And so a genre was defined... (Complete Discography - Minor Threat)

Member Name: thebluehippo

Product:	Complete Discography - Minor Threat
Date:	15/06/07 (112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: All of Minor Threats songs on one album

Disadvantages: Over Hyped

The album collects all of Minor Threats songs onto one album, which saves you having to look for and buy all the EPs and 7" around. Although it is the 'complete discography' I'm pretty certain there's an odd track about that was realised years after this albums release.
This is a release on Dischord a label started up because the Teen Idles wanted to put a record out, but figured no record label would want them.
The album was released in the 1990's and was remastered in 2003. It collects recordings from 1981 and 1983.

The band is Ian MacKaye vocals (Teen Idles, Fugazi, Embrace, The Evens, and some other bands).
Lyle Preslar - guitar (Meat Men)
Brian Baker - bass (Bad Religion)
Jeff Nelson drums (Egg Hunt, Teen Idles)

'Filler' opens up the album a screaming fast paced attack on religion "You picked up a Bible and now you're gone." A good fast paced track that opens up the album. Not really worth getting offended about.

'I Don't Wanna Hear It' is a song for all the bullshitters out there. "I don't want to hear it, Sick and tired of all your lies." Good quick track that closes with "Oh shut up." Amen. I like the track because I can relate to it so well knowing so many bullshitters in my time, who obviously lie, just makes me want to quote this whole song to them.

'Seeing Red' another good track that people can relate to. "You see me and you laugh out loud. You taunt me from safe inside your crowd." Good fast paced guitars which continues on with...

'Straight Edge' - Is the song that created a scene, quite un-deliberately. Minor Threat lived a clean 'drug free' lifestyle, it is believed the drummer Jeff Nelson was drawing a poster for a show, he commented that the rulers 'straight edge' was a metaphor for their lifestyle and so we get this song, which is short 45 second song that sticks to the point. This is the shortest song on the album, yet probably the most remembered. "I'm a person just like you, but I got better things to do, Than sick around f*** my head, hang out with the living dead, snort white shit up my nose, pass out at shows...." An unforgettable track.

'Small Man, Big Mouth' is a track just under a minute. The guitars have slowed down a step then the drumming kicks in. This track is having a go at mans insecurities. In this case a short man, who's trying to make up his size. "What the f*** are you fighting for, is it because your five foot four?" A forgettable track.

'Screaming At A Wall' another fast guitar, drum banging track. Another forgettable track.

'Bottled Violence' starts up with glass braking after two forgettable tracks this picks it up a bit. "Get your bravery from a six pack." Good tune with the chorus being "Go out and fight, fight." such a simple song yet so effective.

'Minor Threat' a song about growing up, another fast paced song. "I was early to finish, I was late to start, I might be an adult, but I'm a minor at heart." - aren't we all? Excellent song.

'Stand Up' is a tough guy, fight song. At first it sounds like an anti-violence song at shows. But it's made clear that Ian MacKaye won't back down from no challenge "Nothing to fear, Cause I know, my friends are here." however it's also made clear that he doesn't go looking for trouble, "Trouble finds me."

'12XU' is basically an instrumental except with Ian screaming what sounds like gibberish all that I can understand is 'FLEX YOUR HEAD' this one is left out the lyrics book (I wonder why). Good fast paced instrumental anyway.

The next track is 'In My Eyes' is which in my personal opinion is the best ever Minor Threat track. "You tell me you like the taste, (screaming) You just need an excuse, you tell me it calms your nerves, (screaming) you just think it looks cool" you probably can guess it's about drinking. I feel the whole band complements each other well with this track. Definitely worth giving a listen at least.

'Out of Step (with the World)' is a fast paced song, that has guitars that tear through the song, this is another drug free message "Don't smoke, Don't Drink, Don't F***, At least I can f***ing think" which caused a little bit of controversy so it was re-released with (I) added in front and Ian MacKaye talking during the instrumental "Look I'm not telling you what to do...." this version is also on the album a bit later on.

'Guilty of Being White' is an anti-racism message, which despite that was adopted by neo-nazis anyway. The song consists of shouting "Guilty of Being White." If you listen carefully though you can tell what the song is actually about "You blame me for slavery, a hundred years before I was born."

'Steppin' Stone' this track sounds like it was recorded in the back of a room and it probably was. The guitars and drums sound distant and the vocals sound like there coming from another room. Don't take this the wrong way it's still pretty clear to hear. It proceeds with the words "I'm not your steppin' Stone" a decent track.

