Meat Puppets II

This scuzzy, varied and occasionally beautiful album continues to surprise me, 15 years since I thought I'd check out the band that wrote the best bits of Nirvana Unplugged. On a good day, it's in my all time top 10.

I think this is pretty rubbish. The songs don't have much form to them at all, they're just kind of loose and chaotic. I don't like the singing at all. It's so whiny and weak and nothing. It's kind of telling that the best track is the instrumental one.

Woof, vocals rough. The instrumentals were pretty good, but not good enough to redeem.

Not only do I hate this but I hate anyone who likes it.

Like being stuck at a party with an annoying know it all who thinks that they’re much cleverer and edgier than they are. Or talking to an ‘artist’ who has no clue, and turns out they’re a real estate agent and cross fit trainer. Boring, annoying and really not worth anything.

I sometimes think the requirement to get on this list is to have an album that is anti-melody. I suppose the art of Rock n Roll is being anti-establishment and not sounding like old people. If that’s the requirement for this list, then this album qualifies. I just enjoy melody with my protest poetry. This album had a mixture of out of tune guitars and screaming vocals, ala Nirvana without the heroin. But then it had some beats that had me tapping my fingers. So there’s something there… 2.1/5.

This is a foundational album. It sees the Meat Puppets soften their punk/hardcore edge and introduce elements of country rock. The result is an incredibly textured album that is punctuated by the half screamed lead vocals. As a whole it just works. It's fascinating how much I can hear the rumblings of grunge in this album. I knew I would have to reckon with the Meat Puppets eventually, but I am very glad I did.

Yes, yes and yes. Give me that dissonant noisy goodness. This is just so raw and honest that I can’t find it anything less than perfect.

One of the best American Guitar albums ever made.

9/10 fantastic album it’s just so fun and weird I like Up on the Sun a little bit more, it’s got a more proggy edge to it but yeah both these albums are great

Wasn't convinced by this but it grew on me. The singers voice can be quite grating. I listened again this morning and enjoyed it much more. Think I preferred the slower songs. Recognised "lake of fire" but not sure where from. Highlights: Split myself in two Plateau Aurora borealis Think I'll probably be back! 3.5 but feeling generous

Man this was a rough one and I'm only giving 2 stars because the Instrumentation was pretty good, because otherwise I cannot point to one song on the album I enjoyed, I thought it was really bad actually. I think there's fun to be had for sure but the lead vocalist cannot sing for shit and that ruins almost every song on here I genuinely was considering giving it the lowest score for that but upon reflection it has energy to it, the instrumentation is good and I respect what it's going for but none of the songs are good so going to slap it with 2 stars baby.

A great example of why I’m doing this. It’s an odd album, kind of all over the place, but I’ve found myself really enjoying it. I’m really glad to have heard it, and I would totally listen to it again. Is it a 5? Yeah, I think it is.

We're all just a bunch of Meat Puppets controlled by the evil corporate government and secret societies. They all tell me that I should give this five stars... "Thank you, sir. May I have another...

Love this - besides the big songs that Nirvana made famous, the whole album is a mish-mash of punk psychedelia, country rock and generally good vibes. It's especially more unique due to it's rough edges, which kind of puts in a class of it's own.

