N.O.T.A.’s self-titled eponymous album is a politically driven hardcore punk rock album similar to NOFX - War On Errorism. This album will remind you of what NOFX was like back in the early 2000s. A twist of political punk rock is one way to describe this album. The EP is nothing short of compelling meaning it’s worth listening to and worth writing home about.
Overall the N.O.T.A. album is one of the most hard criminally underrated albums punk rock has to offer. You can feel the angst and frustration in their lyrics. N.O.T.A. wrote intelligent lyrics and had real soul in their songs. This Tulsa, Oklahoma rock band never fails to disappoint. N.O.T.A. is None of the Above.
This album was released in 1985 on vinyl by the infamous Rabid Cat Records label based out of Austin, Texas. All of the songs on this N.O.T.A. were recorded and mixed at Cedar Creek Studio in Austin, Texas. Songs for this album were written in the timespan from 1979 to 1985. However a majority of the songs for this album were written during the 1980s.
The song Ultra Violent has that hardcore punk rock, wreckless wild child type of vibe. Quite similar to the Dead Kennedys and Henry Rollins.
Tension builds up inside the club as people are going out for a night of fun. The night turns ultra violent as a fight breaks out. Ass kicking begins. This means cops are out for a night of fun too. Police might just shut the place down. So you know police will use brutality tactics to shut down the club and get people arrested. So here comes police brutality.
The song Takin’ Away Your Rights is short song about how taking away rights is part of the government’s plan. This song is especially relevant in todays political climate and social climate. Governments across the globe have been taking more rights away from their citizens. All this does is hurt people and inflicts more potential damage.
Taking away your rights is all part of the master plan to condition you into live in a police state so the government can have full control of your life. The lyrics “It’s part of the plan/To condition you” and “Takin’ away your rights/It’s part of the plan/The master plan” highlight evidence of taking away rights.
On The Pavement is a song about police brutality and corruption. This song is still relevant today especially in todays political climate and social climate.
The song takes place during morning time. Overnight a police officer took another person’s life. Violence on the streets is to and so is unlawful power behind a badge and a gun. Unlawful power behind a badge and a gun is exactly what happened last night.
Here are some lyrics highlight how police use military tactics to arrest people and get them to comply. Read the following lyrics.:
Military tactics judge and jury badge
Shot him in the back they killed him when he ran
When they say stop you better do what they say
Save them time when you’re blown away
These lyrics highlight how police use military tactics to arrest people and get them to comply. If they do not follow into compliance, police will often use a gun to kill them or seriously injure them. Using a gun is part of the military tactics police often use for compliance.
Police Front deals with how police will make criminals out of people who are not a threat to them. This can happen to anyone. It can happen to you.
Imagine yourself in this scenario. You’re hanging out in front of the club with your friends. You’re not hurting anyone. But here come the cops. You gotta run! Police front. They write their reports. They love it when you resist. This just gives them an excuse to use their guns. Police know you’re not a criminal but they want to make you one. Police making criminals out of people who are not a threat to them is a more subtle form of police brutality.
Below is an example of how police make criminals out of people who are not a threat. Unfortunately this happens too often.
Gary was a man who was just clowning around throwing cans. He was not really a threat to anyone. A cop who was passing by decided to make a criminal out of Gary by taking him downtown on a ride to the police station. He went to the police station for questioning and was jailed.
Redneck Mentality is almost similar to Dead Kennedys - Nazi Punk Fuck Off!. The song deals with the conservative redneck mentality. The punk rock scene has gone to shit thanks to them in the eye of N.O.T.A. though.
Obviously the band was very much into left-wing politics when they wrote this song because they do not side with the right-wing rednecks who very much cater into right-wing politics.
Sick Society deals with how people close their eyes to the truth are sick. People close their eyes to the truth can’t see what they’ve done as they live in the past. Those people have money and security. They don’t have to face their own insecurities often.
N.O.T.A. calls out the people who close their eyes to the truth for polluting the Earth. They clearly don’t care if the water and air are poisoned. Pollution kills the Earth. Nuclear waste is what kills the Earth as well. Often times society is sick. Overall society is sick.
Nightstick Justice deals with the grim realities of police brutality. The song is similar to songs Police Front and On The Pavement.
You can feel the angst and frustration in their lyrics on the song Frustration. You know you’ve hit rock bottom when you have no job. The frustration shows when you’ve got no money or hope.
I rate this album 5/5*****!!
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