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  1. lol i looked a that Track list and thought "How many discs is this album?"
  2. So, my review of the album is as follows:

    I enjoy the punk nature of the album and can appreciate, as a songwriter, developing ideas into smaller bursts of energy. My interpretation of that philosophy is this: if you have one good idea, you can either stretch that into a 4 minute song that revolves around one idea (which is what most of pop is), or you can just lay down that good idea and go onto the next one (which is what a lot of punk is).

    That being said, this album's energy and garage-like atmosphere make it very authentic-sounding. When you've got an album of 40 or more songs, that's really your only option for success. Who would put filler on an album with that many tracks? It all flows well, and I particularly enjoyed "Maybe Partying Will Help," which as I mentioned before has funk elements that I believe the Red Hot Chili Peppers would draw from just a few years later in the late eighties.

    Also, being a child of the nineties and growing up in the transitional period of MTV where they segued from videos to actual TV, I have to appreciate "Corona" for being one of the most recognizable sounds of my entire childhood. The Jackass Theme Song, perhaps it is better known as, will always put a smile on my face.

    With all of that being said, it's hard for me to get entirely behind the idea of revisiting this album. There are certain tracks that I will continue to listen to (Partying, West Germany, Corona, Viet Nam) because they have that funk/rockabilly punk sound, but as a whole the album just sort of moves too fast for me. It is difficult for me to sink into the experience of it, even though I was very excited to do so. That's why this review is more analysis about genres and sounds than it is the song themselves - there's simply not enough for me to latch on to.

    In all, I'm glad Kieran picked this and opened my eyes to this album which I never would have found on my own. A fantastic addition to the Album of the Week thread, and a perfect example of introducing some serious variety into what we're already comfortable with. Cheers, Kieran!
  3. I can accept all uncertainties about the album. It was an album I was dying to listen to at Christmas after hearing so many great things about it. I was on a punk spree and buying several punk albums. This album came about at the end of the hardcore punk prominence where you had bands like Bad Brains, Black Flag and Dead Kennedys. Minutemen were less heavy than those bands so it is difficult to categorise them as a hardcore punk band. Saying that, their sound was extremely disparate and separated them from their 'rivals'. As you said Matt, they have funk elements comparable to Red Hot Chili Peppers, pre-Slovak and early-Frusciante.

    The first time I listened to this, I was in two minds: thought it had some cracking tunes on it but was left slightly confused by the inconsistency of the record and how quickly everything passes – even though it is a near 80-minute album. The second time I listened to it, I was writing an essay and I was losing track of the album because of its incredibly frightening pace. I suppose that is a downside to the record, but that's punk for you. Yes, these songs could have easily been developed into something a bit more extravagant, like 'Cohesion', for example, but the inconsistency was deliberate for the album, and it is sort of easy to appreciate it the more you listen to it. It is similar to Husker Du's Zen Arcade, who were bandmates with Minutemen during this era, and effectively spurred Minutemen onto create a double album. The rhythmic connection between Mike Watt and George Hurley is awe-inspiring – especially noticeable in 'Viet Nam'. Saying that, D. Boon's exhilarating, quick-fire riffs combined with that tone is essentially what makes the album. This album paved a way for so many bands – Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Pixies, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sonic Youth, etc.

    When 'Corona' comes on roughly half way through the album, you can't help but smile. Not because it is the Jackass theme song, but because it is such a delightful song. It raises my spirits.

    I think having 43 songs on an album, at the time in 1984, was a great move. Nobody had really pursued that, and it leaves room for plenty of sounds to make its way onto the album. It pushed the boat out, and without the influence of Husker Du's efforts for a double album, we wouldn't have had Double Nickels on the dime. It definitely shows the songwriting talents of all three members.
  4. I'm on a completely different spree at the moment, listening (and composing btw) mainly to atmospheric folk and acoustic stuff. I'm curious as to how will listening this album go for me. First listen in 30 minutes, I will review it on the go. Is there a page where I can read the lyrics for the whole album at once, without links to each song?
  5. The description of the cover is brilliant!!


