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Meat Puppets
Meat Puppets II


4.0
excellent

Review

by mranti USER (21 Reviews)
August 9th, 2005 | 175 replies


Release Date: 1984 | Tracklist


Meat Puppets (1983)
Curt Kirkwood - Guitar, Vocals
Cris Kirkwood - Bass, Vocals
Derrick Bostrum - Drums

Ranging the furthest regions of alternative, the great remotion that is, the Meat Puppets take punk, folk, pop, and even psychedelic into a giant stewing pot of great guitar work and abstract lyrics. Leading the infamous tale, however, of bands like the Pixies who conducted the musical world behind the curtain, never getting the exposure that bands often get who don’t deserve the recognition. The best bands tend to like it in the dark although, preferring the freedom of expression that mainstream labels don’t take the risk to allow. Although the world turned a brief eye in the direction of the Meat Puppets in 1994 with the album “Too High To Die”, it was 11 years earlier when their magnum opus “Meat Puppets II” was released. Glorified by Nirvana’s unplugged performance, not-so coincidentally released the year the Meat Puppets got their 15 minutes, “Meat Puppets II” is a stunning album that shows a band confident in their skills and ambitious in their growth. From fast and distorted rock segments, to eerie instrumental tracks, to the sheer craftsmanship of these musicians, everything is summed up here that the Meat Puppets have become respected for. Though a few rough edges got smoothed out and shined up over the years, the Meat Puppets sounded consistently well through their 20 year career from their eponymous album in 1982 to 2000's impressive “Golden Lies”.

Opening with the thrashing punk track “Split Myself In Two”, then moving on to a country-rock feel with “Magic Toy Missing”, “Lost”, and “Plateau”, it is clear among the first few tracks that there is a definite diversity among the band. Curt’s amazing guitar playing, coinciding with “stoner” lyrics and vocals that sound beautifully off-key, paint a picture that may be confusing and difficult to swallow at first, but prove to become more and more appreciated as the number of listens increase. The songs provide an interesting look at things, easily stretching the canvas for such acts like Queens Of The Stone Age and Beck to follow. Any fan of Bob Dylan would enjoy listening to “Oh Me” and “Lake Of Fire”, but eerie instrumentals like “Aurora Borealis” and “I’m A Mindless Idiot” put the final piece of the puzzle in place for one of music’s most textural albums to date. Where as some bands just seem artificial, the Meat Puppets are pure and unabashed, never coming off as too “this or that” with anything they did. Their music inspires thought, influences action, and never gets stale.

Overall, don’t be discouraged if you feel so-so about the album after only listening to it once or twice, because it’ll probably take a while to sink in, as do most alternative albums. Once it does, however, don’t get whigged out if you feel an uncontrollable urge to listen to it every possible chance. The music is extremely artistic, and well-crafted from every angle. There is a certain raw energy from the band at this point that makes “Meat Puppets II” an absolute must-have. For anyone not too familiar with the band, “Meat Puppets II” is an excellent introduction. A re-issue of the album includes seven bonus tracks, including the rare “Teenagers”.

Rating System:
0.5-Sad, hardly can be considered noise
1-Horrible, better off never recorded
1.5-Mind numbing, less than mediocre
2-Basic, mainstream machine
2.5- Alright, low expectations
3-Good, but has a few flaws
3.5-Well-done, deserves to be acknowledged
4-Excellent, stands well on its own
4.5-Amazing, always a great listen
5-Perfect, life changing work of art

The reviews I write are without plagiarism or bias to any sound or genre, but as a third-person presenting facts and logical comparisons. My personal feelings are not concrete and solidly agreeable, so when they are presented they are isolated and left to be viewed as such. The ratings for each album are not shifted due to what I am currently interested in, but out of a calculated sum ranging from originality, ability of repeated listens due to consistent effort and solid production, poetic lyrical structure, and overall musicianship.



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user ratings (509)
4.1
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
Zappa
August 9th 2005


355 Comments


Some good songs are played on here, but unfortunately, they're sung very badly. This is a hard one to rate, I think.

Badmoon
August 9th 2005


384 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

This is a great album; I'm really into a bunch of its tracks.



"Lost" would be my favorite.



Good review

Desensitized
August 10th 2005


136 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

I love the singing. Like a combo of country wailing and punk yelling. Just like the music. Very suiting.



I'll rate this one after I get a physical copy of the album.

AlienEater
April 8th 2006


716 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

This is pretty good, but Up On the Sun is infinitely better.

Simon Kent
April 13th 2006


58 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

sorry but Up On The Sun pales in comparison to No Joke. This is a great album though.

Desensitized
April 13th 2006


136 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Excellent.



It's such a great listen. Not like anything I've ever heard before.

Desensitized
April 13th 2006


136 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Whoops.This Message Edited On 04.12.06

Electric City
April 24th 2006


15756 Comments


This is the album Nirvana covered right? If I enjoyed the MEat Puppet section of Nirvana's Unplugged, would I like this?

AlienEater
May 20th 2006


716 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Yes

PepsiCola420
May 25th 2006


3 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

amazing album... thats all

skatersonic2002
June 27th 2006


48 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Aurora Borealis is my favorite track on this one. By the way Zappa, I see where you're coming from that you dont like the way Curt sings. It's an acquired taste.

Pwntendo
September 24th 2006


70 Comments


I was actually expecting this to be more mellow than what it really is. It's still great though, especially "I'm a Mindless Idiot".

MrKite
November 26th 2006


5020 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Great fucking band. They still around?

nirvana1989_nb
November 30th 2006


98 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Arent they re-unitin?

For a tour Hey Kite every good boy deserves fudge?

thats a cool album!

Overdrival
December 14th 2006


5 Comments


yes, they 're gonna release a new album in 2007! thank hell!

MrKite
December 15th 2006


5020 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I'll probably get that.

wexenhex
September 21st 2008


192 Comments


great band. i hung out with them last year at a gig in Austin when they were releasing Rise To Your Knees. played one hell of a good show...and Cris Kirkwood is an absolutely hilarious man. i had pretty long hair then, but so does he... and me and my friends came up to him and he called us "Long-haired Hippie Freaks!" haha it was great...

RandMcNally
January 14th 2009


159 Comments


I prefer the Meat Puppets songs when Nirvana are covering them.

Enotron
September 23rd 2009


7695 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Hey people. Just joined the sputnik community. This album is amazing, from the slightly out of key vocals, to the thumping bassline in lake of fire. definetely one of my favorites.

KILL
February 22nd 2010


81580 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

album is brilliant



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