Review #155: The Mad - Eyeball (Single) (1978)

EYEBALL (Single)

Year: 1978

Genre: Punk Rock
Sub-Genres: Hardcore
Label: Disgusting Records
Tracks: 2
Length: 4 Minutes
Style: Weird
My Rating: 6/8

Lemme start this off by saying I don't know a whole lot about this band, but their songs shure are GOOD. I guess the band was an early shock-rock type of act, and did a lot of weird shit and special effects on stage and stuff. The frontman's name is Screamin' Mad George, and has continued a career beyond his band. Also, this band is likely one of the earliest New York hardcore bands ever, being released around the same time as "Nervous Breakdown" by Black Flag and having great riffs and lyrics, so it kinda sucks not as many people know about this band as there probably should be.

1. Eyeball
This song isn't as good as its b-side, but it's still pretty good. The vocals are pretty muffled, so it's hard to understand what Mr. George is sayin', but you sure can him sing the word "eyeball" a whole lot. Shouted backing vocals in the chorus are indeed present. It's alright, but it could be better.

2. I Hate Music
Here's the REAL gem on this record. It's an abrasively catchy song about, well, hating music and lovin' NOIZE! The song goes onto sing about how "I", "he", "she", and "we" all hate music, and in the next version the same is applied to loving noise. Lotsa screaming and stuff during the chorus and inbetween each line in the verse parts there's some weird saxophone stuff being played. It's kinda funny, but it really is a fucking cool song to listen to. I think it was also featured on the "New York Thrash" compilation tape from 1982 (which included the Beastie Boys and Kraut as well) also.

So you should probably listen to these songs. This is possibly one of the oldest occurrences of the hardcore punk sound in New York -- before the Beastie Boys, Reagan Youth, Kraut, etc., before the whole D.C. scene was really solid enough to influence the New York punk scene, way before the whole "tough guy" scene set foot in New York City. But I know that just makes me sound like a lame-assed historian, so I'm going to say that "I Hate Music" is a great song and makes this 7" worthwhile just for that. Seeya!