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.

***.5

This article appears in September 7 • 2012.

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Michael Toland started writing about music in 1988 on the Gulf Coast, moved to Austin in early 1991, and has inflicted bylines upon the corporeal and digital pages of Pop Culture Press, The Big Takeover, Blurt, Amplifier, Austin.citysearch, the Austin American Statesman, Goldmine, Sleazegrinder, Rock & Roll Globe, High Bias, FHT Music Notes, and, since 2011, The Austin Chronicle.