Millions of Dead Cops

Millions of Dead Cops: Magnus Dominus CorpusMagnus Dominus Corpus (2004)
Sudden Death

Reviewer Rating: 4.5

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Contributed by: Nick_VNick_V
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Published on November 27th 2005Punk rock music needs more bands like MDC. You see, a long time ago, punk rock didn't serve as background music to teen movies about the superficial dilemmas of spoiled rich kids, and...oh, screw it. Fans of old-school punk can rejoice, for MDC has assembled their entire original line-up for this re.

Punk rock music needs more bands like MDC. You see, a long time ago, punk rock didn't serve as background music to teen movies about the superficial dilemmas of spoiled rich kids, and...oh, screw it. Fans of old-school punk can rejoice, for MDC has assembled their entire original line-up for this release.

For those of you new to the MDC camp, Dave Dictor's style of hardcore vocals is a unique and wonderful thing; rather than high-pitched wailing or nearly indecipherable drill instructor barking, his vocal delivery is nothing more than his agitated voice running through his sarcastic raps, which means lyrics that you can understand without reading the booklet. The music is fast, dirty and aggressive, designed for circle pits rather than therapeutic group hugs. MDC's multi-pronged lyrical spear is both political and satirical, targeting everything from the current administration ("Destroying the Planet") to American history revisionists ("Founding Fathers"), the police ("No More Cops"), and Good Charlotte and their ilk ("Poseur Punk"). Of course, no MDC release would be complete without a few tongue-in-cheek punk ballads ("Girls Like You Make Me Queer," "Let's Kill All the Cops") in addition to songs like "Timmy Yo," a salute to the departed editor of MaximumRock&Roll and a critique of today's Warped Tour punk culture. The fact that MDC can skillfully add a few sprinkles of humor to their vitriol makes them stand out in a unique way and adds to the replay value.

If you're not convinced that you should own this album yet, the album's closing track, "The Ballad of G.W.," should seal the deal. It's a laugh-inducing parody of the "Beverly Hillbillies" theme song, with derisive, biographical lyrics about a certain special someone. This is a song they should be playing on "The Daily Show."

With the most provocative, eyebrow-raising cover art since Leftover Crack's Fuck World Trade, you're not going to find this album in Best Buy or Tower Records anytime soon. You're going to have to search for this one. But it's worth it.

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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.

FuckYouOiOiOi (March 17, 2006)

this album is awesome. i think its even better than more dead cops.

Anonymous (December 24, 2005)

ok im brazilian punk guy
this album was released here by peculio records
fuckin great band, political, strong, serious
my email to contact leocrust@yahoo.com.br

Anonymous (December 9, 2005)

oh shit, i thought this was just released, but it says 2004! This is a fucking awesome album! why is it so unknown? These guys are legends

Anonymous (December 9, 2005)

This is the second best album of 2005

1st is potemkin city limits.

This here is straight up Punk Rock. It's melodic, angry and has a good message

crackpotdemagogue (December 1, 2005)

I'll second Jesse's remarks below. Before you get offended by some album art, do some research into it and you might discover a few things that will change the way you see the world. Don't be so close minded and judgemental.

Anyway, this album's pretty rockin', and it's good to see a new release, however, this shit just doesn't compare to the likes of the s/t album.

lushj (November 30, 2005)

"I love MDC as much as the next "punx" but what a tasteless cover..."

? Is this more or less tasteless than the starving child on the Multideath Corporations 7"? Why is it tasteless? It's making a political point that most of MDC's fans- er, the "punx"- agree with. "Dead Cops" "Radioactive Chocolate" "Corporate Deathburger" all deal with fucked up political realities- ditto this cover. You know, right-wing US gov't as (reluctant) empire-builder, on the blood of civilians and enemies who used to be allies.

Maybe I'm reading too much into your comment, if so I apologize. It's early and I need more coffee!

Anonymous (November 30, 2005)

awesome album, awesome band
I hope to see them come over to the uk again at some point, we have missed this sort of punk rock, along with the dead kennedys!
Also a recommendation would be:
Shades of Brown
Now more than ever
Hey cop if i had a face like yours!
Millions of damn christians

Martin Punk!

