When I bought this album, I don't think I'd actually heard Bad Brains. I was in London to see Deftones play Wembley Arena with A Perfect Circle, and it was about a week before I started university. I remember being in Selectadisc and deciding to buy this album, along with a few other bits (I'd also got my original copy of The Aeroplane Flies High boxset that day). I'd read many, many things about Bad Brains; Kerrang! had definitely included them in their "100 most influential bands" issue that I'd been using as a reference guide for at least two years already (and still have somewhere in the house). I was getting into punk via the way of hardcore (mostly thanks to Gorilla Biscuits, which was really thanks to Rival Schools and Quicksand), so it seemed like a good purchase.
Other factors that day almost certainly included: Hugh was with me and likely suggested it - he did the same thing to our friend Rich about five years later, although I doubt Rich enjoyed Bad Brains as much as I did; I was amused by the sticker on the sleeve saying "limited edition black vinyl"; I had dreadlocks, so it was assumed I liked Bad Brains often; and finally I knew it was a classic album - that cover was very familiar from the off.
A month or so after buying this, I bought a cheap cd copy of the Bad Brains best-of, Banned in DC, so I'm a little more familiar with that than I am this album - I didn't take my turntable to university initially, so only had a few listens to this album before going away. The overlap between the two albums is huge, which is a testament to how strong the album is. A year or so later I got the Bad Brains tribute album, Never Give In, which I then probably played even more. I enjoyed Snapcase's take on I, but the real star of that show was, unexpectedly, Moby's cover of Sailin' On, which he stretches out over four times the original length and completely reimagines.
In fact, I'm such a fan of that Moby cover that I find it hard to think about Bad Brains without thinking about Moby doing a slow version of one of their songs. This is probably an indication of my general feelings towards Bad Brains. In principle, I like their thrashy hardcore, and they definitely have some excellent songs. However, the shitty production makes it hard to enjoy them. I get that they were pioneers, and that I doubt anyone had any ideal how this sort of music should sound on record, which is a shame. The guitars on Supertouch/Shitfit are such an unexpected highlight then, because after so many songs something clear and crisp finally happens, and it sounds excellent.
If I'm somewhat on the fence about Bad Brains' hardcore, then I'm very much of on the "not interested" side when it comes to their reggae moments - Jah Calling, Leaving Babylon and I Luv I Jah are not for me. I get why they're there, but I'd enjoy the album more without them. Take them away and the hardcore songs that are left are almost all classics and excellent songs, if poorly recorded. I imagine some people will disagree with me here, but I'd get a lot more out of this album if it had been recorded maybe ten years later. Songs like Supertouch/Shitfit and Right Brigade shine, but only just about.
Format: 12"
Tracks: 15
Cost: £9 new
Bought: Selectadisc, London
When: 19/09/03
Colour: Black
Etching: none
mp3s: none
