The Dwarves

The Dwarves: Blood Guts & PussyBlood Guts & Pussy (1990)
Sub Pop Records

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: Nick_VNick_V
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on March 25th 2008Before I even get started, I'm curious to see if the editors of this fine website will post a picture of the actual album cover along with this review. If they rule in favor of good taste (and a website that won't get you in trouble at work), I'll describe it for you -- two skinny broads, fully nude.

Before I even get started, I'm curious to see if the editors of this fine website will post a picture of the actual album cover along with this review. If they rule in favor of good taste (and a website that won't get you in trouble at work), I'll describe it for you -- two skinny broads, fully nude, and a small Asian man, white towel concealing his naughty bits, all splattered liberally with gallons of blood and looking half-dazed, as if they just came walking out of a Manson family reunion. I haven't seen a better literal translation of an album's title through its artwork since Primus' Sailing the Seas of Cheese.

Some might be incredulous to find out that this bad boy was released in 1990 by none other than Sub Pop records, a label known nowadays for putting out large numbers of plastic discs of emotional novocaine for gaunt, epicene twentysomethings with asymmetrical haircuts who insist on using salad forks and have been allowed to flourish due to a lamentable lack of natural predators. Sorry, I digress.

Yes, Nick, how about discussing the actual MUSIC? Sonically, this album is a far cry from the crooning, Warped-friendly pop-punk of the Dwarves' later days. Imagine the Stooges' self-titled album played at 77 RPM and interwoven with a pubic-hair tapestry of hilariously repugnant lyrics likely transcribed from Andrew Dice Clay routines and the sharpie-scribbled, jaundice-yellow walls of squalid bus station bathrooms nationwide. From the opening seconds, Blood Guts & Pussy pulls a 12-track train on your eardrums, mixing classic buzzsaw hardcore riffs and frenetic drumset-thrashing á la Verbal Abuse with sneering, decipherable vocals. It's melodic and catchy, but in a far different way from their later albums.

With 12 songs clocking in at a total of just over 13 minutes, sensible shoppers might be inclined to seek out more bang (I should be careful with my words) for their buck. However, for the rest of us, I can't imagine a better antidote to the stultifying miasma of cloying Nickelback love ballads and stone-faced straight-edge neo-puritanism. I look forward to hearing you request this album by title at Tower Records.

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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.

cheddar (July 24, 2009)

Much like alot of bands... THIS BAND HAS GONE SOOOOO DOWNHILL!!!! this album is great, just traditional punk rock, short, loud, fast. excellent music for someone with a great sense of humor and a short attention span.

SilentStorms (March 29, 2008)

The Young and Good-Looking was the only album I purchased from these guys. I remember it being pretty good. Score is for that album.

lushj (March 28, 2008)

This is a stone-cold classic. No guitar solos, no bullshit, just the power of the Dwarves in their 8-minute set days!

1. Blood Guts & Pussy
2. Toolin for a Warm Teabag
3. Young & Good Looking

WainscottRockCity (March 27, 2008)

The music unfortunately doesn't live up to the attitude. I recommended listening to "Dwarves are Young and Good-Looking", that album kicks ass.

clamum (March 27, 2008)

Punk rock.

teeto (March 27, 2008)

This band is fuckin rad. Last summer at Lambi Blag kept saying " I am Jesus, and we are rock gods".

ibitchslappedyourmama (March 26, 2008)

free cocaine

halfcutskeleton (March 26, 2008)

Awesome badn and album but sort of lame review.

Nick_V (March 26, 2008)

RE: You're right, Tower records is closed; and yes, I suppose that is a rabbit. Thanks for the heads-up.

Both of these oversights are likely due to the fact that I wrote this review at 4:45 AM yesterday morning when I couldn't sleep. I'm pleased to see it up in less than 24 hours.

I never realized this until recently, but in "Me Myself & Irene," Jim Carrey is singing along to the song "Motherfucker" off this album while pounding the steering wheel of his car. Classic scene - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNU3vd4ZxA0

anotherboringstory (March 26, 2008)

Dwarves are FUCKING AWESOME, but I like their later stuff a lot more than this.

bryne (March 26, 2008)

I'd go with The Thermals with Pissed Jeans a moderately distant second.

theyounginfluential (March 26, 2008)

best sub pop band currently? Pissed Jeans, that band is fucking nuts. score is for them.

freesandwich (March 26, 2008)

score is for titties

cuffer (March 26, 2008)

Dude you totally beat me to it. I couldnt believe there wasn't already a review to this. Props for reviewing it.

This CD is PUNK.
Fuck you up and get high is my jam.

Cire (March 25, 2008)

That's not a towel, that's not a towel at all!

Yep, Jimmy, that's a rabbit.

wentz_equals_death (March 25, 2008)

tower records is gooone, maaaan

MaxEThunders (March 25, 2008)

The Dwarves are an awesome band to listen to if you wanna have some fun and not hear about the gov't fucking you for a while.

GlassPipeMurder (March 25, 2008)

wow. and i thought the cover of The Dwarves Come Clean was naughty.