Consumer Guide Album

The Future Looks Bright [Posh Boy, 1981]
A much more impressive L.A. sampler than Slash's Decline of Western Civilization, this compiles 25 titles from 10 hardcore bands, all of whom manage to add an extra pinch of meaning or quantum of rush to the basic yowl. Faves: the Minutemen, named for their preferred song length and given to unpunky little guitar squiggles; the Descendents 11-second "Der Weinerschnitzel" (how's that again?); Social Distortion's "Playpen"; and of course Black Flag. List Price $5.98. B+