Meat Puppets II Zippy Animal from the Muppets Orville Roland Rat Kim Jong Il from Team America Meat Puppets aren’t going to break into that list, even though I liked this. There’s a nice amount of charm to it, the alt/punk/indie/psychedelic country looseness and stoned slackery chaos really grew on me. Split Myself in Two feels like a bit of aimless thrash and doesn’t really indicate what the rest of the album is like. Magic shows the slightly wonky charm of things, a nice sped up bit of punky country, which continues with the slightly Byrdsian and edgy Lost. Plateau is great of course, and Cobain’s choice of this, So Me and Lake of Fire show what a good ear he had. Climbing is fine as a bit of woozy country and I really like Aurora Borealis’s little hook and spaced out feel, and We’re Here is a great bit of plaintive, careworn alt rock with a great bass line. Although I don’t mind the riff, New Gods has quite a similar aimless feel as the first track. I’m A Mindless Idiot is really nice, the guitar interplay is great, a lovely instrumental track. The Whistling Song has a similar feel to We’re Here, a nice bit of wonky stoned alt-rock. This got better and more interesting with each listen, it’s charm percolating to the surface, and despite a bit of unevenness with the more thrashy/punky tracks it’s a really interesting and idiosyncratic listen. It’s on the margins of 3 and 4, I’ll settle on a high 3. I’ll definitely come back to it outside Split Myself in Two and New Gods, and I think it will continue to grow on me 🍖🍖🍖 Playlist submission: I’m a Mindless Idiot

fleshy fingerbobs

pleasingly weird but so noodly

Compare this album's average rating of 2.97 against Nirvana's Nevermind rating of Nevermind at 4.41 and come up with a head scratcher. Nirvana was essentially a Meat Puppets cover band and because some guy bit into the wrong end of a shotgun, they have the third highest rated album on this list. Nirvana is and was overrated. Meat Puppets are all over the place and can't follow a musical thread. 3/5.

I saw another punk album and cringed. But these guys were waaaay better than expected. Still not great - what's up with the deliberately shitty singing? - but rising far above my expectations. I hear Kurt Cobain in some of their songs... I even almost liked the guitar and bass interplay on the instrumental tracks. Rounding down to 2 stars.

Well. I first heard of the meat puppets because it seemed like Cobain loved them. I always like following the thread of your favorite artists favorite artist. And for a time nirvana was it. But they covered plateau and lake of fire on that really nice unplugged. So I had some knowledge of who these guys were going into this. But I was blown away. It's so good. Packed with a ton of great songs and great instrumental jams. I can't usually abide those vocaless tracks but these kept my attention better than any others I've seen I'm a long time. Just tons of great riffs and melodies. Must listen for any grunge head

An all-time favorite of mine. Psychedelic country punk that gives the feeling of laying in the dirt while gazing up at the heavens. It’s got everything you need - thrashy punkers, acid-fried country tunes, quality instrumental jams, obscure lyrics that have depth as you dig in, bad singing (in the most perfect and fitting way), great guitar (shredding pickers, spacey echoing spirals, nimble acoustic solos), and a band that stays tight despite feeling like they can fall apart at any minute. In other words, it’s perfect.

The Good: An album named after the artist… The Bad: It’s not their freshmen attempt… The Ugly: Figuring out that Meat Puppets isn’t a reference to porn… Though I am not certain, it would not surprise me a bit if there are many people who are attempting this 1001 album listening journey, that they get to a point where “having to listen to a new album every day” stops being a fun endeavor, and instead becomes a chore… and we all hate chores! Due to the above, at times, I kind of skip a day, or two, and then try to catch up by listening to several album during one day… and today would be one of those days. Now, why am I bringing this up? Well, prior to listening to this album, I listened to Nirvana’s In Utero, and ranked that 3* as I could not find too much pleasure in listening to it.. The Meat Puppets, a band I’d heard off, however, I can’t recall having listened to any of there albums before today… and holy cow. These guys are the genesis of so many bands, from an influence standpoint, that it’s not even funny. It’s sad! Sad that it has taken me 40 years to start listening to them. Though not worth 5*, I am going to give them that score because of the albums I have been listening to, with great pleasure, might I add, over the past decades, which are clearly directly influenced by these gentlemen!

Noisy hardcore from Phoenix. Fast, punk rock. Some songs covered by Nirvana later. Super fast country influences, fun! Incredibly varied rock album with great instrumentals.

Well this one was a gem for sure. I've heard of the Meat Puppets, but never really listened to them. I was pleasantly surprised! I hadn't realized that Nirvana covered a few of these tracks. I also just genuinely liked the whole thing. Each track was something new and I never got bored. It's albums like this that make this project worth while.

