08/03/2026
🎸PUERTO RICAN PUNK TREASURE REISSUED - An English teacher teams up with his own high school students to form a rock & roll band—it sounds like a Hollywood script, but it is the real-life story of The MD’s. Originally self-produced in 1980, their debut album "Brain Damage" finally received a proper reissue via Munster Records in 2026. This record’s 10 original tracks capture an audacious moment in Puerto Rican rock history. Together, Ricky D’Lima—a teacher at Puerto Rico’s Cupeyville School—and his students forged an infectious blend of punk and new wave that completely defied the odds. Despite usually playing arena and progressive rock, top radio station Alfa Rock 105 added The MD’s album to its regular rotation spinning tracks like “1981” and “Brain Damage.”
Breakdown
• "Brain Damage" — The title track is pure, unhinged madness. It kicks off with a blistering drum roll nodding to The Clash’s "I Fought the Law" before plunging into hilarious chaos ("It’s so much fun to be insane"). A Middle Eastern-tinged guitar solo cuts through the mix while D’Lima delivers a theatrical vocal performance straight out of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show."
• "School Teacher" — This fierce, anti-authoritarian anthem warns, "Better watch it kid, ‘cause school teacher is gonna make you ill." Penned by Ricky Rivera, the studio cut features original lead vocalist Tatito Requena. In an ironic twist, real-life educator D’Lima later stepped in as lead singer, writing lyrics and forging the band’s defiant identity.
• "Rock 'N' Roll" — A tribute to the very roots of the genre, capturing the raw spirit of the late 50s and early 60s.
• "Love Me Tonight" — A fast-paced romantic song with an imposing bass pedal synthesizer intro, catchy vocal harmonies and a buzzing guitar solo.
• "The Bug" — This fun instrumental features wordless, hypnotizing female vocals that channel the eccentric energy of The B-52s. It plays out like a vibrant tribute to 1960s surf rock, echoing classics like The Marketts’ "Batman Theme" and The Ventures’ "Wipe Out."
• "Senior Power" — This high-energy anthem celebrates living in the moment and proudly passing the torch. D’Lima captures this bittersweet transition clearly: "We’re here today but we’re gone tomorrow, and there’s no reason for any sorrow. We did everything we wanted to do, and now we leave it up to you."
• "Real Romance" — The opening channels the angular energy of Devo’s "Whip It" in a guitar-driven song with a tight rhythm section.
• "C.T.S" — A high-energy track powered by a driving guitar riff reminiscent of The Clash’s "Clash City Rockers."
• "1981" — The band slows the tempo for a moving, catchy senior farewell infused with teenage nostalgia. This melodic synth-driven track stands in sharp contrast with the prominent guitars found across the rest of the album.
• "Can’t Get No Tomorrow" — In this song they shift gears with reggae vibes, bongos, and quirky synth sounds. The chorus melody strongly resembles The Police’s "The Bed's Too Big Without You."
The MD’s carved out a raw and unpolished sound that is an incredible feat for a band of teenagers. This Munster Records reissue rescues a long-overlooked Caribbean treasure and places it under a global spotlight. The audio quality faithfully matches the sound of the original pressing and to seal the deal, it includes an insert with unreleased photos and a concise history of the band. After hunting for a clean copy of this LP for decades, I can say that this release exceeded all my expectations.
