Description

Crass were an English art collective and punk rock band formed in 1977 who promoted anarchism as a political ideology, a way of life and a resistance movement. Crass popularised the anarcho-punk movement of the punk subculture, advocating direct action, animal rights, feminism, anti-fascism, and environmentalism. The band used and advocated a DIY ethic approach to its albums, sound collages, leaflets, and films.

Painstakingly remastered and redesigned over recent years by Penny Rimbaud and Gee Vaucher, the Crassical Collections are a radical reappraisal of the Crass catalogue. The message remains the same, but with new visuals, improved sound and the added clarity of hindsight.

Crass as it was in the beginning, but with all the power of now.

Penis Envy, number three in the revisited double CD Crassical Collection is a double CD presentation containing the 2009 remastered original Crass album on CD1 and, on CD2, additional related tracks mastered in 2018 at Abbey Road Studios and largely featuring Eve Libertine in a variety of guises, plus a fold-out poster of the original cover and an illustrated booklet containing lyrics and contextual notes.

There is also the added bonus of creating an enlarged Crass logo when owning the complete set.

‘Crass have done it in the ultimate way, haven’t they? Self-sufficiency. I’m surprised they don’t make their own guitar strings. I always thought it was self-defeating, cos you’ve got to be heard. Y’see, the thing with Crass is, ultimately, it’s all self-defeating, cos it’s all kosher. No one gets to hear about it. It’s no bloody use is it? It’s a storm in a teacup. Title of their next album, “Storm in a teacup.”’ – Joe Strummer

‘Utterly inspiring and hugely influential, Crass conveyed more bile, disdain, hatred and utter contempt for society/system/injustice than has ever been set to vinyl then or since. They were the Dada Movement reborn.’ – Paul Raggity, Rock Sound, 2003

‘There’s a strong argument for the two most influential punk bands of all time being the Sex Pistols and Crass; the former encouraged bored teenagers everywhere to get off their arses and start their own bands, the latter encouraged them to get off their arses and
think for themselves.’ – Ian Glasper, Record Collector, 2004

Tracklist:

CD1:

CD2: