Darby Crash, Pat Smear (who would go on to play w/ Nirvana and currently w/ Foo Fighters), Lorna Doom, and Don Bolles are The Germs, and GI is the LA outfit's sole studio album, originally released in 1979. Widely considered one of the first hardcore punk records, the Joan Jett-produced 16 tracker never ceases to be noisy and/or confrontational, and the band that was notorious for its chaotic live shows (Crash, often too sauced up for shows, was known for singing into everything/everywhere but the microphone) really showcases a tighter, more coherent manifestation of its rage-filled m.o. on here. Punishing, volatile guitar and locked-in bass playing over angry, raw drums drive the songs, but it's Crash's theatrical vocals that give the group its spastic edge; it's too bad that he passed away way too early, at the age of 22, and the band would eventually disband. Check out "Lexicon Devil," "Richie Dagger's Crime," "Media Blitz," "Dragon Lady," and "Manimal."

• blue vinyl pressing
• music label: Slash Records 1979 / 2018

reviewed by pocari papi 08/18