GOOD FOR YOU – Life Is Too Short To Hold A Grudge

Label: SST Records

Release Date: February 26, 2013

Rating: 7/10

Reviewed by: Mike Hubbard

Having been a big fan of Black Flag, I jumped at the opportunity to review the latest output from Greg Ginn. Greg was the founder, heart, and soul of Black Flag, and although I knew he had continued to be active musically since their break-up in the mid-80’s I had not followed his subsequent work. I knew he had done some experiments in free-form jazz as foreshadowed in efforts such as the instrumental “The Process of Weeding Out,” but I must confess that I had not paid attention. Given that background, I really did not know what to expect from ‘Life Is Too Short Not To Hold a Grudge’ by Good For You.

What I found was a logical extension of Ginn’s work with Black Flag, but with the added perspective of another 30 years of life. The youthful angst of his music from the 80’s was replaced with intense but controlled grown-up anger. Ginn resisted the temptation to show off his technique on guitar and filled the album with riff after riff that would make Tony Iommi proud. Mike Vallely’s vocals fit in perfectly, somewhere between Keith Morris and Henry Rollins, but showing the maturity that only comes with years of experience. I do have to say that I could do without all the cursing, but it is consistent with the tenor of the songs.

“Good For You” IS your father’s punk rock, a little grey on the edges, but still packing the fury that makes punk rock go.

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Category: CD Reviews