''VI'' is the fifth studio album by American

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

band

Circle Jerks Circle Jerks (stylized as Ciʀcle JƎʀᴋs) are an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. The group was founded by former Black Flag vocalist Keith Morris and Redd Kross guitarist Greg Hetson. To date, Circle ...

, released in 1987 by

Relativity Records Relativity Records was an American record label founded by Barry Kobrin at the site of his company, Important Record Distributors (IRD) in metro New York. Relativity released music that covers a wide variety of musical genres. When it entered in ...

. Taking into account the Circle Jerks' contribution to the documentary and soundtrack ''

The Decline of Western Civilization ''The Decline of Western Civilization'' is a 1981 American documentary filmed through 1979 and 1980. The movie is about the Los Angeles punk rock scene and was directed by Penelope Spheeris. In 1981, the LAPD Chief of Police Daryl Gates wrote a ...

'', ''VI'' is the band's sixth major body of work. It was the band's last album before its five-year hiatus from 1989 to 1994. This album's lineup later reunited in 1995 to record its final studio album to date, ''

Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities ''Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities'' is the sixth studio album by American hardcore punk band Circle Jerks, released June 20, 1995 by Mercury Records. It is the band's last studio album to date. ''Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities' ...

''.

Background

Fortunate Son "Fortunate Son" is a song by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival released on their fourth studio album, ''Willy and the Poor Boys'' in November 1969. It was previously released as a single, together with "Down on the Corner", in ...

" is a

Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Clearwater Revival, also referred to as Creedence and CCR, was an American rock band formed in El Cerrito, California. The band initially consisted of lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and primary songwriter John Fogerty; his brother, ...

cover.

Track listing

# "Beat Me Senseless" (

Greg Hetson Greg Hetson (born June 29, 1961) is an American guitarist. He was born in Brooklyn, New York and has lived in the Los Angeles area since he was 2 years old. Active since 1979, Hetson is best known as the guitarist for the influential hardcore pu ...

, Keith Clark,

Keith Morris Keith Morris (born September 18, 1955) is an American singer and songwriter known for his role as frontman of the hardcore punk bands Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Off!. Born and raised in Hermosa Beach, California, he formed Black Flag at the ...

) – 1:57 # "Patty's Killing Mel" (

Zander Schloss Zander Schloss (born August 7, 1961) is an American musician, actor and composer. He is known as bass player for the Circle Jerks, the Weirdos, his many collaborations with Joe Strummer musically and in film and for his contributions to indepe ...

) – 2:05 # "Casualty Vampire" (Hetson, Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 2:36 # "Tell Me Why" (Hetson, Morris, Schloss) – 3:18 # "Protection" (Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 1:45 # "I'm Alive" (Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 2:37 # "Status Clinger" (Clark, Schloss) – 2:43 # "Living" (Darren Lipscomb, Clark, Schloss) – 2:29 # "American Way" (Clark, Schloss) – 1:44 # "

" (

John Fogerty John Cameron Fogerty (born May 28, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. Together with Doug Clifford, Stu Cook, and his brother Tom Fogerty Thomas Richard Fogerty (November 9, 1941 – September 6, 1990) was an American mu ...

) – 2:02 # "Love Kills" (Clark, Morris, Schloss) – 2:33 # "All Wound Up" (Hetson, Morris, Schloss) – 1:32 # "I Don't" (Hetson, Schloss) – 2:00

Release and reception

In an ''

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

'' review, David Cleary says "This strong album is one of the band's best. Tempos here are slowed down from that of standard hardcore; as a result, the songs here inhabit the uneasy netherworld between punk and heavy metal traversed most successfully by the Stooges and the Dictators. Only Keith Morris' raspy, growling vocals retain the band's tie with classic hardcore. Songwriting is still inconsistent, but there are a surprisingly large number of strong selections here, and all are performed with fiery energy. Highlights include "Casualty Vampire," "I Don't," and the top-notch "Beat Me Senseless." There's also a rushed and raw cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival chestnut "Fortunate Son." This platter is well worth hearing.".

Personnel

- vocals *

- guitar *

- bass * Keith Clark - drums *Karat Faye - production, engineering *Eddy Schreyer - mastering *

Edward J. Repka Edward J. Repka (born October 22, 1960) is an American graphic artist, best known for creating album covers for heavy metal music, metal bands as well as shirt designs, including those featuring Megadeth's mascot Vic Rattlehead. Repka's portfolio ...

- design *Mark Weinberg - art direction *Gary Leonard - photography

References

{{Authority control 1987 albums Circle Jerks albums Albums with cover art by Ed Repka Combat Records albums