    The album was named Double Nickels on the Dime as a reaction to the Sammy Hagar song "I Can't Drive 55," a protest against the federally-imposed speed limit of 55 miles per hour on all U.S. highways. Minutemen decided that driving fast "wasn't terribly defiant"; Watt later commented that "the big rebellion thing was writing your own fuckin' songs and trying to come up with your own story, your own picture, your own book, whatever. So he can't drive 55, because that was the national speed limit? Okay, we'll drive 55, but we'll make crazy music."

    The band illustrated the theme on the cover of Double Nickels on the Dime, which depicts Watt driving his Volkswagen Beetle at exactly 55 miles per hour ("double nickels" in trucker slang) on Interstate Highway 10, which is sometimes called "The Dime" in trucker slang. "The title means fifty-five miles per hour on the button, like we were Johnny Conservative." Dirk Vandenberg, the band's "buddy/contributor," took photos from the backseat as Watt drove under the sign to San Pedro, the band's home town; it took three circuits of the highway and two days of photography before Minutemen were happy with the cover. Vandenberg later commented on the cover art: "There were three elements that Mike [Watt] wanted in the photo: a natural kind of glint in his eyes reflected in the rearview mirror, the speedometer pinned exactly at 55mph, and, of course, the San Pedro sign guiding us home". However, when the cover was presented to SST, "someone botched the cropping for the print and cut off the end of the word Pedro."


    Great introduction for the first listen!! Here we go


  6. Originally posted by LikeASong:I'm on a completely different spree at the moment, listening (and composing btw) mainly to atmospheric folk and acoustic stuff. I'm curious as to how will listening this album go for me. First listen in 30 minutes, I will review it on the go. Is there a page where I can read the lyrics for the whole album at once, without links to each song?

    Found it! Let's listen

    http://www.shortwaverockin.com/double-nickels-on-the-dime-complete-lyrics-ah-this-indeed-is-music-this-suits-me/
  7. I don't know what to expect from this album or genre, so fresh ears & mind for me.


