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Freeplay: Black Flag
By Billy Schear
wschear@mscd.edu

Black Flag Nervous Breakdown (SST Records, 1987)

In 1978, mediocrity reigned supreme in the music industry. The Bee Gees ruled the airwaves and somewhere in North Carolina, Clay Aiken was born far beneath the bubble gum. However, in Redondo Beach, Calif., an EP was released that to this day makes listeners’ hair stand on end and their fists clench in anger.

From the moment Greg Ginn hit the first power chord on “Nervous Breakdown,” the album’s title track, it was evident that music would change forever.

Even without hindsight, one could easily tell that the blister-popping guitar work and neurotically violent lyrics would be nothing less than divine inspiration for future generations.

Formed in 1976, Black Flag was largely the brainchild of Ginn, who remained as the band’s only constant member through several changes of personnel. Nervous Breakdown also showcases the vocals of a young Keith Morris, who, upon leaving Black Flag in 1979, formed the Circle Jerks.

Black Flag’s music may not be extremely fast-paced, but its intensity is always felt. With low-quality, but sincere, production and feedback that makes your sinuses leak, every track hits like a bullet to the brain.

The lyrical content of each track is, at its core, simple and somewhat irreverent. Yet a poignant flow guides its power. Despite being primarily considered a hardcore punk band – many say one of the first – Black Flag is reminiscent of early hip-hop in spirit in that their sound comes from the street: guttural and raw with a hint of criminal indecency. Basically they taught suburban white kids that it’s okay to be angry and hostile as long as your soul is grounded.

Nervous Breakdown can be downloaded in its entirety at http://7inchpunk.com. Listen wisely, as criminal instincts may be aroused if proper precautions are not taken.