A Collection Of Pop Classics Review

Release Date: 1994
Label: New Red Archives
Genres: American Underground, Hardcore Punk, Anarchist Punk
Number Of Tracks: 22
This contains both Reagan Youth Volumes 1 & 2 LP's on one CD.

Sound:	10
Lyrics:	10
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	10
Users rating:	10
Comments:	2

overall: 10

Featured review by: GuitaPlaya, on february 24, 2006

Sound: This is Reagan Youth's only two albums combined into one. Reagan Youth is one of my top five favorite bands. The songs from the first album are fast and short. Despite this, they are not really like most hardcore punk bands. Instead of just playing a few power chords they put some great fills in and usually the riffs are a little more complex the a chord progession. Also, their bassist really knows how to play. There are also some pretty cool solos in their first album. The songs from their second album are even better (in my opinion although most people will disagree). They lots of great guitar solos (Queen Babylon has the the best solo I've heard). Some of the songs must've taken so long to write, like "What Will The Neighbors Think." The whole song is like a guitar solo, but it's not really, you'll just have to hear it. You can tell that their guitarist likes Jimi Hendrix. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: The lyrics are mostly political. They make great points. Usually they are about peace. Best song lyricaly is "Jesus Was A Communist," it's only got four lines but its great. // 10

Impression: Reagan Youth is one of the few punk bands with talent. They can play their instruments and their lyrics aren't just offensive for the sake of being offensive. Definatly one of the greatest bands ever. // 10

overall: 10

Reviewed by: Ghetto Metal, on july 10, 2006

Sound: I know a lot of punk rockers only like the first ten songs from their original EP made back in '82-'83. That's good stuff, but the second half of the CD (songs 11-22) is the great stuff. That 'Reagan Youth' reminds me of Led Zeppelin, yeah! Both guitarists (Al Pike on bass and Paul Cripple on lead) are in sync on the first record. But on the second record, Paul and new bassist Pusi Koorahtz click as if they're reading each other's minds when they shred away on tunes like "Get The Ruler Out" and "Urban Savages". Other songs like "Queen Babylon" or "The Heavy Metal Shuffle" shouldn't be compared to "Go Nowhere" or "Happy?", it's like comparing apples to oranges. When I listen to "What Will The Neighbors Think" it doesn't make me feel any less punk then when I listen to "Anytown". Yet I know I've grown more open minded to different types of music since listening to this CD. And Paul Cripple's guitar riffs on "Jesus was a Communist" are truly magnificent (as a guitar player, that song's my favorite on the whole CD). He's definitely my choice for best all around punk rock guitarist, of all time! This CD must be considered a treasure. // 10

Lyrics and Singing: Dave Insurgent is one of the top five punk singers of all time, up there with Ian MacKaye, Jello Biafra, Glenn Danzig and Darby Crash. I just wish the CD came with lyrics included because it's hard to make out what he's saying half the time. From what I can make out, Dave I's political rants and his sharp, witty humor seem to be on target song after song. His in your face, political anthems make you stand and take notice. I also like it when they add that voice that says "Boy, where you going out tonight, boy?" or "My God damned daughter misstng too" in the beginning of songs, it gives the recordings that little something extra that elevates Reagan Youth from their contemporaries. // 10

Impression: This CD is interesting because we hear how the band grew and evolved from the first ten songs (82-83) to the last twelve (1990). All though the speed of the songs have changed and the musicianship (Steve, first album, was a better drummer than Johnny Aztec, second album,in my opinion) is obviously different, it surely makes for a truly interesting listen. Still, whether it's "No Class" from the first half of the CD or "Brave New World" from the second half of it, the songs are undeniably and unmistakenly Reagan Youth. The band was just ahead of it's time, especially when you compare them to their basic 'jump on the bandwagon' hardcore punk peers. This CD has a visionary aspect to it making it a true punk rock classic. No CD collection would be complete without "A Collection Of Pop Classics". These guys are punk rock Gods! // 10

Comments

[Axe Miester]

I like that review by GuitarPlaya. He's not afraid to admit he likes the second half of the CD when most 'punks' are 'too punk' to like anything but the first ten songs. I find it ironic that "Back to the Garden", "Queen Babylon" and "One Holy Bible" were written and performed by their original lineup, with Andy Zapathy on bass and Charly Tripper on drums repsectively. And we shouldn't forget that "Urban Savages", "It's A Beautiful Day", "Acid Rain" and Brave New World" were included in their main set when Al Pike and Steve Luby (the second lineup on Volume One) toured with the band. You can hear them play those songs live on the Reagan Youth 'Live and Rare' CD. "What Will The Neighbors Think?" is and will always be an amazing punk song thanks to those great lyrics and four chords (I know, it's only supposed to be three chords for a song to be truly punk). But because that song does not have that 'Bad Religion' produced sound that's been aped to death since the nineties, doesn't mean it's not punk. Au contraire: the non conformity of their sound is what makes it so punk. So lets give thanx that Stoner music can sound POLITICAL, PUNK and PROFESSIONAL all at the same time.

[wingedgopher]

a way underrated band. one of my biggest musical influences by far.