    Minutemen - Double Nickels On The Dime

    1. Anxious Mo-Fo - oh, cars and nonsense lyrics, gotta love it.
    2. Theatre is the Life of You - instrumentally it sounds like Carlos Santana is jamming with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers (Kieran and Matt are definitely right on this influence). Lots of Chilli in the bass lines.
    3. Viet Nam - bazinga!! I can hear a lot of The Clash here, both musically and lyrically.
    4. Cohesion - HAHAHA ain't it funny to entitle "Cohesion" a song that departs totally from what's sounded in the album so far? Beautiful Spanish guitar break. Brilliant title.
    5. It's Expected I'm Gone - Making a song start and finish and start again in the middle is brilliant. I like this one. I was lacking some swearing in the lyrics, it fitted the music so far... So here is it lol
    6. #1 Hit Song - You and me, baby, twinkle-twinkle, blah blah... lol, nonsense again. Like it.
    7. Two Beads at the End - it could have been fine... if it was a totally different song.
    8. Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth? - one of the most meaningful songs I feel. Should words serve the truth? Wow. Lovely one, I'm craving for a 2nd listen of this one already.
    9. Don't Look Now - a CCR cover, not exactly my cup of tea, the poor recording doesn't help either.
    10. Shit From an Old Notebook - "let the products sell themselves / fuck advertising commercial psychology", if that ain't a clear message I don't know what it is.
    11. Nature Without Man - don't like this one.
    12. One Reporter's Opinion - I would like this one if it was sung less... "punkly"?
    ____________
    13. Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing - this must have some sense but I haven't found it yet hahaha. I like how it sounds.
    14. Maybe Partying Will Help - RHCP again, and I like it. "To fail is to be a victim, to be a victim of my choice", wow, what a verse. Brilliant song.
    15. Toadies - too nonsense and dissonant for my taste.
    16. Retreat - as an Arctic Monkeys fan, I can't help liking this one. It totally sounds like one of their 2003 demos. The use of the word "retreat" helps with the Monkeys connection too.
    17. The Big Foist - Great song to me. Some Monkeys sounds as well. It seems like I'm listening to the 1984 version of Whatever People Say I Am, THat's What I'm Not hahaha.
    18. God Bows to Man - ¿?
    19. Corona - yeah, the one that rings a bell to everyone. Great song, even though I never was a fan of Jackass!
    20. The Glory of Man - wow, this one sounds great. Top track so far? Possibly. The length helps - I just don't like so many short songs in a row.
    21. Take 5, D - Yeah, another quiet-ish break was definitely needed now. I like the recited lyrics on this one, and the electric guitar licks on the background (not the acoustic guitar on the foreground). Then it goes to complete waste after 50 seconds. What a way to mess up what could have been a nice song.
    22. My Heart and the Real World - reggae meets punk meets nonsense lyrics. This can't be disliked.
    23. History Lesson Part 2 - recited lyrics don't fit the beautiful pop song. It would be miles better if they were properly sung lyrics, just as One Reporter's Opinion. It's great - it could be brilliant. Nice story nevertheless. Oh, and I adore the songs that mention Bob Dylan, no matter why or how.
    ____________
    24. You Need the Glory - You need the Glory... but won't find it through this song.
    25. The Roar of the Masses Could B - a much better way to find the glory, lol. Great song.
    26. West Germany - Achtung! Scary lyrics, guns-like music in the verses. Wow.
    27. The Politics of Time - It sounds like Miles Davis playing with The New York Ska Jazz Enssemble. I love it.
    28. Themselves - This Land Is Your Land meets punk or what? I like it. It should be 3 mins long at least.
    29. Please Don't Be Gentle With Me - Ok, I won't be. This is a shitty song. Is that ok with you?
    30. Nothing Indeed - I like this one, it should be longer!!!
    31. No Exchange - was the out-of-tune singing neccesary? I would love the song if the vocals were properly tuned. Fuck.
    32. There Aint Shit on TV Tonight - one of my fav lyrics on the album. Great song overall. Great.
    33. This Aint No Picnic - yeah, groovy and interesting from start to end. Great lyrics as well. "Hey mister don’t look down on me / for what I believe / I got my bills and the rent / I should pitch a tent / but our land is not free / so I’ll work my youth away / in the place of a machine / I refuse to be a slave", boom-cha!!
    34. Spillage - (my stoned mind just spilled that line album). Filler.
    ____________
    35. Untitled Song for Latin America - Wow. Guts. I would call it genocide / any other word would be a lie, you can tell they're making their point abundantly clear. It's like a sped-up anti-poetic prequel of Bullet The Blue Sky.
    36. Jesus and Tequila - Ehhmm...
    37. June 16th - hell yeah! Bloomsday!! Sixteenth of June, nine o' five
    38. Storm in my House - I like this one, another one that should be longer.
    39. Martin's Story - No thanks.
    40. Dr. Wu - Wow! VOCAL HARMONIES!! WOW O didn't think I would find them in this album. Wow. Wooowww..
    41. The World According to Nouns - it might be a leftover but it's better than half of the songs from the other sides of the album.
    42. Love Dance - Great instrumental jam. It would be nice to end the album.
    43. Three Car Jam - Three cars jamming! Wow.


    Oh, well... I can't say I'm a fan of this genre, or this album in particular for what is worth. Sure it's been REALLY interesting to listen to something fresh, different and actually pretty unique, but this ain't really my cup of coffee.
    I've always despised the punk attitude and their absolute disdain for technical abilities and proper tuning, so a lot of these song just don't work for me. I appreciate the album's greatness (and, after reading its Wikipedia page, I appreciate what it achieved in terms of influence and spread of the genre), and there are true gems in here, but... I feel like I can't give more than a 6/10 to the album. Maybe further listening will increase that rating, but for the moment, that's it! Thanks for choosing it Kieran
  8. D.'s Car Jam / Anxious Mo-Fo
    Not much to say besides it's a good opener.


    Theatre Is The Life Of You
    This second track is as pointed out already, a RHCP influence. Different vocal style with some sweet guitar. Nothing too hard to listen through, then again these songs are short.


