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 (Megaforce/Shock)
I never want to listen to this again
Like many, I only really know of the work of Meat Puppets through the covers that appeared on Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged. While I am reliably told that many of their earlier records are quite good, I am afraid I cannot say the same for Lollipop. For the most part, the record is a bland affair, resembling something akin to the bastard child of ‘90s indie rock and alt-country. Kirkwood’s vocals, presumably suffering from years of substance abuse, are devoid of anything resembling enthusiasm. In fact, he sounds like he may not be far off investing in one of those Stephen Hawking-style mechanical voice boxes. Guitars, drums, and bass – on Lollipop, everything sounds undercooked. Thematically, the band seems to spend a lot of the time asking pointless, philosophical ‘why do bears shit in the woods?’ questions. On Incomplete, Kirkwood croons, “why does the sun rise in the western wind?” Well Meat Puppets, I get the feeling that physics explains this phenomenon well enough. Lantern, which does have a likeable melody, proves undone by horribly mawkish lyrics. Otherwise, the band tends towards a set of irritating self-conscious songs such as the confusingly titled Way That It Are and Amazing. While it is not a totally failed project – Shave It and Baby Don’t are passably enjoyable – these isolated moments cannot hide the fact that the band sounds like a bunch of sad old dudes a hairsbreadth from fulfilling a suicide pact, haplessly playing power-pop songs in vain attempt to escape the inevitable.
*½
DARRAGH MURRAY
1. Written by Stella W., on 28-06-2011 17:57
Another hipster critic misses the point entirely. Mr. Murray must be cheesed because the boss chewed him out for being two months behind on his reviews. Lolli's a STUNNING album, PAUL LEARY said it's "like a phoenix rising from the ashes", the Pupps just got back from an EPIC European tour AND they'll be touring the U.S. through the fall. Every show: absolutely killer. No way that "sad old dudes" etc. etc. could pull that off. |
2. Written by Darragh, on 29-06-2011 10:56
Hi Stella. I'm sorry you disagree with me but you know, these things happen. You talk about me missing the point, but then simply refer to Paul Leary's opinion and the quality of their live shows. So you'll have to illuminate me further on what the point specifically is. |
3. Written by Darragh, on 29-06-2011 14:50
I wish I had mentioned in the review that the cover looks like someone vomited in a cd case. |
4. Written by vicray, on 02-03-2012 17:01
ya know what zappa says about rock critics.you sound like you have a grudge against them..doesnt matter if ya like em or not your ragging on a classic band that brought us great songs to enjoy for life..thats way more than u. |
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