadamy Is kicks ass on Jawbreaker for the same reason. The Academy Is' lyrics are FROM THE GUT, telling REAL stories of what it's like to be young and to REALLY FEEL today. Jawbreaker was just a bunch of East Coast, Ivy League types masquerading as youth, delivering a bunch of "I feel bad" lyrics that were just plain trite, period. And Jawbreaker's music was just shit. If you put Jawbreaker next to The Academy Is in the live context, well, THERE'S NO CONTEST. Could that Blake guy whirl his guitar around his neck even once? Jawbreaker just stood there and played. The Academy Is puts ALL into it, and the way they move takes the (much more powerful) emotional context of their music into hyperspace. Their live show is like a powerful interpretive dance put to equally powerful, meaningful, raw and TRUE lyrics. Jawbreaker is (was) just for old dorks.

Face it, it's time to BE HONEST and say what really is: THESE NEW BANDS OUTSHINE THAT OLD SHIT BY A MILLION MILES. Fuck New York's 76-77 scene, fuck DC hardcore circa 1982/83, fuck that poser Blake Schwarzenwhatever, who couldn't write a good song or a decent lyric to save his goddamned life. Out with the old and let's champion the NEW SCHOOL, the BEST bands ever.

And they're ALL from the Chicago area, the area that has historically produced THE BEST punk, bar none."

I give him credit for his obvious knowledge of punk music, but I despise his taste. The clash did not "sell out" for london calling they just matured and wanted to play pop and reggae influenced songs as on london calling and sandinista!. I don't really know what else to say but I think it's bullshit calling screeching weasel "the best punk band EVER"... no way.

lushj (May 7, 2005)

Hey, isn't that Iconoclast person just yanking your chains? Come on, don't be a dupe!

P.S.- Effigies, Naked Raygun, Screeching Weasel, Smoking Popes, Los Crudos, I like Chicago!

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

Going to an Ivy League means your sucks? Comparing the Tossers to the Clash, wha?!?? Apparently this kid has never heard the Clash.

jamespastepunk (May 7, 2005)

Rise Against is so much more valid than Minor Threat EVER was. They have something REAL to say, instead of creating some stupid straight edge trend, wearing that like a badge of honor-- which was Minor Threat's ruse to distract attention away from their piss poor "music." Rise Against comes FROM THE HEART man, and what they say is REAL. That's why their music comes off as so immediate and fucking powerful, while Minor Threat just sounds like a bunch of whining jocks.

You are kidding, right? I mean, shit, I'm a huge Rise Against fan, but there's no one that can touch Minor Threat.

Oh, by the way, Minor Threat didn't found anything. Straight Edge was an idea that Ian believed in, and other people took it to logical extremes. It wasn't a ruse, and they didn't make a lot of noise about it from what little I know.

Have you seen a picture of MInor Threat? Or heard their music? Calling them a bunch of whining jocks is the height of ignorance, if you know. When you do, come back and then we'll talk.

By the way, I know you just looked up iconoclast in the dictionary.

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

"The Acadamy Is kicks ass on Jawbreaker for the same reason...."

LOL

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

"And Jawbreaker's music was just shit. If you put Jawbreaker next to The Academy Is in the live context, well, THERE'S NO CONTEST. Could that Blake guy whirl his guitar around his neck even once? Jawbreaker just stood there and played. The Academy Is puts ALL into it, and the way they move takes the (much more powerful) emotional context of their music into hyperspace."

I'm sorry, but this was really funny. So, let me get this straight: Good music means you have to be able to "whirl" your guitar around your neck? Since when did flashy show moves mean better music? Jawbreaker didn't need moves to accentuate the power of their music, their music was powerful enough.

exploitedyouth (May 7, 2005)

So you say that the Ramones suck because they were on a major but then Rise Against is better than Minor Threat which kind of contradicts yourself seeing as how they left an indie for a major label.

~exploitedyouth~

RedScare (May 7, 2005)

"I am an iconoclast". No, you're a dipshit. This boob is obviously just trying to start shit, so don't respond to his lunacy. As for the hilarious band The Academy Is, not even the bandmembers' parents would consider them better than Jawbreaker, so you can't expect anyone to believe that one.

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

first of all rise against are pretty lame.you dont call your album "siren song of the counter culture" and then put it out on a major label.

