The Misfits

The Misfits: Famous MonstersFamous Monsters (1999)
The Misfits

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: El Grego
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 25th 2004Okay, let me just say a couple of things. This is a Misfits review. It's of a record without Glenn Danzig, but that doesn't mean we should just dismiss it. Lots of bands don't have Glenn Danzig in, but I bet you still like them, right? Good examples of this include Guns n' Roses, Bad Religion and Mo.

Okay, let me just say a couple of things. This is a Misfits review. It's of a record without Glenn Danzig, but that doesn't mean we should just dismiss it. Lots of bands don't have Glenn Danzig in, but I bet you still like them, right? Good examples of this include Guns n' Roses, Bad Religion and Mozart. So, no, he's not in it, but that doesn't mean it automatically blows. However, because I'm bored, I will include a 'Glenn-o-meter' which will keep you up to speed with what would be happening on this record if Glenn had been involved.

This review won't be as in depth as my review of the Collection II record because that took ages and I'm not quite as inspired by this as I was by the songs on that. Anyway, the record opens with an instrumental called 'Kong At The Gates'. Basically, there's some drums which are meant to be King Kong attacking some random fortress. So far so pointless.
Glenn-o-meter: Lifestyle changes have been suggested (something along the lines of 'stop being men, start being androids') and the number 8 has been said repeatedly.

'The Forbidden Zone' gets things going nicely enough, and carry on from where 'American Psycho' left off, giving us a beefier guitar sound, which may or may not have something to do with this record being on Roadrunner.

'Lost In Space' keeps up the momentum, with a great chorus and verses telling us of giant spiders and other strange things. Word has it that Jerry wrote this to be included in the movie of the same name, but it wasn't, so it ended up here. Even so, it's a decent song.

The next song is 'Dust To Dust', which is a great tune about electrecuting yourself and members of your family. It'd good stuff, riffy, like metal, and not so much punk, but I like it anyway. You gotta give this stuff a chance, y'know?.

'The Crawling Eye' and 'Witch Hunt' aren't shocking, but they're not particularly memorable, but they do lead us onto the single, 'Scream!'. The video for this is so damn cool. This is a turning point for the album. Opening with a mean guitar line, followed by 'whoas' then launching into a stomping song that seems to be about making some victim scream a whole bunch. It's good stuff. Jerry and Doyle have got Michael Graves in to do lead vocals, and his voice suits the style of the music, melancholy but still powerful. This is a great song on it's own, let alone the album.

'Saturday Night' is a hilarious song in a ballad format about killing your girlfriend and then remembering you had something more to say (Glenn-o-meter: It was most likely about you killing her baby) before she died, and walking round town missing her. It's fun to sing along to, and gives the album some contrast.

'Pumpkin Head' and 'Scarecrow Man' are straightforward enough and are both funny and good at the same time. 'Pumpkin Head' has a great chorus, and the story told in the lyrics is a great one. 'Scarecrow Man' is about being a scarecrow, sneaking into town at night and eating people. Simple but great, although it does quote the Wizard of Oz at the start ('How 'bout a lil fire, scarecrow?'). Still it's all gravy, and these are two great songs.

There are two other noteworthy tracks on this album, and whilst the other songs aren't terrible, they weren't quite up to scratch with my expectations. However, 'Descending Angel' is a really good song, about, surprisingly, descending angels. The 'whoa-oh-oh-ohs' in the chorus are fantastic, and there's a nifty little solo, proving that Doyle isn't such a fucktard on guitar. Michael's voice is on form here and isn't dominating the music; the drums and guitar are still at the forefront of the sound.

