Rating: 
Summary: The Darby Crash Story
Review: This book tries very very hard to be as comprehensive as Legs McNeill's outstanding "Please Kill Me". It even features an endorsement from Legs on it's cover. Unfortunately for all concerned, despite the title being ripped off of a Wierdo's song, the book is really nothing more than the Germs story or "Darby Crash died for your sins".There are so many bands and so many varying types of music that were considered "punk" in the period from 77-82 that Brendan Mullen's focus on just the bands that today would be considered hard core is difficult to understand. Mullen BOOKED most of those bands at clubs ranging from Madame Wong's to Cathay De Grande, yet not a single mention is made of the various different groups & venues. To someone who wasn't there in LA during this period, "We Got the Neutron Bomb" makes it seem like the entire music scene consisted of the Masque & the clubs on the Strip, & the only bands that played were X, the Germs, & the GoGo's. This isn't true. LA's music scene from the late 70's thru the mid 80's was one of the most exciting; certainly it gave other vaunted scenes in London & NY a run for their money. You'd never know it from reading this book. Rockabilly & it's harder edged brother psychobilly (Jimmy & the Mustangs/ Levi Dexter)? Hardly a mention. The more 60's influenced bands such as the Plimsouls & the Twisters? Never existed according to "We Got the Neutron Bomb". An extremely avante gard club space run by a dedicated artist that gave gigs to bands such as the violin/cello punk trio the Hesitations? Nope, never was such a place, implies "We Got the Neutron Bomb". If you just haven't heard enough Darby Crash stories, if the fact that no one EVER liked Belinda Carlisle is fascinating to you, buy this book. If you'd like an actual, factual, overview to the LA scene that spawned some incredible music, unfortunately that book is yet to be written.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is Bomb
Review: This book was one of the great punk rock history books I've ever come across. I'm an avid reader of books that recall scene's and reading it in the way that Spitz and Mullen put it together was simply remarkable. The story flowed so smoothly with people who were actually THERE giving the story. Sure, a couple people weren't involved, but yu know what, the story is STILL told. And told WELL! It's kind of like sitting with a hero and idol for a few hours and hearing them tell a story... and there's nothing, not one thing, that i can find bad about this book. I've send 3 copies out to friends already.
Rating:
Summary: In A Better World
Review: THis book was very well done, but it depressed me to read it. It made me actually consider how some of these people actually lived instead of glorifying their antics. If interested, buy now before it gets discontinued.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: This is a pathetic book. Although the LA punk scene had undeniable impact, and its history was certainly worth writing, this book makes a deservice when it attempts to undermine all the importance of New York's punk scene to overrate LA' scene. It even suggests that the Runaways (who were not even punk) were more important than the Ramones.
Do not waste your time.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent History of L.A. Punk
Review: This is a very informative book. Many, many participants of the scene are heard from, instead of just the usual few. The authors let everyone say their peace - some of those interviewed are insightful, some nasty, others just have fun stories to share. It must have been hard to track everybody down, and the authors should be commended for their effort. If you are curious about the history of L.A. punk, I would recommend Hardcore California and We Got The Neutron Bomb.
Rating:
Summary: Please Don't Kill Me Till It Comes Out In Hardcover!
Review: This is what I've been waiting for as I've been sipping my Chivas, old copies of Legs' tome rotting on my balsa-wood coffee table. I said to myself, L.A. is my lady. Randy Newman loves L.A. That (...) Follies soundtrack (the original l.p., not that Mandy Patinkin (stuff), you young wannabes listen to) lives in L.A. When is the story of L.A. punk gonna get what it deserves? Well, it just got it. It's flaunting it. I want this book to be released in hardcover now so when I box my own ears with it, the hurt will be so good. Andy Gibb, Mad Simon, call me whatever you wanna call me, I know good literature when I smell it, and I have two things to say: (1) Bobby Lemondrops is a genius; (2) This is a fine book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Rating:
Summary: A good read for anyone interested in early LA punk
Review: Well put-together exploration of the often overlooked early LA punk scene. My main critique of this book is it seems to gloss over, if not dismiss, many of the LA "hardcore" punk bands (Black Flag, FEAR, and the Circle Jerks for example) who, along with X, are really responsible for putting LA punk on the map.
The earlier bands seemed to be following the lead of the early UK bands to a certain extent while the later bands are the guys (and gals) who created a sound, scene, and attitude markedly different from what came before.
While it was great to see the Weirdos, the Germs, and the Runaways(!) finally get their due in print (it is the UNTOLD story of LA punk after all) the book dwells a bit too much for my tastes on the dreary, artsy-fart aspects of this early scene.
But what the hell do I know? It's not like I was there.
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