Minutemen- The Politics Of Time LP

The Politics of Time is the first compilation album by American hardcore punk band Minutemen, released in 1984 through New Alliance Records.ppppp Released in between their Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat 12-inch EP and Double Nickels on the Dime double album on their own New Alliance Records label, the album compiles seven tracks meant for a non-SST Minutemen studio album that never materialized, a variety of live tracks of varying recording quality (most done with ordinary cassette machines), and a recording by their predecessor group The Reactionaries.

Part of the sleeve note on the back cover facetiously asks listeners to "note the quality of the recording" on the live version of "Fanatics" (from The Punch Line). While the recording is an almost undiscernible mess, the cut is apparently included for its historical importance as according to Henry Rollins in his book Get In The Van, on this night at the end of the song, D. Boon had jumped into the audience with his guitar on, hollering the title word of the song while "knock[ing] those skinheads [in the audience] over like bowling pins".

Also of note is a live recording of "Futurism Restated", which had earlier appeared on the 7-inch EP Bean-Spill. The version that appears on this album contains a full extra verse of lyrics not found in the other version (although the lyrics are almost completely undiscernable and the album lacks a lyric sheet).

The Politics of Time would later end up as a song title on Double Nickels on the Dime.

1. Base King
2. Working Men Are Pissed
3. I Shook Hands
4. Below The Belt
5. Shit You Hear At Parties
6. The Big Lounge Scene
7. Maternal Rite
8. Tune For Wine God
9. Party With Me Punker
10. The Process
11. Joy Jam
12. Tony Gets Wasted In Pedro
13. Swing To The Right
14. Raza Si
15. Times
16. Badges
17. Fodder
18. Futurism Restated
19. Hollering
20. Suburban Dialectic
21. Contained
22. On Trial
23. Spraycan Wars
24. My Part
25. Fanatics
26. Ack Ack Ack
27. The Big Blast For Youth