They could be compared to The Ramones, minus a few brain cells, with a British
touch most apparent in singer Leonard Graves Phillips’ snarly tone, and also
the band’s poppy side, reminiscent of bands like The Jam and Buzzcocks. On top
of that, it was a gig by first generation British punks The Damned that
inspired The Dickies to form, and after a lot of touring Sparks manager John
Hewlett decided to produce the band’s debut album, which is often still
regarded as the pinnacle of their birthday party inanity.
The band's reputation may also have something to do with their legendary covers, as their takes on Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”, P.F. Sloan’s “Eve of Destruction” (Barry McGuire anyone?), and The Monkees’ “She” are all performed at the same insane breakneck speed, while Phillips’ stuffed up nose and helium-powered delivery will have you wondering whether you just bought yourself a 78rpm record.
So even though The Dickies never did away with the pop elements in their music, their ferocious attack sometimes resembles the single-minded fury of hardcore punk, lending them a unique American/British appeal.
As for the rest of the album, the comic book simplicity, B-movie camp, and delightful humour never lets up ... these are songs about getting bullied on the way to school (“Give It Back”), meeting the garbage man, cable guy or elevator operator (“Shadow Man”), and the downside of staying in a madhouse. Some of the songs come off as a bit too fluffy (“Mental Ward”, “Walk Like An Egg”), but they’re hard to resist, and remind you it’s okay to act silly once in a while.
The band's reputation may also have something to do with their legendary covers, as their takes on Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid”, P.F. Sloan’s “Eve of Destruction” (Barry McGuire anyone?), and The Monkees’ “She” are all performed at the same insane breakneck speed, while Phillips’ stuffed up nose and helium-powered delivery will have you wondering whether you just bought yourself a 78rpm record.
So even though The Dickies never did away with the pop elements in their music, their ferocious attack sometimes resembles the single-minded fury of hardcore punk, lending them a unique American/British appeal.
As for the rest of the album, the comic book simplicity, B-movie camp, and delightful humour never lets up ... these are songs about getting bullied on the way to school (“Give It Back”), meeting the garbage man, cable guy or elevator operator (“Shadow Man”), and the downside of staying in a madhouse. Some of the songs come off as a bit too fluffy (“Mental Ward”, “Walk Like An Egg”), but they’re hard to resist, and remind you it’s okay to act silly once in a while.