A great surprise! Didnt know the band. The band is great!

Amazing album. I know Nirvana took inspiration from this band and I feel like I could get something out of listening to it as well. I really like the folk rock kind of sound, kinda grunge but not really. The instruments in this album arent held to a high level of musicianship, but that doesnt take away from them. The songs on this album seem really fun to play.

Best so far, off beat without being up its own backside.

I understand why Kurt Cobain loved Meat Puppets so much after listening to this album. There is so much fun and interesting song writing, paired with off-kilter punk instrumentals. The vocals scratch an itch that I didn't even know I had. While I don't think there are a ton of standout songs on this project, It still borders on a 5, and I have to give it the benefit of the doubt. Best Songs: Plateau, Lake of Fire Worst Songs: NA

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🎨🖼️👂 Production: 🧏‍♂️📏💩 Music: 🌵🍷♥️ Rating: 👂👂👂👂(👂)/5

Solid

excellent! A hidden gem of noise rock. I am probably influenced by hearing it by Nirvana first, but very good!

Awesome album. Really raw and unique.

Well consider me one of the people that learned today that Plataeu and Lake of Fire are not Nirvana songs and instead come from the Meat Puppets. This album is weird, mixes genres that normally aren't in the same room together, and is notably unpolished, and it stands out for all of those reasons. I think the 3 songs that appear on MTV Unplugged are probably the best here, but I enjoyed the other jamming bluegrass stuff the Meat Puppets performed here. My favorite is probably Aurora Borealis.

I actually like a lot of this better than Nirvana, and that's saying something.

Lots of interesting things going on in here.

There's been quite a few albums my group has gotten where I've found myself thinking about Kurt Cobain and, more specifically, his last list of his 50 favorite albums. Pretty often, I find myself wanting to refer to it when I'm listing an album's accolades: "Not only did ROLLING STONE name this one of the 500 greatest albums of all time, but Kurt Cobain dug it enough to write it down on a list!" That sorta deal. And I find myself wondering, why **do** I keep doing that? Do I really hold Cobain's opinion in the same high regard that I apparently do ROLLING STONE? Which, even as much importance as I throw on it, I still recognize as just being a list like any other. Well, this is the first time I've thought about Cobain's favorite albums list and it's actually mattered. After all, Cobain did have Nirvana cover three songs from it during their MTV Unplugged special. They even had two of the band members join them. Like, really, consider: out of 50 minutes, Nirvana spent 1/5th of it, ten straight minutes playing the Meat Puppets' music. They must have meant something to him. And even if it weren't for that, I think I'd still always think about the Meat Puppets in relation to Nirvana. I mean, as far as I know, Nirvana's the big (or maybe only) reason why they got picked up by a major label. (Just like the Butthole Surfers — although in their case, Nirvana was absolutely the only reason.) However, this album was released **long** before Nirvana blew up, so let's just rewind the clock and allow me to ask myself the simple question: what even **is** its deal, anyway? To begin with, I wasn't expecting it to be as... Country and bluegrass as it was. Like, the three songs Nirvana covered probably should've clued me in, and it's not like I was expecting Snot, but I really did think that, on average, the tempos here would be a little bit quicker than they are, y'know? That said, though, I did like what I heard quite a bit. You can attribute that to how much I do like country music, so a lot of this clicked pretty snugly with me. Particularly on the instrumentals — which, that's another thing I didn't know there would be, but they're so nice. "I'm A Mindless Idiot" especially, goodness. And hey, most of this album being country and Americana tinged does a big favor to the songs where they **do** get louder and/or faster; they're a nice change of pace. So, hey, I suppose you can call me "pleasantly surprised" with this whole endeavor. I can't be 100% on what Kurt might've seen in it, but whatever he did, hey, I'll probably agree. (And it's actually funny I keep bringing up Kurt and his favorite albums list, 'coz as it turns out, this album isn't actually on there. Yeah, surprisingly. Public Enemy's IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS is, but not the album he devoted time on his band's big MTV special to. Crazy.) But even that aside, this gets a pretty big thumbs up from me and... Aw, heck. I'll give a 5? Why not? Maybe it's just because I wanna keep my streak of 5's up, but I really can't think of anything that'd make me wanna bump it down. Maybe the lead singer's vocals if I wasn't already pretty used to that kind of tone. And I suppose it didn't exactly wow or amaze me like so many other 5's do, but, hey, I'm wanna be generous with an extra point. This music vibes, bangs... And whatever other words the kids these days use to describe music (I'm still 26). It wouldn't make **my** list of favorite albums, but it's one I'd be happy to come back to.