    Viet Nam
    This track had me pretty much bouncing in my chair. LOVE the vocals here (reminiscent of Lemmy), the lazy (in the best way possible) drums and that fast-burst guitar .


    Cohesion
    Ooooh, slowing down. Nice use of relaxed guitar (flamenco?) here and not much more than that.


    It's Expected I'm Gone
    I love when drums start off by themselves away from everything else and that seems to be the case in other bits of this song. Almost experimental guitar here, sort of bluesy. Of this one, the drums are definitely carrying this.


    #1 Hit Song
    Starts off with a distant drum sound and then it all rolls in together - I love this sound.


    Two Beads At The End
    The first time I've really taken notice of the bass is with this song. Excellent rhythm section that doesn't overstay its' welcome.


    Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Truth
    DYWNWODYWTT is almost atmospheric and spare in its' sound. Not just that, this second lyric set:

    I stand for language
    I speak for truth
    I shout for history
    I am a cess-pool
    for all the shit
    to run down in…


    Fan-fucking tastic.


    Don't Look Now
    As pointed out already, a CCR cover. Sounds like a jam and nothing more. I skipped this one.


    Shit From an Old Notebook
    The title alludes to the message within. Pseudo-punk!!! Not bad, not great.


    Nature Without Man
    Only thing I can really take from this is the guitar on its' own just after a minute. Again, another jam.


    One Reporters' Opinion
    Sprinkled distant guitar and punky vocals. While I don't find this one memorable, I'd listen again.


    Political Song For Michael Jackson To Sing
    WTF is with that title. Regardless of that, it's punk through and through. Never lets down through its' short stay.


    Maybe Partying Will Help
    I get a slight vibe of Black Flag from this one, just not as loud. Love how it goes from the heavier-ish punk sound to quiet then back up to full electric sound again. Definitely one to keep in mind.


    Toadies
    ....


    Retreat
    Ah. Just when you think it's all gone quiet after all the loudness, you're mistaken. Typical of this album to have a lyric about a toilet flushing...but hey, that's what makes this album interesting - its unpredictability.


    The Big Foist
    'I'm fucking overwhelmed!!!' Ah, the usual feeling of most days. Nice punk and blues sound mixed together.


    God Bows To Math
    Aha! Now this is what I can go for - lyrics with no particular sense to them and simple instrumentation. That's what this album pretty much is.


    Corona
    I'm reading this one might be familiar. I've never heard it but I do love the drumming and far-away guitar in the background somewhere. Lyrics that make little sense, of course.


    The Glory Of Man
    A bit longer than the other tracks with loads of guitar fills and rolling drums throughout. This is what this album could do more with - songs in this similar vein.


    Take 5, D
    Starts off quietly with not too much to think about. Then it goes into some weird almost out-of-tune guitar just over a minute into proceedings which to me makes the song what it is. This is my top pick so far. LOVE THIS ONE.


    My Heart and the Real World
    Awww, catchy. Rapidfire lyrics and punk everything here. Another cool track - from T5,D is where the album starts to pick up the pace.


    History Lesson Part 2
    A history lesson, indeed. Very laid-back and certainly listenable.


    You Need the Glory
    Ummmmm, okay. Experimental music that makes little sense - it sounds like someone having a nervous breakdown.


    The Roar of the Masses Could Be Farts
    Thank god they got back to the punk. Starts loud and ends loud. Not bad.


    West Germany
    VERY catchy and consistent beat throughout this one and so fast you're lucky to keep up with it.


    The Politics of Time
    Sounds like a jazz beat on steroids. Perfect political song, rapidfire and straight to the point.

    on/off hitlers
    time dictates
    order
    we must schizo
    to brave the
    bullshit

    we’re time nazis
    we strip out tunes
    we jam econo
    it makes
    us
    stench




    Themselves
    Not much to say. Skipped it half-way.


    Please Don't Be Gentle With Me
    Another skippable song but is there any point with it being 47 seconds long?


    Nothing Indeed
    Oh yeah. The only thing that really makes me listen to this one is the guitar after 30 seconds, how it layers and builds up then comes back down to re-build and does that every few seconds. Not much else than that.


