The Flatliners – “What a Waste”

Hailing from Texas rather than their famous Canadian ska-punk namesakes, this particular iteration of The Flatliners carved out a legacy in the turn-of-the-century American underground with their 2000 full-length studio debut, What a Waste. Released through the independent punk imprint A.D.D. Records, the album stands as a sharp testament to no-frills, driving street punk, heavily characterized by gritty vocals, breakneck tempos, and a completely unpolished production style. The record avoids pretentious posturing, choosing instead to deliver brief, high-energy salvos of socio-political frustration and subcultural pride, as captured on defining tracks like Nihilism in ’99 and We’re Punx. The band’s blistering sonic delivery and anthemic structures pull clear inspiration from the legendary late-’70s UK Oi! and punk templates set by Blitz—whose work they explicitly nod to with an aggressive cover of Razors in the Night—while capturing the urgent, modern US street-punk essence popularized by contemporary torchbearers like The Unseen.

Track Listing:

1. Nihilism In ’99 – 2:26
2. Kill Yourself – 2:00
3. Military City, U. S. A. – 2:32
4. Numero Ocho – 1:19
5. Livin’ Like A Rat – 1:42
6. Homeless Hero – 3:01
7. We’re Punx – 3:32
8. Life’s Not Fair – 2:10
9. Razors In The Night – 1:56