November 6, 1997
This wildly ambitious, 43-song burst is not only a high point for San Pedro's Minutemen, but a high point for punk in general. Forty-three songs may seem like an embarrassment of riches, but they blur by in a virtuoso frenzy as each song clocks in at under two minutes. They get in, kick out the jam and get out before you know what hit you.
This isn't your Ramones-styled three-chord cookie cutter punk. Minutemen are wildly eclectic, highly accomplished musicians, pounding out funk, folk, and free-jazz styled noise with utter conviction. Sharp political songwriting and social critique temper this blinding musical approach. This was 1984, remember: in the dark heart of Regan's decadence came this stripped-down, pissed off and righteous rocking album.
Their inspired cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Don't Look Now" reveals their grassroots agenda. Guitarist/vocalist D. Boon attacks American foreign policy in Vietnam and Latin America, spews venom on colonialism and rakes crass consumerism across the coals. The outstanding, kinetic rhythm section keeps things from getting too didactic - Mike Watt's thumb-popping bass is the muscular heart and soul of Boon's wit and lyrical guitar flourishes, and George Hurley keeps things rolling along at a frantic pace from behind the drum kit.
From the gorgeous folk of "Cohesion" to the hilarious tongue-in-cheek proto-funk of "#1 Hit Song" to the declamatory beat poetry of "Shit From an Old Notebook", this is an overwhelming whiplash album that never disappoints. Intelligence, rage, funky bass and searing guitar, political polemics and goofball toss-offs back to back - Double Nickels On the Dime is big, big fun.
- Jared O'Connor
big big fun