Straight Jacket – “Modern Thieves”

Originally recorded in 1984 but unreleased for decades until Puke n Vomit Records unearthed it, Modern Thieves by Straight Jacket is a crucial, missing piece of early California hardcore history. The album captures the band’s transition from their classic Orange County beach-punk roots into a darker, driving post-punk sound, drawing deep stylistic parallels to the moody urgency of T.S.O.L. and the aggressive, melodic textures of Social Distortion. It stands out for its sharp songwriting and sharp political lyricism, trading standard-issue thrash tempos for complex, mid-tempo rhythms and memorable hooks. It remains a prized document for collectors of 1980s Southern California punk history.

Track Listing:

01. Modern Thieves – 2:37
02. Stand In Line – 1:52
03. Back Of My Mind – 2:25
04. Immaterials – 2:25
05. Behind Closed Doors – 1:44
06. Silent Running – 2:42
07. Total Stranger – 2:21
08. White Trash – 1:47
09. This Is It – 2:39
10. S.C.A. – 2:05
11. In The Woods – 2:20
12. One Small Step – 3:19