JFA - We Know You Suck (33 tracks) +Album Reviews

Fun, speedy skate punk

Ryan | california | 02/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For me, this was one of the most long-awaited reissues of old hardcore punk that has popped up. Phoenix, Az. heroes JFA, or Jody Foster's Army, were one of the best of the old "skate rock" bands from the 80s, but their records have been out of print for years. I was lucky enough to stumble upon copies of "Valley of the Yakes" and "Untitled" in a lil' record store for a few bucks a piece and they've become some of my favorite records.Anyway, "We Know You Suck" compiles JFA's first two records, the "Blatant Localism" 7" (1982?) and "Valley of the Yakes." (1983). Both are fast, tuneful -- but far from poppy or extremely melodic -- slabs of youthful hardcore punk that bring to mind Bad Brains, Ill Repute or "Group Sex"-era Circle Jerks. Lyrics are really pretty silly and juvenile (in a good way!), with most songs about skateboarding (of course) or how the band hates jocks, preppies and other various enemies of punkdom. Some personal favorite lyrics of mine are in "The Great Equaliser," in which singer John praises Ronald Reagan for starting a nuclear war and creating an atomic wasteland where preppies are destroyed by "groups of skaters, roaming in packs" because "we had the adaptability you lack." Now the skaters are free from harrassment and have all day to skate around amidst charred buildings and the bodies of dead cops and football players. Really funny, but really smart at the same time. When mst punk bands were churning out standard ...Ronald Reagan" lyrics, JFA found a way to turn the idea of Reagan-bashing on its head and still be successful about it... while still retaining the fun element to their music.Also, check out the ripping, reverb-drenched surf instrumentals on this CD: a cover of "Walk Don't Run" is included, as well as JFA original "Baja" which, in the right time and place, could have been a bonafide surf hit. Too bad the band was 20 years too late for that one... Thank God for Jello and AT. Without him, these tracks would probably stay out of print and hard to get, but now everyone can enjoy the pool-ripping, curb-grinding fun of JFA."

JODY FOSTERS ARMY ON CD !!!

rob stiles | Travelers Rest, SC | 11/06/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well it's about time record companies are realizing that they can "cash in" on re-issues of classic punk rock, especially in a CD format. Great value with loads of songs. My only problem is I wish they could have gotten rid of the live songs because I can't picture anyone rocking out to the poor quality sound. Why bother? Why bother with any live recordings? Regardless, the CD is missing a few gems but I'm sure it's not included due to legality issues with the record labels. For example, you will not find anything from the MADISON SQUARE GARDEN EP. Either way, this CD brings back the youth in me and wish todays punk rock had the same energy it had back then. Don't forget your helmet when you grind your board!"

Album to live by

Andrew | Santa Cruz, CA | 02/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is more or less the embodiment of the youthful anger and rebellion of the time it came out. This is more than just music, it's a feeling. Jody Foster's Army really knows how to deliver a sound that sticks with you even when the album ends. You can dance or skate or just chill to it. This is one of my all-time favorite albums.

In response to the writer who said the live tracks shouldn't be on here because of the quality...you shouldn't be listening to punk, especially not early hardcore. Most good punk music has bad recording quality, it's part of the art form. Not to mention some of the live tracks on this disc are better, in my opinion, than the studio ones."

Do yourself a favor!

Tom P. the Underground Navigator | 03/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is amazing! JFA have been one of my favorite bands since I saw them in 86. They are one of the first skate punk bands ever! You just can't call yourself oldschool if you don't have JFA in your collection. If your newschool, throw out that hip hop stuff and check out the real deal! By the way Factory 13 still makes JFA decks! And I'm not talkin about those popsicle shaped boards with no soul either."

Classic hardcore punk

Tom P. the Underground Navigator | Park Forest, IL USA | 03/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Alternative Tentacles has through the years received a lot of criticism from punk "purists" for releasing lots of experimental stuff that deviates from the tried and true punk formula, and for no longer really being a "punk label" like in their early '80s heyday.

Well, on the contrary, I think they have actually been the ones to release some of the best punk in recent years, only in the form of reissues, of long out-of-print material that would otherwise be nearly impossible to come by (save for potentially paying horror prices for the vinyl originals). Three releases that come to mind are their Articles Of Faith and B.G.K. collections, along with their reissue of the classic "Not So Quiet On The Western Front" compilation in 1999.

Continuing this trend is "We Know You Suck," which compiles most of the 1981-83 recorded output from the pride of the old Phoenix, Arizona, punk underground, J.F.A.

I want to say right off the bat that you do not have to be a skateboard enthusiast to appreciate the sound of J.F.A.; this is purely and simply excellent fast hardcore, from a time when the sound was still fresh, new, and exciting.

Part of that might be attributed to the band's youthful exuberance. The liner notes infer that singer Brian Brannon was a mere 14 in 1981 during the recording of the band's "Blatant Localism" EP, which is included on this disc along with their 1983 "Valley Of The Yakes" LP. Truth be told, some of the best hardcore bands of the era were made up of kids, and J.F.A. drive this point home, as you won't find many bands from this time period better than them.

And defying the criticism often weighed against old punk in general is the fact that these guys were in many ways actually musically accomplished. Look no further than the instrumentals included here, "Walk Don't Run" and "Baja," for proof. (There is even a cute version of the Charlie Brown theme, gone punk, for your listening enjoyment.) Michael Cornelius' bass rings out loud and clear and is always present; or for further proof, listen to what might be my favorite track on here, "I Don't Like You," where Don Redondo's guitar has a glorious, timeless period sound that is like a time capsule to 1983. And Brian Brannon's vocals are appropriately snotty and sound like they're literally fueled by a steady teenage diet of "Cokes & Snickers" (the last track on the "Blatant Localism" EP).

The band were masters of short, fast bursts of melodic hardcore punk energy, shown in songs like "Skateboard" and "We Know You Suck." And the live tracks do not detract from the overall collection; as one reviewer pointed out, some of them are even faster and just as good as the studio versions.

The layout of the CD is cool as well; it is plastered with old flyers from the band's gigging days and is interspersed with photos of each of the band members trying their hand on their decks at the local skate park.

All in all, if you love vintage hardcore punk, you will love this CD and J.F.A. Well worth the price."

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