'Betray' is a pretty noticeable track, as the pace is relaxed (just slightly mind you) on further inspection of the album cover it's the first of the tracks recorded in January 83. After a temporary break up for guitarist Lyle Preslar to go to college they came back and you can tell just by this track they've matured a little in there music. The song follows a friendship of some kind that's finished the song is powerful from the start up. "Maybe it was no one's fault, I know it wasn't mine." Good little song that's one of the longest on the album.

'It Follows' is next and is has lyrics towards getting away from an old life. Not really a song I like. Good guitar on it though.

On 'Think Again' it has a dig at criticism "Everybody's right, Everything's done wrong." okay track.

"Look Back and Laugh" is one of my favourites, just so good the way it opens up. "I want to tell you a story..." which is what makes it good, it's told like a story, "It's about some friends growing up and all the things they tried." because this is Minor Threat, it's not going to be positive about drugs. A clever track that's backed up well by the music.

'Sob Story' is a track talking about someone who's not had a good life and is always moaning about it. It's summed up pretty well with 'Boy, I'm glad I'm not in your shoes.' pretty amusing comment, though I don't think it was meant to be.
The song closes of 'I've got some news for you, Nothing is fair' the song finishes with Ian saying 'Boo f***ing hoo.' Good rhythm throughout this song. Good song to listen to when your feel sorry for yourself, cause Ian puts it so bluntly that it's true.

'No Reason' is a track which makes you wonder what it's about, it's about two people not getting on, put your not sure how they know each other 'Haven't we met before?' is a reoccurring through the song. It's okay I like the bass in this track.

'Little Friend' seems to bring the pace back up a little, with fast guitars and drumming that makes the song.

This takes us to the second version of 'Out of Step' with what was mentioned earlier, this track feels slightly slowly and adding the (I) I feel makes the song 'Out of Step', sorry had to say that!

'Cashing In' follows and is an amusing track I'm assuming deliberately (I hope). This is the first track that takes a bit of a different pace, where the song is actually sung; this follows onto the final three tracks as well. "Know something? The problem with money is I want more. Let's raise the price off are tour. Starting tonight 3000 or 4. Then we'll make a million when we go on tour."
At 3 minutes 43 seconds this is the longest track on the album, which may not sound long, but when most of the tracks are under two minutes it makes this one seem like it last for ages

'Stumped' is slow paced track with guitar opening the song, and then the drums kick in, quite cool and laidback (well for a Minor Threat song anyway). Decent track.

'Good Guys (don't wear white)' (written by Ed Cobb) is next and this is done a little bit like a Clash song in there early days. With very catchy lyrics and a great chorus, "Tell your momma and your poppa, sometimes good guys (don't wear white.)

'Salad Days' closes off the album and is pretty appropriate, to mark the finishing of Minor Threat. This track includes Acoustic guitar (played in Minor Threat style of course) and some chimes ringing throughout of some sort, though I can't put my finger on what instrument it is. It's a good song just to say, you know 'we've said all we can, lets just go on and do something new.' which was probably a good idea, shame some of today's bands couldn't to the same - "Look at us today we've gotten soft and fat, Waiting for the moment, It's just not coming back." Good way for the album to end on a high.

This an excellent album to buy if your starting to get into hardcore punk. This album appeals to me so much because it has such a raw sound.
The other good thing about this album is that it's dirt cheap.

Although Minor Threat were only together for a short time there songs of friendship, positive lifestyle and teen anger influenced many bands and artists still today.
The main trouble with Minor Threat is how over hyped they are, before listening you expect the most amazing album ever, it's definitely was groundbreaking but only a good album at best.

Most of the songs are in the album cover, though quite a few have been missed off for some reason, probably because they weren't written by anyone in Minor Threat at a guess.

If you don't like obscenities it's a good idea to give this one a miss, as a lot of the songs are very angry ranting tunes. (Though if you don't like obscenities then you might as well not bother giving hardcore punk a go at all thinking about it).
Also if your very insecure about your drinking habits and get offended when some suggests you might want cut down a bit, you'll probably want to miss this too.
If your the sort of person who stone stinking sober at the end of a night on the town making sure your friends get home safely, this might be something you like.
If you like good singing and power ballads this isn't for you.

Summary: This is an essential album for anyone who likes hardcore punk.