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

I'm entitled to my opinion, especially when that opinion is so goddamned right on, so dead on target -- pure truth.

I guess it makes all you old fucks mad that somebody comes along and tears down their "classic" icons. Well, baby, I am an iconoclast.

Here's what it all comes down to: read it and weep.

Screeching Weasel is probably the best punk band EVER. They're so much better than the fucking old tired Ramones, why, it's ridiculous. the Ramones were nothing more than wannabe rockstars with their long hair and their major label bullshit. Screeching Weasel, The Queers, Borace The Sprinkler, The Methadones, the Teen Idols, even Squirtgun-- they're ALL fucking KILL The Ramones. At least all of those bands stayed indie and kept it true, unlike the sellout Ramones.

The Tossers are better than The Clash, even thought the Clash's first couple of albums (before they sold out with "London Calling") are pretty good. The Tossers absolutely SMOKE the fucking Pogues. That drunk Shane McGowan couldn't touch T. Duggins' lyrical mastery no matter how hard he tried. Duggins' lyrics are pure poetry while McGownan's are just the drunken ramblings of a poser who wishes he was in a real Irish band.

Rise Against is so much more valid than Minor Threat EVER was. They have something REAL to say, instead of creating some stupid straight edge trend, wearing that like a badge of honor-- which was Minor Threat's ruse to distract attention away from their piss poor "music." Rise Against comes FROM THE HEART man, and what they say is REAL. That's why their music comes off as so immediate and fucking powerful, while Minor Threat just sounds like a bunch of whining jocks.

The Acadamy Is kicks ass on Jawbreaker for the same reason. The Academy Is' lyrics are FROM THE GUT, telling REAL stories of what it's like to be young and to REALLY FEEL today. Jawbreaker was just a bunch of East Coast, Ivy League types masquerading as youth, delivering a bunch of "I feel bad" lyrics that were just plain trite, period. And Jawbreaker's music was just shit. If you put Jawbreaker next to The Academy Is in the live context, well, THERE'S NO CONTEST. Could that Blake guy whirl his guitar around his neck even once? Jawbreaker just stood there and played. The Academy Is puts ALL into it, and the way they move takes the (much more powerful) emotional context of their music into hyperspace. Their live show is like a powerful interpretive dance put to equally powerful, meaningful, raw and TRUE lyrics. Jawbreaker is (was) just for old dorks.

Face it, it's time to BE HONEST and say what really is: THESE NEW BANDS OUTSHINE THAT OLD SHIT BY A MILLION MILES. Fuck New York's 76-77 scene, fuck DC hardcore circa 1982/83, fuck that poser Blake Schwarzenwhatever, who couldn't write a good song or a decent lyric to save his goddamned life. Out with the old and let's champion the NEW SCHOOL, the BEST bands ever.

And they're ALL from the Chicago area, the area that has historically produced THE BEST punk, bar none.

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

I can't believe somebody tried to say that The Academy Is is better than Jawbreaker. Are you fucking retarded, boy? Chicago has some good bands, but being "better" than revolutionary bands doesn't make them "more revolutionary." They're just building off of what bands like Minor Threat, the Clash, and Jawbreaker created.

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

is a screeching weasel reunion out of the question now? why did that one never happen last year?

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

I really don't think I've heard a bad SW record yet. Boogada Boogada Boogada is my favourite out of these two though, very funny and some great musicianship.

Joe

Anonymous (May 7, 2005)

I'm phenomanally cynical of this band.

-Not-To-Regret

CaveatMalefactor (May 6, 2005)

Score is for Boogada and the phenominal cynicism of that album.

SoupIsGoodFood (May 6, 2005)

Score is for Weasel as a band. My favorite. These fucking RIP, get them both.

Crookedsuperhero (May 6, 2005)

Best Weasel song - Science Of Myth.

TheOneTrueBill (May 6, 2005)

Yeah, chicago is pretty awesome. The lack of a job plus closer proximity to a lot of clubs (AKA going to school on the north side) has allowed be to see a shitload more shows and find out about a lot more great bands.

Does anyone know if the Riverdales records are being re-issued too? I vaguely remember reading that.

RedScare (May 6, 2005)

"My Brain Hurts" is one of three records that makes up the Holy Trinity of Modern Pop Punk. The Lillingtons "Death By Television" and the Connie Dungs self-titled album are the other two. Essential stuff.

