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The Dead Milkmen - Death Rides a Pale Cow (Cover Artwork)

The Dead Milkmen

Death Rides a Pale Cow (1997)
Restless

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Contributed by: ChrisGorman
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Published on February 6th 2002


Talk about not getting your due. The Dead Milkmen, one of the most innovative groups ever to be associated in any way with the punk movement, barely recieve any recognitiong by today's scenesters. Granted, this was not a pure punk band by any stretch. They mixed a lot of styles, but most importantly, they wrote a ton of good music. This "best of" collection manages to hit just about every high point of their career.

This disc has all the important classics. Of course, if any Dead Milkmen song recieves attention, its "Punk Rock Girl". This is perhaps the quintessential punk rock love song. Its cheezy, its got an accordian, and it references Minnie Pearl. What more could one want? Seriously, the genius of this song is that it takes all the stereotypes associated with punks, and doesn't so much deflate them as much as it makes them endearing. Over the course of the song, they (vocalist Rodney Anonymous and his punk rock girl) do many "punk" things, including throwing a fit over being forced to order iced tea and riding in a stolen car. This is the girl that every punk guy wants.

The DM's have many other classics to their credit though. "Bitchin' Camaro" is a great tune, and it helped introduce them to the college radio scene. "If you Love Someone, Set Them on Fire" is a ska reworking of a Sting classic, and is another fave of mine. Other classics on this disc include "Beach Party Vietnam", "The Thing That Only Eats Hippies" and "Instant Club Hit". Even more coolness abounds, as the band included previously unreleased early work, "Milkmen Stomp" and "Labor Day". These two songs aren't very good at all, but they have a reckless punk sound to them,which gives them a certain charm. Think early Meat Puppets.

I highly recommend most anything by this band. They could be snotty and obnoxious, but that was a lot of what made them so likable. They helped to set the stage for acts like Nerf Herder and NOFX, groups who are self-depricating, snotty, and somehow, oddly socially-conscious. This is a great introductory disc to a really cool band, and its one of my faves. Check these guys out.





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    Hey_Asshole (November 8, 2007)

    "but they don't know what the queers are doing to the soil!"

    Anonymous (April 29, 2003)

    Dead Milkmen kick ass.the only thing wrong with this album is no "taking retards to the zoo". and by the way, Joe (guitarist) sings "Punk Rock Girl" not Rodney. everyone knows that.

    Anonymous (March 1, 2002)

    great band, my favorite song is stewart its hilarious

    Anonymous (February 27, 2002)

    hurray for the dead milkmen and hurray for fat ben

    seek (February 26, 2002)

    The Dead Milkmen get my cock rock.

    wyzo (February 26, 2002)

    who doesnt love for pure kitsch value the milkmen?

    and for the reviewer 'is your name chris gorman?'

    wyzo

    evildeadalive (February 26, 2002)

    Finally a Dead Milkmen review!! I was, and maybe still am, going to do a review on Big Lizard In My Backyard. Which, by the way, is their best in my humble opinion. Havent heard this yet, but I'm sure it's pretty damn good.

    baldsteve (February 26, 2002)

    NO! The Dead Milkmen rule, BUT don't recommend a fake-ass greatest hits record. Greatest Hits records are for housewives and little girls.

    As an introduction get 'BIG LIZARD IN MY BACKYARD'

    It's incredible, start to finish.
    No need to comment on the songs, they all fucking rule. How can you go wrong with songs like 'Gorilla Girl' and 'Dean's Dream' wow.

    Any of you kids that are just getting into stuff missed out on an awesome band.

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