Meat Puppets
II

THE REVIEW

The music of the Meat Puppets is a paradox. It's irony, happiness, anger, melancholy, carefreeness, drunkenness, stupidity, desperation. The music of the Meat Puppets is like an idiotic laugh right in the middle of a funeral ceremony.

And "Meat Puppets II" is spontaneous and original just as it comes.

If you can't stand the noise and the frustrating drums of "Split in Myself Two", don't worry, here comes "Magic Toy Missing", a straightforward and fast country tune that sounds like a brawl between gangs of drunken ruffians in any Arizona bar. "Lost" is a carefree and innocent sonata that makes us believe Kirkwood is optimistic; an illusion that is shattered by the sad "Plateau". Kirkwood's voice becomes the wail of a drunk, and the ballad is pervaded by rootless pessimism. More than sadness, I would call it discomfort, that discomfort that would lead to the metropolitan grunge sound of the Seattle scene. Then comes "Aurora Borealis"; two powerful guitar chords alternate with sweet arpeggios. It's just mocking us.

If "Plateau" was a lament, "We're Here" is a ray of sunshine that purifies hell. A calm singing, an evocative chorus, and a psychedelic glimpse halfway through the song. The calm after the storm. But wait, it's not over yet. Indeed, after Bostrom's steady drumming and the vaguely folk cheerfulness of "Climbing", comes the swift and frenetic "New Gods", with noise punk sounds. Distortions, screams, anger, and a decidedly out-of-place bass. Racket. "Oh Me", which is decidedly yet another mockery, prepares us for the peak of depression and discomfort: "Lake of Fire". This ballad, which is not really a ballad, is a gem to be held tight. The voice has never been so expressive, the guitars never so incisive in their "delicate distortions". Sublime whine. The pinnacle of these meat puppets.

"I'm a mindless idiot" is an immature and lazy fun, featuring a guitar with a Mediterranean sound. Kirkwood's Fender Telecaster speaks and says, "Enough, Curt, you've been torturing me for almost half an hour". It's irony. The masterpiece concludes with Kirkwood's chords and the western film-style whistling of "The Whistling Song", bringing the curtain down and putting an end to these pleasant complaints.

I consider "Meat Puppets II" as one of the all-time musical cauldrons; Country, Folk, Punk, Hardcore, Psychedelia, Noise, Grunge. You find all sorts of everything in this ocean of strumming and false notes. Few had the courage to do something like this and make it appreciated, excluding "Double Nickels On The Dime" by the Minutemen, "London Calling" by the Clash, and a few others.

This album is immature, and it is perfect as it is. Stunning and original.