The Dictators GO GIRL CRAZY

Before Mohawks, safety pins, and Doc Martens became the most prevalent signifiers of punk rock, New York City's the Dictators were positing an entirely different take on the concept. Sure, fuzzed-out glam guitars, primal drumming, and attitude-laced vocals made up the essential musical blueprint, but, for the Dictators, comic books, pro wrestling, pizza, and fast cars (and girls) held considerably more sway over their warped minds than anarchy, politics, and rioting in the streets. Led by Afroed frontman Handsome Dick Manitoba, the Dictators (who also featured, at various points, NYC punk legend Andy Shernoff) represented a considerably simpler version of punk rock--one that, although at the time was seen as the music of degenerate youth, in retrospect is far more charming than threatening. GO GIRL CRAZY is the essence of what punk was originally supposed to be about: a return to rock & roll's roots in good old-fashioned fun.

• Format: CD