As a long-haired, bearded, 38-year-old punk rock fan, I have an inkling of how Arizona alternative pioneers the Meat Puppets must have felt when hardcore and punk fans questioned their genre credibility throughout the group's expansive mid-'80s experiments. It's not always easy to maneuver through this world, after all, when a person's appearance does not match up with his or her behavior or interests. It can be even harder to contain conflicting multitudes in the world of pop music. But I'm not complaining, if only because the rebellious spirit of bands like this continues to inspire me as an aging Generation X-er who has arrived extremely late for a lot of great '80s music.
1984's Meat Puppets II is a wonderfully confounding record that scoffs at traditional boundaries, and its lead-off track, the wonderfully manic "Split Myself in Two," feels like an uncalibrated industrial machine about to self-destruct and spit sharp metal components at unsuspecting bystanders. That's a sparkling rock and roll compliment, by the way, in case there's any mystery as to my viewpoint on this underrated band. Start with this album, perhaps, but don't stop there. Even more importantly, cut your expectations loose before the ride begins.
- Sample or download "Split Myself In Two" here.
- Compare prices on Meat Puppets CDs here.
- Top 10 Albums of 1984
- College Rock Genre Profile
Album Cover Image Courtesy of Ryko/Rhino
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