"Musically this is tight and energetic punk, reminds me a lot of the Dead Kennedy's 'Bedtime for Democracy' era. Good production, but the this that I absolutely love about this CD is Serge's Vocals. He totally has the cross of Gary Floyd (The Dicks) and Jello Biafra (Dead Kennedys) operatic tones-thing fucking dialed. Co-produced by Kent Stax (from DC hardcore legends Scream) and Brian Baker( duh!). For those that are too young to have gotten into the DKs or too burnt out and jaded, this is a good way to slowly ease you back into a sound that seems to be forgotten."(PB)
Maximum Rock'n'Roll Magazine 1998

"Sounds like Algae Afterbirth circa '84. Fast furious and insane stuff for all to mosh to. The highlight is the Black Sabbath intro on 'Sweets Sow' that flows throughout the tune. Interesting."
Stubble Zine

"young twenty somethings playing politicized punk rock. being from Northern Virginia's DC suburbs myself I though I could dismiss these guys off as Dischord wanna bees and be done with it. I was dead wrong. This is no emo peace punk, this is angry violent slop punk like some mutt off-spring of the Dead Kennedys and New Bomb Turks. These guys are pissed and the express that on songs like 'Life Sux', 'Time to Kill', and my favorite 'Mall Attack' ('I hate trendies they make me sick/they can get down and suck my dick'). The guitars are way loud and this has none of the wimpy sound and musician gimmick of most of the suck job punk bands today. These kids realize there was punk rock before Bad Religion or Fugazi and they tap into some of that old school energy for an angry album of anti-social hate inspired hardcore punk. This was recorded at the fabled DC studios Inner Ear and WGNS."
Eye Deal Magazine No. 14 , Dec 1998

"They have two 7"s out that I've never heard before. On this full length, they rage an old school flavor that is uncommon from the DC area. Short bursts of angry punk rock that gets the blood pumping. They remind me of the Proletariat in the sound."
Flipside Magazine No. 115, Dec 1998

"People are catching on! Record labels are starting to send Agree to Disagree good stuff to review. Instead we're starting to get fine stuff like The Goons. Punk rock! Nothing Poppy about this band whatsoever. The singer sounds like a cross between Lee Ving of Fear and Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys. And good socially charged lyrics to boot. More Punk, less pop!"
Agree to Disagree No. 5, 1998

"Since 1994, The Goons along with a few other bands gave DC a rebirth of the days of old and brought back some much needed energy to the scene. Well The Goons new CD 'Living in America' is like blasts of powerful rapid fire punk that have an old school Dead Kennedys (Jello Biafra sort of vocals) to powerful Black Flag / DKs Punk fell that is fast, furious that will put DC back on the punk rock map again for sure. (*****)"
Toxic Flyer Fanzine No. 27 Fall/Winter 1998

"Punk rock the likes of which has not come out of DC in a while. Sounds kind of like a cross of Black Flag with some oi band. It actually turns out sounding really good. 17 songs of angry, but fun punk rock."
War Crimes No. 10 1998

"Both the guitars and the vocals remind me of Oly's Fitz of Depression, I had to glance at the singes name to make sure it wasn't Mikey. For me that's a good thing. I loved Fitz, the Goons have that same kind of energy, probably more because they keep a fast pace the whole time, blowing through 17 songs in less than a half hour and keeping me rocking the whole fucking time."
10 Things Jesus Wants You to Know No. 20 1998

"I always wondered it there were pogo-punk bands in DC, or if everyone was just striving to be the next Fugazi. I realize that statement is a little off base, but it's nice to know that there's a kick ass punk band from DC that blends the feistiness of the Dead Kennedys with the catchiness of Showcase Showdown. Lyrics aren't in the league with DK but whose are? This is pretty righteous stuff."
Motion Sickness No. 7 1998

"The Goons rule! The Goons come at you hard, like a freight train if you haven't seen The Goons live! Its a must see show, they just recently rocked CBGB's n.y.c. those guys rock!!!!!"
A music fan from n.y.c. , May 18, 1999

"The Goons are the East coast's BEST up and coming punk band. This CD is INCREDIBLE. I love everything about the Goons. As a native of DC, and a Kaffa House kid, I've gotta give mad props to this band for coming out so hard with their release. This album says it all. 'I HATE MY JOB, I DO IT EVERY DAY.'"
A music fan from DC, USA , November 4, 1998