    No Exchange
    Out-of-tune vocals, punk drumming and a sudden drop-out of everything except guitar at 1:01; what else do you need. You need more!!!


    There Ain't Shit on TV Tonight
    There ain't much else on anywhere else either, it seems. Skipped.


    This Ain't No Picnic
    Oh fuck yeah.

    so I’ll work my youth away
    in the place of a machine
    I refuse to be a slave


    YES YES YES YES. Love this one so much - quick, angry and honest. This is punk as punk should be.


    Spillage
    As with many of the other songs, there isn't much to it but for some reason this one I like. Can't say why but I just do.


    Untitled Song for Latin America
    Should be an anthem. Like 'Picnic', it's hard-hitting and does what it should. Fantastic!!!


    Jesus and Tequila
    Never really goes anywhere.


    June 16th
    Slow pseudo-blues tune. Stays slow with not too much variation.


    Storm in my House
    This one didn't keep me interested too long. Not to say it's terrible, I just didn't care for it.


    Martin's Story
    ....


    Dr. Wu
    Harmonies...who'd have thunk it. That's probably the one thing I'll remember from this (and there ain't much).


    The World According to Nouns
    Aside from some slight experimentation in parts, there's nothing here that would keep me listening.


    Love Dance
    A jam near the end of the album because there just haven't been enough jams so far. Great rhythm sections all round.


    Three Car Jam
    Interesting enough idea for whatever reason.




    Overall thoughts

    Not a terrible album however there's more individual parts that are interesting rather than the whole full songs themselves. It could have easily been cut down to half with the better songs and been way more cohesive. Then again, punk was never about perfection; it is what it is. It's hard also to review a 40+ track album and keep listening especially when the songs are way too short to form individual opinions.


    Top tracks:

    Untitled Song For Latin America
    This Ain't No Picnic
    Viet Nam

    I'm giving this one six Strummers out of ten.
  9. i am a bit late ...but i want to lsiten at leats one time ...maybe tomorrow

    I m really curious about this album
  10. for the unintended laugh and bewilderment in equal measure that one sentence above gave me i think i owe you. so to those who appreciate such things:

    https://archive.org/details/Minutemen
  11. Here we go then.

    First off, this is far too fast to review as I listen. I think the album starts off remarkably well and that quick fire succession of tracks is actually quite enjoyable. I agree with what Matt said in his review about just putting your ideas down and being done with it. There's no need to build these tracks into extravagant works of art, it certainly wouldn't be very fitting of the punk nature if they did. Short and to the point. Throughout the album, the one striking feature that the majority of these songs have is a great bassline. But those little guitar riffs and some notable drumming at various points in the album also have to be mentioned. Even in some of the more uninteresting tracks, you can usually find something to hold on to until the end. There are some tracks that are beyond me though, I just don't see what purpose they serve. Don't Look Now, Toadies, and You Need The Glory are three examples. Not all the tracks are 90-second wonders, there are a couple that approach three minutes and some around the two and a half minute mark. The Glory of Man and Jesus and Tequila are the two longest tracks and they do offer a refreshing break from the firing line, but they're so far apart in this 43 track album. I think the album could benefit from having less songs and more songs of substance.

    I do think I'll revisit this again in the future, though some songs may get skipped. There's a lot to take in on the album and I think subsequent listens will open it up for further discovery and perhaps a greater appreciation.

    I can't even begin to compile a list of the top three tracks because a lot of them passed me by without me even realising what they were. Corona is obviously a known track, but as someone who is not a fan of Jackass, I didn't know it. Cohesion was strangely out of place at the beginning but it was actually quite wonderful. I remember My Heart and the Real World grabbing my attention too, with the guitar and the bass coupled together.

    Rating: 6 out of 10
  12. ^ yeah, mostly agreed. Good point from you and Matt, elaborating many of those songs into longer pieces wouldn't fit the punk nature of the album/band... But I think many of them just don't serve any purpose at all, and are there just for the sake of saying "Hey look!! We got a 43 songs album!!".
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Contribute to the U2 community with uploading photos or by telling us which shows you have visited.
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