The last above average song on this album is 'Helena'. Based around the film 'Boxing Helena', it's about cutting up the woman you love for some reason I can't quite grasp. Anyway, the main lyric, 'if I cut off your arms and I cut off your legs, would you still love me anyway?' is as shocking to strangers as it is entertaining to fans. When the tempo picks up, the song turns from a slow, stomping pledge into some crazy psycho ballad. It's nothing short of fantastic, and whilst it's closer to metal than it is to the punk of Misfits yesteryear, it's still amazing. They should have ended the album on this song, it would have left a better mark than the stupid King Kong outro they used.
Glenn-o-meter: This is about as violent as you can get, I don't think Glenn could have too many complaints about this one!'

In conclusion, this is an above average rock album, and a pretty tame Misfits album. It's best songs are brilliant, and should be remembered, but there's way too much filler on this record for it to go down as a classic.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

grant_macneil (February 24, 2011)

The gems that makes this album stick out amongst other Misfits albums are the songs Saturday Night and Them, Them especially. Them has a certain lasting quality to it that'll make you hit that replay button until it's broken. I always found it to be a sort of social-critique, despite Michale Graves' Conservative leanings, of the rich and the blatant sense of entitlement they feel they have. As if we made them that way, hence the "man-made monsters" he sings of in the chorus.

All in all, exceptional album, and should not be dismissed at all. Oh, and c'mon guys, EVERY band has a s****y album cover every once in a while...don't let that detract you from the material ON the album.

JustinUCR (June 12, 2007)

i love this record.

Cannsaw (December 23, 2006)

Haha I love the bit at the start where you said you shouldn't dismiss it because it's not Danzig singing.

unknownsoldier (June 6, 2006)

i loved danzigs voice but this album rocked just as hard none the less i loved it

Anonymous (April 6, 2006)

man Gleen Danzig is a douch man Michael is way freekin cooler man he made the famous monsters CD man u cant beat that

miff (April 1, 2006)

somehoe the sickness and sarcasm is lost from the songs now that danzig has gone

Klonny (March 24, 2006)

Eh. I love the new Misfits in relativity to the old Misfits.

I can't do classic Punk.

Anonymous (January 24, 2006)

Ok, people...

I'm sure as soon as you see that Danzig wasn't on this album you immediately hate it. I bet more than half of you haven't even heard the tracks on here..

If you think about it, bands always change when they lose a member or two..they have to adjust to the new style of the new member(s). For example.....take Metallica. When Rob entered the band it all changed..not saying that it was his fault their stuff basically sucks now..well it doesn't necessarily SUCK, but it's just not Metallica. Anyway, that's a different story.

What I'm saying is, basically, that you shouldn't bash this album (or any of the 'Fits new work) without actually listening and thinking about it. Maybe Michael Graves style wasn't the punk stuff of yesterday..but still, as I just said..YESTERDAY. Therefore, the whole "punk" thing wasn't really popular during the time the Misfits resurrected..so, I dunno. And for those of you that say the lyrics are cheesy......if you think about it, Danzig's are pretty cheesy too. But then again, that's what makes them good. This is a good album to put in your stereo and party to!

Anonymous (January 24, 2006)

!!! they rock as hell !!!!
maybe their clothes aren't the best ^^
but the music is just good !

timmytheturtle1039 (December 14, 2005)

buy walk among us

Anonymous (November 27, 2005)

This is a really good album, but I agree completely, they have changed in a very big way. But they are still pretty good. We can't look at them as we did in the past, though. They are a new band now. "Descending Angel" is the best track on this album for me. It emphasizes the degrees of the devil and his followers, a true masterpiece! Go Misfits!!!

-Adriana

Anonymous (November 15, 2005)

i love esta banda

Anonymous (November 15, 2005)

this band is fuckin bad as

Anonymous (June 4, 2005)

can i just say one thing

iv been flicking through this website and all people seem to be doing is scoring stuff on the egos and looks of the band

oh how thoroughly punk you are

try judging it on its mussical quality and not its appearance

i loved the old misfits

and i consider the new misfits a different band as they are nothing like they used to be

none the less this is an awesome recod

try LISTENING!!!

Budde_Boy (July 28, 2004)

Love the originals. These guys are ok. Hate the balzac ones.....

