Oh sure....they made other records....but do you really anything more than this beautiful slab of high velocity punk rock and dysfunctional paroxysm (especially when it's this fun)? I'd even take that a step further and suggest that you'd be hard-pressed to find a more definitive document of early 80's American Hardcore than this album (I can hear the purists and the pedants clicking their tongues, citing selections by Minor Threat, Black Flag, Bad Brains and the DK's, but whatever....let'em start their own thread). Group Sex is a prototype!
Having quit Black Flag, diminutive Keith Morris assembled a new gaggle of n'erdowells (notably Handsome Greg Hetson, ex of Redd Kross and later of Bad Religion) and the alliteratively-monikered rhythm section of Lucky Lehrer and Roger Rogerson (the latter taken to sporting a swastika armband onstage, much to the chagrin of Morris). Arguably a "party band," if your definition of "partying" involves ranting `til red in the face about persecution, youthful angst, fatuous Hollywood culture, isolation, goverment hypocrisy, sexual frustration, self-loathing and nihilism. The songs are usually very short, blistering, pointed but still very hooky and played with a stealth and dexterity lost of many of their peers (though that does not include the Bad Brains, who remain unsurpassed in that capacity).
There are throwaway "cheap laff" tracks like "Deny Everything", "Don't Care" (essentially a Ramones appropriation) and "What's Your Problem" ("got a date/can't be late/if she don't show up/I'll masturbate!") alongside veritable anthems like "Behind the Door," "Paid Vacation" the vehemently nihilist "Live Fast Die Young" and the furious sprint through Black Flag's "Wasted" (which Morris had sung for the band on the Nervous Breakdown ep). Nevermind fuckin' today's faux-punk pabulum like Good Charlotte, Group Sex by the Circle Jerks is the fuckin' definite article.
Later albums were hit and miss (though Golden Shower of Hits has some classics on it) and they're still going today (though Lehrer and Rogerson are long, long gone). Group Sex, however, remains their finest hour.
Agree or no?
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:05 (twenty-two years ago)
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:09 (twenty-two years ago)
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:11 (twenty-two years ago)
I Just Want Some Skank.
― ddb, Friday, 8 August 2003 20:13 (twenty-two years ago)
― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:32 (twenty-two years ago)
― Sean (Sean), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)
― Francis Watlington (Francis Watlington), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:54 (twenty-two years ago)
(just kidding, i love this record)
― The Four Singing Beatles (Jody Beth Rosen), Friday, 8 August 2003 20:59 (twenty-two years ago)
― Evan (Evan), Friday, 8 August 2003 22:18 (twenty-two years ago)
― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Saturday, 9 August 2003 01:09 (twenty-two years ago)
― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 9 August 2003 02:18 (twenty-two years ago)
― The Four Singing Beatles (Jody Beth Rosen), Saturday, 9 August 2003 02:19 (twenty-two years ago)
― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Saturday, 9 August 2003 02:31 (twenty-two years ago)
― Helltime Producto (Pavlik), Saturday, 9 August 2003 02:32 (twenty-two years ago)
― nickn (nickn), Saturday, 9 August 2003 04:38 (twenty-two years ago)
― Vek (vek), Saturday, 9 August 2003 04:49 (twenty-two years ago)
Anyhow, you are a fairly eloquent writer... so much so that you are making me buy a replacement copy of this Circle Jerks album since I think I sold mine in the 80's.
and of courseGREATEST ALBUM TITLE EVER.
― BurmaKitty (BurmaKitty), Saturday, 9 August 2003 15:35 (twenty-two years ago)
― Sam J. (samjeff), Monday, 15 December 2003 17:08 (twenty-two years ago)
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 November 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)
― briania (briania), Monday, 1 November 2004 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)
Group Sex rules, of course, but Wonderful is an underrated album
― If Assholes Could Fly This Place Would Be An Airport, Thursday, 13 March 2008 22:28 (seventeen years ago)
I am not a fan of group sex.
― The Brainwasher, Thursday, 13 March 2008 22:29 (seventeen years ago)
I still love this album oh so goddamn much.
― Alex in NYC, Tuesday, 23 June 2009 17:36 (sixteen years ago)
yes
― am0n, Tuesday, 23 June 2009 17:39 (sixteen years ago)
me too
― matt h. (M@tt He1ges0n), Tuesday, 23 June 2009 17:43 (sixteen years ago)
Loud, fast, funny ,and pissed off and all under thirty minutes. What's not to like?
People often overlook the humor in hardcore.
― sandcat dune buggy attack squad!! (leavethecapital), Tuesday, 23 June 2009 20:47 (sixteen years ago)
all under thirty minutes.
That's with the CD version repeating itself!
― DJ MARTIAN IS A KING AMONG MEN. Dan Perry, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 23 June 2009 21:13 (sixteen years ago)
Great great record from a scene I don't other was pay much attention to. Was also my first introduction to a cassette with the same tracks on both sides. "Ingenious!" I thought.
I still spin Operation fairly regularly at Dj nights.
A few years back, my band was playing the Echo (opening for High on Fire) and Keith Morris was present. He bought a cd from me after the show. I tried to gift it to him, explaining that we'd been listening to Group Sex in the van that very day. But he was too gracious, and explained that V2 would recompense, so he was happy to support my little band. Good man. We should also mention that the drummer went on to make 4 excellent albums with Danzig.
