Description
Minutemen – The Politics Of Time – Vinyl Record
Released in April 1984, The Politics of Time is an unconventional album from Minutemen, the legendary California punk trio known for their rapid-fire songs, politically charged lyrics, and genre-bending approach. Rather than a traditional studio album, The Politics of Time is a compilation of outtakes, live recordings, and early demos, giving fans an unfiltered glimpse into the band’s DIY ethos and raw creative energy.
The Minutemen were an influential American punk rock band formed in the late 1970s, known for their unique blend of punk, funk, and jazz influences. They released several albums during their active years, including Double Nickels on the Dime, What Makes a Man Start Fires?, and Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat.
This album was put out by New Alliance Records, the independent label co-founded by Minutemen’s bassist Mike Watt and Black Flag’s Greg Ginn, reinforcing the band’s anti-commercial, underground spirit. The Politics of Time captures the rough, unpolished side of Minutemen, making it a fascinating listen for fans of punk minimalism and experimental post-hardcore.
Like much of Minutemen’s work, The Politics of Time is rooted in punk rock but refuses to stay confined to the genre’s traditional limits. The album features short, punchy songs, often under two minutes. Raw, lo-fi production, reflecting the band’s DIY recording methods. Jazz, funk, and spoken-word influences, setting them apart from typical hardcore punk. Politically charged, abstract lyrics, tackling war, capitalism, social issues, and personal identity.
The album’s structure is chaotic and fragmented, jumping between early demos, rough studio recordings, and live tracks, reinforcing the unpredictable and experimental nature of the Minutemen.
A song that reflects the band’s optimistic, self-sufficient approach to making music, celebrating the freedom of creativity without commercial influence.
The Politics of Time was never intended to be a commercial hit—Minutemen existed in the underground, far removed from mainstream success. Critics and fans appreciated the album for its raw, unfiltered glimpse into the band’s early days, but it remains one of their lesser-known releases compared to Double Nickels on the Dime (1984) or What Makes a Man Start Fires? (1983).
However, for die-hard Minutemen fans and punk historians, this album serves as an essential document of the DIY punk ethos, showing how the band operated with complete independence and creative freedom.
Though The Politics of Time may not be as widely celebrated as Minutemen’s studio albums, it captures the raw spirit of a band that redefined punk rock. It represents the DIY ethics of the 1980s hardcore scene, inspiring future bands to self-produce and distribute their own music. A mix of punk, jazz, and experimental rock, influencing bands like Fugazi, Sonic Youth, and Red Hot Chili Peppers. A snapshot of Minutemen’s early development, showing how they evolved into one of punk’s most innovative groups.
Minutemen’s Mike Watt, D. Boon, and George Hurley were never interested in following punk formulas—they tore them apart and built something uniquely their own.
The Politics of Time is not for casual listeners—it’s a raw, chaotic collection of demos, live recordings, and rough ideas that showcase Minutemen at their most unfiltered. But for those who appreciate punk in its purest DIY form, this album is a fascinating glimpse into the band’s early years, capturing the energy and unpredictability that made Minutemen one of the most important underground bands of the 1980s.
If you’re new to Minutemen, you might want to start with Double Nickels on the Dime for a more polished introduction. But if you love lo-fi punk history, anti-commercial defiance, and genre-blurring experimentation, The Politics of Time is a must-listen.
SST Records
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Base King
Working Men Are Pissed
I Shook Hands
Below The Belt
Shit You Hear At Parties
The Big Lounge Scene
Maternal Rite
Tune For Wind God
Party With Me Punker
The Process
Joy Jam
Tony Gets Wasted In Pedro
Swing To The Right
¡Raza Si!
Times
Badges
Fodder
Futurism Restated
Hollering
Suburban Dialectic
Contained
On Trial
Spraycan Wars
My Part
Fanatics
Ack Ack Ack Ack
The Big Blast For Youth
