"I'm an old guy who grew up in NY in the early 80's and I spent a fair amount of time seeing bands like Reagan Youth, Kraut, and Urban Waste at the Sunday matinee's at CBGB's. The first 8 songs (which I believe are from vol.1) were the staple of a typical Reagan Youth set. They were simple yet dynamic, super-charged pre-hardcore tunes that set the tone for punk rock in those days. I can't recommend this CD enough although I am mystified by all the songs that make up the rest of the collection. They could possibly be post-Reagan Youth tunes when they went under the name "House of God". Perhaps the sound and the angst might be a little dated today, this CD sounds like a demo tape but I still urge you to check out this seminal New York punk band to understand what the scene was like before bands like Agnostic Front and Cro-Mags took over just a few short years later. Sadly, they should have been bigger, on par with the Bad Brains and the Misfits but for reasons beyond me, they just faded away into semi-obscurity only to become a minor footnote in American punk rock history."
Bedtime for Bonzo
Jarrid Deaton | 11/09/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a fan of 80's hardcore, there is no reason for you to not own this cd. While some people may complain about the change in song structures towards the end of the album, I think it makes for a better listen. This collection of songs is a perfect introduction to what hardcore used to be, and you can even see the metal influence creeping in toward the end of the cd. It has been said that Reagan Youth were adding the metal sounds as more of a joke than anything, but it still makes for an intriguing listen."
Best Classic Punk Rock Band of All Time
greg.hanway@tfgroup.com | California | 05/21/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Must have for your Hardcore collection. A satirical look at American society: Sexs, Drugs, Guns, and Rock and Roll. Don't let the pictures fool you, this band has nothing to do with NAZI's."
Dont listen to the nay sayers
ScumDuggery | Michigan, US | 07/19/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am sick of everyone trashing volume two. Yes volume one is a staple, classic hardcore nyc political punk record... But volume two is a great record as well. You can't make the same record twice, and especially when they are spaced out over so many years. And most of the band members were gone for volume two, so a whole new lineup is going to equal a different sound. I don't care what any of the purists say, volume two is just as important as volume one, and so what if it has a slight metal sound to it... Discharge did too, and earlier, but noone questions their credentials as british ANARCHO icons... So don't let the volume two bashers deter you from buying this record... It is non stop great from front to back... 6 stars out of 5."
Good hardcore
Kurt Hungus | TX | 03/24/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is good 80's hardcore,If you are new to punk I suggest you pick this up and add it to your collection."