Crass - Stations of the Crass

Freak Out.

Freak too shEik..This has all the punk anthems and themes of love and peace you'll ever neEd.It's sheer punk power and Crass sings their heart out in "Shaved Women/You pay." You'll never hear a more moving live performance unless you pick up thE Other songs..(AAA just messin with ya..Noogies given..)on This SAME CD sucH as "Women" and "Fight war,not WarS."Noogies given for how full of a person you'll become once You have the essence of this sink in! March 11, 2007

Feeding of the 5000, plus

Those who liked the intelligent, uncompromising punk of Feeding of the 5000 will likely be thrilled with this double album. This remained #1 on the British alternative charts for an unprecedented amount of time, and it's no wonder why so many have been so deeply affected by it. Crass may rub listeners different ways, but their completely uncompromising approach to their words and music is often inspiring.

Crass come out of the gate with a different style of punk than most others. The rhythms are martial, as if leading the troops out of apathy. Their politics aren't the fashionable type. Crass live in a commune south of London that abides by the principles of "anarchy and peace," and each song is a rough-hewn composition that shows extreme commitmemt. On this record, the band stretches themseves to the limit, doubling the output of their classic Feeding of the 5000 and adding a half album of live tracks. January 15, 2007

Potent lyrics, subpar music.

In my opinion Crass is a band more interesting to read about than to listen to. Sure, Steve Ignorant and his bandmates really did live the punk life, going so far as to steal or borrow all their equipment, keeping album and ticket prices low (at one point it was not uncommon to find Crass vinyl selling for $3), never signing to a major label, and never tempering their anarcho-punk ideals. Crass set the standard for future punk bands to live by.

That's all well and good, but musically Crass was near-incompetent. Punk is a stripped-down and simplistic form, but there's a fine line between minimalism and outright crappiness. Crass crosses that line a little too much for my tastes. Steve Ignorant's vocals suck and every instrument is poorly recorded to the point of being annoying. Every song starts to sound alike. Very punk, for sure, but you won't catch me listening to it much.

The saving grace are the lyrics. Though I largely don't agree with Crass' anarchist stance, they are intelligent, pointed, angry (and highly blasphemous) manifestos that take direct aim at Thatcher's England, the state of the punk scene (Punk Is Dead is spot-on lyrically), and every political institution you can think of. The lyrics and liner notes are the only conceivable reason I could think of for buying a Crass album. It's all an interesting and important footnote in punk history, but there is better music out there. I recommend Rudimentary Peni's Death Church--now that's a great and musically very interesting record from the early '80s British scene. Also recommended are American hardcore bands like Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, etc. etc.. July 24, 2004

Out of Chaos we Divide

As a mid teen in late 70s England, my character and sense of self was permanently affected and molded by this band. I saw them live only once...and I saw many punk bands of that era... the experience and impact was indelible and profound.
To have heard this album the first time, during a moment in time when punk was clearly a commoditity was to have seen punk reinfused with a sense of ideals and purpose.
There is a wisdom to many of the sentiments expressed in this album that mark it almost as a work of philosophy not just music. I was a punk in England during the heyday, and i will not slag the efforts of the marque names, cos I enjoyed them thoroughly too. For me though, Crass epitomised a midset of drastic, radical social and personal realisation, and that makes this album more personal than any I can think of from the day. July 11, 2004

Great besides silly random tracks

I love crass but there is only one thing wrong with stations; the b:s tracks that are saposed to pass for music. ill go with you now on a magical mystery tour of all the songs or subliminal speaking tracks now.
1. Mother earth- 5/5- Essential crass, to the point of not understanding a single word in the song.
2. White punks on hope- 4/5- Wil plese everyone besides the avid clash fan. "they said that we were trash well the names crass not clash" i think you get the point at hand.

3.youv'e got big hands- 5/5- also a complete impediment to understanding anything. read the lyrics,they will blow your mind.
4.darling-crap
5.System- 4/5- good song although it is a bit tedious for my taste
6.big man, big M.A.N- 5/5 one of the catchier crass songs ever.
7. hurry up garry- 5/5 this song is so catchy youll crap your self with happy thoughts of musical anticipation
8. fun going on- 5/5 diddo
9.crutch of society- 2/5 eh
10. heard too much about it- 3/5 i like it but theres better
11.chairman of the bored-4/5 classic
12.tired- horrible song
13. walls- diddo
19. I aint thick its just a trick- the song that immersed me in punk rock. this song will change your life. I didnt think songs 14-18 were wrth talking about. have a nice day. May 15, 2004

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