Dead Kennedys: Klaus Flouride (vocals, bass guitar); D.H. Peligro (vocals, drums); Jello Biafra (vocals); East Bay Ray (guitar); Ted (drums).

Legendary San Francisco punks the Dead Kennedys are considered one of the genre's premier trailblazers. Not only did they make intelligent, sarcastic, deeply funny political songs that skewered 1980s American society, they also built a successful model for independently touring and recording bands to be followed throughout the decade. MILKING THE SACRED COW is yet another career retrospective, similar to 1987's landmark collection GIVE ME CONVENIENCE OR GIVE ME DEATH, but with several different tracks. On the opener "California šber Alles" as well as other standout tracks like "Hollywood in Cambodia" and "Kill the Poor," the band's recognizable mix of surf-influenced twang, hardcore drumming, and Jello Biafra's madman vibrato take the listener on a tour of the underbelly of Reagan's "Morning in America." With a seething anger barely masked with a sardonic wink, this is potent, hall-of-fame stuff from some true punk-rock greats.

The very concept of a "greatest hits" collection from San Francisco punk legends the Dead Kennedys' fits right in with the group's penchant for establishment parody, but the irony is that Manifesto's 12-track Milking the Sacred Cow is the perfect primer for young punks in training and a satisfying shot of politically charged jet fuel for longtime fans. Classic cuts like "California Uber Alles," "Holiday in Cambodia," and "Too Drunk to Fuck" were the gateway drug for a lot of people just finding their way into the scene, especially those who were looking for an American version of the Sex Pistols -- Jello Biafra proved that he could match Johnny Rotten sneer for sneer -- but live versions of "Soup Is Good Food" and "Jock-O-Rama," as electrifying as they are, keep this collection just shy of perfection. That said, it still provides a satisfying crack in the jaw, even if it's missing fan favorites like "Terminal Preppie," "Trust Your Mechanic," and "Chemical Warfare." Honor students should pick up Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, Frankenchrist, and Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death, but those looking for a quick fix or a cheat will find no better teat to affix their snarl to than this. ~ James Christopher Monger

Uncut (p.90) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "Of all the first-wave US punk bands, the Dead Kennedys are one of the few whose music still sounds totally relevant in 2007..."

Kerrang (Magazine) (p.47) - "[F]or the time that this CD is in the tray you hear a glimpse of what might have been had corporate American not got its way....Quarrelsome, contrary and opinionated."

Q (Magazine) (p.117) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The liberal-bashing 'Holiday In Cambodia' remains savagely funny punk rage."

Record Collector (magazine) (p.80) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The Kennedys offered singalongs with lashings of great surf-punk/spy-theme guitar and a vocalist that sounded like a cartoon Tasmanian devil..."