Punk Singles Collection, The - Dickies (The)

The Dickies were a punk band from LA, a few of the band members are dead now after drug overdoses and as I wasn't around when they came out - I can't say I'd heard of them until a few years ago. I got a copy of their Punk Singles Collection which as you may have guessed, is a compilation of their best tunes. Currently described as camp and humorous, I'd agree with one of the two - I've never found American's campness particularly humourous but still ...
...and Graham Norton in a punk rock way.

The reality was somewhat more bland, a rather straight band really when it comes down to it and anyone who says they are better than their LA rivals The Germs, is clearly not all there. Whilst Banana Splits may have been a popular hit in the UK once, it looks incredibly soft today, perhaps the best things are the fast and enjoyable covers of tracks like "Paranoid". Two bearable songs ... more

The Dickies were a punk band from LA, a few of the band members are dead now after drug overdoses and as I wasn't around when they came out - I can't say I'd heard of them until a few years ago. I got a copy of their Punk Singles Collection which as you may have guessed, is a compilation of their best tunes. Currently described as camp and humorous, I'd agree with one of the two - I've never found American's campness particularly humourous but still had high hopes for The Dickies, picturing them as a collaboration of Dale Winton and Graham Norton in a punk rock way.

The reality was somewhat more bland, a rather straight band really when it comes down to it and anyone who says they are better than their LA rivals The Germs, is clearly not all there. Whilst Banana Splits may have been a popular hit in the UK once, it looks incredibly soft today, perhaps the best things are the fast and enjoyable covers of tracks like "Paranoid". Two bearable songs are "You Drive Me Ape" and "Bowling with Bedrock Barney" but it is insanely poppy and they make the Ramones look hardcore! Some of the tracks have obvious Californian in-jokes but I'm not a great fan of Cali types.

All far too twee and not substantial enough to be classed as punk for me!

1. Banana Splits (The Tra La La Song)
2. Paranoid
3. I'm OK You're OK
4. Eve of Destruction
5. Give It Back
6. You Drive Me Ape (You Big Gorilla)
7. Sound of Silence
8. Hideous
9. Got It at the Store
10. Nights in White Satin
11. Waterslide
12. Manny Moe and Jack
13. She Loves Me Not
14. Fan Mail
15. (I'm Stuck in a Pagoda With) Tricia Toyota
16. Gigantor
17. Bowling WTH Bedrock Barney
18. Silent Night 

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