Quickness

Last updated

Quickness
Quickn.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 14, 1989
Genre
Length33:52
Label Caroline
Producer Ron St. Germain
Bad Brains chronology
Live
(1988)
Quickness
(1989)
The Youth Are Getting Restless
(1990)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [2]

Quickness, also known as With the Quickness, is the fourth full-length studio album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. At the time of its release, it was the best selling Bad Brains album and also featured an MTV video for the lead-off track "Soul Craft" directed by Paul Rachman who later went on to produce and direct the feature documentary American Hardcore . Drummer Earl Hudson, though pictured on the cover, does not play on the record, as drum parts were instead performed by Mackie Jayson of the Cro-Mags. In an interview with MTV, guitarist Dr. Know said that the album's title comes from urgency and swiftness.

Contents

The album was a crossover release that contained elements of several genres, including funk, hip hop, heavy metal, punk, and reggae, which made a notable return after being absent from 1986's I Against I . It is also the band's most controversial release, containing lyrics that some claim were homophobic.

Critical reception

Dave E. Henderson of Music Week considered that with this album the band "should finally achieve greater notoriety". But on the other hand it is losing its identity while presenting "frenetic punk-metal with all the growling cliches from years gone by" instead of previous mix of reggae and punk. [3]

Controversy

The song "Don't Blow Bubbles" had lyrics that were criticized as being homophobic and suggesting that AIDS was God's punishment for homosexuality. When asked about the song, guitarist Dr. Know said that "We wrote that song as kind of an angry warning to homosexuals. We didn't really mean to insult them, but a lot of people we knew seemed to be living with their eyes closed." [4] In a 2007 interview where bassist Darryl Jenifer called their previous views "ignorant", he was asked about the song and the furor over the lyrics and replied "They don't understand that we've grown. Just like anyone, I'm not ashamed to say, 'Maybe I could have been…' Damn right, I was a homophobe! I shouldn't have to explain that to the world because everyone will do that. That's wisdom. You have to grow to be wise." [5] On the 2022 reissue of the album, an instrumental version of "Don't Blow Bubbles" was included in place of the original version, with the song's title changed to "Instrumental". [6]

Track listing

  1. "Soul Craft" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  2. "Voyage Into Infinity" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  3. "The Messengers" (Miller, Hudson, Hahn)
  4. "With the Quickness" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  5. "Gene Machine/Don't Bother Me" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  6. "Don't Blow Bubbles" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  7. "Sheba" (Miller, Hudson)
  8. "Yout' Juice" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  9. "No Conditions" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  10. "Silent Tears" (Jenifer, Hudson)
  11. "The Prophet's Eye" (Miller, Jenifer, Hudson)
  12. "Endtro" (Miller, Jenifer)

Personnel

Bad Brains
Additional musicians

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Brains</span> American punk band

Bad Brains are an American band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1976. They are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of other genres like funk, heavy metal, hip hop, and soul. Rolling Stone magazine called them "the mother of all black hard-rock bands", and they have been cited as a seminal influence to numerous other subgenres in addition to hardcore punk, including various subgenres of heavy metal, such as thrash/speed metal, alternative metal, and funk metal. Bad Brains are followers of the Rastafari movement.

<i>I Against I</i> 1986 studio album by Bad Brains

I Against I is the third studio album by the American rock band Bad Brains. It was released on November 21, 1986 through SST Records with the catalog number SST 065. The best-selling album in the band's catalog, I Against I finds the band branching out from their early hardcore punk style to touch on funk, soul, reggae and heavy metal. It is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The title track was a Paul Rachman-directed video.

<i>Black Dots</i> 1996 demo album by Bad Brains

Black Dots is a demo album by the American rock band Bad Brains, released in 1996 by Caroline Records. It consists of one of the band's earliest recording sessions, which took place in 1979 at Inner Ear Studios with recording engineer Don Zientara. Black Dots features early versions of several songs that were later recorded for the band's first two studio albums, as well as songs that had never previously been released in any versions. The album showcases the band's hardcore punk origins, as well as their early foray into reggae with the song "The Man Won't Annoy Ya."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H.R. (musician)</span> American musician (born 1956)

Paul D. Hudson, known professionally as H.R., is an American musician who leads the hardcore punk band Bad Brains, and is an instrumental figure in the development of the genre. His vocal delivery has been described as diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes. He has departed the band periodically to pursue solo efforts that are more reggae than Bad Brains' punk sound. He is the older brother of Earl Hudson, Bad Brains' drummer.

<i>Bad Brains</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Bad Brains

Bad Brains is the first album released by American hardcore punk/reggae band Bad Brains. Recorded in 1981 and released on the cassette-only label ROIR on February 5, 1982, many fans refer to it as "The Yellow Tape" because of its yellow packaging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dr. Know (guitarist)</span> Musical artist

Gary Miller, better known by his stage name Dr. Know, is an American musician, who rose to prominence as the guitarist for the Washington D.C. hardcore punk band Bad Brains, who were critically acclaimed for their innovative musical style and are regarded as one of the greatest and most influential punk rock bands of all time. Critic Rick Anderson praises Miller's "ability to meld the raw directness of hardcore punk with an almost supernatural virtuosity without sacrificing the power of either approach".

