Probably THE best intro to American punk
L Salisbury | Maryland United States | 05/28/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The best & most surprising thing about this comp is what's included. Essential garage bands such as the Seeds, the Sonics and 13th Floor Elevators- usually limited to "Pebbles" style 60s punk samplers- are finally included on this "official" history along side the Velvets, the Stooges, the Dolls and the Ramones. ... no historical retrospective is complete. The liner notes even apologise for the exclusion of the Talking Heads (often sited though out the booklet). But they do promise they'll be on "Vol. 2". Other important bands who should be on the second volume: MC5, Flaimin' Groovies, Question Mark, Monks, Dictators, Patti Smith, Suicide Commandos, Misfits, Germs, Dills, Devo, B 52s, Runaways, Sleekie Boys..."
Pounding, Kicking, Thumping, Righteous!
Bernard Chapin | CHICAGO! USA | 01/23/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, I guess I lived through this era but was too busy listening to the seventies and eighties pop with the other kids to experience the incredible sounds of New York punk. I really didn't get an appreciation for the music until 1993 or so. Then I gradually got a chance to listen to what has to be one the best forms of music in existence. I have to say that I love Television most and was glad to see they had a track on here. I was shocked though that Jonathan Richman did. I had no idea he was a part of this scene. Pere Ubu and Wayne County were unknown to me as were Suicide. I guess, as one who remains a partial novice, I found the CD to be a valuable release combining both the old and the new. It's for this reason that I heartily recommend it; although, I concede, if you're a veteran punk aficionado you probably won't be enthused."