Back with a Bong
| Back With A Bong | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Murphy's Law | ||||
| Released | 1989 | |||
| Recorded |
1988 at Dreamland Studios and Chung King Studios New York, U.S. | |||
| Genre | Hardcore punk, Crossover Thrash | |||
| Length | 29:21 | |||
| Label |
Profile Records Another Planet 1994 reissue | |||
| Producer | Murphy's Law | |||
| Murphy's Law chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Re-issue cover | ||||
 1994 Another Planet re-issue – with Murphy's Law on same disc |
||||
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Back With A Bong is the third album from New York hardcore punk band, Murphy's Law.
It was released in 1989 on Profile Records and subsequently re-released on Another Planet Records in 1994 with the previous self-titled album on the same disc.
It came three years after the previous album and the band had undergone somewhat of a transformation with Jimmy Gestapo the only remaining member.
Alex Morris had been replaced on guitar by Todd Youth – previously of fellow New York hardcore bands, Agnostic Front and Warzone, and later of Danzig. Chuck Valle replaced Pete Martinez on bass, and Doug E. Beans took over drumming duties from Petey Hines.
They followed this album with 1991's Best Of Times, 1993's Good For Now, and 1996's Dedicated – so called because Chuck Valle was killed in 1994.
Overview
Although the band had entered the limelight a bit more since their self-titled 1986 album, the music was still noticeably hardcore punk. Far from taking in influences from the crossover thrash scene, they instead opted for introducing more eclectic sounds such as ska and brass instruments.
The opening track, "Intro", leaves any listener who may have feared that they had "gone metal" with no doubt as to where their intentions still lie. However, it is not long until the first sign of brass is encountered, second track – and unanimous live favorite – "Panty Raid", in fact.
Most of the songs do follow the same formula – a slow buildup to a fast-paced, admittedly thrash-type, climax – but the interjection of ska and brass, in "Ska Song" and the album's closer "Bong", help to break it up. However, these elements are never overdone and are used very sparingly.
In spite of the formula, the songs do not all sound the same and there were a lot of live favorites to come from this album because of the mosh parts enclosed. "Panty Raid" (complete with brass section), "Quest For Herb", and "America Rules" being notable examples.
Lyrically, the band was the same as ever – more like Boston's Gang Green than their NYHC peers – beer, drugs, and partying again the order of the day.
Track listing
- All songs written by J Drescher, C Valle, T Schofield, and D Thompson
- "Intro" – 1:42
- "Panty Raid" – 2:57
- "Yahoo!" – 1:46
- "Attack of the Killer Beers" – 2:40
- "Cavity Creeps" – 1:25
- "Ska Song" – 2:20
- "Quest for Herb" – 2:38
- "America Rules" – 1:31
- "Rage" – 2:04
- "Wall of Death" – 1:43
- "Secret Agent S.K.I.N." – 2:02
- "Push Comes to Shove" – 2:03
- "Bong" – 4:33
Credits
- Jimmy "Gestapo" Drescher – vocals
- Todd "Youth" Schofield – guitar
- Chuck Valle – bass
- Doug "E. Beans" Thompson – drums
- Horns – courtesy of Columbia Records – arranged and played by
- Angelo Moore
- Christopher Dowd
- Walter Kirby III
- Narration of "Secret Agent S.K.I.N." by Frenchie
- Recorded at Dreamland Recording Studio and Chung King "House of Metal", New York, U.S.
- Produced by Murphy's Law
- Assisted by Jack Flanagan, Bob Musso, Gary Miller, and Nick Light
- Engineered by Dave Cook, Martin Kunitz, and Chuck Valle
- Horns recorded at Blue Canyon Recorders, Los Angeles, U.S. – engineered by Craig Doubet
- Mastered by Howie Weinberg at Masterdisk, New York, USA
- Re-mastered for re-issue by Alan Douches at West West Side Studios