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Class 6(66)
Dead Kennedys: Fresh fruit for rotting vegetables
17/11/09 || Daemonomania
Introduction
I can hear you now. Another non-metal Class 6(66)? Whatdafuck is up with this ‘tard? Well, let me tell you something, sonny. The attitude, speed, noxious lyrics, and through and through boot-up-the-system’s-ass-iness of “Fresh fruit” must have pried open many a future metalhead’s eyes. Napalm Death covers “Nazi punks fuck off” every fucken show, and many other heavy bands have done versions of the DK’s legendary output. In the dawn of the one thousand, nine hundred and eightieth year since the demise of our savior the ripping tunes conceived by the Kennedys made disco die and Flock of Seagulls hair deflate. “FFRV” is about as close to the spirit of metal as you can possibly get without Yngwie and growls.
Songwriting
8. Aside from a clunker or two, supremely memorable stuff. “Kill…”, “California…”, and “Holiday…” are certified classics. The rest maintains the same balance of catchiness and discordance that makes punk, well, punk. “FFFRV” was made to hammer in a political nail in the most accessible way possible, while still being unlistenable to anyone over 22. Of course, if you were 22 then you’re 51 now…YIKES! Anyway, those looking for a raw, prime example of this genre with this much songwriting prowess – it’s basically either “FFRV” or the Subhuman’s “The day the country died”. That’s it. Two choices.
Production
6. It was punk. It was 1980. Whaddaya expect? Had this on tape for many years, so the digital version sounds about a trillion times better than that. But still, this was meant to be gritty. Any further cleaning up of their sound and Timbaland would be remixing it right now with some smallboobed Mariah Carey in bondage pants doing the hooks.
Guitars
8. Compared to metal, utter and absolute shite. But compared to his contemporaries, East Bay Ray ruled. Surfy guitar leads mix with sharp jumpy riffs and brew a delicious cup of wake the fuck up you’re trapped in a capitalist ratcage man! coffee. I’ve listened to this album so many times I remember the placement and each note in the solos by heart.
Vocals
10. Warbly, high pitched, grating, sarcastic, technically awful. In other words, peeeeerfect. Biafra sings each line with a malicious intensity that gives the already caustic lyrics a life of their own. Bias alert: I think Jello is one of the coolest fuckers on the planet. If you get a chance to see him do his live, spoken word show – do it. You’ll laugh your ass off. A prophet, an asshole, a champ. Due to royalties and lawsuits and bullshit he’s completely divorced from the DK’s these days, and they hired some new guy to replace him. Why, WHY?
Bass
8. Always the unsung hero and probably the best musician in any punk band…the bassist. Plus Klaus Flouride is a stupendous stage name. Makes you think of some evil SS fucker telling us all not to worry, that it’s good for our teeth, as he pours a mysterious substance into the town water supply. Anyway, the Klausman tears it up all over the place. Cookies for you.
Drums
4. Eh. Aside from the cool intro to “Holiday in Cambodia”, Ted ain’t up to much. Listening to metal really spoils your ability to appreciate drums in any other genre, but I’m pretty sure nothing beyond the basic is taking place.
Lyrics
9. So quotable. So great. Ranging from crushed children to obnoxious white folks having their heads skewered on stakes to nerve-gassing country club members to being drafted as a spy in wartime if you can’t afford a good lawyer to nazi hippies to using a bomb to annihilate the poor and make life fun for us rich folks again. While there is some more juvenile content on “Ill in the head” and “Your emotions”, overall a massive middle finger is raised to good taste and the status quo. I would quote ‘em but your better off just reading ‘em in their entirety. As a 14 or 15 year old, the words contained herein basically made my hair dye itself.
Oh yeah, and the lyrical substitutions in Elvis’ “Viva Las Vegas” are brilliant. No wonder they used this version on the “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” soundtrack.
Cover art
10. I know ‘tis a photograph, but few pictures represent the album in question as well as the burning police cars above. I mean, fuck the pigs, punk 4eva, right? The photo was taken during the riots surrounding the lenient sentencing of Harvey Milk’s murderer (you saw the movie). Gay dudes, revolution, San Francisco, the government sux, it all fits. Not to mention it looks hard-fucken-core.
Logo
9. Today the Old English 800 font is done to death, but the DK’s band name is still recognizable in that format. Not sure if they had come up with the much t-shirted pointy circle logo yet, but that’s also iconic as ballz.
Booklet
6. There have probably been about 3 million editions of “FFFRV” released, so there’s likely one that comes with a history of the band, a blowup doll, and a branding iron in the shape of the anarchy symbol to burn into yer fucken forehead. Mine is simple, with the lyrics in that classy olde Englishe font and a funny band picture. Read the story on Wiki about Jello messing with a picture of a lounge band he found at a yard sale for the back cover, and the lawsuit which developed. Good stuff.
Overall and ending rant
Back in the days before I had a marriage, a mortgage, and a beergut, “Fresh fruit” was some biblical shit. Punk rock perfectly embodied my vaguely leftist ideals and complete lack of responsibility as a teenager/college kid. Now the added brutality and complexity of metal more suits my (complex and brutal?) lifestyle, plus cartoon Satanism and moronic gore don’t leave me feeling guilty about being a sellout.
Of those heady, punky days I have naught but fond memories and quite a few CDs. None hold up quite so well as the Dead Kennedys debut though. The above-average musicianship combined with Jello’s one-of-a-kind nasty voice and mean-spirited lyrics stand the test of nearly 30 years with little difficulty. So even if you’re not much of a punk fan, pick it up. It is one of under ten essential albums from the genre.
- Information
- Released: 1980
- Label: Cherry Red, these days I guess Alternative Tentacles
- Website: www.deadkennedys.com
- Band
- Jello Biafra: vocals
- East Bay Ray: guitars
- Klaus Flouride: bass, vocals
- Ted: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Kill the Poor
- 02. Forward to Death
- 03. When Ya Get Drafted
- 04. Let’s Lynch the Landlord
- 05. Drug Me
- 06. Your Emotions
- 07. Chemical Warfare
- 08. California Über Alles
- 09. I Kill Children
- 10. Stealing People’s Mail
- 11. Funland at the Beach
- 12. Ill in the Head
- 13. Holiday in Cambodia
- 14. Viva Las Vegas
