Hi guys. I'm currently sitting home, since the country has been hit by virus COVID-19 and us dentists are advised to suspend activities and just be on call for emergencies. Great chance to pull out some records I hadn't listened to in a long time. One was this because, you know, virus this virus that... it's VIRUS 100 time!
...Virus 100 being this LP's catalog number on indie label Alternative Tentacles. Virus 1 was Dead Kennedys' iconic debut "Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables", so what would be more fitting than to celebrate the label's 10th anniversary and 100th release with a tribute to The Dead Kennedys? Does it matter that the label boss was also that bands' lead singer? Does it sound a bit too egotistical? Well, no one ever accused Biafra of having too small an ego, that's for sure. First of all, the man thinks he can actually make a difference! He's even run for office, first for mayor of San Francisco and then for the presidential candidacy of the Green Party - he named death row inmate and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal as his vice presidential choice. And he failed, who could have guessed that? Well, I don't know how hands-on was his involvement in this project, but it turned out to be an exemplary tribute. Only a few of the bands belong to the DK's hardcore punk community, and they all try to put their own stamp on the songs, which is always the mark of a successful cover. Some pretty outlandish ones that nevertheless hit the mark are Faith No More's pseudo-Elvis lounge version of "Lets Lynch The Landlord", Mojo Nixon's hillbilly rock'n'roll "Winnebago Warrior" and an unbelievable acapella "Forward To Death" by Nomeansno. Arguably the best is the Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy's update of DK classic "California Uber Alles" turning the song into a polemic rap à la Public Enemy. Napalm Death and Sepultura bring their thrash metal attack to "Nazi Punks Fuck Off" and "Drug Me" but even they cannot surpass the bone-crunching speed of the originals. The Didjits, Neurosis, Alice Donut, Victims Family and Steel Pole Bath Tub provide hardcore/metal noise similar to the originals', Kramer's piece has a weird orchestral backing, and Les Thugs offer a relatively melodic garage punk "Moon Over Marin". Evan Johns' "Too Drunk To Fuck" is a punkabilly anthem with swirling sax, while The LP closes with two then-fashionable grunge bands, Sister Double Happiness and the all-female L7. All in all this album displays great variety, imaginative re-workings and (often, though not always) high quality. Add the gripping cover with the fantastic Alternative Tentacles logo with the religion/war smashing bat, and it makes for one virus you shouldn't be afraid of catching.
**** for Too Drunk To Fuck (Evan Johns), Lets Lynch The Landlord (Faith No More), Nazi Punks Fuck Off (Napalm Death), Forward To Death (Nomeansno), Moon Over Marin (Les Thugs), California Uber Alles (Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy), Winnebago Warrior (Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors), Drug Me (Sepultura), Lets Lynch The Landlord (L7)
*** for Police Truck (Didjits), Chemical Warfare (Steel Pole Bath Tub), Holiday In Cambodia (Sister Double Happiness)
** for Alice Donut (Halloween), Saturday Night Holocaust (Neurosis), Ill In The Head (Victims Family), Insight (Kramer)
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