Radical politics and even more radical musical ideas come together on the Beatnigs’ 1988 debut. Crediting all five members with “industrial percussion” — i.e. circular saws, tire rims, chains and buzzers — the Beatnigs’ trademark sound is a collage of tape edits, TV clips, samples and voices which congeals to touch base with traditional musical styles like rock, rap, funk, dub and jazz. The band’s lyrical targets are as wide-ranging, taking on racism, television, poverty, and the CIA. – Jason Ankeny