― Nate Carson, Tuesday, 23 June 2009 23:06 (sixteen years ago)
Chuck Biscuits, way underrated as a drummer.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 23 June 2009 23:11 (sixteen years ago)
He was in-fucking-credible when I saw them in '92.
― Nate Carson, Tuesday, 23 June 2009 23:18 (sixteen years ago)
More love for the Circle Jerks here .
― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 12:55 (sixteen years ago)
What band was Morris on V2 with?
― DJ MARTIAN IS A KING AMONG MEN. Dan Perry, Tuesday, 15 January 2002 (DJ Mencap), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 13:15 (sixteen years ago)
pretty sure Chuck Biscuits was in D.O.A. at the time. i believe Lucky Lehrer was the drummer on 'Group Sex'
― Robert Acosta, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 20:50 (sixteen years ago)
Chuck doesn't appear on any `Jerks albums.
― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 21:24 (sixteen years ago)
I listened to this and Black Flag's First Four Years while mowing the lawn yesterday. Awesome. Felt like I was 15 again.
― doom shit (circa1916), Wednesday, 24 June 2009 21:31 (sixteen years ago)
Ha! When I made my paltry living mowing Long Island lawns back in the mid-80s, the Circle Jerks and Black Flag pretty much scored my efforts. Although, honestly, listening to hardcore while mowing the lawn might explain the tinnitus I've now been grappling with for the past decade.
― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 21:45 (sixteen years ago)
it was their appearance in the first 'Decline' movie that got me hooked. although i'm a huge Black Flag fan, i must say that The Circle Jerks' performance was the best in that film. weird that they're also the one band featured w/ no interview footage.
― Robert Acosta, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 23:15 (sixteen years ago)
I JUST TELL EMGET BACKWHEN THEY TELL ME HOW TO ACT
― sleeve, Wednesday, 24 June 2009 23:42 (sixteen years ago)
I believe he was an A&R scout for them.
― Nate Carson, Thursday, 25 June 2009 05:24 (sixteen years ago)
The mind reels.
― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 25 June 2009 13:29 (sixteen years ago)
Where's Lucky Lehrer today, I wonder.
― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 25 June 2009 13:30 (sixteen years ago)
lol i think it's a mark prindle interview with keith morris where dude keeps hypin the D4
― pretzel walrus, Thursday, 25 June 2009 14:39 (sixteen years ago)
yeah, Albini also scornfully mentions this in his "Problem With Music" essay.
― sleeve, Thursday, 25 June 2009 15:59 (sixteen years ago)
Saw the Jerks on their 10th Anniversary tour, which itself was almost 20 years ago, at the Ritz on 54th in NYC. No memory of the opening acts, though I wanna say maybe the Vandals were among them. Awesome show.
― unperson, Thursday, 25 June 2009 16:26 (sixteen years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2Q3Acj9Lms
― am0n, Tuesday, 30 June 2009 21:42 (sixteen years ago)
i think thats biscuits on drums there
Somehow I had never checked out this band until I just watched Decline -- incredible performance, and goddamn, the drummer!
― on entre O.K. on sort K.O. (man alive), Tuesday, 13 October 2015 14:17 (ten years ago)
Group Sex 40th Anniversary reunion in May 2020 Hopefully more shows to come :D
(Morris & Hetson, Schloss on bass...drummer still tbd)
https://www.spin.com/2019/11/circle-jerks-announce-group-sex-40th-anniversary-reunion-tour/
― terminators of endearment (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 24 November 2019 21:46 (six years ago)
Call (213) 659-3756. Best time to call is Friday & Saturday afternoons.
― FODMAP of the reef (morrisp), Sunday, 24 November 2019 21:49 (six years ago)
This is the only hardcore album I can get into. Why? Two reasons: 1. the drummer is a goddamned madman, and 2. it’s FUNNY!!! “You know I’ve got the world UP! MY! ASS!” This blows away Minor Threat and Fresh Fruit and Dirty Rotten LP. I haven’t heard Rock for Light or More Beer or M.I.A. or Back from Samoa yet, but I will soon. And I guess that’s it for the hardcore canon (the U.S. punk kind, not the happy hardcore kind). Did I miss anything?
― Mr. Snrub, Friday, 10 June 2022 01:57 (three years ago)
Zero Boys - Vicious Circle
Big Boys - Lullabies Help The Brain Grow
― thinkmanship (sleeve), Friday, 10 June 2022 02:08 (three years ago)
I’ll have to try those… for me as well, this is one of the only “punk” albums (of a certain variety) that I really enjoy / listen to.
― Creature Catcher (Live) (morrisp), Friday, 10 June 2022 03:05 (three years ago)
I saw their first UK tour since 1987 (apparently that was their only UK tour in their initial incarnation - can't really figure what that would've been like - this would've been right in the middle of the UKHC wave with Ripcord/Heresy/Napalm Death/Concrete Sox/etc so I think they probably would've thought the Circle Jerks were old hat - apparently they toured with Gang Green - wish I wasn't so lame when I was 10/11 years old).
I was standing at the back being old and 40 something until Wild In The Streets came on then I was like fuck this shit and pushed my way through to the front and I was in the pit for the rest of the show. Live Fast Die Young well OK not everyone has that choice
― even the birds in the trees seemed to whisper "get fucked" (bovarism), Sunday, 19 February 2023 05:42 (two years ago)
<3
― obsidian crocogolem (sleeve), Sunday, 19 February 2023 05:48 (two years ago)
<3 otm
― sarahell, Sunday, 19 February 2023 16:25 (two years ago)