Black Flag – In My Head SST 045 (1985)
A couple good ones here, “In My Head,” “Drinking and Driving.” Nothing is bad, exactly, but there is a claustrophobic effect to this one, like Greg Ginn letting perfectionism and micromanagement run amuck. Rollins is so far down in the mix his presence seems only grudgingly permitted. The drums are still all done up with a gated reverb effect that seems overused. This is hard rock but it is recorded in a way that sounds almost hollow. It’s not the band’s best, and probably closer to their least, but I’ll still take it.