Track Listing

1. Forming
2. Sex Boy
3. Lexicon Devil
4. Circle One
5. No God
6. What We Do Is Secret
7. Communist Eyes
8. Land Of Treason
9. Richie Dagger's Crime
10. Strange Notes
11. American Leather
12. Lexicon Devil
13. Manimal
14. Our Way
15. We Must Bleed
16. Media Blitz
17. Other Newest One
18. Let's Pretend
19. Dragon Lady
20. Slave
21. Shut Down (Annihilation Man)
22. Caught In My Eye
23. Round And Round
24. My Tunnel
25. Throw It Away
26. Now I Hear Laughter
27. Going Down
28. Lions Share
29. Forming 2

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83815 in Music
• Released on: 2004-06-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Original recording reissued, Import
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

From Amazon.com
Formed in 1977, these angry, snotty-boy punks came on like an L.A. version of the Sex Pistols: sneering, shouting, and provoking violence wherever they performed. Leader Darby Crash was genuinely threatening as he railed against the society that had spawned him. Unfortunately, Crash's dark and destructive side would eventually consume him. A mere three years after the band's first gig--and in fitting tribute to his hero and role model, Sid Vicious--Crash died of a drug overdose. This anthology documents the Germs' short but furious reign as the kings of L.A. punk sleaze, from their ascension to their eventual decay. It also manages to break through the myths surrounding the band that often overshadow its legitimate contributions to the L.A. hardcore scene. --Mike Corrigan

CD Description
It's a shame that the Germs are better known for their trashy, charismatic singer Darby Crash's demise than for their music, because M.I.A.: THE COMPLETE ANTHOLOGY proves that they were easily one of the best bands on the LA punk scene in the late 1970s. (According to legend, Crash's fatal overdosewasn't an accident, but a deliberate homage to his idol, Sid Vicious, in an attempt for gruesome rock & roll immortality. Unfortunately, John Lennon was murdered around the same time, and Crash's death never made a blip on the media radar.)
The aptly named collection begins with the astonishingly primitive, yet bizarrely compelling and genuinely hilarious, first single "Forming" (a later re-recording with X drummer D.J. Bonebrake closes the set). M.I.A. also includes the entirety of the chaotic, furious WHAT WE DO IS SECRET release and the streamlined, Joan Jett-produced GI album, plus sixpreviously unreleased songs recorded for a film soundtrack shortly before Crash's death. This 30-track compilation traces the too-brief career of a group that had perhaps more untapped potential than any other American punk band of their time.

Customer Reviews

A raw, energetic anthology from the original L.A. hardcore.
"Mia", by The Germs, is the complete anthology of
energy-charged rawness that sparked off the hardcore punk scene in L.A.

From the very first two tracks, "Forming" and "Sex Boy" (their first single), one can imagine how this raw sound that relied more on attitude and spirit than musical ability, influenced a genre. Darby Crash spews out his charging cry "I the Emperor proclaim, Us the masters we rule the game, Inclination-somethin' to dream on, Deprivation-We are the sons."

Other highlights include "The Slave" and "Media Blitz", inspired lyrics that are spat at you along with the rasping energy of Pat Smear's (one time Foo Fighter guitarist) guitar work. Other fine tunes include the stomping grind that is "Manimal" and "Shut Down (Annihilation Man)".

Cited as a major influence of artists such as John Frusciante & Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), The Germs stood in the ranks of The American Punk Hardcore, alongside the legendary "Black Flag" and the "Circle Jerks" (check out "The Decline of the Western Civilisation"). This album, "Mia", is complete from the days of tearing up infamous venues like the "Orpheum", "The Roxy" and "The Whiskey a-Go-Go" to the final demise and death of frontman, Darby Crash. An essential addition to the listener who seriously wants to explore and experience the raw, powerful sound of the once vital American Hardcore.

Truly Inspiring
It may be a little bit of a liberty to describe this band as the best-ever but that's not to say that this CD is complete studio works of a truly great band.
The CD starts with the ultimate lo-fi debut single "Forming", a great song despite (or perhaps because of) the very basic recording quality. It sets the scene for this incredible collection and the amount of times it's been covered or ripped off is a testament to its quality. The b-side "Sex Boy" is a very interesting song but this time the recording quality is a HUGE let down. The next three tracks (the Lexicon Devil ep) are amongst the best matching great songwriting, fantastic performances and great recording quality. The GI lp is up next and almost as good, it's standout tracks being "What We Do Is Secret" "Media Blitz" "Rickie Dagger's Crime" and "We Must Bleed". The remainder of the tracks were intended for inclusion in the soundtrack for "Cruising" but only one was used. This is a great shame as although there is a slight drop in recording quality the songwriting only gets sharper and more interesting.
All in all this album is a must have for any true fan of punk (hardcore or otherwise). The Germs may not have had opportunites, playing ability, commercial appeal or mental health of the other classic punk bands but could still make amazing records. Buy this and try to avoid the Germicide lp, unless you want to here the reason why this band is criticised so much!