Soma Holiday is the second release and the first studio albumMillman, Joyce (October 25, 1983). "Cellars by starlight - Prole cats". The Boston Phoenix. sec. 3, p. 6. by American punk rock band the Proletariat. It was also the debut output for Radiobeat Records.

The record was named after the drug used to control society in Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World."The Proletariat: Biography". Official Website of the Proletariat and Churn. Archived from the original on January 23, 2017.Foley, Ryan. "The Proletariat". The Music Museum of New England. Retrieved April 28, 2016.Scott, Tim (September 4, 2016). "How The Proletariat Became One Of the Most Incendiary Bands in Reagan’s America" (interview). Noisey. Retrieved September 15, 2016.Carnes, Aaron (October 25, 2016). "The Return of Boston Hardcore Anomaly, The Proletariat" (interview). Noisey. Retrieved October 27, 2016.

Production and release Produced by Jimmy Dufour, Lou Giordano and Frank Michaels, Soma Holiday was recorded and mixed at Radiobeat Studios in Boston, Massachusetts. Bill Kipper was in charge of the mastering of the album at Masterdisk in New York City.

The record includes the songs "Splendid Wars", "Events/Repeat", "Blind", and "Torn Curtain", which were originally featured on the band's debut EP Distortion, a limited edition seven-track cassette tape self-released the previous year.Anderson, Rick. "Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies: AllMusic Review by Rick Anderson". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2016.

Soma Holiday was originally co-released in 1983, as LP, on band's Non-U label and Radiobeat Records."The Proletariat: Soma Holiday". Official Website of the Proletariat and Churn. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016.. Kill from the Heart. Archived from on June 2, 2016.Soma Holiday, advertisement (1983). Official Website of the Proletariat and Churn. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016. A second pressing of the album would be released later that same year.

Critical reception In a contemporary review of the album, Joyce Millman, music critic at The Boston Phoenix, wrote:

Around the same time, Jeff Bale from Maximumrocknroll, was of the view that:

Distortion EP

Distortion is a seven-song EP and the first stand-alone release by the Proletariat. It was issued in July 1982Millman, Joyce (August 24, 1982). "Cellars by starlight – The dictatorship of the Proletariat". The Boston Phoenix. on the band's own label, Non-U Records, as a limited edition single-sided C46 cassette tape.The Proletariat, Distortion, insert art. Official Website of the Proletariat and Churn. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016.Quint, Al (September 1982). "The Proletariat: Distortion (Cassette)". Suburban Punk (1).Distortion, advertisement (1982). Official Website of the Proletariat and Churn. Archived from the original on October 9, 2016.

The EP is composed of songs recorded in three separate sessions at Radiobeat Studios in Boston, Massachusetts with producer Jimmy Dufour:Sheena (September 1982). "The Proletariat: From Each According to His Ability". Boston Rock (32). Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. "After the Rise" was recorded in November 1981 with Jimmy Johnson as audio engineer, "Westernization" was engineered by Dufour himself in January 1982, whereas the rest of the tracks were laid down in March 1982 with recording engineer Lou Giordano.

The songs "Torn Curtain", "Splendid Wars", "Blind", and "Events/Repeat" would be re-released the following year on the band's first studio album Soma Holiday.

The tracks "After the Rise", "White Hands", and "Westernization" would not be reissued until 1998, when they were included on the band's anthology Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies.Taang! #TAANG! 127Suburban Voice (ca. 2000). "The Proletariat: Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies (Taang! Dbl CD)" (review). Suburban Voice (43)."The Proletariat: Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies". Official Website of the Proletariat and Churn. Archived from the original on January 23, 2017.

The cover and label art were designed by graphic artist Pickles. The insert liner notes sheet was created by Frank Michaels and Richard Brown. The EP's artwork includes a reproduction of Dorothea Lange's photo Migrant Mother (1936).

Track listing Music, lyrics, and arrangements by the Proletariat.

