I stumbled upon this CD somewhere years and years ago. Imagine an album recorded around 1980, during the heyday of Bad Brains, but with much better sound quality than the two "yellow" albums. While many of the tracks are on Rock for Light and Bad Brains, the performances are better. Too bad this is so hard to find.

Attitude is the same album as Bad Brains. Minus the bonus track. These are the performances that are on Bad Brains. I'm not sure if the mastering is the same though--I haven't listened to both together.

ROIR, the tape only label that began about 1981, originally released this as one of their tape only releases. Tape format, just by itself, dooms any release to be less consumed and recognized by the general public, though ROIR is almost certainly the biggest selling tape label in the punk/indie world. It wasn't till years later that it was finally released onto LP and years after that onto CD.

Every punk I ever knew from day one when this thing came out recognized this release as an automatic classic, possibly the finest punk release of all time. It's not long, I think in the 39 minute range. It's got total blazing HC tunes, like 4 in a row with the one of the finest vocals of all time in punk and super strong and fun and musical git work. Those HC songs just shoot into the next song and are not very long, both classic punk rock format.

However, BAD BRAINS is also one of the very very few bands to also then suddenly shift into total reggae. Ska and punk were brothers/related to each other from the beginning of punk. It was common for say 1 in 5 punk bands to have at least one song on their LP where they slowed down and did a skaified punk song. The whole Two-Tone SPECIALS/ENGLISH BEAT/BAD MANNERS/SELECTOR/MADNESS thing was generated in England from within the punk musical/social movement of the late 70's/early 80's. Ya ever notice how JIMI HENDRIX was and is the greatest guitarist in rock? How many other African Americans are at the top in rock aside from the 50's? Straight rock (i.e. not 50's)? Not many at all. JIMI was at the top man. Still is. Who's a better guitarist than him? Same thing happened with BAD BRAINS.

Every punk I ever knew felt, with their ears and punk spirit, that BAD BRAINS were one of the very top blazing punk bands of all time, particularly with this release. Everything they did after it went steadily downhill, slightly but down, tho not out. And here's the same thing. Four African Americans from D.C. who apparently had some kinda jazz band (?) and then switched into bein' in reggae, full time and punk and that's what their records reflected and their mighty shows. I saw them live in L.A. in 1981 and it was note for note this release. Pure heaven. Funny thing is, the reggae numbers were sort of like a little break, a cool off, and enjoyin' it. Particuarly as it's not the sleep reggae, it's got a good jumpin' to it, along the general lines of STEEL PULSE. I think that's all the differance.

Actually, the band is also one of the few who made clear their religious beliefs on record and in live shows with, from my experience, I been lucky enough to see 'em about 7 times, has always been embraced by the mainly punx in the audience. Not that anyone converted that I'm aware of. But it was not put down either. Just, like, accepted, 'hay, that's their thing'. Besides, their shows, generally, are so tight, the vocals, git, drums and bass are usually spectacular. In fact, I'd say HR is the best vocalist in punk along with IGGY and the original screamer in RAW POWER.