Quickness

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Quickness is the fourth album by the American band Bad Brains and at the time became their best-selling record. It came after I Against I from 1986, on which reggae had almost disappeared. Here that style returns, alongside funk, hip hop, heavy metal and punk. This produced a crossover that has later also been called one of the first groove metal albums. According to guitarist Dr. Know, the title comes from urgency and speed.

Opener Soul Craft was given an MTV video, directed by Paul Rachman. Drummer Earl Hudson appears on the sleeve but does not play on the record: the drum parts come from Mackie Jayson of the Cro-Mags. Don't Blow Bubbles caused a stir because the lyrics were seen as homophobic. Bassist Darryl Jenifer later called the views he held then ignorant. Critics were divided: one expected more fame, another thought the band was losing its own identity.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Soul Craft3:08Apple Music ↗
2. 2Voyage Into Infinity3:14Apple Music ↗
3. 3The Messengers2:18Apple Music ↗
4. 4With the Quickness2:46Apple Music ↗
5. 5Gene Machine/Don't Bother Me2:00Apple Music ↗
6. 6Don't Blow Bubbles3:03Apple Music ↗
7. 7Sheba2:52Apple Music ↗
8. 8Yout' Juice3:00Apple Music ↗
9. 9No Conditions2:23Apple Music ↗
10. 10Silent Tears2:50Apple Music ↗
11. 11The Prophet's Eye4:25Apple Music ↗
12. 12Entro0:53Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