Fear of a Punk Planet is the third album by the southern California punk rock band The Vandals, originally released in 1990 by Triple X Records. It was their first album to include the lineup of Dave Quackenbush, Warren Fitzgerald, Joe Escalante and Josh Freese, solidifying the band's roster after several years of fluctuation. This lineup would remain intact for the rest of the band's career, and for this reason Fear of a Punk Planet is considered by many fans to be the first proper album by the "new" Vandals. The album returned the band to their punk rock sound, after having played mostly in a country style on their previous album Slippery When Ill. The band would stick to a punk rock formula throughout the rest of their career. The album's title called to mind the rap album Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy, released that same year. It featured guest appearances by Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa, Scott Thunes and Kelsey Grammer. An independent music video was filmed for the album's first track, "Pizza Tran."

Fear of a Punk Planet
Studio album by
Released1990
Recorded1990
StudioParamount in Hollywood, California and Master Control in Burbank, California
GenrePunk rock,[1] comedy rock
Length32:38
LabelTriple X
ProducerBob Casale
The Vandals chronology
Peace Thru Vandalism / When in Rome Do as The Vandals
(1989)
Fear of a Punk Planet
(1990)
Sweatin' to the Oldies: The Vandals Live
(1994)

The album was re-released with bonus tracks in 2000 by the band's own label Kung Fu Records in order to celebrate its tenth anniversary.

All Music Guide published a mostly positive review by Victor W. Valdivia, who commented "Even if the constant juvenile humor grates after a while, the Vandals are still more composed and entertaining than most."[2]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic      [1]
Ox-FanzineFavorable[3]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Pizza Tran"Joe Escalante, Warren Fitzgerald, Dave Quackenbush, Josh Freese2:29
2."The Rodge"Escalante, Fitzgerald, Quackenbush4:06
3."Join Us for Pong"Escalante, Fitzgerald2:45
4."Hey Holmes!"Escalante, Fitzgerald, Chris Lagerborg2:45
5."Girls Turn 18 Every Day"Escalante, Fitzgerald, Quackenbush, Freese2:47
6."Kill My Tenant"Escalante, Quackenbush2:24
7."Summer Lovin'" (Grease parody)Escalante, Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey2:45
8."The Day Farrah Fawcett Died"Escalante2:23
9."Anti"Fitzgerald, Quackenbush2:04
10."Teenage Idol" (originally performed by Ricky Nelson)Jack Lewis1:47
11."Small Wonder"Escalante, Fitzgerald, Quackenbush4:35
12."Phone Machine"Escalante, Fitzgerald, Quackenbush1:42
Total length:32:38
Anniversary Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Shi'ite Punk" (from Slippery When Ill)Quackenbush, Jan Nils Ackermann 
14."China Town"  
15."Working for the Man"  
16."Kokomo" (originally performed by The Beach Boys)Mike Love, Scott McKenzie, Terry Melcher, John Phillips 
Total length:43:33

Personnel

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Album information

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  • Record label:
  • Recorded at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California and Master Control in Burbank, California
  • Mixed by Gary McGachan and Andrew Ballard at Master Control Assistants.
  • Produced by Bob Casale
  • Art direction:
    • original release: Steve Martinez
    • re-release: Sergie
  • Cover art by Rudolph Schwarzkogler, courtesy of the Gallery Krinzinger in Vienna
  • Photographs by Mollye Moore, assisted by Elena Ray and Melody
  • All songs published by Puppety Frenchman publishing SESAC except "Teenage Idol" by Nelson Music ASCAP, "Summer Lovin'" by Edwin H. Morris Music ASCAP, and "Kokomo" by Buena Vista Music Co., Clairaudient Music Corp., Daywin Music Inc. & Spirit One Music.

References

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  1. ^ a b link
  2. ^ Fear of a Punk Planet - The Vandals | AllMusic
  3. ^ Hiller, Joachim (June–August 2000). "Reviews: Vandals / Fear of a Punk Planet". Ox-Fanzine (in German). Retrieved May 26, 2019.