7 Seconds “The Crew” 1984. BYO Records. Their first full-length release, along with relentless touring, was pivotal in establishing a hardcore sound that influenced a generation of American punk bands. I feel as though I saw them perform about a million times in the 80’s at small crappy venues around the Fox Valley (Kutska’s and ABC Boxing in Green Bay, the Ridgeway in Neenah etc etc). They also were always looking for a Denny’s for post-performance food – I think the reasoning was that Kevin Seconds worked at a Denny’s before starting his band? Also pretty sure we partied with them at a friend’s house in Appleton after a show, but that’s a bit blurry – mainly some vague images of Kevin Seconds on the phone with his wife/girlfriend and a manager being a real asshole.

“The Crew” is relentless in its hardcore attack: fast, dirty but with surprisingly lucent and melodic vocals, albeit at lighting speed, and most songs punctuated with signature whoa-whoa-whoa-whoas. Best tracks are “Not Just Boys Fun,” “This is the Angry Pt. 2,” “The Crew,” and “Young Til I Die,”