<i>Rock for Light</i> 1983 studio album by Bad Brains

Rock for Light is the second full-length album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains, released in 1983. It was produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars. The 1991 re-issue was remixed by Ocasek and bass player Darryl Jenifer. The re-issued version has some extra tracks, an altered track order, significantly different mixes and, on most tracks, a speed increase of the master which results in a raising of the pitch by one-half step.

<i>Live</i> (Bad Brains album) 1988 live album by Bad Brains

Live is a live album by hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It was recorded during a 1987 tour. "Day Tripper", a Beatles cover, appears on some editions. After the tour finished, the band commenced a series of departures, breakups, and reunions.

<i>The Youth Are Getting Restless</i> 1990 live album by Bad Brains

The Youth Are Getting Restless is a live album from hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It was recorded at the Paradiso Theater in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1987 by the VPRO. The show was part of the band's I Against I tour. It remains one of the group's best selling albums.

<i>Rise</i> (Bad Brains album) 1993 studio album by Bad Brains

Rise is the fifth studio album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. It is the first Bad Brains album to be released on a major label and is notable for the absence of two original members: here, Israel Joseph I replaces vocalist H.R. and Cro-Mags drummer Mackie Jayson, who was a session musician on the band's previous album Quickness, replaces drummer Earl Hudson.

<i>God of Love</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Bad Brains

God of Love is the sixth studio album by the American musical group Bad Brains. It is the band's first album since I Against I, released in 1986, with its original lineup. It was released in 1995 on Maverick Records.

<i>A Bad Brains Reunion Live from Maritime Hall</i> 2001 live album by Bad Brains

A Bad Brains Reunion Live at Maritime Hall is the third live album from hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It marks the reunion of the band after a four-year breakup. At the time, the band were unable to use the name "Bad Brains" as they were embattled in legal turmoil with their prior management company. For over three years, the band had to tour under the name "Soul Brains" even though the original lineup of Bad Brains was intact.

<i>I & I Survived</i> 2002 studio album by Bad Brains

I & I Survived is the seventh full-length studio album by hardcore punk band Bad Brains.

<i>The Omega Sessions</i> 1997 EP by Bad Brains

The Omega Sessions is a 5-song EP recorded by hardcore punk/reggae pioneers Bad Brains in 1980 and released in 1997. The tracks were recorded and mixed at the original Omega Recording Studios in Rockville, Maryland. The EP contains early versions of songs that eventually appeared on later releases, including a rendition of "I Against I," which would not appear on an official Bad Brains release for another six years.

<i>Spirit Electricity</i> 1991 EP by Bad Brains

Spirit Electricity is an EP by hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains, released by SST in 1991. It was recorded live in concert in 1987 during the same tour that spawned the live albums The Youth Are Getting Restless and Live. The EP includes several live classics as well as the only officially available live version of the rare "Return to Heaven."

<i>Live at CBGB 1982</i> Live album by Bad Brains

Live at CBGB 1982 is a live album and DVD capturing hardcore punk/reggae group Bad Brains in concert at the historic New York City club CBGB in December 1982. The show features several tracks from the first three Bad Brains albums - Black Dots, Bad Brains, and the soon-to-be-released Rock for Light. The album also contains previously unreleased material, such as the reggae tunes "King of Glory" and "I And I Rasta."

<i>Banned in D.C.</i> 2003 compilation album by Bad Brains

Banned In D.C. is a compilation of hardcore punk and reggae songs by Bad Brains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Brains discography</span>

This is a comprehensive discography of Bad Brains, a Washington, D.C.-based hardcore punk band that also plays reggae and uses styles of funk and heavy metal into their music. To date, the band has released nine full-length studio albums, four EPs, four live recordings, one compilation album, one demo album, and more than a dozen singles.

<i>Into the Future</i> 2012 studio album by Bad Brains

Into the Future is the ninth studio album by the American hardcore punk band Bad Brains, which was released on November 20, 2012 on Megaforce Records. It is a tribute dedication to Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, a longtime friend of the band who died of cancer six months before its release, and produced their previous album Build a Nation. "Popcorn" first appeared on the Bad Brains tribute album "Tribute To Bad Brains", when the band appeared under the name Soul Brains.

Sidney Alexander McCray was an American punk singer.

References

  1. Anderson, Rick. "Quickness - Bad Brain". AllMusic . Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1990). "B". Christgau's Record Guide: The '80s . Pantheon Books. ISBN   0-679-73015-X. Archived from the original on July 10, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020 via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Henderson, Dave E. (October 7, 1989). "Review: Bad Brains – Quickness" (PDF). Music Week . London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 32. ISSN   0265-1548. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 2, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2022 via World Radio History.
  4. "Don't Blow Bubbles". Everything2 . March 4, 2004. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  5. "Darryl Jenifer Of Bad Brains: 'I Want To Be The Soldier Of My Music' | Interviews". Ultimate-Guitar.com . July 12, 2007. Archived from the original on June 22, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  6. "Quickness". Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022.