Reissues Long out of print in its original form, Soma Holiday was re-released, in its entirety, as part of the band's 2-CD anthology Voodoo Economics and Other American Tragedies, compiled in 1998 by Taang! Records.

In October 1999, apparently under license from the band, the album was reissued in cassette-only format, featuring alternate cover art, on Social Napalm Records,"SNR#1 - The Proletariat - "Soma Holiday" cassette tape". Social Napalm Records. Retrieved April 28, 2016.. Kill from the Heart. Archived from on May 5, 2016. a small DIY label based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts.

On October 21, 2016, 33 years after its debut, Soma Holiday was re-released for the first time in its original vinyl format, on Sacramento-based label Ss Records;Ss #SS085Marotta, Michael (August 12, 2016). "Anti-Indifference: Hardcore punk band The Proletariat return after three-decade hiatus". Vanyaland. Retrieved August 20, 2016.Ss Records; Sol Re Sol Records (August 16, 2016). "The Proletariat for President!". Ss Records – Sol Re Sol Records. Retrieved August 20, 2016.Jones, AJ "Phink" (August 19, 2016). "The Proletariat Reform and Announce First Reunion Shows". ThePunkSite. Retrieved August 20, 2016.Sperry-Fromm, Rob (September 8, 2016). "The Proletariat reissuing debut, going on reunion tour; Gang Green playing shows too". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved September 15, 2016."The Proletariat - Soma Holiday LP". Ss Records – Sol Re Sol Records. Retrieved October 22, 2016. which also simultaneously released the album for the first time on CD.

Track listing Music by Peter Bevilacqua and Frank Michaels, lyrics by Richard Brown, except where noted. Arrangements by the Proletariat.

Personnel

The Proletariat Richard Brown – vocals, cowbell (track A7) Frank Michaels – guitar, backing vocals Peter Bevilacqua – bass, backing vocals Tom McKnight – drums

Additional performers Mick Miller – backing vocals (A4) Lou Giordano – backing vocals (A9) Jimmy Dufour – backing vocals (A9)

Production Jimmy Dufour - production (A2, A5, B3, B5), co-production, co-engineering Lou Giordano - co-production, engineering (A2, A5, B3, B5), co-engineering Frank Michaels - co-production, sleeve concept Mick Miller – engineering (assistance) Bill Kipper – mastering Pickles – graphic design

Additional production (2016 remastered LP reissue) John Golden - remastering Dane Henas – graphic design (restoration)

Notes

References

Further reading Magazines Millman, Joyce (October 25, 1983). "Cellars by starlight - Prole cats". The Boston Phoenix. sec. 3, pp. 6–7. Bale, Jeff (October–November 1983). "The Proletariat: Soma Holiday (LP)". Maximumrocknroll (9). Everbach, Tracy (November 17, 1983). "The Proletariat: Soma Holiday (Non-U/Radiobeat)". The Boston Globe Calendar. Leland, John (April 1984). "America Underground Reviews – The Proletariat: Soma Holiday (Non-U/Radiobeat, LP)". Trouser Press (96). Christgau, Robert (February 21, 1984). "Christgau's Consumer Guide - The Proletariat: Soma Holiday (Non-U/Radiobeat)". The Village Voice. Quint, Al (September 1982). "The Proletariat: Distortion (Cassette)". Suburban Punk (1).

External links "The Proletariat: Soma Holiday". The Proletariat. "The Proletariat: Distortion". The Proletariat.

Articles Scott, Tim (September 4, 2016). "How The Proletariat Became One Of the Most Incendiary Bands in Reagan’s America" (interview). Noisey. Sheppard, Oliver (October 5, 2016). "An interview with The Proletariat on their "Soma Holiday" reissue". Cvlt Nation. Reviews Millman, Joyce (August 24, 1982). "Cellars by starlight – The dictatorship of the Proletariat" (review of the Distortion EP). The Boston Phoenix. Robbins, Ira (1983). "Proletariat". Trouser Press. Electric Sunshine (March 17, 2012). "Proletariat "Soma Holiday"". The Electric Sunshine.