Bad Brains-Bad Brains

The debut album from these Rastafarian Punk rockers from D.C. Originally a Jazz Fusion band they switched to Punk in the late 70’s. Banned from most clubs in D.C, they moved to N.Y.C. and recorded their first recorded in 1981. This is a reissue I bought new at Barnes & Noble about ten or twelve years ago. Never a big fan of Punk, the only other Punk records I have are by The Clash but I did have about 20 or 30 on cassette. Being Punk most songs are short, many just over one minute long. Listening to it tonight five songs went by in just over seven minutes before I knew it. These songs have a heavier guitar sound than most Punk bands of the era making them more enjoyable. Along with these there are four Reggae songs, one a “hidden track”. “Jah Calling”, “Leaving Babylon”, “I Luv I Jah” and bonus track “Jah The Conqueror”. These are the longest tracks and sound good. The record also includes their first single “Pay To Cum” released in 1980. Liner notes by Ira Kaplan who was a Rock critic before forming Yo La Tengo. They continued, putting out 8 more records through the years with different members, last releasing one in 2012 with the same four members that played on this one, adding a keyboard player.

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