Bad Brains “Quickness” 1989/2022. Bad Brains Records. Originally released on Caroline Records, Quickness was the iconic punk/reggae/alternative funk metal band’s fourth studio LP. Re-released on their own label, the thrash-metal heavy album has been remastered and came out just days ago. Since their third album I Against I (1986) is one of my most-listened to records of the 80’s, I’m absolutely loving Quickness (we didn’t have it until just now). What is particular notable about the reissue is that it does not include the controversial track “Don’t Blow Bubbles,” a song that was homophobic and suggested that AIDS was a punishment sent by god. The band admitted to it years later. From Wiki, “When asked about the song, guitarist Dr. Know said that ‘We wrote that song as kind of an angry warning to homosexuals. We didn’t really mean to insult them, but a lot of people we knew seemed to be living with their eyes closed.’ In a 2007 interview where bassist Darryl Jenifer called their previous views ‘ignorant,’ he was asked about the song and the furor over the lyrics and replied ‘They don’t understand that we’ve grown. Just like anyone, I’m not ashamed to say, ‘Maybe I could have been…’ Damn right, I was a homophobe! I shouldn’t have to explain that to the world because everyone will do that. That’s wisdom. You have to grow to be wise.” “Don’t Blow Bubbles” is replaced on Quickness with “Instrumental” which seems to be the same track minus the lyrics. Favorite song: “Voyage of Infinity” – its main melodic guitar line is the exact same as “Intro” from I Against I which had me at first confused and then delighted that the thrilling and thundering riff is expanded to full realization. I also love the opener “Soul Craft,” the quick-change of brutality and impossible to mellow on “The Messengers” and the reggae groove of “The Prophet’s Eye.”