The Vandals

The Vandals: Hitler Bad, Vandals Good.Hitler Bad, Vandals Good. (1998)
Nitro Records

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: SkanknsmileSkanknsmile
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on September 25th 2005The Vandals are weird. I will start it off right there. Not in the sense that they are goofy "oh man we are so fuckin' funny!" weird. Weird in a sense that they used to be such an awesome band. Then something happened. I don't know what it was. They didn't sell out; in fact, they sold down by releas.

The Vandals are weird. I will start it off right there. Not in the sense that they are goofy "oh man we are so fuckin' funny!" weird. Weird in a sense that they used to be such an awesome band. Then something happened. I don't know what it was. They didn't sell out; in fact, they sold down by releasing all their new stuff on their own label, technically. They didn't abandon their roots (too much), and they didn't "change their sound" like most bands nowadays are doing. They just stopped writing good albums, and I don't know if it's because they are getting too old, or they just stopped caring. Right around the time of Look What I Almost Stepped In... is when it just started going downhill. Such is life, right? Either way, the Vandals used to be one of my favorite bands. Furthermore, Hitler Bad, Vandals Good. is probably one of my favorite records that is just silly punk rock.

With songs like "The People That Are Going to Hell," which is a quaint little number about everyone who sucks at life and is evil, and where they are going, and their parody homage to the mullet with "I've Got an Ape Drape," this record is full of songs that make you laugh. Probably the standout track for me on this album would be "My Girlfriend's Dead," a song about everyone who is just sick about talking about their ex, so they came up with a perfect solution: Tell them she is dead, end of discussion. With the incoropration of the tuba, saxaphone, bongos, and horns, this record basically has whatever you would want in a fun release. This album was one of my "firsts" back in my high school days, so these guys still have a warm spot in my heart.

The music remains tight throughout the whole thing. That's another thing about the Vandals: All of them are amazing with their respective instruments. They never miss a beat at all; on record or live, they are always on top of their shit. Josh, Warren, Dave and Joe know that they are great, and they let it show. From excelling solos on all parts, this record proves that they can write awesome tunes, which is why it's so hard to see a band who wrote such amazing songs just suddenly take a turn for the worse.

So if you are going to dig into the back catalogue of the Vandals, I would suggest starting here. It's a well-rounded album where you can almost avoid getting a little sick of the silliness before you have to turn it off. Because honestly, they are good, but sometimes you can only take so much of it. But if you're looking for a starter album for a friend or for yourself, here is a good one that you can't not enjoy your first time.

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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.

taxidermy (April 1, 2009)

this will always be one of my favorite albums ever. i will force my grandkids to listen to this some day.

Gluesniffer (February 22, 2009)

The reviewer obviously didn't see the irony of "people that are goign to hell".

lushj (September 29, 2005)

I'm shocked that "Peace Thru Vandalism" is only mentioned twice below. Y'all are out of your minds. "When in Rome" was pretty spotty, although a few of their later songs were pretty cool. Whoever said there's a good retrospective with only a few songs from each new record is on target.

As for this list- again, where's "Peace Thru Vandalism"???? Buncha weirdos, it's like loving the Ramones but only listing their 80s and 90s albums.
1.live fast diarrhea
2.hitler bad.. vandals good
3.fear of a punk planet
4.the quickening
5.christmas w/ the vandals
6.when in rome... do as the vandals
7.sweatin' to the oldies(live shit

P.S.- The best thing on "Live Fast" (which is a pretty good one) is their Simpletones cover "I Have A Date" just cuz it's SUCH a great tune.

Score's for no love for "Peace Thru Vandalism"- at least love the dead horse they're flogging!

Anonymous (September 28, 2005)

i love how people can review records and say "i hate music now, im such a shithead and i only listen to what my college station plays...however, when i was 12 i listened to this band, so i cant give them shit. even though they suck. even though half the band are professional musicians. they still suck. but this album rules. well, not for me. whatever"

housewrecker (September 27, 2005)

Great record great band. I like the fact that Warren collaborated with Jack Black in The School of Rock. That movie is f*ckin' great.

sallyjesse (September 26, 2005)

at the first show i ever went to, Warren rolled up his shorts into a thong and preceded to shake his ass directly in my face. i've lost interest in the Vandals in recent years, but this score is for that first show. ahhh memories

Anonymous (September 26, 2005)

Fuck guys, the "Old" vandals weren't even that good. There were a ton of better bands, even ones who did the goofy schtick.

Anonymous (September 26, 2005)

This is a decent album for the current incarnation of the Vandals, but Peace Through Vandalism/When in Rome... blows this one out of the water. This is a decent piece of pop-punk, Peace/When is a classic.

