Review #11: The Fuck-Ups - FU82 EP

Year: 1982
Genre: Shitty Hardcore Punk Rock
Label: Fowl Records
Tracks: 6
My Rating: 7/8

the Fuck-Ups were a band from San Francisco and they've been said to be the "ugliest, most hated band of the early 80's" and having "no commercial potential". A picture of a baby with a knife in it's head and puking blood on their album cover, doesn't take a genious to realize they didn't even tend to be commercial at all. In reality, they were real jerks. Their songs were hateful, racist and politically incorrect. The singer Bob Noxious would wear swastika, white power t-shirt at shows, the audience booed and threw stuff at him. And i don't think they were neo-nazis or anything. They just did it to piss off everyone. Sex Pistols did the same. Bob would also start a fight with Ian Mackaye of Minor Threat in their '83 tour. Everyone dispised him. The fans, other bands, fanzines and even his own band members. Some of their fans though, say that they weren't that mean as everyone wrote about them, they were the real deal, not any nice shit, but most people didn't see it like that. Now lets check out their one and only mini LP FU82:

1. White Boy
This has kinda funky beat. Bassline starts the song, then the drums and guitar get in. I like when the guitar plays some bit out of tune parts during the song. Bob "singing" with his harsh voice. He also does some random brrrrrrrrrrrrr sounds and dog barks. I think this song is a message to stupid people who think they're the greatest and above everyone else only 'cause they're white. "White boy walking around, nobodys gonna put you down, white boy can't you see? your a minority". White pride my ass. Most people i know are like that. It's so fun to make fun of other races. They wont make fun of you though, because you're hiding from them...

2. I Think You're Shit
This is a favorite Fuck-Ups song by many of their fans. Starts with a awesome muddy guitar riff. If you don't know what i mean by that then well thats your problem. I can't get every word Bob sings, because english is not my mother language. But i think it's about people who think they're cool and above everybody, but in reality they're just fools.

3. Negative Reaction
This is my personal favorite Fuck-Ups song. That guitar sound after the chorus is so cool. Lots of people hear songs in a different way, my opinion that this song has a desperate message, about getting always a negative reaction what ever you do and wanting to return the favor to all those people who gave you that reaction.

4. I Hate You
This song is a good example why hardcore punk kicked ass. The fast guitar riffs, fast drums, angry lyrics... "You only put me down, i'm gonna knock you down, because i hate you, i hate you!"

5. Once I Had A Brother
They start the song by screaming just aaaaaaaaaa!!! with their fans The Fuckettes, who consist of 3 girls. The reason why they "sing" on this song, is because the girls couldn't get in on of the Fuck-Ups shows 'cause they were underaged and the band said that the girls were part of the band to get them in and they would have to sing on this song with them... The song seems to be about having a friend like a brother, but who betrayed and forgot about you. A live version of this song can be heard on the band's myspace page, which sounds better than the album version.

6. Get Out
Another really angry song. I bet many people couldn't stand listening to their songs, because the theme of every song is hate. They managed to write awfully good, catchy songs though.

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I can relate to what they sing about, being always rejected, angry and frustrated and fighting back and giving them back what they gave to you.