FUCKED UP "LET LIKES BE CURED BY LIKES" LP

I've been hearing good things about this band and it's easy to see why. We haven't seen too many Fucked Up records distributed in Finland yet, but I really hope to see some in the future. So far these fuckers have concentrated in releasing 2 song singles, I don't know why only 2 songs, since the songs are pretty short. So I didn't expect these guys to do a normal LP, it's not even close. This record is transparent vinyl and music is only on one side. The other side has silk screened logo of the band, pretty cool looking packet. And above all this is a live recording. It's been recorded with an 8-track couple of years ago and this has quite good sound quality. Normally punk bands can't reach the level of studio records with their live recordings and this is the case this time too. But still, this is a good sounding live record by a punk band, there's intensity and rawness to be heard. I like this sound a lot, though this may not be the best way to hear the band for the first time. But don't worry about that too much or too long. You won't see this record too often anyway. It's been only 300 copies made, so act fast if you want this. This record is just getting better and better with every listen. The music itself has more energy than a
nuclear power plant can produce. It's fast and intense hardcore punk. But it's not really thrash, it has more like a punk rock feeling. Though just to be clear, they didn't even imagine this fast punk rock back in 77. Maybe this band just knows how to get the best from punk rock and hardcore. The energy, anger, speed, honesty and all that get you really in a good mood and the songs are really fucking excellent. After the actual music there's some backward speech, satanic messages?? Find out yourself!!! –M
-Toinen Valhtoehto

FUCKED UP are godz in my book - end of review!! Naah, so let's get to the point! For those who still are not familiar with FUCKED UP: They're playing faster paced, incredibly dynamic hardcorepunk or in 3 easy words: They're simply phenomenal (I counted "they're" as 1 word.)!! This LP features a live set which was recorded in Toronto back in '02 and even I'm not a huge fan of live records, this platter is not only because of the amazing sound quality just marvelous! I can't help, but after listening to this monster, that, by the way, includes 9 eternal mantras like for instance "No pasaran", "Circling the drain" or "Police", about 6 times in a row, thoughts like "Huh? Am I deaf, or does this pearl really contain a definite "Damaged" era BLACK FLAG feeling?" came to mind and that's a compliment every band should be able to live with! Collector nerds alert: Only 300 copies were pressed, so act right now or cry crocodile tears when you've to bleed on eBay later!!
-Warprayer 129

“Let Likes” is a one-sided live LP, limited to 300 copies and hand screened with the band’s logo on the other side. No let-up from one song to the next—the version of “Police” is fair-to-middling and they occasionally sound a little out of tune. Still, the sound quality is OK and the band sound pretty smokin’ but it’s probably for the completists. If you can even still get it, at this point.

-Suburban Voice

When I hear that there is a buzz on a band, a lot of times I look the other way. I can be a very selfish person and want to discover my own music. I have passed up many a good bands because of their popularity. But I couldn’t hide from this one. I have bought most of their material for a friend in Finland but never had the inkling to take a sample. The only sample came from their appearance on the Tornonto Omnibus comp. I liked what I heard but could not get past my thick headed ways and seek out more. By way of my brother, this was thrust upon me and I had to face this band head on. First off, I see that it was a live recording. Bias was building quickly and that was not a positive note. But what the hey, it was on clear vinyl, one sided and it was silk-screened on the record. The cover was also screened. The nerdiness inside was engorged from those points alone. The urge to put it away and never play it or to give it a spin was a tough choice. I gave in and pulled it out of its paper protection. First off, this sounds nothing like a live concert recording but a live recording in a studio on an audio eight track. Waves and waves of childhood memories flashed before my eyes. So raw. So Pure. I was taken back in time to the birth of what some call hardcore. It was not a battle of who could play the fastest. It was every band playing what they thought was their interpretation of punk. I hate to use this analogy because so many people use this band like throw away toilet paper, but I have to reference this to the energy level of Black Flag. Also, I take elements of bands like negative Approach, Offenders, and BGK to add to my descriptors of what I hear. To record their stylings in a full-blown studio and dummying it down would have been a disservice. The in-studio live approach in audio is the perfect approach and medium to reproduce punk. To put this out on vinyl makes it even worthier. I have listened to this record more than five times and I have not grown tired. As things come full circle in terms of what comes around this is a band that plays music that can stand the test of time.

- (Donofthedead) Razorcake #24