Let's Wreck the Party
| Let's Wreck the Party | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1985 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock, hard rock | |||
| Label | Alternative Tentacles | |||
| Producer | Brian MacLeod | |||
| D.O.A. chronology | ||||
| ||||
Let's Wreck the Party is an album by the Canadian band D.O.A., released in 1985.[1][2] It was first released by Alternative Tentacles, in the United States, in order to beat to market a demo tape that had been obtained by another label.[3] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[4] Frontman Joe Keithley rerecorded "Dangerman" for his 2007 album, Band of Rebels.[5] Let's Wreck the Party was reissued in 2010.[6]
Production
The album was produced by Brian MacLeod.[7] D.O.A. chose to incorporate elements of hard rock in order to broaden their sound and reach a larger audience; they also thought that hardcore punk had lost its political purpose and was no longer attracting new listeners.[8][9] Keithley was open to changing the band's sound but not the content of its lyrics.[10] He considered D.O.A. to be "satirical, spiritual altruists", not scolds or evangelists.[11] The title track refers to both party crashing and disrupting the conservatism of the 1980s; it has also been interpreted as mocking straight edge.[8][12] "Singin' in the Rain" is a cover of the popular standard. "Dance o' Death" was inspired by a revival meeting attended by Keithley.[10] "Race Riot" and "General Strike" appeared on the band's John Peel EP Don't Turn Yer Back, which was recorded in support of miners fighting for better wages and working conditions.[13] "Murder in Hollywood" relates the factual story of a Christian sect murder that occurred in the band's Los Angeles apartment building.[14] "Our World" urges listeners to effect change by starting with their local communities.[15] "Trial by Media" is dedicated to Gerry Hannah, a member of Subhumans who was convicted of crimes related to anarchist activities.[16]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [17] |
| Alternative Rock | 7/10[18] |
| Robert Christgau | B−[19] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [20] |
| The Great Indie Discography | 7/10[21] |
The Morning Call concluded that "D.O.A. is trying to accomplish what has been tried but never quite achieved: a workable, commercial synthesis of punk's rhythms and social consciousness and hard rock's popular stylings."[8] The Oregonian said that "several of the tunes feature chord changes indistinguishable from common heavy metal."[22] Robert Christgau noted "the slightly Britified metal-mania so many professional punks drift into".[19] The Palm Beach Post praised the "sharp insights ... disguised as get-down, party music."[23] Maximum Rocknroll admired the "much more powerful sound".[24]
AllMusic opined that "it's real good in places, though your tolerance for AOR radio rock, even the good kind, might be limited".[17] The Trouser Press Record Guide called Let's Wreck the Party "a cutting and witty record".[13] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music labeled it "a definitive, hard-rocking, intelligent punk record."[20]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Our World" | |
| 2. | "Dangerman" | |
| 3. | "Race Riot" | |
| 4. | "Singin' in the Rain" | |
| 5. | "Dance o' Death" | |
| 6. | "General Strike" | |
| 7. | "Let's Wreck the Party" | |
| 8. | "Shout Out" | |
| 9. | "Murder in Hollywood" | |
| 10. | "The Warrior Ain't No More" | |
| 11. | "No Way Out" | |
| 12. | "Trial by Media" |
References
- ^ The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. 2003. p. 300.
- ^ Freedman, Donna (April 18, 1985). "Hippies si, Yuppies no, says hybrid punk band, D.O.A.". p. F15.
- ^ Mackie, John (April 12, 1985). "DOA about to hit it big". The Vancouver Sun. p. C6.
- ^ Sullivan, Jim (July 6, 1985). "Coming: Big Black and D.O.A.". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 26.
- ^ Parry, Malcolm (May 17, 2007). "Joe Keithley's D.O.A. band...". The Vancouver Sun. p. C2.
- ^ Harrison, Tom (April 6, 2010). "DOA reissues 1985 album". The Province. p. B4.
- ^ Murray, Tom (January 15, 2015). "True Canadian icons: Two acts bring back '80s in Saturday night concerts". Edmonton Journal. p. C1.
- ^ a b c Righi, Len (July 5, 1985). "Canadian Band D.O.A. Alive and Kicking". The Morning Call. p. D3.
- ^ Lacey, Liam (November 29, 1985). "Riff Rap: Accolades show DOA is alive and well". The Globe and Mail. p. D9.
- ^ a b Gluckman, Ron (April 18, 1985). "Canadian band aims at wider audience". Anchorage Times. p. D9.
- ^ Schroeter, Edward (August 1, 1985). "Music madness hits Regina". The Leader-Post. p. B2.
- ^ Blush, Steven (2001). American Hardcore: A Tribal History. Feral House. p. 28.
- ^ a b Robbins, Ira A., ed. (1991). The Trouser Press Record Guide (4th ed.). Collier Books. p. 196.
- ^ Mackie, John (June 1, 1985). "DOA loud and clear". The Vancouver Sun. p. E4.
- ^ Bunch, Jeff (June 7, 1985). "Virgin territory". Weekend. The Spokesman-Review. p. 4.
- ^ Cross, Charles R. (December 1985). "D.O.A. is the Ultimate Canadian Band". The Rocket. No. 75. p. 29.
- ^ a b "Let's Wreck the Party Review by Jack Rabid". AllMusic. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ Thompson, Dave (2000). Alternative Rock. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 742.
- ^ a b "D.O.A." Robert Christgau. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ a b Larkin, Colin (1998). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. II. MUZE. p. 1565.
- ^ Strong, Martin C. (2003). The Great Indie Discography. Canongate. p. 56.
- ^ Mitchell, Rick (May 13, 1985). "Canadian band mixes politics, punk". The Oregonian. p. C6.
- ^ Presnell, Jim (July 26, 1985). "D.O.A. wrecks party". TGIF. The Palm Beach Post. p. 30.
- ^ "Record Reviews". Maximum Rocknroll (25): 66. May–June 1985.