Dr. Know’s biggest claim to fame is as the punk band that Brandon Cruz (child star of The Courtship of Eddie’s Father) sang lead vocals for, briefly. The Best of Dr. Know compiles tracks from Cruz’s stint in the band, as well as from his replacement, and the difference, believe it or not, is negligible, since the band plays standard-issue Southern California punk rock that could just as well be played by the Adolescents or All. It’s true that Dr. Know is credited with being one of the first bands on the Oxnard scene, but it’s hard not to shake off the feeling that without the Brandon Cruz connection, they would have been dismissed as dull and derivative, since there’s not much here that any number of SoCal punks haven’t already done, and better. Lacking the brutal power of Black Flag, the bluesy edge of Social Distortion, or the political bluster of the Dead Kennedys, Dr. Know is too often forced to rely on crude humor (“Fist Fk”) and one-dimensional rants (“U.S.A.,” “Egomaniac”). Ultimately, for fans of the genre only — others need not bother. – Victor W. Valdivia