Anonymous (November 29, 2005)

Did you know that MDC was one of Kurt Cobain's Favorite punk bands? this album was also produced by legendary hardcore producer Don Fury.

SoupIsGoodFood (November 28, 2005)

I should probably listen to this, I only have Millions of Dead Cops/More Dead Cops.

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

I love MDC as much as the next "punx" but what a tasteless cover...

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

Millions of damn christians is the worst shit EVER!

i was so pissed when i first got it.

Anonymous (November 28, 2005)

fu.

Dante3000 (November 28, 2005)

You're fucking kidding me! I tried three times and none of those were even close. *sigh* I'm going to claim lack of sleep on that, because "total retardation" sounds too harsh.
-Dante

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

And it has "Chicken Squack (swak? squwack?)"!

It's "Chicken Squawk" and it's one of my fav MDC songs. I agree and say Now More Than Ever is a good place to familiarize yourself with MDC.

Ramo

feeeding5000 (November 27, 2005)

Just judging from "Millions of Dead Cops/More Dead Cops", every song sounds almost exactly the same. Still, that's one kickass album-length song. "Hardcore punk", before it was either "hardcore" or "punk".

Dante3000 (November 27, 2005)

I snaged More Dead Cops on vinyl. I like it, but I would only consider myself a casual MDC fan, so I don't know if I qualify. I really like Now More Than Ever when I reviewed it because it was nice to have all those songs on CD form for the first time.
Basically NMTE is a good place to start if you want to listen to this band as it has a good majority of their best (or at least best liked) songs. And it has "Chicken Squack (swak? squwack?)"!
-Dante

notfeelingcreative (November 27, 2005)

Exactly what one would expect from a great band like MDC!

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

i wish more bands currently had the lyrical balls and brains of MDC.

lushj (November 27, 2005)

Oh yeah, if you're new to MDC, here's a suggested album order:
1. Millions of Dead Cops ("John Wayne" "Dead Cops" "My Parents Are A Little Weird" etc)
2. Smoke Signals (ignore the "South Africa" song and dig the "King Of Thrash" and "Skateboards from Hell")
3. "Hey Cop" or "Shades of Grey" or this one.

Each record has a bunch of rad tunes (though "Metal Devil Cokes" and "Million of Damn Christians" only have about 2-3 each), so it's kind of tough after #3 above. I've never heard the compilation records ("More Dead Cops" and "Now More Than Ever: 20 years") so maybe those should go in there too?

lushj (November 27, 2005)

No, "Fuck World Trade" came out first. This record was probably being recorded about the same time that one was released.

Saw this edition of MDC @ the Oakland Metro on a Monday night, it was MDC supporting the Vibrators (!!!)- crazy bill, about 150 paid. Fun, loose, and they played a lotta their best tunes.

gladimnotemo (November 27, 2005)

I finally heard MDC a couple weeks ago, and it's really great, although I see them as one of those bands whose new material will just be ignored.

skankin_in_the_pit (November 27, 2005)

Good album, great band.

Didn't this come out a couple months before Fuck World Trade?

xmidipunkbastardx (November 27, 2005)

@dante: listen to "timmy yo". i think it sums up quite well, how they don't want a bigger audience.

this record is great, seriously.

Dante3000 (November 27, 2005)

It's strange but it's sad to me to see bands like MDC sometimes. Not that I think they're a bad band or that they don't still make great music (as this review can sunstantiate).
I just feel bad for bands who play and play and constantly work their asses off for only a margin of success. I'm sure MDC wasn't assembled with fame as a goal but still after 20 years it's wierd to think they still play venues that house maybe 200 people (I know they played Thee Parkside on their last tour).
I would just think with so much history and talent they'd have a bigger following by now.
-Dante

lushj (November 27, 2005)

It's the famous photo of the dead civilian contractors hanging from a bridge in Iraq from 2004.

FuckYouOiOiOi (November 27, 2005)

I love MDC but I never listened to this. I'll probably buy it now, though.

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

I can't tell what's going on in the cover art. Anyone care to share what they see?

kamatacci (November 27, 2005)

Amazing album by an amazing band.