This five song EP, in classic punk fashion, clocks in at just under eight minutes, but we all know it's quality, not quantity, that counts. These tracks, culled from two different shows, reflect GI's hardcore heyday in 1982-83. The recordings are good for early hardcore live material and the band is clearly in fine form at both shows. While this is not a substitute for the old Mystic Records'Government Issue Live, it does feature a few unique moments that make it a worthy companion. "Notch to My Crotch" finds John Stabb waxing not-so-eloquent with some rather crass improvised additional lyrics. Along with the appearance of the rare "Snubbing," there's material here that you just won't get elsewhere, but the EP's best offering is the wild, cacophonous version of "Sheer Terror" that hints at the more experimental GI that was still a few years away at that point. The Punk Remains the Same is certainly an essential for serious GI fans, but also has a lot to offer anyone who wants to experience why GI is still considered a great punk band by those who know.
This five song EP, in classic punk fashion, clocks in at just under eight minutes, but we all know it's quality, not quantity, that counts. These tracks, culled from two different shows, reflect GI's hardcore heyday in 1982-83. The recordings are good for early hardcore live material and the band is clearly in fine form at both shows. While this is not a substitute for the old Mystic Records'Government Issue Live, it does feature a few unique moments that make it a worthy companion. "Notch to My Crotch" finds John Stabb waxing not-so-eloquent with some rather crass improvised additional lyrics. Along with the appearance of the rare "Snubbing," there's material here that you just won't get elsewhere, but the EP's best offering is the wild, cacophonous version of "Sheer Terror" that hints at the more experimental GI that was still a few years away at that point. The Punk Remains the Same is certainly an essential for serious GI fans, but also has a lot to offer anyone who wants to experience why GI is still considered a great punk band by those who know.