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

My brain hurts is one of the best pop punk albums of all time, but I hate the guitar sound and the occasional keyboards. Otherwise, perfect album.

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

While this guy is an idiot, he does have one thing right. Chicago really doesn't know how good they have it.

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

My god, man! Are you blind? That post is pure sarcasm. What do you think: you're somebody "putting it into perspective for the kids?" Jesus, look at that post again for fuck's sake.

kirbypuckett (May 6, 2005)

To the guy below...

You have to realize though that the Ramones essentially created the sound and without their legendary recordings these two records, as well as the rest of SW's extensive catalog may not exist or be as good.

- Kirby

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

Screeching Weasel is probably more important than The Ramones. Simply put, SW is the best punk band ever.

God, I just marvel at all the timeless punk classics Chicago has delivered through the years: Rise Against kicks ass on Minor Threat, The Tossers outshine anything by The Clash or The Pogues by a million miles, The Smoking Popes make The Jam, The Buzzcocks and The Undertones look trite in comparison, Naked Raygun is better than the combined talents of Black Flag, Bad Brains and The Big Boys, and The Academy Is totally fucking destroys lame, kiddie shit like Jawbreaker.

People just don't know how good they have it in Chicago.

Back to SW, there is quite simply no band that has ever been better. Oh yea, I gotta give The Queers and The Methadones some props as well. Both of those bands could've taught those weak-ass Ramones a thing or three.

XmeepX (May 6, 2005)

These are two of my favorite albums of all time, and theyd efiently sound better. Out of all of the re issues coming out though you can tell the msot difference on my brain hurts, it sounds great. Boogada sound sgood too, as good as it can possibly sound. I love this band.. and anyone who doesn't know who they are should defiently go check em out..

www.myspace.com/blacktiebombers
www.blacktiebombers.com

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

boogadax3 was the first screeching weasel album that ben weasel realized that he could play power chords not only the E string, but the A string as well. when you know about that, the possibilities of music are endless, and thats reflected in this fuckin amazin album.

kirbypuckett (May 6, 2005)

If you look closely you can see Aubin's reflection in the album covers.

;)

- Kirby

sickboi (May 6, 2005)

Television City Dreams rules all.

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

SW have released some crappy records, and im a huge fan. But both of these cds are awesome, along with kill the musicians and anthem

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

my brain hurts is classic. i have not heard another complete SW album but i know i love my brian hurts.

so this score is for my brian hurts only.

joshcore (May 6, 2005)

"did ben weasel play guitar and sing or just sing?"

He only sang on "My Brain Hurts", but sang & played some guitar on "Boogadaboogadaboogada". He varies from vocals-only to vocals & guitar from record to record.

And it matters not which of these two records is better -- both are stellar.

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

i think we are all getting old and want to preted that the early 90s wasent that long ago. Guess what, its 15 years since 1990 bubba.

aubin (May 6, 2005)

I think Screeching Weasel was around in the late 80s actually.

Yeah, I'm using 90s loosely because that's when they really got some attention. I'd also call NOFX a 90s band, I guess because they weren't part of the 80s "scene." When I think 80s, I think of the Germs, Adolescents, etc.

Andy80 (May 6, 2005)

You know shit!..cazzone....Ben Weasel for pope

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

Good review. But Anthem for a New Tomorrow is their definitive release. Plus, it has guest vocals from Blake and Fat Mike.

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

I only have boogada.. and I fucking love it.. I heard a song of theres off fat music III, and it was mediocre.. at best

aahhhh (May 6, 2005)

did ben weasel play guitar and sing or just sing?

bizzlebrizzle (May 6, 2005)

I think Screeching Weasel was around in the late 80s actually.

skanknsmile (May 6, 2005)

i disagree, i think my brain hurts is their best effort. for a "smart" screeching weasel album that is. boogadax3 has its moments, but i would have to go with my brain hurts first. anything else is better than any of the shit released after bark like a dog, and that album is still teatering on shittyness.

8dollarclarinetsolo (May 6, 2005)

ive heard both of these and like the remastering. its not worth getting if you have them all, but the booklets are definetely worth reading at some point

Anonymous (May 6, 2005)

BoogadaBoogadaBoogada > My Brain Hurts.

Also, BoogadaBoogadaBoogada is an amazing punk album, and coincidentally happens to be Screeching Weasel's ONLY good album.

Fact.