Anonymous (June 17, 2004)

this album fucking rocks!, so dont fucking hate u fucking new misfits haters.

Anonymous (June 1, 2004)

gay wrestlers indeed. jerry only prolly has a clipon devil lock. old bastard.

Anonymous (May 30, 2004)

Help us see the Misfits at Hellfest.

www.supportthecause.tk

Anonymous (May 29, 2004)

Haha, definately agree with BSD's comment about Guns 'n Roses.FUCK THEM THEY FUCKING SUCK DICK

Anonymous (May 27, 2004)

it's called a devillock, now mach schnell

Anonymous (May 27, 2004)

I have this theory that the misfits are gay wrestlers, anyone with me on that one?

Anonymous (May 27, 2004)

Holy Misfits haters in full effect... I actually liked this album, I just think of the Misfits and the Newfits as two seperate bands.

...evildeadalive

Anonymous (May 26, 2004)

For the sake of humanity, please tell me Misfits and brilliance weren't used in the same review.

- Jordan

Anonymous (May 26, 2004)

Why do those guys on the cover have hairstyles like 'Flock of Seagulls'??

notfeelingcreative (May 26, 2004)

I actually like Danzig I and Danzig II, therefore, a Misfits reunion would be alright with me, even though the fact of the matter is it would most definitely be a pistolsesque money making ploy.

notfeelingcreative (May 26, 2004)

DIdn't really like them with Michael Graves, the only reason this CD gets scored this high is for "Saturday Night".

RondoMondo (May 25, 2004)

Misfits, if you are reading this. Please, stop.

Just stop, end the suffering that you put everyone through with your c-c-crappy music.

I'm a fan of the old stuff. I think you guys are only around still for the merchandising.

Anonymous (May 25, 2004)

I didn't like the Misfits even with Danzig... but back then they had STYLE at least!

punkrocker810 (May 25, 2004)

hot damn, the misfits are horrible. songs about killing you girlfriend? come on, lets try not to be gothic kids in the 9th grade. grow up, and especially give up. pretty much just flogging a dead horse having this band go on for as long as it is.

ShamRocknRoll (May 25, 2004)

Why does graves being on conservative punk matter at all?

Score is a rating of the unity in the scene.

joeg (May 25, 2004)

i agree with the glenn assessment. the misfits were special b/c they belonged to a specific time period and bringing it back and mutilating it now, even w/o the fucking replacement singer, is pathetic.

BSD (May 25, 2004)

The cover looks like a little kid's "horror stories" hardbound minibook you'd find in a bargain bin somewhere.

You decide if that's good or bad.

BSD (May 25, 2004)

GnR? What's with talking about that shitty pop metal band in reviews lately? Let the 80's bury it's dead, and don't bring it up again...

Anonymous (May 25, 2004)

I actually like this cd but you can't think of it as misfits.really catchy and graves has a great voice. however, graves is the spokesman for conservativepunk.com so i can't listen to this anymore due to this treacherous move on his part.

Anonymous (May 25, 2004)

yes, it does mean we should just dismiss it.

hey_sailor (May 25, 2004)

Aubin really hit the nail on the head here...however I still think these guys really ought to change the band name. The Misfits are long gone...RIP.

Anonymous (May 25, 2004)

this band fucking suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.

poser ass faggots.

aubin (May 25, 2004)

As much as I love the Misfits, the truth is that this band wouldn't be any better with Glenn back. His bands since the Misfits have a distinct lack of the kind of wry irony that was ever present on the Misfits records, and he went from being a guy who loved horror movies and goofy imagery to a guy who seems to actually take it seriously.

I think the same could be said about the Dead Kennedys. I wouldn't pay attention to the new incarnation with the revolving singers, but putting Jello back in would just be cheesy. Both these bands came from a specific time and place and it seems like things have changed too much for that to work again.

TheNightProwler (May 25, 2004)

I enjoyed this record, but American Psycho was better. Glenn Danzig must hate me now.