Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow (When I Can't Even Smile Today)
1988 Epic
by Horatio

Quick Summary:
Some of you may recall the review of this on the old KITF .  Due to popular demand (mine) and the albums rudeness factor being intolerably high, I am forced to add it to the current version of KITF.  This album saw ST shifting in a more thrash based direction after starting out in the early 80's with a hardcore/punk direction with an emphasis on skateboarding.  Seeing the success of the thrash movement no doubt influenced Mike Muir to take a stab and try his luck, but that's not the story here.  This album's selling point is the glorification and imagery of the late 80's LA gangbanging scene popularized by crap like 'Colors'.  In this regard 'How Will I Laugh' stands alone as a testament to an unfortunately long gone era.

I could write about the various classics contained within such as 'Trip At The Brain', 'Pledge Your Allegiance', the title track, 'Suicyco Mania' and 'The Feelings Back' but that's for the song descriptions.  For it is the album's photo work which must be dissected.  The cover features the band in front of a temple with their staunchest stares, actually the least funny of the pictures.  Turn directly to the back cover and witness the shame.  Mike Muir, shirtless, with a pair of dress pants, bandana on head, complete with kung fu shoes.  To his left is Mike Clark in traditional Latino gang attire, right arm obscured in his shirt in a vintage gang symbol (kung fu's also).  Notice the top button done on the flannel shirt.  Next to him is the disgrace known as Bob Heathcote, leg bent, head raised, his stare as threatening as a disabled retard named Aaron Shaw.  Obligatory high cut trainers.  Herrera looks to be faking his tough man pose, while George is probably baking in his black pants and shirt in the LA sun.  The inside photos are just as good, and combined it makes for one of the best things I've ever seen.  They nearly topped this in 1993 with their 'Still Cyco After All These Years' with a photo of some dude getting punched from behind at a dangerous looking gig full of gang members.  This is more than an album of music.  It defines a generation and an era etched into my consciousness that is sorely missed.  All that's missing are some Oakland Raiders jackets.

Website:  www.suicidaltendencies.com

Song Summaries:

1. Trip At The Brain - Muir's lyrics were always self defeating, 'crashed into a concrete wall of my mistakes, ended up in a cemetery of a thousand wasted days, but that's alright with me, cause' that's where most of my memories lay'.  Superb writing that Kerry King's doing his best to better.  Sub thrash with a great passage at the 2.32 juncture.  A
2. Hearing Voices - Muir tries to rationalize his schizophrenia.  Quite melodic with some maverick riffing from the lethal tandem of George and Clark.  B
3. Pledge Your Allegiance - Here the visions of an old style gang initiation are evoked, as some youth is beaten as his life spirals downwards by joining Las Chicos.  This is the ST gang, though.  Once you're in there's no way out.  You leave and you die!  'Cause I'm down O.G.' I 'd like to know if Muir was ever in a gang.  An eternal anthem, nothing can top the persistent 'S.T.!' chants.  A+
4. How Will I Laugh Tomorrow - More self pity from Muir, but hey we've all been there.  Haven't we?  'The clock keeps ticking, but nothing ever seems to change, problems never solved, just rearranged, and when I think about all the times that I've had, so few good- so many bad'.  Essential.  'Find no hope in nothing new- never had a dream come true.'  Takes a leap into thrash after the classic line 'you think something's funny? Laugh at this!'  This was taken to heart by disillusioned Latino youth who adopted ST as their own.  A+
5. The Miracle - Things aren't so bad after all.  Wicked thrasher in the late 80's style that beats Megadeth hands down in 1988.  And Anthrax for that.  ST's whole package was superior that year.  Anthrax's guise on 'State Of Euphoria' was arguably worse, the whole skate shorts image gone to far.  And Benante's hair.  Mike Clark would have had them running scared.  B+
6. Suicyco Mania - The pinnacle of ST thrash years, a mighty slab of titanic-sized riffing and speed which has dated well.  True, on the level headbanging material which I assume incited a mosh pit or two.  No lyrics included, but this time the music's the main attraction.  A+
7. Surf And Slam - Taking their rep as the premier LA image stylists even further, the band pay homage to the Venice Beach surf scene in updated Beach Boy's style, with jangly guitar work.  These guys embraced that whole lifestyle, surfing, skateboarding, drive by shootings.  Rumour has it Bob Heathcote was murdered in late 1991 by one Liam Roche in a bungled carjacking, which saw Heathcote shot in the head.  B
8. If I Don't Wake Up - The album falls away somewhat musically from here on in, but not lyrically.  'Why should I wake up in the morning- it be just another wasted day'.  Take that Bumkowski.  But Muir wont give up so easily. 'I'm gonna wake up in the morning- I'm gonna blaze a brand new trail.'  Take these inspirational words and run with them!  B
9. Sorry?! - That's a song title worth a thousand words itself.  Can't you just picture Muir saying that to someone?  Perhaps the most melodic moment of the album, crossing back to a hardcore/thrash mixture.  Fine guitar solo, with a ton of emotion from Rocky.  B+
10. One Too Many Times - Overly wordy, more self deprecating lyrics, only the music is too dreary to make me care.  C
11. The Feelings Back - That could be the best title I've ever seen.  The music's not shabby either, a hyped up thrasher.  Mike explains how the feeling is indeed back, the feeling that he's going to win.  'I'll never quit, not even on my dying day.'  As a footnote to the lyrics there's an unassociated line that reads 'If you're not now, you never were'.  What's that then?  A gang member?  A 

Average Song Rating:  A-
Overall Album Rating:  A+