Search - Snfu :: If You Swear You'll Catch No F

Drums & Kraft Dinner, 4 strings righteousness, A chinese boy

The Tentaclepus | QUEBEC | 03/06/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The best of the best. Canadian punkers--headed by the oriental Mr. Chi-Pig--recorded this seminal album in Turkey of all places. Bar none, the greatest hardcore album of all time. I first bought it in 1986, and have listened to it 1000s of times since. Every song is a cherished classic, from "Devil's Voice" to the irreverant "Snapping Turtle". Try to buy the vinyl version, as the liner notes and photos/artwork are amazing. This album changed my life. Buy it. Listen to it. You will never regret it."

Whoa. 4.5 out of

Merki | Chicagolandarea, IL | 05/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I pretty much put myself out on a limb when I bought this cd. The only SNFU song I heard before this was Don't Have the Cow, an awesome song. But, that song was from their latest album that was released in '96, and this is their second album from '86. But, I bought it knowing that it was one of the most influential albums to the bands I listen to, like NOFX, Pennywise, etc. And boy am I glad I bought it. I am pretty select in the punk bands and especially old-school punk bands I listen to. Partly because some punk is too simple,and sometimes seems like it is lacking in musical talent; that is most definetly not the case with SNFU. I appreciate a band that allows melodic guitars and solos to find its way in their album. And, it is cool to see that the awesome singer (Mr. Chi Pig)doesn't always have to be singing, he allows sometimes half of a song to be just instrumental before the singing comes in. But don't get me wrong, Mr. Chi Pig is an excellent singer and is unlike ANY singers I have heard before. Sometimes he's kinda weird but that's okay. Anyway, lets get to the songs.
1. The Devil's Voice:9/10 Good way to start out the album. It gives me a Misfits vibe.
2. Where's My Legs:10/10 Awesome. So much energy, funny, and one of my favorites.
3. Better Homes and Gardens: 9.5/10 Another great song.
4. Scarecrow: 10/10 Another one of my favorites, kinda long for punk rock(4:30) but I like that. Its a bit weird but so is SNFU, this is one of those songs where the instruments really shine through, and that's what I was rambling on about before.
5. Black Cloud: 9.5/10 A slower even more melodic song. I really like it.
6. I Forget: 10/10 Yet another one of my favs. Its really catchy and packed full of energy.
7. The Ceiling: 10/10 I love this one too.
8. Mind Like a Door: 6.5/10 My least favorite. I don't like the screaming.
9. He's Not Getting Older, He's Getting Bitter: 10/10 This may be my favorite. I dunno, its way up there on my list. Great guitar solo, and lyrics. Another 4 or so something minutes long song.
10. Electric Chair: 9.5/10 I really like this song, its really fast I just don't like the ending.
11. Welcome To My Humble Life Of Dissaray: 10/10 Awesome, they should of ended the album with this and took off Snapping Turtle.
12. Snapping Turtle: 7.5/10 Not cause it is that bad, I just don't like the singing and it sounds like its a "f*** around" song. In my opinion it should of been prev. unreleased but whatever, i still listen to it.
So, overall it is an awesome album. If I could give it 4.5 I would (Amazon doesn't rate with halves). And it may get 5 if it weren't for the crappy production, that's my main complaint. But that's alright cause it gives it more of that old-school sound. If you are a fan of rock music buy it, it is not just for punk fans."

Thrash innovators ... figures they'd be Canadian.

Merki | 10/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I was 16 years old in 1987, I remember there were basically two cassettes I rotated in and out of my Walkman for several months -- "Garage Days Re-revisited" and "If You Swear, You'll Catch No Fish". And I remember thinking how much cooler SNFU was than Metallica (even years before Metallica became the tragic joke they are today).I was so extremely happy I discovered this SNFU CD! Finally! I found a band that played music I had been looking for in thrash bands for years! The music was fast ... but thick, chunky and creatively arranged. The lyrics were genuinely sarcastic and clever. And when I finally went to see them live in '89, I was just absolutely smitten by their hyperactive showmanship. "If You Swear ..." was for me, the album that gave birth to bands years later like NOFX, Strung Out, No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, etc. The production of "If You Swear ..." is typical of something recorded 15 years ago, but it is in every other way, way ahead of its time."