Various - Four Old Seven Inches LP

When it comes to the Dischord Records catalogue, even just their first decade of harDCore and the Revolution Summer, I’m a bit like the subject of a 2008 Katy Perry single. I’m hot then I’m cold, yes then I’m no, in then I’m out, up then I’m down. But this collection of 4 early 7”s on one LP is for the most part hot, with one of the 7”s collected being absolutely BLAZING!

The Teen Idles – Minor Disturbance E.P. 7” is a lightning-in-a-bottle document of US Hardcore Punk in its infantile stages. It was released one year after Black Flag’s ‘Nervous Breakdown’, the same year as Bad Brains’ ‘Pay To Cum’, and I reckon deserves to be placed in the same bracket of excellence.

There’s an unhinged and unwieldy physical, full bodied energy that differentiates it from much of the speedy UK and Californian punk I’d assume they’d have been consuming. If you’re not that concerned with USHC historics, it kind of sounds like (Australian) X’s ‘Hate City’, especially in Ian Mackaye’s bonkers bass tone!

Members would go on to form Minor Threat, whose impact can’t be ignored, but I like this EP a whole lot more. Oh yeah, the Youth Brigade and Government Issue material is also really good, but I could live without S.O.A (sorry Henry). - Nic