D.O.A.-Something Better Change(1980)(Discussion Thread)

[James]

D.O.A.-Something Better Change

Originally Posted by Engine

It was their first album and I've never listened to it so this is a selfish nomination. I neglected this band for a long time but rumor has it that they coined the term 'hardcore' as it relates to Punk with their album entitled Hardcore '81. They're liberal punks from the west coast of Canada. Pretty legendary, but I never paid attention to them at all until I watched the Don Letts' Punk: Attitude documentary.

The only stuff I have heard from D.O.A. is their stuff with Jello Biafra, which is great. I will give this a proper listen later.

[bob.]

this is a great opening album for this club

this album has a much more eclectic sound than their follow up "Hardcore 81" which ironically has the exact same number of songs and clocks in at about half the length....don't get me wrong there is the furious fast hardcore...specifically on 'The Prisoner' and 'The Enemy'...that i think DOA is best known for....but you also have songs like 'Whatcha Gonna Do' that really bring something that is so much more to the plate....the bonus track 'New Wave Sucks' is completely out of place with the rest of the album

[James]

Bump. Why isn't the club getting any love? Anyway, this is a really great album with lots of amazing classic punk songs. Their style isn't much different from the other original punk bands like The Sex Pistols and The Damned but that isn't a bad thing, it doesn't have to be original and it has catchy songs and good lyrics going for it. My favourite track is World War Three. Great song, with an infectious riff.

[Phantom Limb]

I haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but im about half way through and I'm really impressed. Basically i thought there was gonna be way more yelling and less catchy melodies. I imagine they would sound very different live. I'll get back when I've given the album a thorough listen.

[Engine]

Okay, so I've listened to this album a bunch of times now. First of all, I need to point out an error in my write-up that accompanied my nomination: It wasn't the Don Letts film that got DOA my attention - it was the film American Hardcore. I always get those two confused. Sorry.

So, I don't like this album nearly as much as I wanted to. I shouldn't be surprised because I have had their next album for a long time and I like it but don't love it.

The comparison to 'classic punk' like Sex Pistols and the Damned is pretty apt but I do see/hear something in D.O.A. that those bands don't have.

Btw, I don't like the Sex Pistols and only like the Damned a little bit.

I have to give the credit to the frontman, Joey Shithead, because he has an energy that kicks the shit out of all other punk singers/ frontmen of the time. He's obviously the real deal with a lot of crazy energy that is rare to see .. ever. His action on the guitar and microphone was simply more hardcore than everybody else back then. Here watch him ..



And he kept that energy up forever as far as I can tell (unlike Lydon who could never match Shithead's honest energy even in his prime).

So, good album, but it's not really my style so I doubt I'll listen to it much in the future.

[James]

I'm not a Sex Pistols fan either.

[+81]

Having seen D.O.A. live this year I have to say, Shithead's not lacking in energy these days either. While I've always admired D.O.A. (from what I know very DIY and often going out of their way to play free shows), they're not one of the punk bands whose work I'm most familiar with. That being said, I find Something Better Change (as well as Hardcore '81 and especially Last Screams of the Missing Neighbor's) to be very enjoyable. WW3 is certainly one of the stand out tracks and I've always like New Wave Sucks.

[Engine]

Originally Posted by +81

Having seen D.O.A. live this year I have to say, Shithead's not lacking in energy these days either.

Yeah, he's a devoted punk. Also, there's something about the way he plays guitar that mesmerizes me. Maybe he's just super-tall and his body makes the guitar look small but he always looks like he has absolute control over the instrument. Like it's just another appendage.

[djchameleon]

I listened to this album in full last night and I really liked it. since i'm not well versed in punk I can't break down exactly what drew me to liking it but my ears are the ultimate judge and I knew what i was hearing was pleasant to my ears and I will definitely listen to it more and delve into their discography.

[Mrd00d]

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I listened to this album in full last night and I really liked it. since i'm not well versed in punk I can't break down exactly what drew me to liking it but my ears are the ultimate judge and I knew what i was hearing was pleasant to my ears and I will definitely listen to it more and delve into their discography.

That's funny, I listened to it a few hours ago myself, finally. In general, I was initially unimpressed but reminded myself the date it was made, the context, the times. The sounds were good, but I didn't find it to be a strong release. Standout tracks WW3, definitely. Also, Get Out of My Life and The Prisoner were strong keepers. I'd easily forget most the rest of the album. Not yet, though, another round or two to really soak it in...

6/10