It's been a discovering albums that I missed at the time kind of day for me. Firstly the second two Mr Bungle albums blew my socks off (If Brian Wilson, Zappa and Jello Biafra collaborated on an album, it might sound like "Caliafornia") and lastly this one.
From 1987, what I always took to be a thrash metal album from the reputation of the band, possibly with very dubious political overtones... but actually it's a masterpiece.
Strange range of songs, starting with a Stan Ridgeway (!) cover and then expanding out into songs that sound like funky Black Sabbath or Bad Brains even with a metally Jonathan Richman/Lou Reed type singing, and then there's female vocal counterpoints ranging from soul to opera. A couple of tracks sound like Tackhead or On-U Sound System and there's Baudelaire recited by a woman to a string section! It's completly nuts, surprisingly melodic and restlessly experimental, but really listenable. I remember some of the proper metal fans at school had this when it came out, I wonder what they made of it. I certainly should have paid more attention.
Anyone got this? What do you think and what else should I check out by them?
I'm just really chuffed that I've heard 3 truly great albums for the first time today!
Paul
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