Wow, this is what keeps me doing 5 albums a week Probably annoying to read, but worth saying. My only exposure to the MPs beforehand were the legendary nirvana covers in their unplugged show. Which I thought would sound better to me, but I actually prefer the Meat Puppets originals I loved this album and was completely hooked from ~start to finish. The music is complex, but not over the top, lyrics weird and deep. Genre spanning song selection. The influence on later bands is super clear - grunge, 90s/00s punk (Climbing had to of inspired some CAKE songs) We’re here sounds like an REM song, New Gods belongs on Tony Hawk Pro Skater, Im A Mindless Idiot sounds like a Led Zeppelin song, What To Do more CAKE 😂, 100% Of Nothing sounds like a Phish jam. And god damn, this came out in 1984 lol… if I played this next to Poison or Guns N Roses, Id shit myself.

Great hillbilly punk.

I was listening to this and really enjoyed Plateau but it wasn't until Lake of Fire until I realized Nirvana was covering these guys during their Unplugged set. Great complexity and an album I had never heard before. I'm glad I gave it a second listen and found a lot more as I went further in. I feel a strong 4 right now but something tells me if I had the time for another listen it would bump it up, so I'm going for it.

A very interesting fusion of country and punk. A meaty sound. I was never a huge fan of Nirvana, but the covers they did from this. Just never chased it down. I need more time with this. If I was back walking home from school listening to this, I would love just getting lost in this. I had an album by a Canadian band The Sadies back then, similar kind of sound. I'm a Midless Idiot is hitting a sweet spot.

Rules. That is all. 5 stars.

Foundational album - This is actually a must-listen. Helped to establish a sound that defined a generation (or something). 5/5

So cool to listen to such an influential sound. Glad they got some credit from Nirvana but probably deserve more.

Now we're cooking! This is a top like... 3 SST release, right?

A feverish, confusing album unlike any other. I really enjoyed it, and have gotten a lot of my several relistens. It somewhat chaotically traverses genres in between songs to the point one cannot predict where it will go at any point in the album. I've yet to hear any band even attempt this approach to an album. For its highly unique and effective style, I love what it does.

interesting to learn that nirvana was just a meat puppets cover band

Great album.

damn good album

Really fantastic stuff. Creative song writing. Edgy. Unique. Dig it.

5/5

Meat Puppets. Funny how I never knew that Lake of Fire by Nirvana was first by these guys. This album is from 1984, but it sounds more like the 90s. I guess I can hear the punk sound in this first track a bit. I've never heard any of their music, let alone listened to one of their albums front to back. This will be fun. Diggin it man! Plateau sounded a lot like Lake of Fire. Ooooh Teenager(s). I like that one! great intro.

Killer

Excellent stuff, really unique for its time

Somehow the meat puppets have always been just outside my radar. I missed out, this was great. I'll definitely listen again.

Laid back indie rock whose influence you can hear in many bands that came after, especially one in particular.

i had never listened to this album, though i was aware of the meat puppets before this as a big nirvana influence and one of those "weird" bands like ween. this totally exceeded whatever expectations i had for it. the great instrumentation, the genre exploration, the eccentric and odd vocals, the art on the cover, everything was just wacky and cool. i definitely understand how people wouldn't like this, but it kinda made my day. listened to it twice and added a bunch of songs to my current playlists. favorites: tracks 1-2, 4-5, and 8-13

Avant-garde

Fuck yeah. I was so happy to see this on the list. This is a great mashup of a lot of stuff that I love. Just an acid fueled backyard singalong vibe.

