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daseb wrote:big time serious confession: I've been super actively involved in DIY and punk for nearly 20 years and it's a pretty huge part of my life. I have never, once, in that time, 'got' The Minutemen.

Same story. Only fifteen years, though...I've come close with The Minutemen, but they're a hard listen for me.

Chankgeez wrote:This one's for you, casecandy:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX2kaI_mnqU[/youtube]

This is so good, hadn't seen this

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUD0MUmcDmM[/youtube]

Okay, I have been listening to Double Nickels a lot since you made this thread for the following reasons

a) I was an idiot kid when I first heard it, and maybe misjudged it
b) I feel like it's this monolithic thing I ought to learn to appreciate, the way one learns to appreciate classical

So I downloaded a V0 MP3 rip of the original vinyl album with 44 songs on it and here are some thoughts about it

a) I did misjudge it; it's incredible. A huge breadth and depth of material here. Enormous album
b) Great lyrics, much more emotional, more poetic than I anticipated, i.e. this has influenced emo and I didn't realize it
c) I admit my own shortcoming in expecting it to be more "punk" musically speaking, i.e. Where is the distortion? I sometimes want it to be heavier
d) INCREDIBLE headphone album. I think part of the problem was that I didn't headphone it! It sounds HUGE. Mixing is on fleek
e) Ultimately I have gained a huge new appreciation for it even if isn't strictly "my thing"; plan on continuing my relationship with it...

Also, should I get the other albums? Are they as good?

I'm glad you came around, casecandy.

(There is a reason I started this thread.)

I used to have My First Bells (which's, IIRC, a compilation of their recorded output from like '80 to '83). Also, it was only available on cassette. I wore that thing out. If you can find a rip of it, it's well worth listening to. If you can't, all those individual EPs and singles are worth seeking out. That's where'd I'd start anyway.

Double Nickles is considered their classic album, and despite the sheer number of songs on it, I still think it is pretty accessible. So, I doubt you will find one you like better than that. If you like Double Nickles, I would also recommend the one before it called Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat. One of my favorites is What Makes a Man Start Fires? I would avoid 3-Way Tie (For Last).

There a bunch of "Project Mersh" volumes that combine many of their EP's, LPS and singles or whatever onto 1 disc. So you can get a lot of bang for your buck with those.

Nora

(@casecandy d. Boon didn't use pedals or distortion devices...other than jangly amp overdrive. That tone was his hallmark.)

I hadn't considered this particular type of qualifier before...I suppose it depends on how one defines dynamic. Range of material & approach, the loud-quiet/tension+release dynamic, band chemistry, game-changing & so on.
Minutemen probably were the most dynamic of the 1st wave/era punk bands. Nirvana...of the 2nd wave/era. I'll argue for Nirvana being *more dynamic* than The Minutemen in terms of catalog and ancillary influence to the musical aggregate.

All of their albums are fantastic. 3 Way Tie is the least Minutemen-y of the bunch, though.

Minutemen are great!!! Maybe the most dynamic punk band! But personally I'd go with NoMeansNo, they're dynamic and I listen to them way more.

I do like Minutemen, though I haven't listened to much else than Buzz or Howl... and seen the documentary, which was a gem. Gets a bit too weird and jazzy for my tastes at times, but definitely dynamic, fun/fuckedup and smart.

I would say Mission of Burma has dynamics to spare, if we're talking about sonic variety/layering. And, in a different way but similarly awesome, Self Defense Family.

I don't wanna start listing all the bands that I would call dynamic punk bands because people will throw shade at my definitions of the words "dynamic" and "punk" LOL

Do they have to be, like, punk punk, or can they be subgenres, etc.

casecandy wrote:subgenres

Stop

Nothing is true, all is permitted.

NoMeansNo are definitely under rated. Mission of Burma are legends. Never listened to Self Defense Family (will have to fix that).

Still don't think any of 'em are quite as dynamic as Minutemen. That's just my opinion though.

Case, I was just messin.

Self Defense Family is pretty good. Been listening to the new one a good bit since I found out about them.

casecandy wrote:subgenres

To quote Tad:

Hi there we're here to play Louie Louie about 16 times

Chankgeez wrote:

Nothing is true, all is permitted.

NoMeansNo are definitely under rated. Mission of Burma are legends. Never listened to Self Defense Family (will have to fix that).

Still don't think any of 'em are quite as dynamic as Minutemen. That's just my opinion though.

Same thoughts

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTVl_2ENTXo[/youtube]