Search - The Teen Idles, The Untouchables, State of Alert :: Flex Your Head

Essential DC hardcore

Jinx McElroy | Columbia, SC United States | 10/30/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The "Flex Your Head" compilation was released by D.C. independent punk label, DISCHORD, in 1982.If you are looking for an insight into the roots of Hardcore, this is it my friend.DISCHORD RECORDS was founded by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson of MINOR THREAT to release records by their bands, friends bands, and to document the explosive D.C. punk music scene of the day.All of the important early D.C. punk bands (except for BAD BRAINS) appear on this compilation: TEEN IDLES (Ian and Jeff's first band), UNTOUCHABLES, STATE OF ALERT (the first band of HENRY ROLLINS, then known as Henry Garfield), MINOR THREAT (the most important HC band from the eastern US?: maybe), GOVERNMENT ISSUE, YOUTH BRIGADE (not the band from ANOTHER STATE OF MIND... this is the OTHER YOUTH BRIGADE), RED C, VOID, IRON CROSS, ARTIFICIAL PEACE, and DEADLINE.Most of the recordings are a bit thin, but the adrenalized suburban kid angst cuts through. Highlights include the UNTOUCHABLES "nicfit" which was later covered by SONIC YOUTH, Henry Rollins singing "I Hate the Kids", the two MINOR THREAT classics, and the three VOID tracks (VOID being one of the most underrated HC bands of all time!)The CD issue reprints all of the original lyric inserts from the LP, as well as the artwork from the four different album covers (the "wheat sleeve", the "violin sleeve", the "xxx sleeve", and the "guy wearing a hat" sleeve).This record isn't necessarily a "must have" unless you are a true fan of this sort of thing. The MINOR THREAT songs are released elsewhere on their discography CD. If you do enjoy any of the other bands listed, or have a historical interest in the roots of American Hardcore... this is a rocking little history lesson.D.C. punk 101.Primal adolescent bashing at its finest. The lyrics to "I Hate You" by the UNTOUCHABLES sum it up best:Looking like something the devil spurned
You're enough to make my stomach churn
You became trapped in society
Shows how ignorant you can beI Hate You x 4You were so blind you didn't see
You have a struggle to keep yourself free
You're a normal person in a neutral state
People still wonder why I hateI Hate You x 4If you can relate, pick it up."

This album was a classic when it came out, still blasts ya t

Chris bct | San Diego, CA USA | 01/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How many different covers did Dischord do re-pressing this album? Meanwhile, you got a great taste of the early 80's DC punk rock/hardcore scene. Does it stand the test of time? Does it still sound great today? To my ears (enjoying punk and hardcore since 1978, so, they're old ears now) it's almost as great today as This Is Boston, Not L.A./Unsafe At Any Speed CD which has weathered time just a nudge better than Flex Your Head. Still, if you want U.S. hardcore and you favor the DC scene, if you don't own this sucka, well, yer odd.



Virtually every punk I knew back in the day owned this. The virtue of compilations, which punk has excelled at: you get several 7"s worth of music from a variety of bands all in the general ballpark of the kind of music you wanna hear but for the overall cheaper price of a single album. The key is, did the people, the indie punk label who put together comp together select the best songs from the band? There's not much worse than hearing a comp with mostly lame songs. This is not the case here. Almost every song still zings today, hardcore punkin' they way past our little heads.



I wonder what punx of today think of it. Punk has remained vital and independent. What's cool is to see punk made 25 years ago get listened to today and see how it sounds. I bought this CD and when this old body (51) is able to take all that speed and driving punk rock, it's fun to hear this thing again. Punk rock man. chrisbct@hotmail.com"

Great overview of early DC punk!

Scott Fendley | Zionsville, IN USA | 06/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great sampler and overview of early DC / Dischord punk rock. It's a bit withering to listen to the whole thing at once, but as a sampler it really works well and intices you to seek out the individual artists. Recommended as a good historical document as well."