Minor Threat Complete Discography CD

Minor Threat: Ian MacKaye (vocals); Brian Baker (guitar, bass); Lyle Preslar (guitar); Steve Hansgen (bass); Jeff Nelson (drums).
Recorded at Inner Ear Studios, Arlington, Virginia between April 1981 and December 1983.
Personnel: Ian MacKaye (vocals); Lyle Preslar, Brian Baker (guitar); Jeff Nelson (drums).
Audio Mixers: Skip Groff; Jeff Nelson; Lyle Preslar; Minor Threat.
Recording information: Inner Ear Studios, Arlington, VA (04/1981-12/1983).
Photographers: Tomas Squip; Glen E. Friedman; Susie Josephson.
Complete Discography compiles Minor Threat's entire body of recordings on a single compact disc. Hardcore, as a rule, wasn't particularly musically diverse, but Minor Threat were one of the genre's groundbreaking acts and their music has held up better than most of their contemporaries. As the de facto leaders of the Washington, D.C., hardcore scene, the band pioneered the straight-edge mentality by emphasizing impossibly fast tempos, brief songs, political lyrics, and a drug- and alcohol-free lifestyle. Besides setting the precedent for several generations of punk rockers with their music and ideals, Minor Threat were simply a better band than most hardcore groups. They had a tight, distinctive sound that wasn't as heavy as their Californian counterparts and, therefore, were often more bracing and effective. Although some of the music on Complete Discography, like much of hardcore in general, hasn't aged particularly well -- with its cheap production, rigid song structures, and political concerns, it is very much a piece of the early '80s -- the sound remains invigorating; the band possessed a visceral energy matched by only a handful of their peers. Complete Discography, in fact, is not only one of the cornerstones of any hardcore collection, it's not a bad way to become acquainted with hardcore. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The Washington, D.C. straightedge hardcore punk scene began with Minor Threat. The band recorded two LPs on its own Dischord label, plus an EP and the miscellaneous singles that are collected on this CD. Many of the early recordings on this collection seethe with teen-age angst and indignation. The songs rage against bullies, religious hypocrisy, and the herd mentality.
Other songs, taken from later in Minor Threat's career, feature tighter and more sophisticated playing. Metallic flourishes tinge the guitar work, vocal harmonies abound, and song dynamics vary more than on the earlier record. On certain songs, Ian MacKaye's lyrics address the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and self-expression. "Look Back and Laugh," "Little Friend," and "It Follows" all incline more toward introspection and ambiguity; conveying loss and sadness in addition to outrage. This second set of songs seems to especially anticipate MacKaye's later work with Fugazi. The album also contains a few playful numbers like the sing-along cover of "Stepping Stone," and "Cashing In," a mocking dig at greedy musicians. Minor Threat believed completely in the power of its music, helping earn a loyal fan following and the respect of numerous other bands who emulated its style and credo.Spin (5/01, p.110) - Ranked #27 in Spin's "50 Most Essential Punk Records" - "...The Leviticus of hardcore and straight edge..."
Mojo (Publisher) (3/01, p.114) - "...The group that encapsulates the essence of hardcore better than any other....tighter and more coherent in their ire....they made a non-smoking, non-drinking, non-shagging existence seem positively attractive, such was the righteous indignation...of [their] method rage."