Big Black's Discography

Lungs - EP (Ruthless)
Released in 1983, this 6-song batch of art-punk noir features Steelworker, - Dead Billy - and Crack. - Obsessive lyrics about murderous laborers, lecherous war vets and other societal rejects fill the gaps between the sparse, grinding music.

Bulldozer - EP (Ruthless-Fever)
1984's effort is more filled out musically, but the parade of losers, racists and inbred freaks rolls right on, in such tunes as Cables, - Texas - and I'm a Mess.

Racer-X - EP (Homestead)
Still raw, but a little less in-your-face, this '84 release continues on with industrial funk, harsh guitars and grating vocals. Includes The Ugly American.

Atomizer - LP (Homestead)
The first full-length effort is a mighty one, featuring some of the best stuff the band produced. Harder, angrier and louder than the early EPs, this '86 punch-in-the-face features Jordan, Minnesota, - Kerosene - and Fists of Love.

Il Duce - 7-inch (Homestead)
Released in 1986, b/w Big Money.

Heartbeat - 7-inch (Touch and Go)
b/w Things To Do Today - and I Can't Believe.

The Hammer Party - LP (Homestead)
Vinyl copies of this 1986 release combine reissues of the first two EPs; CD versions include the third, Racer-X.

Headache - EP (Touch and Go)
Musically weaker than the rest of the band's efforts, this '87 EP features a quick instrumental and two lukewarm tracks with vocals buried so deep you'll need a shovel. The highlight is the solid Ready Men.

Sound of Impact - LP (Walls Have Ears)
A hard-to-find live album from 1987 with no indication on the sleeve that this is a Big Black release.

The Rich Man's Eight-Track Tape - CD (Homestead)
A compilation of Atomizer, - Headache - and the Heartbeat - 45, this 1987 release features typical snide liner notes - from Albini. Example: This compact disc, compiled to exploit those of you gullible enough to own the bastardly first-generation digital home music system, contains all-analog masters.

Songs About Fucking - LP (Touch and Go)
Perhaps the band's best effort, and also its swan song, this 1987 release features some of the heaviest stuff they recorded, featuring more songs about losers, perverts and misanthropes, including Fish Fry, - L Dopa - and covers of Cheap Trick's He's a Whore - and Kraftwerk's The Model.

Pigpile - LP (Touch and Go)
A live recording from the band's last tour, this 1992 release is a fine document of the band's career. A video is also available.