Published on Oct 9, 2016
Simply put, these two records – originally released in 1980 and 1982, respectively – are two of the most amazing hardcore punk records ever released. In the late ‘80s when CDs were quickly becoming all the rage, Frontier put both records together on one disc. And wouldn’t you know it, the entire disc runs just about 45 minutes. That’s how quick and efficient these guys were – and this was them in their prime.
It’s hard to mess with perfection, particularly with vocalist Keith Morris and one of the all-time greatest drummers ever to hit the studio, Lucky Lehrer. Quite simply, he couldn’t be beat, and besides maybe Tommy Ramone, Chuck Biscuits, Earl Hudson, and Bill Stevenson, he’s one of the most amazing punk rock drummers ever created.
These two records are essentially a greatest hits record for Circle Jerks. On Group Sex alone, you’ve got the title track, “Red Tape,” “What’s Your Problem,” “Back Against The Wall,” and the all-time classic “I Just Want Some Skank.” The record clocks in at less than twenty minutes total. Try finding any other band nowadays that could be that quick and effective. The band was never out there to please people, and it’s all here in plain view to piss off anyone and everyone.
Wild In The Streets took a bit of a different approach with better production, longer songs, and some outright strange covers including “Put a Little Love In Your Heart.” But the album also includes one of the best punk rock covers ever made, Garland Jeffries’ “Wild In The Streets.” Though the second album’s tracks are not as instantly memorable as its predecessor, it does have a fair share, including those mentioned above and “Trapped.”
After their sophomore disc, the band started moving in a different direction, going more towards a metal style and turning away from the overall skill and effectiveness of their early music. But this is a great place to start if you wanna get into real, old school, classic hardcore punk.