Score is for the lack of respect people are giving the older Vandals.

poopypants (September 26, 2005)

i never had the urge to buy a vandals album, but if i was going to this would be it. 'my girlfriends dead' is classic. fun live too, although the 'summer nights' or whatever cover when warren hikes his shorts up and gets a boner is only amuzing the first time

paul

Since94 (September 26, 2005)

No mention of the Pennywise cover?

GreenVandal (September 26, 2005)

The Steve-O era will always shine the brightest for this band. Peace through vandalism/When in rome do as the Vandals is my fav.

Of the current lineup, I would have to say I like The Quickening the best. This album was half good, half crap, and I havent cared for anything since.

Oh well. This band was one of m favs when I was like 15, but I kinda have moved on. Still a fun listen every now and then though.

"If America stands for freedom, and if you think your free, try walking into a deli and urinating on the cheese!"

stevejonestherealbones (September 26, 2005)

these fuckmonkeys were at the prowar concert that 400 people attended

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo..com

McGarnicle (September 26, 2005)

Its insane how much disagreeing goes on with the Vandals. It seems everyone has their favorite from the newer era. I couldn't really get into this album that much, but I really like Live Fast and I actually found Superstuds to be really enjoyable.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

This album is poppier than Superstuds. I don't see why people hate that album.

Here's my take on their most recent albums:

Live Fast Diarrhea: 9/10

The Quickening: 7/10

Hitler Bad Vandals Good: 7/10

Look what I almost stepped in: 5/10............this cd is bad overall but ironically "GO" is my favorite Vandals song.

Internet Dating Superstuds: 9/10

Hollywood Potato Chip: 4/10.............the first four songs are decent and then it goes downhill pretty steep.

I have no idea what to expect from them next.

-sidewalk- (September 25, 2005)

while this album had its moments (as did "look what..." like i'm the boss of me, that song is nearly a perfect vandals song) i would have to agree with greenVandal in saying that this is when they went downhill. these songs get old pretty damn quick and started to make up the bulk of their live set every fucking time i saw them for YEARS. sweatin' to the oldies, live fast, the quickening, and the christmas album being their finest works in order of their greatness in my opinion. vandals shows around the time of live fast or the quickening were also not to be fucked with.

p.s. as i am writing this i just heard 'ol Hank Rollins on the t.v. telling me some shit about goodyear tires "silent armor technology". he's worse than snoop dogg. although that commercial with lee iacocca was pretty horrid.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

I always thought it was pretty cool how fractured the Vandals fan base is on which one of their albums is their best. I mean most bands that release as many albums as the Vandals have, it's pretty well universal which album was king shit.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

fuck you guys, i thought superstuds was awesome.

GreenVandal (September 25, 2005)

This is where The Vandals started to suck. The albums before this one are all pretty rockin though.

Marlon (September 25, 2005)

When I was first getting into punk this was the album I refferenced to make people think I was cool. Howd Hitler Bad, Vandals Good lead to Indie snobbery? The world may never know.

stevejonestherealbones (September 25, 2005)

the album with pizza tran is dope diggity

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

- this ones good too

greenerton (September 25, 2005)

Bad review, score for this album and the new Aquabats album (It's fantastic, what are you smoking Cos?)

wehavecomeforyourchildren (September 25, 2005)

part of me thinks the vandals got shittier just because i got older, but when i listen to "look what i almost stepped in" it really seems like they stopped writing songs they liked and started writing songs that they thought could be on mtv. look at the lyrics to "behind the music" or just listen to "jackass."

this was the last album that they put out that i really loved. i can listen to it still, but it can only be once every two years or else it gets boring. i think listening to it in 7th grade 9,000,000 times just killed it for me.

TheNightProwler (September 25, 2005)

Cos, that's a pretty daring thing to say about The Vandals & The Aquabats, especially since you wrote a very positive review for The Darkness of all things...

But anyways if you want to some good reviews of all the Vandals records check out this link
http://www.markprindle.com/vandals.htm
That guy writes tons of great reviews and his ones on the Vandals are pretty much close to what I think of each album.

Cos (September 25, 2005)

I really think this band has been on a steady decline since "Live Fast Diahrrea". Each one since has had its moments, but they've been increasingly few and far between (with the possible exception of the Christmas album, which is hysterical but kind of a novelty).

But since "Live Fast" I think the band has concentrated more on stupid, dumb-joke lyrics than exciting or innovative music or actually saying something witty, which means that they're the Aquabats now, except without the costumes.

