There are records and there are records that change the game. The Damned‘s debut album Damned Damned Damned is one such record. People hadn’t heard anything quite like it before 1977. This album made people sit up and pay attention.
Comedian Craig Ferguson once described punk rock as “sounding like a fight…and that made me feel happy,” just before he introduced The Damned on his show in 2008 to play the album’s opener “Neat Neat Neat.” It’s a great description because the song instantly ignites a fire wherever and whenever it’s played. “Fan Club” has a swaggering danger to it. Rat Scabies‘ crashing cymbals on “I Fall” sound like a thousand breaking windows.
On “Born to Kill,” Brian James‘ guitar roars and soars at the same time. “There’s a brand new kid in town,” Dave Vanian declares on “Stab Your Back.” He was right because The Damned’s frontman inspired thousands to come after him. “Feel the Pain” dips its toes into psychedelia.
“New Rose” was the second A-side of the split single with “Neat Neat Neat,” and it’s another punk classic full of pent-up anger (“A got a rage inside of me, hormones, and frantic energy (“A got a feeling inside of me. It’s kinda strange, like a stormy sea. I don’t know why, I don’t know why. I guess these things just gotta be.”). James’ guitars on it trade shredding and growling throughout it.
No Damned album review would be proper without mentioning Captain Sensible, who played bass on this record before later switching to lead guitar. Sensible’s bass line on “Fish” is full of heavy fuzz that hits you like a mackerel upside the head. “See Her Tonite” is another rager, burning down everything around it. Scabies’ drums on it are just bonkers.
Sensible continues the heavy bass thuds on “1 of the 2,” and Scabies throws in so many wild fills that you lose track of them. “So Messed Up” absolutely crushes, barley giving you time to get ready even with Vanian’s three-count to start the song. The album ends with their cover of The Stooges‘ “I Feel Alright,” which somehow matches the original’s intensity and ups the madness.
This album is a classic and shouldn’t be missed.
Keep your mind open.
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