Classic American Skinhead Punk
Stephen Gracia | Brooklyn, New York | 01/10/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a CD re-issue of the first Effigies singles and some album tracks, and it is an excellent intro to a very influencial band. The closest points of reference are The Ruts, early Killing Joke, and The Stranglers, and the collection traces their evolutin from the street punk/dub vibe of Security and Strongbox to more complex material like Coarse In Vein and Smile. They were skinheads but they didn't play Oi!, and they were working class but not overly ractionary. Their songs were full of compassion and frustration, in a genre of music considered too bone headed for for anyone with musical taste, they were fiercely intelligent. Along with the Big Boys, The Dicks, Black Flag, and The Dead Kennedys, they set the standard for 80's punk."
One of the pioneers of the "Chicago" sound
W.C. | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/16/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Along with Naked Raygun and Big Black, these Chicago legends laid the groundwork for the Chicago independent music scene and their influence can be traced all the way to later Windy City big names like Smashing Pumpkins and Urge Overkill. This is a great retrospective, documenting the Effigies origins as a speedy, slightly thrashy punk/hardcore band into their evolution as an edgy, post-punk unit. The four tracks included here off their 1st full length L.P. "For Ever Grounded" capture this band at their peak. Hardcore angst channeled through an ever evolving, more melodic and broad musical landscape. Lyrically this band was a study in plaintive brilliance - the economy of the words conveying a message just as deep as any of the sloganeering banner wavers of the day. They also challenged the listener to think instead of being hand delivered the popular punk politics of the day. "For Ever Grounded" is an L.P. that NEEDS to be re-released in it's entirety. A must collection for any fan of indie/punk rock, past or present."
The best of the rest
Charles F. Abbate Jr. | Weymouth, Ma USA | 08/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"was really nice to get this comp of some of their early material on cd....aggressive and intelligent,the effigies have always stood from their hardcore punk peers in the 80's.many dismiss their later work as too pop. nonsense!they were brave enough to push musical boundaries.look forward to an east coast tour this fall!!!"
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1