Side one: pummeling intensity, very much like Damaged but more raw production-wise. Some of Ginn's most tortured lyrics (but the awesome awesome title song is actually Dukowski's). Side two: pretty much where the Melvins, Eyehategod, and Grief come from. Sick. Both parts are tortured. The riffs are transitional, between the early driving punk and the later jazz-metal. The vocals are some of Rollins' most tortured and brutal.
I'm not going to get into the old/new or Dez/Keith/Henry debate. Bottom line is that this is my favorite Black Flag album, hands down. Gritty and dark and angry, it captured my teenage anger and alienation back in the halcyon days of the late 80's. Still in my rotation today. Brain-shakingly awesome.
'My War' was one of Black Flag's greatest songs. A buddy once got angry at me and shouted the lyrics: "but you're one of them Them THEM!!!" He turned out to be an asshole anyhow. 'Forever Time' and 'I Love You' also rate right at the top of what Black Flag has produced. So I'm confused about why some people slag this record. I guess some folks just couldn't go along with the 12-tone music and spoken word stuff that came later and got disappointed. Also, punks did NOT listen to Black Sabbath or any heavy metal back at this time, so the B side really didn't go down easy for the hardcore punks.
I always liked the subterranean quality of side two (the three last long tracks), and then it accidentally got played at 45RPM: for the most part Henry is singing over instrumental tracks that are playing back at half speed. At 45RPM this sounds more like the Black Flag you expect, but with Henry ranting like a chipmunk over the top of it all!
... a work of pure unadulterated genius... along with " Slip It In " it is one of the most unjustly and criminally under appreciated albums ever released. Friends, this is the standard by which all post punk should be judged... this is pissed off and real... a uncompromising scream from the dark abyss of alienation... and it is utterly and earth-shatteringly brilliant... P.S. Greg Ginn is to guitar as Les Claypool is to bass... a god. Also Henry Rollins, the original Rollins of the super freak flag and freshly stenciled "Search and Destroy" tattoo, will never be this unrelentingly awesome ever again. And one last thing, it's not just a purely emotional statement --- it's also a work of intriguing intelligence.
When my girlfriend broke up with me in college (1987), this was the only record I could listen to. Actually, I could only listen to side 2. Nothing Left Inside was my angst. Punk saved my life. Beautiful.
Punk is about being pissed off. This outing by the mighty Flag shows the raw emotion punk is all about. From the title track, you can see they are serious about their craft. Angry Reagan-era punk is what I grew up with. This album is one of the best from that era. A must download for Flag fans.
When I scream all day, will you be my friend in time, I beat me head till they'er nothing inside!! So high cause this makes me cry and hide. How else do you want me to say about this!! THE BEST!!!
Side two of "My War" is one of the all time most decadent and pleasurable record sides. This is punk, for sure, but it inhabits the world opposite of fast and choppy three chord songs. Long drawn-out explorations into Gregg Ginn's fabulous world of guitar, and a taste of Henry before he became, uh, better adjusted. Late night listening for sure. Side one is excellent too -- paranoid and pained music from a groundbreaking band.
