AMG Review of War on 45

Ned Raggett
All Music Guide

Working throughout with Thom Wilson on this eight-song effort War on 45, D.O.A. turned in a tightly wound, perfect blast of punk angst and anger. Wilson's usual economy and focused studio work matched with the quick, snarling anthems of defiance right on down the line. Songs like "Liar for Hire" and "American the Beautiful" smoke with the usual D.O.A. level of energy, with Wilson making it all even more tough, jumping right out of the speakers. Besides the band's originals, a variety of covers are essayed, with rather differing results. The Dils' own noted rip into the system "Class War" gets a perfectly understandable cover here, while Edwin Starr's soul classic "War" is treated in ways that Bruce Springsteen wishes he could pull off. As for the great "Let's Dance," originally by Chris Montez and later revamped by the Ramones, the fact it's retitled "Let's Fuck" tends to say it all. LA punk cartoonist Shawn Kerri tops it all off with a hilarious cover.