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Attitude Adjustment – The Collection

March 25, 2010

Attitude Adjustment record reviewTaang! records has compiled the three Attitude Adjustment full lengths onto one easy to carry C.D. Attitude Adjustment formed in the mid 1980's when the Metal/Hardcore Crossover scene was in full effect and they seemingly found an easy niche with bands like Septic Death, D.R.I., Corrosion Of Conformity, Dr. Know, Cryptic Slaughter, and Christ On Parade. While they never put out an album of the same caliber as C.O.C.'s "Animosity" or D.R.I.'s "Crossover," they certainly created a respectable catalog that fits in well as part of the big picture of the Crossover scene.

Attitude Adjustment's first album was called "American Paranoia" and it is perhaps the most well known of their records. The thrash to mosh tempo changes were carefully engineered, but unfortunately after a while this turns into a sort of rigid formula and a lot of the  songs start to blend together. Nevertheless "American Paranoia" has a few memorable tracks that rock pretty hard- "Dead Serious," "Fuck Chuck," "Johnny," and "Dope Fiend" all are attention grabbers. Like many other bands of the same era there are some political messages mixed into Attitude Adjustment's lyrics- taking on war and fear of a Nuclear Armageddon.

"No More Mr. Nice Guy" showed the band getting a new singer named Kevin Reed and the intensity of this record is significantly higher. Reed's vocals were somewhere between Jerry A. of Poison Idea and more modern day Crust Punk with growling vocals. In a way "No More Mr. Nice Guy," which came out in 1988, sort of comes off as a prototype for some of the Crust that came out of the Bay area in the 1990's, but as a whole Attitude Adjustment are more listenable. The reworking of "Grey World" buries the "American Paranoia" version.

The third album, "Out Of Hand" is by far the best material presented on this collection. This goes against all that we know about Hardcore Punk bands and how they are supposed to get progressively more boring with each subsequent album. Kevin Reed's vocals are absolutely ferocious and the music on "Out Of Hand" is also Attitude Adjustment's heaviest stuff. It's hard to imagine a record this good coming out in 1991 when it seems that there was not too much else going on that has stood the test of time.  "Deceived" is probably the band's best song and it's a totally pissed off musical bombardment. The 1991 version of "Dope Fiend" also sounds sick. The Pushead artwork on the cover just adds to the record's appeal.

While Attitude Adjustment's music might not have the more universal appeal of D.R.I. or Suicidal Tendencies, anyone who is looking to delve a little deeper into the Crossover era of Hardcore would be advised to check them out. For avid fans of this sound, Attitude Adjustment are quintessential, whereas casual listeners might not find as much interest.

Band MySpace:
www.myspace.com/attitudeadjustment07

 

-Ditch-
Big Wheel Online Magazine
 

 

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