Double Nickels on the Dime

I think I’d heard of the Minutemen before, but I can’t remember any of their songs. That doesn’t really mean anything, though, because the songs on *Double Nickels On The Dime* are practically unrecognizable. Wikipedia classifies this album as hardcore punk, and if that’s supposed to mean it’s mostly disjointed strumming, then that’s accurate. Yet the album is actually well-produced, and the exceptionally clear sound really precludes any punk associations. The musicians also know their craft, and the singer is really good—no, this isn’t a punk band, but professionals who simply want to sound weird. They achieve this by playing every part completely at random, making it seem almost improvised. If you were to bring together ambitious country musicians and simply dictate the tempo and key to them, the result might sound quite similar.
Interesting, but I don’t really need it.

4 stars if this was shorter

I just thought it was uninteresting and samey.

Funky punk. Quality stuff. I'd love to be in this band

A life-changing album. Along with Wire's Pink Flag, this was the first album that opened up my mind about what punk could be. When I was in high school, this was not an easy record to find, and it felt like my friends and I stumbled across something obscure, sacred, and truly counter-cultural. Everything about the Minutemen -- their musical radicalism, their personal ethos, their politics, their affability, their realness -- is exactly what I love about punk. I've since seen Watt play a handful of times, including a Missingmen show about 15 years ago where I got to meet him and speak with him briefly. The dude is the real deal. I did the fan thing -- I told him how much I love and appreciate his music -- and he immediately started recommending other bands I should listen to. "Oh, if you like the Minutemen you really should listen to the Pop Group and Captain Beefheart. Me and D Boon loved those guys. That stuff's really out there." It just seemed so humble and genuine, and to me it affirmed these guys were real, no bullshit, working-class artists who loved and cared about their craft with no pretense whatsoever; in this day and age, this kind of authenticity is almost impossible to come by.

I'm not sure how I had missed this excellent album before now, but I'm glad to know it now. I knew a few songs on it without realizing they were all from this band. The obvious example is Corona, which will be familiar to Jackass fans. Hearing an album like this for the first time is exactly the reason I'm doing this list. Great stuff.

Personally, I think that album was much longer than it was worth, and not part really stood out much other than those jackass notes. 2/5

Would this be a spiritual successor to Wire’s Pink Flag. Mike Watt’s bass here is the standout, but the rest of the group also has their moments to shine. Just excellent from front to back. No song outstays its welcome, but none really feel cut off or too short. Just jam packed with great ideas.

There’s a lot going on here, maybe too much. 𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘕𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘮𝘦 moves quickly from one short track to the next, but over time it starts to feel a bit overwhelming. The variety is there, but it doesn’t always translate into something memorable. It ends up feeling longer than it is, and it doesn’t really hold my attention all the way through.

Arguably the coolest and most talented punk band ever. They was weird, and did their own thing, which was completely awesome. Great musicians. Tons of energy. Creative and unique compositions. Seamless fusions of different styles. D. Boon, you will always be missed!

Can't believe I waited so long to listen to this

Double Nickels on the Dime beeindruckt vor allem als Ideenexplosion: kurze, kantige Songs, politischer Biss, Humor, Spielfreude. Gleichzeitig merke ich aber, dass mich die Überlänge und die vielen Mini‑Skizzen emotional nicht durchgehend mitnehmen. Vieles wirkt eher wie Notizen eines genialen Bandsprints als wie Songs, die sich wirklich festsetzen.

NOTE: Listening and rating to this on Apr 21 2026. Now for review.

An incredibly funky post-punk album at places, but still with plenty of variety and other influences. Just recently discovered this band so happy I already heard this greate LP before, so this gives me more experience with it, rated 4.5 on RYM and strong 4 stars here. If they got all the best songs and squeezed downed the playtime it might have been even more.

Das crazy

Is this the best band we have never listened to before? Probably. Minutemen are punk royalty, but hard to have accessed outside of that world. With musical chops to convincingly switch between diverse styles from track to track, their tight instrumentals, especially the funky bass runs, and playful but connected lyrics unfurl with a skill that leaves me wanting more. This seminal album kept my feet moving while surprising my ears with each new track. It was great listen.

some good stuff on here, but damn was it long. I did enjoy a lot of it but i think ill have to come back to this one to actually appreciate much of it

3

Класика, маю на вінілі.

Quirky, lyrically comical at times, and always frenetic. I really enjoyed this one. Favorite track: Corona

There are a whole lot of ideas on here, but almost none of them stick. It's one of those albums I should like based on my tastes but never really clicked with. The shorter songs don't have any reoccuring hooks and don't really do anything. After Corona the album kind of improves and gets some more fun riffs and basslines in. Has some nice parts but not one I'd relisten often.

I think I might be a serious punk fan without even knowing or realizing it—these songs really made me feel something. I loved listening to this album, and I'm somewhat surprised to realize that this isn't the first punk album on this list that appeals to me and that I'd give a 5!

Because, in fact, IMHO, it doesn't deserve anything less than that ;-)