Poster Children's album Flower Power gave the impression of a band unsure of the punk/new wave divide they wanted to fall on. This uncertainty is aurally palpable as the album is divided by the sonic productions of two separate producers. The producer on the first half of the album was the young, brash and purely punk Steve Albini.
A wunderkind of the Chicago underground scene, Albini would eventually become its very vocal conscious, decrying any band that sacrificed its raw sound for a more friendly sonic palette as they might try to graduate from the Chicago scene to the mainstream. If you wanted that raw sound, you often went to Albini to produce your album. He honed his craft and particular aesthetic in producing recordings for his own bands. His first band was the solo project turned noise-rock trio Big Black. Big Black's first album was 1986's Atomizer released on Homestead Records. The EPs Bulldozer and Racer-X are also worth highlighting.
Special Note: If you pay attention to the listed discographies, you'd have noticed that I often include singles, EPs, and/or compilations from other bands (who never last long enough to record a proper album) that featured members who'd go on to be part of the tour stop's band lineup. In this case, Big Black bass player Dave Riley was a member of the short-lived bands End Result and Savage Beliefs. Normally, I don't highlight these bands because they're pretty deep cut and only occasionally reveal a unique or worthwhile song (the last one on the tour being "Amen" by Danny King and The Mayfair Set), but Savage Beliefs is notably great. Reminiscent of Wire's simple punk perfection, Savage Beliefs's songs are all delights and I can't help feel that, with them, there was a huge missed opportunity. Story is their breakup made Steve Albini cry. I can imagine.
Here is the discography surrounding Big Black's debut album:
Lungs (1982 EP)
Bang Zoom Issue #3 (1983 compilation songs)
Big Black (1983 live bootleg)
Bulldozer (1983 EP)
The Moral Efficiency of Savage Beliefs (1983 EP by Savage Beliefs)
The Master Tape Vol. 2 (1983 compilation songs by End Result)
Racer-X (1984 EP)
The Middle of America Compilation (1984 compilation songs)
Il Duce (1985 single)
Rema-Rema (1985 single)
Ward (1985 EP by End Result)
Live at No Bar & Grill in Muncie, IN (1985 live bootleg)
Atomizer
Big Money (1986 EP)
The Hammer Party (1986 compilation album)
God's Favorite Dog (1986 compilation songs)
Live on VRPO (1986 live bootleg)
Live at Paard Van Troje, Den Haag, Holland (1986 live bootleg)
Heartbeat (1987 single)
Headache (1987 EP)
Happiness Is Dry Pants (1987 compilation song)
Sound of Impact (1987 live album)
The Rich Man's Eight Track Tape (1987 compilation album)
Hog Butcher for the World (1987 compilation song by End Result)
You Weren't There: A History of Chicago Punk 1977-1984 (2008 compilation song by End Result)
Big Big Sky (2015 compilation album by Savage Beliefs)
Big Black Live at CBGB's
"Kerosene" by Big Black
"What's Left in the Fridge?" by Savage Beliefs
Pass the Headphones!!
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