What makes The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins by The 4-Skins notable?

The album is notable for its role in popularizing the Oi! genre, characterized by its working-class themes and punk influences. It reached an audience that resonated with its messages during a tumultuous period in Britain, solidifying The 4-Skins' place within the punk rock scene and influencing subsequent bands within the genre. Released in 1982, The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins marked The 4-Skins' debut album, establishing them as key figures in the Oi! movement. This album followed their formation in 1979 and came at a time when they were gaining recognition for their hard-hitting sound and socio-political commentary.

How many songs are on The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins?

The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins has 20 tracks, running approximately 57 minutes.

The Good, The Bad & The 4-Skins

The 4-Skins · 1982

57 min · 20 tracks · punk rock

Raucous anthems blend streetwise lyrics with raw energy, embodying the gritty spirit of early '80s British punk culture.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Plastic Gangsters — This opening track sets a defiant tone, critiquing the superficiality of street culture and establishing the band's aggressive yet melodic style.
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A.C.A.B. — A powerful anthem reflecting anti-establishment sentiments that became emblematic of the Oi! movement, it captures the band's confrontational spirit.
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Yesterdays Heroes — The song serves as a poignant reflection on lost ideals and nostalgia, showcasing lyrical depth amid the energetic instrumentation typical of their sound.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

38 /100

Lowland

Higher than 0% of albums we've rated

The album captures the essence of early '80s punk with its energetic delivery and working-class themes.

What we noticed

The first six tracks maintain a high-energy tempo with aggressive guitar riffs and shouted vocals, establishing a raw punk sound.
Several tracks feature call-and-response vocal patterns, engaging listeners and creating anthemic moments.
The album includes live recordings that shift the energy and atmosphere, contrasting with the studio tracks.

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

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 Plastic Gangsters 3:27
2 Jealousy 1:56
3 Yesterdays Heroes 3:08
4 Justice 2:31
5 Jack the Lad 3:32
6 Remembrance Day 3:13
7 Manifesto 2:50
8 Wonderful World (live) 1:47
9 1984 (live) 2:33
10 Sorry (live) 3:22
11 Evil (live) 2:26
12 I Don't Wanna Die (live) 3:20
13 A.C.A.B. (live) 1:49
14 Chaos (live) 3:16
15 One Law for Them 2:42
16 Low Life 3:06
17 Bread or Blood 2:50
18 Get Out of My Life 2:05
19 Seems to Me 3:18
20 Norman 4:33

What to play next

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oi!

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata