The Music Blog of the Infonistacrat!

What can I say about Double Nickles on the Dime that hasn’t already been repeated a million times over in 20+ years since it was released. It’s certainly one of the best albums of the 80’s, in my top five for sure. Maybe as high as number 3 (Sorry, but Gun Club’s Fire of Love is my pick for the best, and Pixies Surfer Rosa is number two). But if Fire of Love was the definitive American post punk album, then Double Nickles on the Dime was the definitive American underground/college rock/indie album.

It’s a huge, 44 song effort that sprawls all over the place. Sometimes it’s punk, sometimes it jazzy, sometimes bluesy, and sometimes, it’s just weird. But it’s always great. I wouldn’t say it’s an easy listen…I think I have rarely sat and listened to it end to end. Usually, I can make it through a quarter at a time, or I just put it on random and let it roll. I’ve picked out 11 tunes as a decent sample of the album…the highlights are two songs I featured here before. History Lesson Part II is just a sweet little tune about their love of music. Corona probably has the most popular opening riff of any song most people have never heard of. All in all, a great collection of great American mid-80’s underground.

1. Minutemen - D’s Car Jam, Anxious Mo-fo
2. Minutemen - Viet Nam
3. Minutemen - Cohesion
4. Minutemen - Toadies
5. Minutemen - The Roar Of The Masses Could Be Farts
6. Minutemen - The Politics of Time
7. Minutemen - There Ain’t Shit On T.V. Tonight
8. Minutemen - Storm In My House
9. Minutemen - Corona
10. Minutemen - History Lesson Part II
11. Minutemen - Love Dance