The self-titled debut from Washington, D.C.'s quintessential exponents of hardcore appeared on the (then) tiny Dischord label run by the young and energetic Ian MacKaye, who as vocalist for the band exhibited some of the most incisive lyrics, not to mention athletic and exuberant performances.... [+] Expand

The self-titled debut from Washington, D.C.'s quintessential exponents of hardcore appeared on the (then) tiny Dischord label run by the young and energetic Ian MacKaye, who as vocalist for the band exhibited some of the most incisive lyrics, not to mention athletic and exuberant performances. Minor Threat is comparable only to their fellow D.C. innovators, Bad Brains, possibly the next most influential group in American underground music during the '80s and '90s. Not only did Minor Threat define the hardcore ethic, they unwittingly coined the genre term straight-edge, which would resonate through post-punk music and beyond from garages in southern California and eventually across the Western world. Regardless of the multiple incarnations the hardcore genre has weathered, fans will always return to Minor Threat as the godfathers of American punk. That said, this debut album surely exists in varying forms of decay across many households of the baby-boom generation. The CD reissue, which compiles the complete collection -- including singles and EPs -- of the band's era, is available on CD and is simply easier to come by than the 12" vinyl version in question. That said, if an acquaintance, sibling, or progeny doesn't have a copy of this album lying around, well, that would be tantamount to having never witnessed Pink Floyd's The Wall or heard the Sex Pistols' Never Mind the Bollocks. While many consider Minor Threat to be a great influence on Limp Bizkit, on hearing this it doesn't really seem fair to hold them responsible. ~ Skip Jansen, All Music Guide [-] Collapse

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