Poison Idea

Thirty years ago seems like the span of time we should be using to refer to the days of the Beatles or Pink Floyd or some sort of nostalgia period from our parents' generation. Instead, it's the precise number of years since Poison Idea released their Darby Crash Rides Again demo in 1982. In this new (or not so new any more) century, bands like Poison Idea, Black Flag and Minor Threat are now archives of another era. Since it's been three decades or more since most of these acts formed and almost as long since they broke up, reissues like Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years are relics of a period when DIY meant sewing things onto jackets, piercing body parts by yourself in a basement and using actual glue to make the spikes in your hair stand straight up, instead of the "mouse-click to buy or like" culture that captures the spirit of DIY today. Southern Lord will be re-releasing a number of Poison Idea albums throughout 2012, beginning with the glorious compilation that is Darby Crash Rides Again: The Early Years. At 29 tracks, this disc includes the Darby Crash Rides Again demo and a boatload of other demo, live and miscellaneous material. With recordings that have either been buried for three decades or never saw the light of day in the first place, this is an absolute treasure. It also sounds fantastic, completely remastered. Whether you're a fan or just want an illuminating glimpse into another period in hardcore/punk history, this is essential listening.