The eponymous
Murphy's Law
debut is perhaps one of the most rocking
New York punk
releases to appear in the '80s. The manic tempos, masochistic vocals, and other
hardcore
signatures are toned down here to better suit the group's party message. Apolitical when compared to hard-line contemporaries like
Cro-Mags
and
Agnostic Front
,
shoots for an inebriated slice-of-life essence more aligned with Boston's
Gang Green
. The right-wing and skinhead references didn't exactly sit well with some '80s
punk
observers who mistakenly labeled the band as fascist. But even a casual study of
"California Pipeline"
"Ilsa"
reveals an allegiance contrary to the skinhead stereotype. Highlights include the
Ace Frehley
-inspired guitar work on
Skinhead Rebel
as well as the
rockabilly
"Wahoo Day"
groove. A must-have for fans of the group and a strong recommendation for any '80s
scholar,
is simply a fun ride. ~ Vincent Jeffries