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Meat Puppets

Meat Puppets II
1984
SST

Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II (Cover Artwork)

Review by: BrandonSideleau
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Published on September 11th 2005

Between the years of 1984 and 1987 there were few record labels in the world releasing as many truly classic, essential albums as Greg Ginn's SST label. At this point in history, SST was quite possibly the most important influence on independent music in the United States. This is probably due in part to Ginn's tendency to sign bands that stray from the "norm" a bit, and succeed enormously in their experimentation. The legendary Meat Puppets were one of the many brilliantly unclassifiable bands on SST records.

For those of you not familiar with the Meat Puppets, they blend basic hardcore punk with everything from alternative country, folk, jazz, and blues, and the combination works much better than one could ever imagine. I myself am no fan of country in any form, but I adore the Meat Puppets, so don't let that description put you off. Their greatest and most legendary album is 1984's Meat Puppets II which is, obviously, the second Puppets album after their more straight up hardcore-orientated debut. This is the Meat Puppet's Zen Arcade; it's brilliant and groundbreaking from beginning to end.

Some of my personal favorites off this album are the quirky hardcore blast "Split Myself In Two," the amazing and grim "Lake Of Fire" (which gained much popularity in the mid-nineties when Nirvana covered it along with two other tracks from this album), "Magic Toy Missing" is a hyperactive, country-flavored instrumental, and "Plateau" has an almost "Fugazi-ish" sound to it (yes, I know this album was released 3 years before Fugazi's formation).

Everything on this album, from the tight musicianship to the deliciously off-key vocals (and huge influence on Kurt Cobain's vocal style), is a landmark. If you don't own it yet, go out and get it NOW. There's no excuse not to have this record, along with the rest of the records from SST's "glory days."

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Posted by faster on 2007-05-24 05:18:54
My Score:

Can't pick between this and their first 7" for my fave Meat Puppets release, but irrespective it's a very solid record.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 8:45 AM (EDT)

Good record choice. I used to listen to II all the time when I was a kid. Then I moved to a college town and heard Lake of Fire played all the time and I would get excited and then listen closer and hear it's the OTHER version and whomever is playing it has never heard of the Puppets.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 15, 2005 at 1:17 AM (EDT)
My Score:

when i first heard it I was disappointed but that thing grew on me

Posted by blade-runner on 2005-09-11 23:55:34
My Score:

This album reminds of me of when you're driving through the country/outback regions in San Andreas.

oh, assuming you're playing the game whilst stoned, of course.

Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-11 19:20:10
My Score:

Damn that sucks....oh well, let's enjoy the music.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-11 18:33:03

http://punknews.org/article.php?sid=9857

there it is. the basist got shot, but not before hitting the guard with his own baton....

- jones

Posted by Crookedsuperhero on 2005-09-11 17:02:29

I thought the Meat Puppets guy hit him and then got shot by the guard?

Either way, great story....

Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-09-11 16:36:06

Wasn't that the Meatmen's bassist? A band inferior to the Meat Puppets which many not aquainted with their music mistake them as.

Posted by hubitcherkokov on 2005-09-11 15:57:25

Anyone else remember when the Meat Puppets bassist shot a security guard a year or two ago over a parking space?

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 1:39 PM (EDT)
My Score:

this review made me happy. i've been on a crazy meat puppets kick lately and like most people, i feel this is their best. not sure how exactly to verbalize it other than to say everything about it is perfect.

Posted by Bryne on 2005-09-11 11:22:16

Great album. Definitely worth a five star rating.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 5:25 AM (EDT)

This is an amazing record. I got it on vinyl off the SST site a couple years back, it should still be there for around ten bills, if you got the money...I'd say pick it up and if you're new to 83-87 SST...pick up Minutemen's Double Nickels on The Dime, Husker Du's Zen Arcade and I'd say also if you really are that deprived...Black Flag's My War...I hate to sound like a commercial but they're all available on vinyl through SST's site...I say this cause over the years I've picked up almost the entire catalog available on vinyl over the years and I'm really happy with it and is it just me or would anyone else reallreally like to see Greg Ginn resurect SST?

Posted by SomeoneAnonymous on 2005-09-11 04:52:57

This album fucking rules.

Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-09-11 03:51:35
My Score:

excellent album, great review.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 2:55 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Brandon's my personal hero when it comes to the classics. Definitely a great record. You gottta show some love to SST way back then and now.

Ramo

Posted by SenorRefresco on 2005-09-11 02:50:58

My first impression of this album was that it was weird as fuck. 5 years later it's become one of my favorite albums and I still think it's weird as fuck.

Posted by fistchode on 2005-09-11 02:22:50

I love classic reviews.. I can usually read all 10 reviews with genuine interest.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, September 11, 2005 at 2:22 AM (EDT)

Yes, agreed. I understand why everyone's so anti-country with all this bullshit around. But man I wish people would stop writing off the whole genre, seriously.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-09-11 01:24:06

i'm glad brandon's a reviewer on this site.

he always reviews the good classic shit...either that or he hogs it, but either way, good review

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com