Nervebreakers
Hijack the Radio! (Get Hip)
Reviewed by Michael Toland, Fri., Sept. 7, 2012
Nervebreakers
Hijack the Radio! (Get Hip)When the story of Texas punk is told, Nervebreakers often get overlooked. A shame, that, since the Dallas-based band predates more (in)famous Lone Star bashers the Dicks and Big Boys. Like the Ramones, Nervebreakers are punk by association – the quintet's stripped-down rock & roll ethos was informed more by garage Nuggets than the British hordes coming up at the same time. Hijack the Radio! collects various studio sessions, singles, and compilation tracks predating 1980's We Want Everything LP, including a couple of tunes from 1975 (instrumental "Missa Moses" and the psychedelic "See Me Thru"). Early takes on the classic "My Girlfriend Is a Rock" and loopy Troggs cover "Strange Movies" pop up alongside cracking tunes such as the angst-ridden "My Life is Ruined," epic rocker "Beyond the Borderline," and the sneering title track, which appears twice. (The opening single edit bests the closing demo.) Texas punk history is thus enriched, while, more importantly, plenty of ass is kicked.
