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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Do you remember Nirvana's Unplugged? There were three tracks ("Plateau", "Oh, Me", and "Lake Of Fire") that immediately seemed more beautiful to me than any song Cobain ever wrote (and he wrote some lovely ones). Three pieces that recall Neil Young's acoustic ballads, but strange, with a slightly dreamlike atmosphere, confirmed by lyrics detached from reality and at times ridiculously incomprehensible ("there's nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop and an illustrated book about birds"???).In the booklet, it is explained that these so-called masterpieces are by a group named Meat Puppets. I researched and discovered that the Meat Puppets are considered among the best and most influential indie groups of the '80s, so I decided to review their second album (which contains the aforementioned songs) without ever having heard it: FIVE STARS OUT OF FIVE!
Ok, Ok, I'll go buy it, don't get mad. I'll be right back. . .
[found it for 15 Euros, spend about 30 minutes listening to it with great attention]
These Meat Puppets really suck! First of all, they should learn to use their instruments, bassist Cris Kirkwood messes up all the timing and plays at random, guitarist/singer/brother Curt has a horrible voice and with the guitar tries to cram too many notes one after the other, ruining even the few good ideas. Those Kirkwoods aren't cut out for music; I'm tossing the CD in the trash, where it deserves to be.
No, wait! Let's say I listen to it one last time.
[another 30 minutes pass]
This album is fan-fantastic! Don't be fooled, like I was, by appearances: 20 seconds of Kirkwoodian music have more brilliant ideas than the entire career of _________ (choose an artist you can't stand). Kurt Kirkwood is the cowboy of punk, lost in the Arizona desert and hallucinating from the scorching sun; Meat Puppets II is country played as if it were hardcore, with an added touch of psychedelia.
My ears can't believe their ears: guitar solos with "wrong" melodies, whistled punk songs, furious fast strumming with more notes than could possibly fit, psychedelic instrumentals performed without effort, heart-wrenching ballads with nonsensical lyrics and other such absurdities, all "supported" by a voice that seems as if it could disintegrate at any moment.
In two words: PURE GENIUS
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Summary by Bot
The reviewer initially dismisses Meat Puppets II after a casual listen but quickly becomes captivated by its unique blend of punk, country, and psychedelic sounds. Praising the Kirkwood brothers' unconventional musicianship and surreal lyrics, the album is hailed as a hidden indie gem of the 1980s. It’s recommended for those who appreciate innovative and genre-defying music.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Meat Puppets
Meat Puppets are an American band from Phoenix, Arizona, widely described in these reviews as pioneering a paradoxical blend of hardcore punk energy with country, blues and psychedelia, led by brothers Curt and Cris Kirkwood and (in classic early-era accounts) drummer Derrick Bostrom.17 Reviews
Other reviews
By Rooftrampler92
The music of the Meat Puppets is like an idiotic laugh right in the middle of a funeral ceremony.
'Lake of Fire' is a gem to be held tight. The voice has never been so expressive, the guitars never so incisive in their 'delicate distortions.'
