'Damaged' is the debut studio album by American hardcore punk legends Black Flag, released in November 1981 by SST Records.
Perhaps the best album to emerge from the quagmire that was early-'80s California hardcore punk, the visceral, intensely physical presence of 'Damaged' has yet to be equalled, although many bands have tried. Although Black Flag had been recording for three years prior to this release, the fact that Henry Rollins was now their vocalist made all the difference. His furious bellow and barely contained ferocity was the missing piece the band needed to become great. Also, guitarist/mastermind Greg Ginn wrote a slew of great songs for this record that, while suffused with the usual punk conceits (alienation, boredom, disenfranchisement), were capable of making one laugh out loud, especially the protoslacker satire 'TV Party'. Extremely controversial when it was released, 'Damaged' endured the slings and arrows of outrageous criticism (some reacted as though this record alone would cause the fall of America's youth) to become and remain an important document of its time. It has since been recognized as a classic and one of the most influential punk records ever made.
Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. Rise Above
2. Spray Paint
3. Six Pack
4. What I See
5. TV Party
6. Thirsty and Miserable
7. Police Story
8. Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie
Side B
9. Depression
10. Room 13
11. Damaged II
12. No More
13. Padded Cell
14. Life of Pain
15. Damaged I
