“It’s good for the economy / only in America / making cancer every day / only in America” – Naked Raygun, “Only In America”
Welcome to “Albums I Should Have Listened To Already,” a series I’m going to do during this “music” year for Lazy & Entitled. There is always new music out there, and you should continue seeking out new music. Miss pop punk? Great bands are making pop punk right now. Miss old school hip-hop? There’s a new Big L collection. Miss 2000s hip hop? That Clipse record last year was real good.
This series isn’t going to focus on new music, though. This series is for albums that make people are parties go “DUDE” when you say you haven’t heard them. The amount of these types of albums I have on my to-do list is frankly stunning, especially since I’m a musician. When you find out the album that inspired this (maybe in April? maybe in June?), you’re gonna be like “DUDE.” That’s right, I’m doing one of these a month, for the whole year.
Did you know a blog with a posting schedule is a great way to keep track of New Year’s Resolutions?
Anyway, let’s get to the first album. Reaghan Buchanan and George Hurchalla’s books gave me a big long list of bands to check out. I haven’t listened to one I didn’t like yet, but let’s go with the first one I really vibed with. Hey, it helps that they’re locals, too. Today, we’re listening to Throb Throb by Naked Raygun.
HOW I CAME ACROSS THIS ALBUM
Look, it’s not hard to get me to listen to a band. Say they’re from Chicago, say they’re punk, and I’ll listen once. That said, I’m not wonderful at seeking out stuff that is currently happening. I have a seven-year-old and I don’t have childcare, and shows aren’t the highest on my list of “things to abandon my wife at night for.” So I came across this album the way I come across most things, which is by reading about it. Since reading George Hurchalla’s book, I’ve listened to Big Boys, TSOL, JFA, The Stains, and at least a couple of others that I’m forgetting right now. Naked Raygun’s Throb Throb, though, has honestly stood out as a keeper.
TRACK BY TRACK
I’m just gonna queue the record up and write my thoughts as the songs pass. Punk songs are about as long a caterpillar, so expect only the most trenchant analysis on each song.
“Rat Patrol”
I should say I’m not great at hearing lyrics, especially hardcore punk lyrics. I started reading some lyrics on Genius.com, and it says that this song is either about the North African Campaign or a 1960s TV show. Regardless, this song is anti-imperialist, and perhaps (as Genius.com suggests) foregrounds the final track, “Managua.” This album was being written in the Reagan years, after all. If you want me to like your punk band, being from Chicago and screaming about Empire is a great way to start.
Also, a single string guitar riff is always a great way to start a record.
“Surf Combat”
This is how you title a song. I think I’m going to stop reading lyrics. Ride cymbals are great. Bass-only intros and then a ride cymbal beat coming in, then super loud guitars? That’s vintage, 16-year-old Chris stuff right there. Again, I’m not reading lyrics, so I don’t know what this song is about, but I laugh a lot when the band stops and Jeff Pezzati yells “Muscle Beach is not Pork Chop Hill!”
“Gear”
Is the hook to this song catchy or annoying? A lot of hooks are like that for me. Shuffle patterns are often annoying for me.
“Metastasis”
Hopefully I’m not getting this mixed up with another story from George Hurchalla’s Going Underground: American Punk 1979-89, but I believe Naked Raygun’s drummer was so good at drumming and interested in rhythms beyond punk blast beats that other punks didn’t really know what to do with his playing. I am always going to support a punk band having a few players who overplay. The fast tempos make the chaos really fascinating. Everyone in Naked Raygun can rip, by punk standards, and I’ll always be able to listen to bands that take big musical swings more than polished bands who write good pop songs (think The Ramones or Green Day).
“Leeches”
See what I mean about musicianship? What basslines in this song! This band rules.
“Roller Queen”
I can’t really tell what these lyrics are about, and they seem to be missing from the internet. This is one song where I kinda wish I know what the lyrics were.
“On”
This song has backwards vocals, which is very fun. Texture changes on an 80s punk record! Who knew!
“I Don’t Know”
Guitar intro that makes me want to run through a wall. Had I written something like this, I’d be right in the front of the stage, wailing away on those screechy high strings, trying to convey how much work it is not to play this riff, but to be this rad all the time.
The outro on this one is super sick.
“Libido”
Punks being goofy. You remember how Blink 182 wrote a whole song from the POV of a peeping Tom? Punks being goofy. Take it for whatever you will.
“No Sex”
Okay maybe Pezzati’s libido is just really low. Or maybe it’s hard to get laid when you’re chainsawing raw turkeys on stage.
“Only In America”
Sax time! The 1980s, man.
This song’s about what you think it is, it’s a good song.
“Stupid”
Genius dot com is also missing these lyrics, so I’ll never know who is being stupid about what. Given humanity? Could be anything, man.
“Managua”
I’m glad Ronald Reagan is dead. I wish his policies towards Central and South America were, too. Solidarity to the people of Venezuela, and, y’know, apologies to the people of Nicaragua, too.
“Libido (Slow)”
I’m not totally sure why this bonus track is on here, but I’m not mad at it. I especially like the SwordfishTrombones-esque organ hits.
WHAT DO I THINK?
This album rules. Look, one thing my research this January has taught me is that pre-Operation Ivy punk bands kinda have a big hurdle to clear before ending up in my permanent rotation. The abrasive, low-quality recording starts to run together after a while. I like the idea of The Dead Kennedys more than the actual listening experience, you know? The bands that have staying power with me need to be able to change up dynamics and textures. They also need to be able to take big swings musically. If you can’t do those things? Well, you should have 1-2 minute songs and a really overt lefty political message, like Los Crudos.
Naked Raygun is a band of real musicians. They have an interesting aesthetic, with their pulpy sci-fi comic album covers. They’re mad about the USian Empire. They’re from CHICAGO. Naked Raygun gets in the rotation.
Sorry you got an email,
Chris