The 1986 Listening Post - Government Issue - Government Issue

Government Issue - Government Issue

#165/1330

1986 Housekeeping

Government Issue

Government Issue

Genre: Punk

3.5 out of 5

This is a different GI joint. Yes, it’s punk, but it’s also noise rock ala Sonic Youth. They aren’t great at it but I like that they are trying. It’s also quite melodic, like the last one. 

Every song is really good except for the bad parts. Even the bad ones have something redeemable. 

“Hear the Scream” is a good example. It’s almost great and you can really hear The Offspring keying off this. But, the vocals are weirdly incongruous. That’s sort of the story here. Great music, terrible vocal “melodies”. 

GI ends this album (you have to just listen to the original tracks in this giant reissue) with “Last Forever”, which might as well be a Joy Division cover band’s attempt at an original track.

I didn’t hate it. But I wouldn’t go back. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/complete-history-vol-1/341101552

The 1985 Listening Post - Government Issue - The Fun Never Ends

Government Issue - The Fun Never Ends

#186

May 1985

Government Issue

The Fun Never Ends

Genre: Punk

3.75 out of 5

Highlights:

Written Word

It’s on the second song, “Written Word” where the title is drawn for this record, that I realize…this is the beginning of Green Day. No, they aren’t in this band but the seeds are all there. There’s a melodic quality that is steeped in 60s garage rock and 70s power pop, ground up and drenched in snot. 

Yes, all the tropes of 80s punk are here. The arrogance and the indignation as well as the speed and brevity. But also melody, which is something that I haven’t really noticed in hardcore until now. “World Caved In” is musically…interesting. More so than The Dickies. Even more than Dead Kennedys (which was like a surf rock band that was really angry at their family). I think when we think about melodic punk, we have to look back at Government Issue as the early practitioners. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/complete-history-vol-1/341101552