Wednesday, December 12, 2018

UPRIGHT CITIZENS - Open Eyes, Open Ears, Brains To Think & A Mouth To Speak!!! 1985

One of my favorite records is the following slab by the Upright Citizens and was recorded and mixed during the month of Feb. & Sep. '84 and Feb., April & May 1985 in Zero Green Studio, Essen. Resulted is this record in co-production with 'Better Youth Organization'. Also released by the band itself, limited edition in clear blue, the rest in black vinyl (my copy). Most of the tracks were already released on previous records, however almost all are either new recorded or at least remixed. Engineer was Walter Fux, with which we have mixed together. Cover artwork for the idea and we stand responsible. And also all texts and the total music comes from us except for "Holocaust" (CRISIS).

The first line-up consisted of Anton (vox+guitar), Uli (guitar), Cracker (bass) and Mario (drums). In 1989 the line-up and the musical line changed - with Alex (drums) and Chris (guitar), today members of the mopedgang or at Eisenpimmel, new influences came into the band. The songs changed, away from the fast political hardcore punk towards a sound and become more metal and I would not tell this punk anymore. The stage show of Upright Citizens were often compared with the Social Distortion, well I don't give a shit about those who wrote that.

In spring 2003, Upright Citizens gave their last concert on board a chartered excursion steamer on the Rhine. I can say, Upright Citizens are one of the best German punk bands whose records (early) are all absolute classics. Very rough and with brilliant lyrics, the gents stand out clearly from all of the incompetents and Pseudo punk bands in this country which not even understand the meaning behind it. Must have!!!


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