Artist: MURPHY’S LAW
Album: BACK WITH A BONG! RE-ISSUE (CD)

Release date: 1989/ 2014
Media type: CD

Back With A Bong is the third album from New York hardcore punk band, Murphy's Law. It was released in 1989 on Profile Records and subsequently re-released on Another Planet Records in 1994 with the previous self-titled album on the same disc.

It came three years after the previous album and the band had undergone somewhat of a transformation with Jimmy Gestapo the only remaining member. Alex Morris had been replaced on guitar by Todd Youth – previously of fellow New York hardcore bands, Agnostic Front and Warzone, and later of Danzig. Chuck Valle replaced Pete Martinez on bass, and Doug E. Beans took over drumming duties from Petey Hines.

They followed this album with 1991's Best Of Times, 1993's Good For Now, and 1996's Dedicated – so called because Chuck Valle was killed in 1994.

Although the band had entered the limelight a bit more since their self-titled 1986 album, the music was still noticeably hardcore punk. Far from taking in influences from the crossover thrash scene, they instead opted for introducing more eclectic sounds such as ska and brass instruments.

The opening track, "Intro", leaves any listener who may have feared that they had "gone metal" with no doubt as to where their intentions still lie. However, it is not long until the first sign of brass is encountered, second track – and unanimous live favorite – "Panty Raid", in fact.

Most of the songs do follow the same formula – a slow build up to a fast-paced, admittedly thrash-type, climax – but the interjection of ska and brass, in "Ska Song" and the album's closer "Bong", help to break it up. However, these elements are never overdone and are used very sparingly.

In spite of the formula, the songs do not all sound the same and there were a lot of live favorites to come from this album because of the mosh parts enclosed. "Panty Raid" (complete with brass section), "Quest For Herb", and "America Rules" being notable examples.

Lyrically, the band was the same as ever – more like Boston's Gang Green than their NYHC peers – beer, drugs, and partying again the order of the day.

All songs written by J Drescher, C Valle, T Schofield, and D Thompson.
Recorded at Dreamland Recording Studio and Chung King "House of Metal", New York, U.S.
Produced by Murphy's Law.

TRACKLIST:

1."Intro" – 1:42
2."Panty Raid" – 2:57
3."Yahoo!" – 1:46
4."Attack of the Killer Beers" – 2:40
5."Cavity Creeps" – 1:25
6."Ska Song" – 2:20
7."Quest for Herb" – 2:38
8."America Rules" – 1:31
9."Rage" – 2:04
10."Wall of Death" – 1:43
11."Secret Agent S.K.I.N." – 2:02
12."Push Comes to Shove" – 2:03
13."Bong" – 4:33
14.”Panty Raid” (bonus track) - 2:57

LINE-UP:

Jimmy "Gestapo" Drescher – vocals
Todd "Youth" Schofield – guitar
Chuck Valle – bass
Doug "E. Beans" Thompson – drums

Horns – courtesy of Columbia Records – arranged and played by
Angelo Moore
Christopher Dowd
Walter Kirby III

Narration of "Secret Agent S.K.I.N." by Frenchie