Description
Rikk Agnew – All By Myself – Colored Vinyl Record
Released in 1982, All By Myself is the debut solo album from Rikk Agnew, a key figure in the early Southern California punk scene. Best known for his work as the guitarist for bands like Adolescents, Christian Death, and D.I., Agnew crafted this album as a deeply personal and ambitious project, playing every instrument himself, from guitars and bass to drums and vocals. The result is a raw, energetic, and stylistically diverse album that merges the aggression of hardcore punk, the melody of power pop, and the dark atmospheres of gothic rock. Though it was not a major commercial success at the time, All By Myself has since gained cult status, appreciated for both its innovative songwriting and its unfiltered look at the mind of one of punk’s most creative musicians.
The album came at a pivotal moment in Agnew’s career. After leaving Adolescents, where he had helped define the band’s fast-paced yet melodic punk sound, he found himself wanting to explore music beyond the constraints of a traditional punk band. In All By Myself, he took full creative control, writing and recording all the tracks alone, which was almost unheard of in punk at the time. The album reflects his wide-ranging influences, shifting between hard-hitting hardcore punk, catchy punk rock anthems, and moody, post-punk-infused compositions that foreshadowed his later work with Christian Death. The raw, unpolished production adds to its DIY punk charm, making it feel like a direct transmission from Agnew’s restless mind to the listener.
One of the standout tracks is “O.C. Life,” a biting critique of suburban complacency and materialism in Orange County, California, where Agnew grew up. With its driving, anthemic punk energy and sarcastic lyrics, the song became one of his most well-known compositions and was later covered by his band D.I. The track captures the frustration of being stuck in a superficial, artificial world, a theme that resonates deeply with the disaffected youth of the time. On the opposite end of the spectrum, “Falling Out” slows things down and leans into a more melancholic, almost new wave sound, showing Agnew’s ability to craft something beyond the breakneck speed of hardcore.
Other highlights include “10,” a furious blast of classic hardcore punk energy, clocking in at just over a minute, and “Everyday,” a song that hints at Agnew’s later gothic and post-punk influences with its melodic structure and introspective lyrics. “Section 8” dives deeper into darker, brooding territory, driven by a hypnotic bassline and ominous atmosphere, which would later be a defining feature of Christian Death’s seminal goth album Only Theatre of Pain (1982), an album Agnew played a crucial role in shaping. Another track, “It’s Doing Something,” brings back the skate-punk urgency of Agnew’s Adolescents days, blending fast, punchy guitars with socially aware lyrics.
At the time of its release, All By Myself was somewhat overlooked, possibly because it didn’t fit neatly into the typical hardcore punk mold. However, over the decades, it has been recognized as an important and influential record, not just for punk but for alternative and gothic rock as well. It stands as a testament to Agnew’s multi-instrumental talent, songwriting ability, and willingness to push the boundaries of what punk could be. Many of its tracks have since been covered or reinterpreted by later punk bands, proving the album’s lasting legacy.
For fans of Adolescents, The Damned, early Misfits, and Christian Death, All By Myself is an essential listen. It captures an artist at a creative crossroads, blending the raw energy of punk with a more melodic, introspective approach. Its influence can be heard in later generations of punk, post-punk, and even alternative rock bands, who have drawn from its mix of urgency, melody, and emotional depth. Rikk Agnew would go on to play pivotal roles in multiple bands, but All By Myself remains a singular, deeply personal statement, showcasing the full breadth of his artistic vision.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
OC Life
10
Yur 2 Late
Everyday
One Shot
Falling Out
Surfside
It’s Doing Something
Fast
Section 8
