The First Four Years (CD - 1983)

Personnel: Dez Cadena (vocals, guitar); Chuck Dukowski, Keith Morris (vocals); Greg Ginn (guitar); Brian Migdol, Robo (drums).

The best collection of pre-Henry Rollins-era Black Flag. Much of The First Four Years finds the band in developmental mode, but the sonic anarchy and political vituperation met head-on more than once, creating a ferociously good time. Not simply for completists, this is an important recording of the then-burgeoning L.A. hardcore scene. ~ John Dougan

1983's THE FIRST FOUR YEARS is a handy compilation of Black Flag's first three seven-inch EPs, 1978's NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, 1980's JEALOUS AGAIN, and 1981's SIX PACK, along with two tracks from compilations and both sides of 1981's "Louie Louie"/Damaged I" single. All told, it contains the band's entire output from its pre-Henry Rollins era, though this has not stopped SST Records from reissuing the three EPs in a seemingly endless stream of formats and combinations.

Before Rollins brought his more serious and political concerns to the band, Black Flag was a sometimes-goofy punk band in the tradition of the Dictators. Keith Morris and Dez Cadena, who (separately) sing most of this material, later spent time with the Circle Jerks and Redd Kross, respectively, and the sometimes pop-tinged punk of those bands is a good comparison for these unpretentious, speedy proto-hardcore nuggets. An essential L.A. punk release. minimize