A Brief History of the Twentieth Century by Gang of Four

This CD really took me back. Way back. To the 80s. Big hair, big shoulder pads. I was only 4 then so I barely remember it but it sounded like people were having a good time back then. Ok, just a little lie on the age, I was closer to 14 but who's counting? I love this CD. There is only one song on here that I truly recognize but I recognize the sound. If you don't know who Gang of 4 is they are a punk/post punk band. Their sound is definitely punk from what I remember of punk. I am not the best person to talk about punk since I was never a punk rocker. Sheena was, I was not. In my mind, it's not your standard punk rock though, even though the singers aren't singing in the conventional sense they aren't completely screaming like the Sex Pistols. I am not looking forward to listening to that one by the way. Gang of Four's songs are heavy in the guitars and drums. I like the guitars; they sound angry, sometimes they even sound like they are growling. But you can still dance to it and that's important. Sometimes their sound reminded me a little of Devo and other times they reminded me of the B-52s, Planet Claire B-52s, not Love Shack B-52s. Hope that helps give you some background on the music.

Favorite songs are many. This is kind of a best of CD so that is not surprising. I love "Damaged Goods" and the way they keep repeating "the change will do you good" and then later "damaged goods, send 'em back, ... open the till, give me the change you said would do me good." I also like "Return the Gift," "Womantown," and, of course, "I Love a Man in Uniform." The link below is to an old video of that song, you have to fast forward through about a minute of inane talking by some people but then you get the original video of the song. Love the outfits and the hair. Also, how can you not love those words? I love a man in uniform. Takes me right back to my days at The Wave (Hawaii's version of First Ave) in Waikiki. I think that is where I heard that song for the first time.

I only met Ross after he had cut his hair short, taken out his earring, and stopped wearing tie-dye shirts and moccasins. I know though that he always liked his music loud and was not against a good thrash song. I am sure back in the day he was quite the punk rocker in many ways. It's not surprising that I found this in his collection. I just wish I had heard this one earlier. I wouldn't have turned the volume down.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Ea4loI7xQ&feature=related