Black Flag

The hardcore punk made in L.A. during the early 80's is some of the most culturally significant music ever put on record. The kids who rallied around the scene needed the music as much as the music needed them (look at the movies Suburbia and The Decline Of Western Civilization Pt. 1 for anthropological proof), and the barrier between audience and performer was near-invisible. Never was this more apparent in the even the most talented on the L.A. punk bands- Black Flag- who recruited two of their lead singers (Ron "Chavo" Reyes and Henry Rollins) from out of the audience at shows. Guitarist Greg Ginn was the driving force of the band, often incorporating micro-tonal solos among his distorted riffage, before losing control later on to Henry Rollins who eventually came into his own as the prototypical punk grunt singer.

The first album with Rollins, 1980's Damaged is the high point of hardcore punk, second only to maybe the Bad Brains self titled LP. It's lyrical content and sonic aggression channel the frustration of being on the fringes of society in Los Angeles. Raging against the police, the idle, and their own personal demons, they gave people who relate a masterpiece and anyone who doesn't an emphatic "fuck you." Not to say you have to be poor and misanthropic to succumb to the charms of this album, but you should be empathetic to the outlaw kids this album emboldens.

Just because I'm such an amazing guy (and because I happened to come across it), here's the entire album for free. If you've never heard any original LA hardcore punk music, be prepared to be blown away at it's inspiring vitriol. Keep an open mind and decide your yourself which side of their war you're on.

Click HERE and follow directions to get the whole album in a ZIP file.