Dead Kennedys - Bedtime For Democracy (1986) [Original + SHM-CD Remaster] RESTORED

Bedtime for Democracy is the fourth album released by Dead Kennedys. Songs on this album cover such common punk subjects as conformity, Reaganomics, the military, and even criticizing aspects of their own punk movement. The title of the album is a reference to the 1951 comedy film, Bedtime for Bonzo starring Ronald Reagan.

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Dead Kennedys - Bedtime For Democracy (1986) [Original + SHM-CD Remaster] RESTORED

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The Dead Kennedys go out in a blaze of snarling, defiant glory in their final studio release. They drub a bushel basket's worth of entrenched interests, including scientists, the military, the power hungry, macho attitudes, classicism, lie detectors, Reagan and his economic policies, the press, the entertainment industry, and the commercialization of rock and revolutionary attitudes. The album's manic speed punk style recalls In God We Trust Inc., particularly on the frenetic cover of Johnny Paycheck's hit "Take This Job and Shove It". When the tempo slows, a few songs resemble frantic rockabilly; of these, "Hop With the Jetset" lampoons the privileged classes, "I Spy" savages government agents, and "Where Do Ya Draw the Line" is a plea in favor of anarchy. The quiet, furtive "D.M.S.O." is a highly atypical number strongly resembling the theme to The Pink Panther. The lengthy, anthemic "Cesspools in Eden" is a hard rock number with unusual chord changes and lyrics railing against toxic waste; similarly, "Chickenshit Conformist" alternates slow and hyperfast sections and sports wide-ranging verses that constitute a scathing indictment of the rock music industry. As usual, the rushed hardcore numbers often garble or swallow up the well-written lyrics (if you want people to follow you into revolution, your ideas need to be intelligible). The album cover sports witheringly disparaging artwork; also included in this release are two muckraking newspapers, one containing clip art, and the other written articles about the obscenity trial embroiling the band at that point. While it's not totally successful, at least the Dead Kennedys had the satisfaction of going out on their own terms. It's all well worth hearing.

~ David Cleary, all media guide

Tracklist:

01. Take This Job And Shove It
02. Hop With The Jet Set
03. Dear Abby
04. Rambozo The Clown
05. Fleshdunce
06. Great Wall
07. Shrink
08. Triumph Of The Swill
09. Macho Insecurity
10. I Spy
11. Cesspools In Eden
12. One-Way Ticket To Pluto
13. Do The Slag
14. A Commercial
15. Gone With My Wind
16. Anarchy For Sale
17. Chickenshit Conformist
18. Where Do Ya Draw The Line
19. Potshot Heard 'Round The World
20. D.M.S.O.
21. Lie Detector



Produced by Jello Biafra. Engineered by John Cuniberti
Mixed by Jello Biafra & John Cuniberti
Recorded at City Sound Recording and Hyde St. Studios, April & July 1986.

• Jello Biafra - lead vocals
• East Bay Ray - guitar
• Klaus Flouride - bass, backing vocals
• D.H. Peligro - drums, backing vocals

Original Release Date: November 1986
These versions Re-Released: January 1993 / August 2008
Format: Original Recording Reissued / Original Recording Remastered
Label: Alternative Tentacles / Imperial Records (Japan)
Catalog No.: VIRUS 50CD / TECI-26496