When the four-song vinyl EP
Jealous Again came out in 1980,
Black Flag had yet to provide a full-length LP or hire
Henry Rollins as its vocalist. But even in those pre-
Rollins days,
Black Flag was regarded as one of the most important bands on the Los Angeles punk scene -- and rightly so. In fact, it's safe to say that no 1980 release captures the raw, explosive anger of L.A. punk better than
Jealous Again.
Black Flag's second vocalist,
Ron Reyes (the one who came after
Keith Morris and before
Rollins), has no problem expressing his rage on such in-your-face classics as "No Values," "White Minority," "Revenge," and "You Bet We've Got Something Against You!." In 1980, some fans of corporate rock couldn't begin to understand the appeal of a punk band like
Black Flag and dismissed this EP as unmusical. But to criticize
Jealous Again for its lack of chops or technique completely misses the point: punk wasn't about technique, it was about feeling. Punk was rock & roll stripped down to its rawest, most naked, gut-level emotions. And on this EP, those emotions make for some compelling moments. ~ Alex Henderson
