Family Man Songs Ranked
Family Man is the third full-length studio album by the American hardcore punk band Black Flag. Released in 1984 through SST Records, it features spoken word tracks by vocalist Henry Rollins and jazz-indebted instrumental tracks. It is also the first album to feature bassist Kira Roessler. “Armageddon Man” is the only track on the album in which Rollins and the instruments are together. The album, along with Jello Biafra’s recordings with Dead Kennedys, is credited for introducing “alternative” spoken word to a larger audience. The album features one LP side of spoken word performances from Henry Rollins and another of instrumental music from the Black Flag lineup of guitarist Greg Ginn, bassist Kira Roessler and drummer Bill Stevenson. AllMusic’s Pemberton Roach, who described the record as Black Flag’s most “experimental”, compared the spoken word material to Jim Morrison’s works on live The Doors releases. AllAboutJazz’s Trevor Maclaren stated: “It opens three points of interest: Rollins as the Beat Poet—sort of—the stoned dirge influence of Black Sabbath, and the instrumental jazz driven metal/punk that Ginn would utilize after dissolving Black Flag.” Maclaren also added: “The distorted guitars and atonal feedback of players like Sonny Sharrock and James Blood Ulmer reign supreme in a sludgy Black Sabbath riff.” Here are all of Family Man songs ranked.
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11. The Pups Are Doggin’ It
“This tends to alienate many Black Flag fans. What I love about their post-Damaged albums is it seems like at this point they are reluctantly going against the “rules” that started to appear in punk/hardcore. My War expanded on the sludge metal-ish sound that had an undertone on Damaged, to the chagrin of BF purists.”
10. I Won’t Stick Any of You Unless and Until I Can Stick All of You!
“Roessler and Stevenson are an incredibly tight rhythm section who both sound incredibly solid and still manage to shine as individuals. All three members really shine on the track “I Won’t Stick Any of You Unless and Until I Can Stick All of You!.””
9. Armageddon Man
“The high point of the record is “Armageddon Man,” which combines Rollins spoken word with a Ginn instrumental, clocking in at over 9 minutes. Ginn is a mad man on the fretboard and the kira/bill stevenson rhythmn section keeps the whole thing cohesive, while still keeping it interesting. “
See more: Black Flag Albums Ranked
8. Shed Reading (Rattus Norvegicus)
“Possibly the most unexpected and bizarre album I’ve ever heard. Sure, I’ve heard weirder things (e.g. the jazz/noise/grindcore blend of Naked City), but this album is probably the biggest difference between “what I expect from a band” and “what that band did”. Sure, most bands evolve and they change their sound but this is like going from black to white.”
7. Hollywood Diary
“The jazz-punk experiments of the instrumental side go further into the realm of inaccessibility but they also are great. Kira, Bill Stevenson and particularly Greg Ginn are all on top form here. .”
6. Account for What?
“Black Flag in my opinion was as punk as any band would ever get. Who else in the 1984 hardcore scene, would put out an album, with half spoken word and half instrumental tracks? Its truly inspirational. This is proof that Black Flag made music only for themselves and nobody else.”
See more: Black Flag Songs Ranked
5. Long Lost Dog of It
“After the throwaway warm-up track “Long Lost Dog of It,” Black Flag’s instrumentalists really get into a strong groove, especially the dynamic Greg Ginn, easily one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time.”
4. No Deposit – No Return
“I don’t know why people don’t like this album that much. It’s not a traditional album but then again Black Flag wasn’t a traditional hardcore band and it’s albums like this that demonstrate this for the better.”
3. Let Your Fingers Do the Walking
“Rather than depictions of beautiful scenery and eloquent metaphor, Rollins opts for dark imagery that occasionally verges on urban surrealism. “Let Your Fingers Do the Walking” is an incredibly intense reading that really stands out to me.”
2. Salt on a Slug
“Greg Ginn is a fantastic guitarist who really defines the band and it’s sound. However, bassist Kira Roessler and drummer Bill Stevenson also do some absolutely fantastic work on the record. Stevenson may be a familiar name to some punk fans, as he was also the drummer for the incredibly talented Descendents.”
1. Family Man
“Family Man is certainly an interesting album. Black Flag are legends due to their aggressive sound, which was in large part due to the vocals of Henry Rollins. For Rollins to step away from vocals to read some of his poetry and leave the rest of the album as instrumentals was a bold move that many hated. I, however, quite liked it.”
