The Record

by

Fear

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Fear is not just one L.A. Punk's finest groups ever, Fear is one of L.A.'s finest over all groups of all time. Lee Ving & Company has been one of the rare bands that is as explosive on stage as on vinyl. After seeing Fear perform live in 1982, I was blown away with what a tight and kinetic set they lashed out. Where groups like Black Flag brought out the anger in people, Fear came of more like pranksters in overdrive, bringing out the sheer Loco & Chaos in people. I bought this album, wondering how close it was to their performance.

"The Record" did not disappoint, and best catches the essence of Fear. These folks were a unique brand of punk for its day; there were plenty of excellent groups ranting about anger, politics, society. On this album, Lee Ving rants in sort of a Speed-Racer-Villain style, more cussing at the world with a grin on his face and a middle finger extended. L.A. Punks often sounded desperate and defiant; Fear came off as jubilant and defiant.

"There's So Many Of Us" is the perfect start to an album, belting out vocals immediately. It's a fun song saying "Let's Have A War!" No deep analysis, no pseudo-intellectual philosophy, just a loud and simple Guajardian cry for a war just to crank up the stock market and so "you can go die!"

It gets better. Way better! "Beef Boloney" has no redeeming value in a beautiful way, and "Camarillo" is one of those very short, very explosive, and totally unforgettable tunes you will find yourself playing repeatedly.

Perhaps the crowning glory is "I Love Living in the City," one of the catchiest obscene songs I have heard in my life. When I say obscene, I mean no-holds-barred obscene. Nothing abusive, nothing evil, just a song that paints one big nasty picture that will stick in your head. Ratty as the lyrics are, I would lay odds that even the most easily offended clergyman would find himself humming the tune after hearing it only once.

From start to finish, "The Record" is pure adrenaline. There is no resting on this album, just energy and talent from beginning to end. Of all the veteran L.A. Punk bands, Fear is high on top of the heap. And what a glorious heap of music L.A. Punk is!

.... and maybe that's why Fear's Record is so damn irresistable. Be warned: Punk rawk prudes and poseurs will die from exposure to Fear. Nothing is sacred--homophobic, sexist, pro-violence, and just plain dirty, this is the album that haunts Tipper Gore in her sleep.

Truth be told, I view Fear as a second-tier West Coast hardcore band--Lee Ving & Co. didn't have Greg Ginn's insane guitarwork and Rollins' cathartic rage and angst, Jello Biafra's social consciousness and political satire, or X's deliriously dark and menacing vibe; nor did they release anything of particular note after this album. However, Fear did have a rad rhythm section in the form of Derf Scratch (bass) and Spit Stix (drums), and a rigid, precise, and aggressive sound that belied their hilariously nihilistic, f--k you persona. Lee Ving was both a complete arsehole and awesome frontman (with a very distinctive, rant-like style of delivery), who had a habit of antagonizing the audience and turning concerts into all-out riots. A total parody of punk, a big joke, though you'd have to be a stick in the mud to care.

Anyway, about three-quarters of this album is filled with incredibly entertaining assaults on common decency, such as the timeless Let's Have A War ("... so you can go DIE!!!"), Beef Bologna, New York's Alright If You Like Saxophones, I Love Livin' In The City, and Foreign Policy.

The only reason why this album is getting a three instead of a four is that Record doesn't capture the intensity of their live sound. Handled by a producer used to AOR bands, Fear sound anemic in the studio instead of bone-crushing. But that still doesn't ruin this album. If you want intelligence or subtle P.C. social commentary, pick up a Bad Religion or Fugazi release; but if you want a no-holds barred, middle-finger-in-the-air party, grab yourself some cheap beer, throw on Record, and crank the volume 'till your neighbors start running for cover. Aww yeah.