Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Day Whatever - Flipper, Album Generic Flipper

Written by guest editor, John Edge.

Subterranean Records ■ SUB 25

Released in April, 1982

Produced by Gary Krimon
Side One:Side Two:
  1. "Ever" (Loose) - 2:56
  2. "Life Is Cheap" (Loose) - 3:55
  3. "Shed No Tears" (Shatter) - 4:26
  4. "(I Saw You) Shine" (Shatter) - 8:31
  1. "The Way of the World" (Shatter) - 4:23
  2.  "Life" (Shatter) - 4:44
  3. "Nothing" (Loose) - 2:18
  4. "Living for the Depression" (Ant/Loose) - 1:23
  5. "Sex Bomb" (Shatter) - 7:48


Or perhaps the album title is Album and the band name is Generic Flipper.  Who cares?

Anyway, RC roped me into writing these dopey record reviews which I really don't have time for.  I've got a full time job, a kid, and all kinds of other shit begging for my time.  But whatever, I've had a particularly hard day at work and have about five brain cells to work on, so now's the perfect time to write a review. 

This is one of those great punk albums I really cut my teeth on as a teenager.  The sludginess, the depressing/uplifting lyrics, the general us vs them attitude all made me think I wasn't the only one who thought and felt that way.  Seem cliche?  Give me a break, we were all teenagers once and I was a damn good one.  Anyway, this album still stands lyrically as the closest to my personal worldview as any other I've ever heard in the intervening years.  
A little background on Flipper (the band, not the insufferable show): In the early eighties, punk rock bands and especially the offshoot hardcore groups were ratcheting up tempos and honing their sound to razor sharp clarity and tonality, Flipper hazily veered off in the complete opposite direction.  Their sound is mired in a drug fueled stupor. Flipper's songs take the breakneck hardcore of Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, and Minor Threat and slow it to a slug's pace.  Maybe they loved Sabbath?  Maybe they were just not good enough to play fast?  Or maybe they were just the perfect foil to Minor Threat: slow, sludgy, long songs, gleefully drunk and fucked up on all sorts of chemical entertainments.  They have two bassists.  That's all you really need to know.  

Intermission MCMXXVI

Written by guest editor, John Edge

Oh he's going to regret giving me the keys to this Cadillac.
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