It's 1982 and the band Bad Brains have already been playing on the road for three years, getting "unofficially banned" from Washington D.C. clubs (hence the song title 'Banned in D.C.') and generally sticking their flag in what was the relatively unchartered territory we now know and love as hardcore punk. Cue the long-awaited debut album, self-titled of course, released on cassette only (long before that was a sign of retro-loving hipsters), and destined to soundtrack many a night at the legendary CBGBs. Often referred to as The Yellow Tape, Bad Brains is Bad Brains at their rawest and least apologetic. Their first release that was longer than a single, it's at once a throwback to the formative years of both band and (sub)genre, and also a great example of how little things date when they are genuinely honest.