FEAR – “The Record”
I consider Fear one of the best hardcore/punks bands from the early days. I’ve been hesitant to choose them because of our current politically-correct times.
But recently, I heard my favorite band, The Lost Riots, cover live “I Love Livin’ In The City,” by this band and I thought- Yes!- more bands should do this.
This is a band that spouted homophobic dialogue in between songs while their male guitarist stood there wearing a dress. This is a band with the, supposedly, pro-war song with the lyric, “Give guns to the queers!”
Sexist lyrics from “Beef Bologna,” misanthropic lyrics from “I Don’t Care About You,” anti-art, anti-jazz, anti- New York lyrics from “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones.”
But this was all done with obvious sarcasm. I mean, the New York song has a great, jazz sax solo!
And the musicianship was far above most of their punk contemporaries, these musicians could’ve easily played in prog rock or jazz fusion bands.
I can think of no other band really like them, though perhaps, in a way The Stranglers were their British counterpart?
Fear can be a terrible thing. It can stop you from doing what you want. Or in my case, being afraid to show others who you really are- which I’ve recently tried to rectify.
But, fear not! What lies up ahead is another bout of dual texting. Hold onto your seats, hold on to your loved ones, hold on to your bodily functions while grasping the guardrails of life as we enter the chaotic, cathartic world of dual texting.
Slimedog- I don’t care about you. Fuck you!
Andy- Hey them’s fightin’ words. I suggest you rephrase yourself.
Slimedog- Oh, yeah? Well, then- let’s start a war!
Andy- Hmm, if I didn’t know you better I’d say you’re sounding a lot like that hoodlum singer from the band, Fear.
Slimedog- Well, those are just the titles of two of the great songs we won’t get to today, but everyone should be well aware that their lyrics are sarcastic. The first song we’ll review is “I Love Livin’ In The City,” obviously inspired by Stevie Wonder’s song, “Living Just Enough For The City.”
Andy- Yeah I’d say it’s my favorite tune on the album. An unusually straight forward song for Fear. Nice energy and cool lyrics.
Slimedog- My favorite band, The Lost Riots, covered it live a few weeks ago which inspired my pick today. This song may list the many perils of city life- shit and puke and cockroaches- but also catches the excitement and energy, too.
Andy- Fear kinda reminds me a bit of The Dictators. Similar vocals and humor.
Slimedog- Fear has a unique style and is hard to describe. Vocally, I hear a bit of The Dead Kennedy’s Jello Biafra, that almost operatic metal voice sneaking in. Musically, a bit of Devo and The Stranglers- closer to prog than punk at times.
Andy- They also retain an old time rock n roll bluesy vibe.
Slimedog- And the next song starts with a parody of white boy blues rock. One of their best known songs, “Beef Bologna.” I believe it’s about a female customer at a deli who’s very particular about her cut of meat.
Andy- Yeah one of the many politically incorrect tunes Fear has. Lee Ving is truly the heart and soul of Fear.
Slimedog- Did you ever see their performance on Saturday Night Live on you tube?
Andy- Yeah, it was pretty awesome. They would have been cool to see them in their heyday.
Slimedog- This was when hardly anyone knew what moshing was, or slam dancing as it was called then, and they got on the show because of John Belushi! They brought along some of their fans to dance and they proceeded to break thousand of dollars worth of studio equipment. They played “Beef Bologna” and the next song, my favorite, “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones.”
Andy- A very interesting tune. Kind of like punk meets cookoo music.
Slimedog- The lyrics look down upon art, jazz, gay folks- all things I love- I even love saxophone! But I still love this song. Of course, when you have lyrics like this and then the song also has a great, jazz sax solo! It’s just pure brilliance to me.
Andy- They certainly were trailblazers of the California punk scene. Very unique and very influential at the same time.
Slimedog- Last choice may be a weird one but I had to pick “Disconnected.” It’s something I’ve always felt with society, especially when I was young and I think this song expresses, musically, the feeling of alienation perfectly.
Andy- Another very interesting arrangement with the fast paced straight ahead parts separated by off key slow wails of “Disconnected.”
Slimedog- It mixes jazz, experimental noise and blues with hardcore punk! Along with such tender lyrics as: “Fuck religion, eat scum, beat a corpse, fuck a nun.”
Andy- As you would…
Slimedog- Well that raps up another fearful episode of dual texting. I hear you’re thinking of picking Pink Floyd’s “We’ve Taken So Many Drugs That We Think We’re Playing Fast,” for the next one.
Andy- Or perhaps Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing Our Music Doesn’t Suck.”
Slimedog- Both scrotumly good choices, indeed!
Andy- I’ll flip a coin.
Slimedog- I’ll flip you the bird!
