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Rating: When I think of new wave, I think of England with its various Joy Division and progeny, PIL, Siouxsie, maybe even the Cure and a thousand other groups from the most diverse genres with electro or jazzy tendencies, gothic or funk shades...
When I think of new wave, I think of America, a different new wave and in some respects less cohesive (less compactable), where the champions are distinctly divided into geographical zones: on the east coast (in New York, for the record) the Television, forefathers of the entire genre with their rhythmic, deviant, yet lyrical guitar sound, while on the west coast (San Francisco) one of the best-preserved legends, Tuxedo Moon, proponents of a whimsical cross between punk glam futurism and kraut tendencies. But in this entire melting pot, I also like to remember a perhaps minor group, not for this any less original or attractive: the Cramps.
Hailing from Detroit, they create a paradoxically anachronistic and post-modern project. In their fusion of new wave and Elvis-like rock'n'roll hides a deep love for music that is no longer compensated with a citation taste worthy of a Tarantino in love with horror B-movies more than anything else. The primordial and panicky rock is ironically revisited through the most current music of the period (the wave) and spiced with the stylistic features of certain typically American cinema. The result might resemble a session between the most intoxicated Doors and the most tenebrous Cure. A good part of the credit surely goes to Kid Congo Powers (founder of the Gun Club and then member of the Bad Seeds who accompanied Nick Cave in the masterpiece Tender Prey) and his creaking guitar that on this album takes over from Bryan Gregory, completing the lineup composed of the sickly singer Lux Interior, the porn guitarist Poison Ivy, and the crazy percussionist on duty.
Therefore, Psychedelic Jungle is the group's second album and it differs from the debut for being less noise, more classic, less challenging and quite amusing. It's clear that it's not a milestone, but it's extremely enjoyable and immediately sticks to your ears. Tracks like Beautiful Gardens (which sounds as if PIL under ex-Rotten Johnny were born in the fifties), the drunk serial killer country rock of Goo Goo Muck, the swinging Rockin' Bones, or the dated despair of Voodoo Idol can't help but win you over and become personal evergreen favorites from the first listen.
Tracklist and Lyrics
02 Goo Goo Muck (03:06)
when the sun goes down and the moon comes up i turn into a teenage goo goo muck, i cruise through the city and i roam street looking for something that is nice to eat you better duck when i show up.. the goo goo muck. i'm the night headhunter looking for some head with a way out body underneath that head, well I'll get you baby with a little luck cuz i'm teenage tiger and a goo goo muck you better duck when i show up the goo goo muck the city is a jungle and i'm a beast i'm a teenage tiger looking for a feast, i want the most but i'll take the least, cuz i'm a goo goo muck tiger and a teenage beast you better duck when i show up the goo goo muck well goo goo muck
05 Primitive (03:32)
what i don't know can never hurt me I live a life that's working for me what i respect you just can't see what you expect I'll never be primitive that's how I'll live primitive i take what you give cause I love and i live primitive the things i do you'd never try what i get free you have to buy i'm proud of my life but don't ask me why cause if i told ya, i'd probably... primitive that's how I live primtive i'll take what you give cause I love and i live primitive primitive that's how I live primtive i'll take what you give cause I love and i live primitive
06 Caveman (03:51)
downtown caveman look man i made a tool caveman ain't no fool we rock good meat caveman rock me caveman say "ooh" caveman say "ooh" caveman say "ooh ooh" caveman say "ahh"
07 The Crusher (01:47)
raid! do the hammer lock do the hammer lock do the hammer lock you turkey neck do the hammer lock do the hammer lock you turkey necks everybody's doing it do the eye gouge do the eye gouge you turkey neck now do the eye gouge do the eye gouge you turkey necks, everybody's doing it alright you turkey necks, i wanna teach you how to do the crusher, and if you don't learn it now i'm gonna getcha now first you take your fist and you put it on your waist, then you squeeze your partners head until she's blue in the face yeah do the crusher do the crusher do the crusher you turkey necks do the crusher you turkey necks, everybodys doing it
10 Jungle Hop (02:07)
FAR AWAY IN AFRICA,THEY ALL COME FROM NEAR AND FAR,ROCK ALL NIGHT AND NEVER STOP,DANCIN TO THE JUNGLE HOP, OOOOO...AHHHHHH.....TRADE THE SKINS OF 10 GIRRAFFES FOR 1 BEAT UP PHONOGRAPH, HEY NOW THEY DANCE AND DO THE BOP,THEY ROCK ALL NIGHT TO THE JUNGLE HOP..OOOOOOO..ROCK..UNDER JUNGLE STARS ABOVE ,ALL NIGHT LONG MAKE JUNGLE LOVE.HAVE A BALL AND BLOW THEIR TOPS,ROCK ALL NIGHT TO JUNGLE HOP.MONKEY SOUNDS.
12 Under the Wires (02:44)
Don't hang up
Don't hang up
Don't hang up
Under the wires
Somewhere out there
If I could just get in touch
If I could just get in touch
Disconnected connections
Misdirected directions
It gets so very hard
It gets so very hard
Dial tone degredation
Uncontrolled aggravation
I got too many hang ups
I got too many hang ups
What colour panties are you wearing
What colour panties are you wearing
What colour panties are you wearing
And how long have you been wearing them
I let my fingers do the walking
To find out to whom I am talking
When they see me in your gee
You're gonna hear from me
You're gonna hear from me
I ain't got no choice
You're gonna know my voice
Twins wire desire
Recieve her ire
I'm gonna cut you off
I'm gonna cut you off
And if you think i'm sick
And if you think i'm sick
Click. aaaaaa.......
13 Beautiful Gardens (03:59)
OH MY... OH ME... WHAT IN THE WORLD HAS COME OVER ME? I'M SEEING THINGS THAT I SHOULD NEVER SEE..SPIDERS ON MY EYELIDS AND GHOSTS IN THE CHEESE..WHAT IN THE WORLD'S COME OVER ME?I'VE LOST TOUCH WITH REALITY..REALITY..REALITY...R EA L IT Y....
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