The Posi-Machine

ahhh...this one brings back some memories. in an age where bands were seriously touting themselves as the most "positive" band ever (now what the hell could that possibly mean?)...comes this joke band that satirizes every harcore, posi-core, sXe band that ever existed up to 1988. the really funny thing is that Crucial Youth outplay every one of those bands that they are making fun of...beating them at their own game. this music was at a time before terms like "metalcore" and "mathcore" existed. this is really just straight up hardcore with lyrics promoting dental hygiene, good grades, and condeming (beyond the drugs and drinking) acts of littering, and profanity. the comics inside the booklet are as hilarious as the lyrics and are probably really really funny if you were ever once straight-edge in your past...you sellouts!!! you betrayers of the XXX brethren!!! haha. time for a drink.

I don't mean to disrespect any other reviewers (that wouldn't be very positive), but Crucial Youth was NOT a parody of straight-edge bands. I've been a fan for 20+ years; I ordered their "Possie-Machine" cassette from a Maximum Rock & Roll ad back in the 1980's for $3. Yes their lyrics were hilariously over-the-top, but that was a method of their madness; they were serious about what they were saying. It's OK to be straight-edge, drink milk, and laugh about it too. A-TEAM JAM!!!

I'm listening to them (on an old cassette) right now. i can only hope that this CD re-issue still comes with the comic book satirizing all things straight-edge. You'd have to be straight-edge to get the jokes. The singer apes Ian MacKaye well on their main credo, singing:Be Straight!Don't be late!Bench your weight!Don't masturbate!I am pleasantly surprised that some record company is still pressing this obscure little bit of hilarity. Give it as a gift!

Crucial Youth was the premiere fake straight edge band of the 80's and 90's. Songs include anthems decrying the use of foul language, jaywalking, poor dental hygiene, and masturbating. Posi sing alongs abound, including such classic lyrics as "be straight, don't be late, bench your weight, and for goodness sake please don't masturbate!" You must buy this record, and then build yourself a Youth Brush. Amazing.

Bei dem hier vorliegenden Album handelt es sich um einen absoluten Hardcore Klassiker. Allerdings muss man hier das Gesamtkonzept betrachten und bewerten.Die Musik - in der immer wieder, mehr oder weniger geschickt, Zitate aus Tracks anderer bekannter Hardcore Bands verwurstet werden - kann nicht ohne die teilweise ziemlich genialen Texte gesehen werden. Allerdings muss man sich schon ein wenig im 80Žer Ami-Hardcore auskennen, um die Anspielungen einordnen zu können.Musikalisch wird zeittypischer (Originalrelease war 1988), crossover- und metalfreier, 80Žer Hardcore mit etwas gewöhnungsbedürftigem Gesang geboten. Wer Bands wie Uniform Choice, Minor Threat, Youth of Today etc. zu seinen Faves zählt kann auch hier bedenkenlos zugreifen - wobei deren Qualität nicht auf albumlänge erreicht/gehalten werden kann.Abgerundet wird die CD durch das gelungene Booklet, in dem auch die Comics enthalten sind, die der Original LP als separates Booklet beilagen.