The Queers - CBGB OMFUG Masters: Live February 3, 2003 the Bowery Collection

Band: The Queers
Album: CBGB OMFUG Masters: Live February 3, 2003 the Bowery Collection
Genre: punk rock
Label: MVD Audio

Tracks:
1. Rockaway Beach
2. No Tit
3. Brush Your Teeth
4. I Want ****
5. Monster Zero
6. This Place Sucks
7. You’re Tripping
8. I Live This Life
9. Surf Goodness
10. Blabbermouth
11. Kicked Out of the Webelos
12. I Hate Everything
13. Murder In the Brady House
14. Like a Parasite
15. My Old Man’s a Fatso
16. Fuck You
17. Teenage Bonehead
18. I Can’t Stop Farting
19. Granola Head
20. I Will Be With You
21. Yeah Well Whatever
22. Love Love Love
23. Another Girl
24. I Only Drink Bud
25. Punk Rock Girls
26. Ursula Finally Has T*ts
27. Tamara is a Punk
28. I Met Her at the Rat
29. Tulu is a Wimp
30. **** the World I’m Hanging Out With You tonight
31. This Place Sucks

Slowly escaping from the bowels of New Hampshire in a time span the stretched through the mid 1980’s, the Queers have been entertaining fans across the world with their infectious New York Punk sound for two decades now. Heavily influenced by groups like the Ramones, the Beach Boys, and TV Party, the Queers stays true to their punk roots by rolling through songs at rapid-fire pace and not wasting time with nonsensical stage banter. This live disc, recorded at famed rock club CBGB, is a great introduction to the group for those whose ears have not yet been graced by the Queers aural assault. The album is also a great collection for any established fan of punk music or the Queers.

The live disc contains 31 tracks, none of which exceeds the three-minute mark, and includes Queers originals, as well as a few punk classics, notably the lead track, “Rockaway Beach” by the Ramones, and a song by the Mr. T. Experience. In it’s entirety, the album is packed from start to finish with powering drums, distorted guitars, more angst than a group of thirteen year olds waiting in line at Hot Topic, and pop melodies that could send Brian Wilson crying back to his sandbox for a very long time. The queers breathe a breath of fresh-air into the diluted wasteland that has become modern punk music, and this live album is a fantastic example of the original “louder, faster, harder” concept that drove punk rock. Though not an overly political punk band, the band does discuss dubitable societal practices on songs such as “Granola Head,” as well as angsty adolescent discontent on tracks such as “My Old Man is a Fatso,” and “Love Love Love.” On this album, the Queers execute their songs with incredible precision for playing at such break-neck pace, and there is hardly an ill-played note in the entire 31-track set. Also, if you’re not familiar with the group, don’t be expecting any blazing guitar solos, or really any guitar solos, that’s why Yngwie Malmsteen makes albums; there just isn’t time for showboating in the Queers. Although the album does not sport that classic “parental advisory,” it is important to note that the group has a fascination with four-letter words, and often times veers away from the realm of political correctness with tracks like, "**** the World I’m Hanging Out With You Tonight,” and “I Want ****.” Some of the other more noteworthy tracks include, “Punk Rock Girls,” “Teenage Bonehead,” “I Only Drink Bud,” and “Yeah Well Whatever”.

The only downside to this album is that intensity lags about half way through the disc, though to no fault of the band. When listening to a punk band, especially the Queers, it’s hard to not jump around and break things with your face. However, if you’ve got a hankering for some of the finest punk rock on the planet, and can’t make it out to see these guys in person, pop this disc in and beat the living piss out of the fine china (don’t worry, it’ll feel right).

**Written by our contributing writer: Matt Bullock**

GRADE: 7.65/10