THE PROLETARIAT - "Soma Holiday" (Non-U/Radiobeat)

The hardcore debut of 1983 doesn’t sound very hardcore, which may not bode well for the movement-this is like a more rigorous, less cosmic PIL. There’s a touch too much Geddy Lee in Richard Brown’s vocals, but he sure doesn’t think Geddy lee-avoiding tantrum and who-am-I?, these spare slogans are underpinned by actual left theory, though not much practice. Entire lyric: "Lined from/Stretch for blocks/City blocks/Many wait/Benefits/stigmatized/Sit and wait/Benefits/Bread." B+

- Robert Christgau, Christgau Consumer Guide, May 1984