Which is to say they suck.
--Cos

rkl (September 25, 2005)

Vandals - Hitler Bad, Vandals Good.
Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-09-25 12:38:52

I dig this album. There last effort HWPC was alright. I really thought they had some of their best songs in a long time on there. The problem was you had to shift through a shit load of filler to get there. This album was really good, even though my copy got destroyed a few years back.
Can someone rate their favorite Vandals albums, from top to bottom or whatever. I only own three or four of their albums, so I don't know what is better or worse, or if their are great Vandals albums I don't even own.
-Dante
this is just one(often outspoken)man's opinion, but here goes...
[in order of preference]
1.live fast diarrhea
2.hitler bad.. vandals good
3.fear of a punk planet
4.the quickening
5.christmas w/ the vandals
6.when in rome... do as the vandals
7.sweatin' to the oldies(live shit)
honestly, these last three should be avoided.
8.look what i almost stepped in
9.hollywood potato chips
10. internet dating superstuds

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

This album is pretty good, probably their last good album. "Idea For A Movie" is a great song.

superdude (September 25, 2005)

Dear Vandals,

Hitler Bad! No Duh!

I bought your t-shirt from a show when you were touring for this record. It was the one that said "Hiter bad..." on the front and "...Vandals good" on the back. Little did I know what kind of heat it would get me in.

As soon as I got home, my mom said, "Vandals good?" Then I had to listen to a lecutre about how vandalism isn't good at all, and that it ruins communities. I kept trying to tell them that it was a band, but it wasn't any use.

Do you think we can trade shirts? I can just send this one back to you. I don't like it when people acuse me of supporting criminal activity. What if I am mistaken for a gang member?

Do you have anything that just says "Hiter bad...Vandals (the band) good"?

That would be great.

Please send photos,
Superdude

hitlerbadzakgood (September 25, 2005)

a classic.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

this band is great.
this record is one of their best.
if you dont get it youre wierd.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

i don't like this record at all. the music is really slick sounding and really kind of bland and boring. and because they're a "joke band", they have to try and make every song funny. and honestly, i only find like 3 or 4 of these songs to be funny and the rest to be really annoying. maybe i just don't have the right sense of humor, but i think this band is really fucking stupid.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

score is for the highly underated "hollywood potato chip."

Dante3000 (September 25, 2005)

I dig this album. There last effort HWPC was alright. I really thought they had some of their best songs in a long time on there. The problem was you had to shift through a shit load of filler to get there. This album was really good, even though my copy got destroyed a few years back.
Can someone rate their favorite Vandals albums, from top to bottom or whatever. I only own three or four of their albums, so I don't know what is better or worse, or if their are great Vandals albums I don't even own.
-Dante

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

This was the first vandles cd that I really didn't like, I thought they redeemed themselves with "look what I almost stepped in",but it feels like something has been misssing for awile

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

BeaArthur is right, and everyone else is wrong. Nothing recorded since has been worth the plastic it was lasered into.

davebrave4 (September 25, 2005)

GOOD ALBUM. This is what punk is supposed to be; I haven't seen an album this good come out for a long time.

BeaArthur (September 25, 2005)

If you want their good stuff, go pick up Live Fast, Diahhrea or The Quickening. It was before they got way poppy.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

its their best album so far

JKyle (September 25, 2005)

This album was good.
Look What I Almost Stepped In... was bad.
Internet Dating Super Studs was good.
Hollywood Potato Chip was bad.

Assuming the trend continues, their next album should be good.

8dollarclarinetsolo (September 25, 2005)

i like quickening the best of theirs. warren writes like all the songs

this ones a great record, probably their peak

holly wood potato chip was pretty good too, it grew on me, i didnt think they had it in em after superstuds

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

'this band is shit. and joe escalante is a crooked and shady sonofabitch."

Yeah? You know him personally?

Anyway, I remember when this came out I had ordered two other albums from Nitro that took 6 months to get to me. So to make up for it, they sent me Hitler Bad, Vandals Good to me as free added bonus. I'm a pretty huge Vandals fan and have all of their albums, but none of them are all that great. I mean, they all have a few really, really good songs and then there's the other not so good songs. This album is no different. Eventually this band will put out one killer retrospective. But I would never give any of their full lenths a 9.

youngandrefused3 (September 25, 2005)

good review id say. but funny its 05 and this album came out in 1998...oh well, see the vandals live, amazing expirience

AlmostPunkEnough (September 25, 2005)

occasionally my favorite Vandals disc. it may be immature and stupid, but there's not one bad song on here.

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

This album is fun, plain and simple. The Vandals hit the nail on the head with this one.

TheNightProwler (September 25, 2005)

I know a lot of people took a huge stinking dump on Hollywood Potato Chip when it first came out but I grew to fucking love that album, people should have given it more of a chance because even I first didn't like it but after repeated listenings I remember that CD didn't leave my CD player for months.

So you people who say the Vandals suck now are invited to jump up my butt along with the people who go "oh yeah I liked them when I was in High School but then I grew up because I'm like so much more mature now and can't have a sense of humor anymore."

...but back on subject, this is a great Vandals album, very close to the perfectness that is "Live Fast Diarrhea."

Anonymous (September 25, 2005)

this band is shit. and joe escalante is a crooked and shady sonofabitch.