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The Avengers

The Avengers
1983
CD Presents

The Avengers - The Avengers (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Cruz Bustamante
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Avengers & Penelope Houston (link)

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Published on May 9th 2006

I can't say that the Office of Lieutenant Governor of the State of California doesn't come with some perks, but I could believe my eyes when I actually found a small record store in the great state of California that actually STOCKED and SOLD the OUT OF PRINT self-titled Avengers LP ["the pink album"]. And I bought it for cheap: just $19.00! That's definitely a perk. Pretty sweet for the son of grape pickers from Fresno.

Why my unbridled enthusiasm? Well, the Avengers were one of the most versatile, though underappreciated, female-fronted punk bands of the early 1980s from the Bay Area. They existed for a few years, just long enough to be remembered (by reference) for opening the Sex Pistols' final show. Essentially, the Avengers basically play overt, mildly politically disaffected Sex Pistols music -- but just way much better!

Furthermore, when the Avengers disbanded, vocalist (and lusciously attractive) Penelope Houston went off on an extended solo career to experiment in folky music; but the specter of acclaim of the Avengers influence continued to linger -- even as their original recordings went out of print. Hence, my exuberance for finding this CD.

I listened to the previously available (bootleg quality) Avengers recordings (if you can call them that) "American in Me" and "Died for Your Sins," and the sound quality just doesn't compare to the crisp original studio recording of the S/T. Get the original CD if you can -- it's a better frame of reference.

Some notable highlights are the anti-allegiance anthem of "We Are the One," the argumentative "I Believe in Me," the urgent "Open Your Eyes," a rant on American lethargy in "American in Me," the somewhat uplifting "Second to None," and their Rolling Stones cover "Paint It Black." Other tracks that you can't find on the (extremely rare) vinyl version of the S/T are included on the CD: "Money Money" and "Cheap Tragedies."

The recording quality is comparable to the Sex Pistols LP, and it should be, since some of these recordings were actually produced by Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones (NOT the comment board douche). So you get to hear the adroit subtleties that the other CDs lack: Penelope's mild-tempered voice wailing, crooning and taunting while Greg Ingraham blazes and splinters guitar, Jimmy Wilsey injects his bass, and Danny Furious pounds the drum (without all those heavy bass frequencies).

I could probably tell you specifically where I bought my copy, but by the time you read this, they probably will have sold out of copies. Oh, well.

This is Cruz Control and if you have the time on June 6, 2006, I'll be running for Insurance Commissioner and I'd appreciate some mad props at your registered polling place. Cruz Control: out.

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Posted by dontwantaname on 2008-02-07 19:46:20
My Score:

I had this back in the day. Only bought it 'cause I thought I'd heard the name before and the cover was pretty cool. Didn't know about Dangerhouse back then. Good record. "Fuck You" was like a jab in the face, such a unsuspecting killer.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 18, 2006 at 10:55 PM (EDT)

Blatantly a rip-off of Lagwagon?? Lagwagon's debut album ("Duh") came out in 1992. This album came out in 1983. Please get your facts straight.

Posted by lushj on 2006-05-11 13:56:23
My Score:

The album floating around is either a bootleg or the original version(s), on which the band wasn't really paid.

It has been released on cd by the label (and probably bootlegged). I'd strongly suggest going straight to the singer, Penelope Houston, and order it from her site (the link's in my post below).

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 8:38 AM (EDT)
My Score:

so great

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 6:29 AM (EDT)

blatantly a rip off of lagwagon

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 3:17 AM (EDT)

the album is not out of print, but there is only a vinyl version floating around, man the Avengers sound great, ..this is a great release...

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 1:33 AM (EDT)

this is sooo great..they should release it on cd...

Posted by lushj on 2006-05-10 17:42:42
My Score:

This is the best Avengers release for sure, followed by the Paint It Black 7" and the "Died For Your Sins" cd. Absolutely classic and a necessity for any US punk collection. Seriously, this record is required listening.

CD Presents, who put this out, has a long long history of not paying bands, including the Avengers. (read an interview with Penelope about it here http://www.richieunterberger.com/houston.html )

For that reason, you should get a cd-r of the s/t record direct from Penelope Houston at the link below. I ordered one last Friday and it showed up in my mailbox (with an Avengers shirt I ordered) Saturday. Of course, we're both east bay, but even so, it was packed and shipped lightning fast! Plus, at least the band will actually see some $ from this version.

http://www.penelope.net/avitems.html

Posted by Deadpan on 2006-05-10 16:38:56

Joanna Lumley was a fucking fox back in the day.

Hell, for an old lady, she still looks pretty damn good.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2006-05-10 15:22:03

This review seems to comment more on Cruz than the album.
So while it's quite ammusing it seems to lack the information regarding the album. Of course, with it being out of print that doesn't matter too much.
-Dante

Posted by sirens on 2006-05-10 08:44:44

man... rippin on Jones the Bones. What the hell?

Posted by rkl on 2006-05-10 04:49:53

the truth is revealed. youre not from california, you bastard.

Posted by rubyx on 2006-05-10 03:04:28

I don't have this album, but Died For Your Sins and The American In Me are good. Well, the studio recordings are.

Posted by usversusthem on 2006-05-10 01:32:46

The American In Me is an awesome song. The Avengers are pretty cool in my book.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, May 10, 2006 at 12:37 AM (EDT)

Yay for Fresno!

Posted by gedgeispunk on 2006-05-09 22:59:40

This and the Dils collection are the shit. By far the best of the three Avengers full lengths out.

Posted by lookmommyididit on 2006-05-09 20:57:29
My Score:

ahaha, we need more gimmicks like this. score is for the avengers

Posted by Badger_Legion on 2006-05-09 20:42:38

"but just way much better!"
Nice.

Posted by joeg on 2006-05-09 20:36:23
My Score:

the avengers rule. end of story. i'll probably stick to my copy of died for your sins though.