Murphy’s Law – Self Titled

People have all sorts of differing ideas about what they think is, but for me fun= Murphy's Law. Once after a super uptight girlfriend and I broke up I told a friend that "I could never date anyone that wouldn't be able to have fun at a Murphy's Law show. It just would never work out." Living on the East Coast for most of my life I probably saw Murphy's Law at least thirty times. When they were playing I would go through extra lengths to see them, including calling out of work or driving two or three hours in any direction. Murphy's Law's first album, which is self titled was my first real exposure to the band. I found it on tape for three dollars in the bargain section at Newbury Comics. I got home, put it in my tape deck, and my life would never be the same.

The first song on Murphy's Law's first album is called "Murphy's Law" and as one might expect this is the band's anthem and theme song. It starts out with a menacing guitar riff and then vocalist extraordinaire, Jimmy Gestapo announces "We don't care what you say- We're gonna mosh it up today." This may seem silly and of course it actually really is, but the fact that Jimmy G. was one of the original New York Hardcore guys who helped to create "moshing" (which is actually different than thrashing or slamming) gives the song a little more weight in the legend creating department. Anyway the truth is that Murphy's Law really doesn't care what you say! These guys do whatever the fuck they want even if it ruins your day and this apparently includes having dogs sing back up vocals on their songs as once it gets to the chorus they again make an announcement "We're Murphy's Law" and then, like I said for no reason it has a track of dogs barking and it sounds like the dogs are saying "Oi! Oi! Oi!." Totally fucking awesome.

"Murphy's Law" is a high concept album about parties, trouble making and full on debauchery. Murphy's Law have actually been known to cause quite the uproar just by being their fucked up selves. "California Pipeline" is a rare pro Reagan Punk song. Mr. Gestapo has since said in interviews that when they play this song live now that he does it with a tongue in his cheek but back in the day this song was not sarcastic and it totally pissed some people off. The lyrics aren't all that deep- "I'm a rad Republican and I'm proud to be American/I'm a rad Republican and I'd gladly sign the draft again."

"Crucial BBQ" similarly rocks some boats, advocating eating meat, having orgies, smoking weed, and hosing down women in tight T-shirts. The song warns that "Hare Krishnas better stay away 'cause eighteen bands are gonna play." While I myself am both straight edge and vegan I more than appreciate the fun loving spirit of this song and have been known to bring this album along with me to cookouts.

"Beer" has some similar bent edge lyrics meant to piss off people who are uptight and to promote partying. "Skinhead Rebel" and "Care Bear" are fuck off type songs warning people not to get in the way of Murphy's Law's right to party hard and cause trouble. "Ilsa" shows Gestapo guiding listeners through a fucked up fantasy about being tortured by a dominatrix. One of the coolest songs on the album is the band's cover of the Stooges' "I Got A Right" which I dare say may be even better than the original.

One look at the cover of Murphy's Law's first album tells you what you're getting into with cartoon depictions of skinheads, skaters, and Punks doing all sorts of crazy shit like smoking weed, having sex, and grilling a condom (or is it a sock?). Murphy's Law at one point did a tour with the Beastie Boys and I'd imagine that those shows were out of control. As far as early New York hardcore goes, this album stands strong next to "Age Of Quarrel," "Victim In Pain," "United Blood," and the Urban Waste 7" though it is far less serious or intense than AOQ or VIP.  Murphy's Law held a strong space in the big four along with Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, and Warzone. Their original lineup featured Harley Flannagan on drums before he went on to start the Cro- Mags and they also had Todd Youth on guitar for quite a while. He went on to play with bands as diverse as Warzone, Danzig, Motorhead, and Cheap Trick (on their 2009 album "The Latest"). Murphy's Law helped to create the sound, aesthetic, and attitude of hardcore as we know it and to this day nobody can top Jimmy G's stage antics or ridiculous banter.

Unfortunately since Profile Records went under this album has been out of print for the mass public, but it has been released on vinyl, cassette, and for some time there was a CD version that also had Murphy's Law's second album, "Back With A Bong" which is also a great record and has the band's hit, "Panty Raid." The band may have some copies when they play shows, but it also shouldn't be too hard to find this classic record in the used bin at a record store or for fairly cheap on Ebay.

 

-Ditch-
Big Wheel Online Magazine
 

 

 

 

Music from the Used Record Bin