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Angry Samoans

Back from Samoa (1982)
Triple X

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

Published on May 9th 2006

The Samoans were always kind of a music geek's punk band. Started by former music critics (Lester Bangs style), these guys are to hardcore punk kind of what the "Scream" movies are to horror films -- part legitimate players, part self-aware satirists of the genre. After all, with songs like "They Saved Hitler's Cock," "My Old Man's a Fatso" and "You Stupid Jerk" at the (relatively speaking) late date of `82, it's hard not to come to the conclusion that Metal Mike Saunders and crew were laughing both with, and at, the whole scene. Maybe that's obvious, though.

I think if you really got honest answers from some of punk's more outrageous contributors, you'd probably get a sense that there was more post-modern parody going on, even back then, than anyone was willing to admit. But onto the album...

Back from Samoa is easily one of punk's catchiest, funniest, and foul-mouthed albums ever. It's the smart-assed teenagers flipside of Fear's The Record. As a matter of fact, one can easily envision Lee Ving as the grown-up version of Metal Mike, hoarse and drunk, bellowing from the bleachers at a baseball game after years of putting on weight and putting in time at the brickyard.

The songs are so obnoxious, and yet so catchy and so irresistible, that even with undercurrents of homophobia and pure mean-spiritedness, it's impossible not to bang your head and sing along. "Lights Out" and "The Todd Killings" are two of the shortest, greatest punk songs ever. Go on, stab along. And on top of everything else, the band is tight, the riffs are juicy, and Saunders' vocals have the same wonderfully snotty appeal as Milo Aukerman's.

Are they serious? Is this a joke? Are they making fun of punk? Is it okay to like this? Before you make up your mind, the entire thing comes to a crashing halt in 18 minutes. The Angry Samoans simply don't give you enough time to hate them. So play it again already.

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dreux (May 15, 2006)

Definitely very good for what it is.

MikeStupid (May 12, 2006)

I just played this for the first time in a while, and I nominate "The Ballad Of Jerry Curlan" as the funniest punk song of all time.

Score is for sleeping with midgets.

Anonymous (May 11, 2006)

Short and fast, what punk rock is all about. Saying fuck 5 minute songs. 30 songs at a concert amazing.

Anonymous (May 11, 2006)

one of the greatest hardcor/punk bands ever..if you listen to this you might be cured from screamo and metal

Anonymous (May 11, 2006)

woha...one of the greatest bands of all times...they are so great...but why didnt you review the unboxed set??

Icapped2pac (May 10, 2006)

Samoa Joe > Umaga

This score is for the Musclebuster.

MrStabone (May 10, 2006)

one of my favorite bands ever. i hope mike brings em out to the east coast one day. i think a queers/samoans tour is in order. we were gonna cover one of their songs before my bass player moved. i can't fucking remember which one right now though.

MikeStupid (May 10, 2006)

This is a fantastic CD. I listened replayed the shit out of it a few years back and I still pull it out every once in a while. Good times.

rkl (May 10, 2006)

im really glad lee ving wasnt singing for the angry samoans, or they probably wouldve sucked too.

TheNightProwler (May 10, 2006)

Back From Samoa and Inside My Brain are two amazing albums. It sucks that this band turned to shit right after those two albums.

joeg (May 9, 2006)

i'm still pissed i missed this band live a few months ago. good stuff.

blade-runner (May 9, 2006)

Yeah, great band.

The "Scream" analogy works.

gladimnotemo (May 9, 2006)

Great album. I heard at least 3 hardcore bands cover "Lights Out" last year, so the influence is undeniable.

SlowStupidHungry (May 9, 2006)

I always thought the homophobia was a joke commentary/satire on band image... Like most black metal bands who claim to be racist. It's just stupid immature posturing.

But wow, this album is rock perfection. I wish more underground hardcore bands would realize that hardcore had a lot to do with rock/punk...

-Will

lookmommyididit (May 9, 2006)

absolutely essential.

Badger_Legion (May 9, 2006)

A hardcore classic. "Gas Chamber" is probably one of the best beginning tracks in punk history. I probably would've given it a 10, but I really fucking hate that song "Homosexual".