What makes New Hope for the Wretched by Plasmatics notable?

The album is significant for its unapologetic exploration of themes like rebellion and consumerism, which resonated within the burgeoning punk scene. It contributed to the band's rise in notoriety, leading to a controversial appearance on The Tom Snyder Show that cemented their reputation for challenging societal norms. Released in January 1980, New Hope for the Wretched was the Plasmatics' debut studio album, establishing them as a provocative force in punk rock. At this point, the band had garnered attention through their outrageous live performances and had begun to push the boundaries of punk aesthetics and lyrical content.

How many songs are on New Hope for the Wretched?

New Hope for the Wretched has 19 tracks, running approximately 58 minutes.

New Hope for the Wretched

Plasmatics · 1980

58 min · 19 tracks · punk rock

Raw punk energy collides with sardonic wit, delivering a ferocious critique of societal norms and consumer culture.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Monkey Suit — This track epitomizes the band's biting satire, using sharp lyrics to critique conformity while its driving rhythm encapsulates the raw spirit of punk rock.
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Butcher Baby — With its juxtaposition of playful melodies and unsettling themes, this song showcases the band's ability to blend humor with horror, making it a standout in their catalog.
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Corruption — The aggressive instrumentation paired with socially charged lyrics reflects the band's fierce anti-establishment stance and resonates deeply with the punk ethos.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

42 /100

Lowland

Higher than 1% of albums we've rated

The album's raw energy and critique of consumerism mark it as a notable entry in punk rock, despite some unevenness in execution.

What we noticed

The first six tracks maintain a relentless tempo, with aggressive guitar riffs and shouted vocals that create an urgent atmosphere.
Several tracks feature abrupt transitions, such as 'Concrete Shoes' leading directly into 'Squirm', which heightens the sense of chaos.
The album includes live versions of three songs interspersed among studio tracks, adding a raw energy that contrasts with the polished sound of the others.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 5/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Tight Black Pants 1:47
2 Monkey Suit 3:27
3 Living Dead 1:38
4 Test Tube Babies 1:55
5 Won't You 2:30
6 Concrete Shoes 2:57
7 Squirm (live) 3:29
8 Want You Baby 1:57
9 Dream Lover 5:44
10 Sometimes I 4:00
11 Corruption 2:41
12 Butcher Baby 3:34
13 Sometimes I (live) 3:50
14 Living Dead (live) 3:49
15 Tight Black Pants (live) 1:54
16 Butcher Baby (live) 3:31
17 Corruption (live) 6:14
18 You Think You're Comin' 1:50
19 Fast Food Service 1:33

What to play next

Listen next

Beyond the Valley of 1984

1981

Go back to

Meet the Plasmatics

1979

Full Plasmatics discography Artists like Plasmatics

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata