Off!: The First Four EPs (Vice Records/2010)

Off! is a Los Angeles hardcore punk rock supergroup. Formed by Keith Morris of Black Flag and Circle Jerks and Steve McDonald of Redd Kross, Mario Rubalcaba of Rocket From The Crypt and Dimitri Coats from Burning Brides in 2009. The band recorded and released The First Four Eps 7” box set in 2010 on Vice Records.

The First Four EPs box set contains four 7" EP records, a very nice booklet with artwork from Raymond Pettibon and a download code. Produced by Coates and engineered by McDonald, the release is sixteen songs in just eighteen minutes. The package itself is beautiful. The tracks themselves are uniformly excellent. The music is simultaneously simple yet challenging. It's simply a must-have release for fans of classic punk rock.

Very most highly recommended. 

Here's the video review:

Off! : Live At Generation Records (Vice Records/2011)

Off! Is something of Los Angeles hardcore punk rock supergroup. Formed by Keith Morris of Black Flag and Circle Jerks and Steve McDonald of Redd Kross, Mario Rubalcaba of Rocket From The Crypt and Dimitri Coats from Burning Brides in 2009. The band quickly recorded and released The First Four Eps 7” box set in 2010 on Vice (Magazine) Records. The band is amazingly effective and and direct and have a refreshingly raw sound. Considering the bands' ages, they could come across really ineffective. Thankfully, that's not the case.

On October 22 in 2010 the band played a free show at Generation Records in New York. I attended the show and it was pretty awesome. Vice Records recorded the show and released the four-song Live At Generation Records 7”the following year on Record Store Day 2011. It's a well-performed, well-recorded affair. And it only hints at the loud greatness that was the show. The band sonically resemble early Black Flag, which shouldn't suprise anyone considering Morris was Black Flag's first ever vocalist.

Highly recommended for the punk rock set.

Here's the video review: