The Vandals — When in Rome Do as The Vandals

The Vandals -- When in Rome Do as The Vandals

• Artist: The Vandals
• Title: When in Rome Do as The Vandals
• Year: 1984
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 4
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: When? “I think someone gave it to me.”
• Keeper: No

Uh, well, more old school comedy punk from The Vandals. When in Rome Do as The Vandals came out in 1984 and it wasn’t exactly old school then, but it sounded more like early punk instead of hardcore, which had already been around for a while. The first song “Ladykiller” is an anomaly. That ditty sounds more like a bad, comic version of the early Red Hot Chili Peppers. It was probably fun then.

The Vandals — Peace Through Vandalism

The Vandals -- Peace Through Vandalism

• Artist: The Vandals
• Title: Peace Through Vandalism
• Year: 1981
• Format: Vinyl 12 in.
• Rating (1-10): 6
• Owner: Mary
• Acquired: 1981 – Olsson’s in Georgetown, DC.
• Keeper: Yes

And the alphabetizing never ends. This should have been after Van Halen, but it’s the record du jour because I already took the pic. It’s only an EP, but there’s more Vandals where this came from. Or, more accurately, behind the Van Halen records.

This is classic, but lyrically pointless party punk. Nothing groundbreaking but it is fun. I felt like stage diving off the dining table, but no one would catch me. Chicken fight! Due to the random, and frequent expletives Mary and I ended up doing a lot of spontaneous coughing or singing since the kids were listening too.

Turn the front side of the album cover upside down and you get the anarchy “A.” They’re soooo punk! And they even went to play for the troops in Iraq. I’m opposed to the war, but playing for the troops is cool.

Etched in the vinyl margins:

• “GAY RODEO”
• “NORDIC CONQUEST”

No idea. “I want to be a cowboy…”