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Agent Orange

Living In Darkness (1992)
Posh Boy

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Contributed by: moldy
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 28th 2001

Agent Orange was a band that had a very unique sound, and was one of the most influential creative bands to come out of the early Orange County punk scene. They had a combination of surf music and punk that has never truely been repeated. The Offspring does a decent attempt on "Come Out and Play", but they weren't dark enough, musically or lyrically.

This album is actually a reissue of the original 1981 release with 7 extra tracks and an interview added on to it. These tracks only help an already outstanding album. With a combination of personal lyrics about the stuggles of being a punk in the early scene, and of just living life and retaining one's sainity, gripping social political comentary, and instrumental songs that provide the perfect soundtrack to a night's cruising. This album is one that can be left in the cd player and played over and over.

The stand out tracks include "Bloodstains", "Too Young To Die", "Miserlou (theme to Pulp Fiction)", "Last Goodbye", "A Cry For Help In A World Gone Mad", and "Living In Darkness".

The music is a very dark driving surf punk that compeals one to listen, while the lyrics draw one into the dark world of Mike Palm. This is a must have for any fan of early punk.

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KF84 (December 15, 2011)

Also an awsome live band!

WaitingRoom (June 9, 2008)

After listening to this album religiously, I realized that it is one of my favorite albums of all time. Both "Bloodstains" versions are outstanding and I really enjoy the interview at the end. It adds something. I would kill to see Agent Orange live...

totalstranga (July 25, 2006)

solid compilation. I picked this up when Offspring were big because i used to slam on how popular Offspring had become and someone told me these guys were better. They were right.

Anonymous (January 16, 2004)

simply love em

Anonymous (July 6, 2002)

Just because a band covers surf instrumentals doesn't make them a surf band. Agent Orange didn't combine surf with punk to make some hybrid, not like say, the Dead Kennedys.Their cover of "Pipeleine" is atrocious. Where's the opening staccato slide? The double picking? All this band has done is punked versions of surf instrumentals. They didn't combine 2 different genres.Their punk tunes aren't very fulfilling, but are certainly better than the surf tunes.
If you want surf punk, get the Dead Kennedys.

Yellowtrash (July 30, 2001)

I like this album a lot. Their psedo surf/hardcore makes a good mix. Their cover of pipeline is awesome and I like their interview. Their live album isn't as good, so get this one instead.

AtomicGarden (July 29, 2001)

This is a very good album.

seek (July 29, 2001)

this album is great, agent orange kicks ass.

Anonymous (July 29, 2001)

i bought an agent orange live record a long time ago and it sucked balls. i haven't since listened to them once, so i might like em a little more now than when i was 15, but i doubt it. they did cover police truck pretty cool though.- fathead

coldjuly (July 29, 2001)

Yeah!!!! Agent Orange is awesome, One of THE best to come out of OC EVER. Just flat out the best surf/punk you can buy...I recommend this to any punk fan.