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Middle of America

LP released in 1984 on HID Productions

middle of america front
back cover
other info.

  1. NAKED RAYGUN - I Don't Know
  2. NAKED RAYGUN - Stupid
  3. SAVAGE BELIEFS - Shake your Neighbors Hand
  4. SAVAGE BELIEFS - Double Standard
  5. NADSAT REBELS - I am the Wall
  6. NADSAT REBELS - Getting Ready
  7. OUT OF ORDER - Survival of the Fittest
  8. OUT OF ORDER - Concerned
  9. ARTICLES OF FAITH - 5 O'Clock
  10. RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED - I Came to Dance
  11. RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED - Mean People Suck
  12. RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED - Yo, Yo, Yo
  13. BIG BLACK - Big Payback (premix)
  14. BIG BLACK - Hunter's Safety (Tommy Bartlett Dies in Pain)
  15. the EFFIGIES - Security (remix)

Great punk compilation with two Bulldozer era Big Black songs. Savage Beliefs feature a young man by the name of Dave Riley on bass, soon to hook up with some worthless noise/rock/punk band based in Evanston. Pick it up if you can, but don't be disappointed if you can't--a reissue (on CD, with liner notes!) is on the horizon.

For some reason people have problems figuring out what to call this LP, I've seen it listed as Fast and Loud, Hits from Mid America (which is a completely different LP), HID Productions and a host of other titles. Are people just stupid?

reviews:

FAST N LOUD RADIO PRESENTS: THE MIDDLE OF AMERICA COMPILATION (H.I.D. Productions)
Uh oh, not another sampler of boring hate music for modern America. Hey, this one is different. Naked Raygun's "I Don't Know" is a stirring, subversively hummable anthem. Even "Stupid," which forages into hardcore territory, is solid. Savage Beliefs, featuring former GI-boy John Gay on guitar and vocals is compelling post-punk mettle. "Double Standard" is a potent example of the pure, raw pop these Midwestern bands are thriving for. Nadsat Rebel curves their hardcore lines in another direction. "I Am The Wall" has some element of doom and light metal with a jazzier twist. "Getting Ready", their second selection, is more straight ahead, but very coherent hardcore. Out Of Order is more outwardly, traditionally "punk" but their fresh, tight approach proves they are not producing the usually numbing fare. Articles Of Faith have retained their full guitar sound. If fairness were in full swing, these guys would be as important as Husker Du. Their lyrics, too, actually deserve to be printed on the sheet. Rights Of The Accused are the weakest band on the comp., but their childish sense of humor allows them to get away with it. Check out the deliberately bad reggae on "Mean People Suck." Big Black's two cuts stand out. Listening to these will make you believe drum machines can do some good after all, as the grinding, whining feedback entangle themselves around punctuated beats. Not punk, not hardcore, definitely something new. The Effigies again show fondness for reggae rhythms and dub techniques in their new, improved mix of "Security" (the b-side of an early single).
BARBARA RICE

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