Search - Nomeansno :: People's Choice

Should you buy it when you have all the songs on other CDs?

Allan MacInnis | Vancouver | 05/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The remastering on this disc, I think, makes it worth buying even if you have every other NoMeansNo disc; the sound quality on the earlier songs is very very GOOD, a vast improvement on (I think) the previously released CD "originals" off YOU KILL ME, SEX MAD and SMALL PARTS (really only four songs). There really aren't many other reasons to buy this if you have the original releases, other than the very cute cover (a pic, not currently shown on this site, of actual, I guess, club wall graffiti reading "How f-n' (misspelled) old are NoMeansNo? Give it up, Grandads!," to which John Wright has replied "That's Great GrandDad to you..."). I mean, there are amusing liner notes, I suppose. I'm glad I bought it, no less -- it sounds great, and the songs sound good next to each other. Of course there are gripes: I, for one, wish "Theresa give me that knife" weren't on it, a song I've never liked, and would have liked to see more rarities on it, like the excellent and fun "Ya Little Creep," say, or other rarities ("Lifelike," say, which I always thought a great departure for the band and not available on CD) or some live versions of tracks otherwise unavailable. Even a few o' my faves aren't represented ("The Tower," "Joyful Reunion," "My Politics" -- they're not even on the list in the bands recent live shows). But the songs mostly are the ones you'd expect, and a couple of the surprises ("Give me the Push?") really work. The live-on-the-radio version of "The River" (which I believe is the one off the IN THE FISHTANK disc and the only semi-rarity you can find here) is great, too and has prompted them to put the song back in their live setlist, which is also good. But should you buy it if you have every other disc already? This is the question; I'm glad I did, but you gotta make up your own mind. Of course, if you DON'T have every other disc already... By the way, John Wright has grown a mustache, and I actually think it looks kinda cool. See them live: rate the 'stache."

Hardcore for Non Fans of the Genre

directions | Space Time Foam | 08/06/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It would be a diservice to call this classic hardcore because there is more to it than that. Never really getting into the hardcore genre, I can appreciate "People's Choice" because it is eclectic and also has a sense of humor. Basically, Nomeansno sounds like Big Black sped up and amped up with unusual timing and rhythms. Some similarity to the Dead Kennedys but instead of social commentary you get a hilarious misanthropy ("Dad" sounds like G.G. Allin if he actually could write a song). Anyway, this compilation is the only way to hear Nomeansno's early years (what is considered their classic period) as the albums themselves have lapsed out of print. Hopefully, that will change."