My wheelhouse

Бля ну просто классика нахуй

Sykt bra album

Oof, that was great. So many great ideas put coherently together within only 30 minutes of music. I can see why it has to be on this list and the influence it might have had on generations of musicians. It's also actually the first time I listen to the original versions of Plateau, Oh Me and Lake of Fire; that was fun.

It's honestly a perfect album.

Although the production on this album was some of the worst I've ever heard in my life, I can absolutely understand why an album like this is on the list. This is unique and solid songcraft and I absolutely see the historical significance.

Easy 5 and new favorite album!

BL: This album is absolutely one of my favourites of all time. From the first time I heard plateau when I was maybe 17 approaching 18, working a job in a kitchen far out in the middle of the woods I felt some kind of deep resonance with it. \"There ain't nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop, and an illustrated book about birds\", has got to be one of my favourite lyrics of all time, period. The guitar in this album is phenomenal and the tones created are truly unique. This was the best time of year to get this album too, quickly approaching the summertime and the first day of the year I'm wearing shorts to work. The summer vibes from this album are immaculate, and I'm glad this is the first album to mark the start of the summer 2024 listening season. It is also around the year anniversary since I started my journey. Very cool stuff. AL: Nothing much to add besides this holds up and only continues to age like a fine wine FT: "Plateau", "Aurora Borealis", "Climbing", "Lake of Fire" 5/5

An album that I hadn't spent too much time before but short enough to listen a few times today. I enjoyed it very much.

I love this era of music. Reminds me of The minutemen or the strapping fieldhands, or the gibson brothers. Punk bros who are influenced by country music and just get in and pick like crazy to some pretty uptempo stuff. i love it.

I imagine if an early 70's Jerry Garcia did a collaboration with Minor Threat it might sound a little like the Meat Puppets. The band is a 5 star band, this album might fall a little short of 5 stars for me but I'll round it up.

Great record that showcases their ability to thrash or twang. Never gets old.

I really enjoyed this album. It's sort of crazy and off the wall, with tons of different sounds and styles. And the one singer's voice can take a while to get used to. But I really loved listening to it and listened to it twice back to back.

This was unlike anything I had heard before. I liked it!

I had no idea how influential this album was to Kurt Cobain until I listened to it.

Seminal record. Just an absolute classic from an underrated band.

Nirvana did covers of "Oh, Me", "Plateau", and "Lake of Fire", but I think that Meat Puppets did it better.

I've only heard of Meat Puppets from the Nirvana Unplugged album, which means I was already familiar with three songs off this album. I've always wanted to check them out because of that and I'm loving this so far. I wasn't expecting so much rockabilly/country in their sound. Combined with some fuzzed out grunge guitar and punk style, it adds up to an awesome sound. It's just rough and loose enough to sound feral and weird but the musicianship and songwriting are still excellent. The country/folk instrumentals on this are fantastic. This is one of my favorite albums from the list in a while. Great songs and a unique style. I’m curious to dig into the lyrics a little more.

This album is lightning in a bottle, I have always loved it. It taps so many areas that interest me and pulls them together in a way nobody else had done before, punk, country. Beat poetry, psychedelic and a touch of humor. All beautifully played. I do think It’s one of the greatest albums.

so mcuh fun. holy shit

If it wasn't for Nirvana I would have never heard of the Meat Puppets. Now they show up on this list. It is Effing great! Standouts: Plateau, Lost, Magic Toy Missing, Aurora Borealis, Climbing, Oh Me, Lake of Fire, What to Do (bonus), 100% of Nothing (Bonus) Others: Split Myself in Two, We're Here, New Gods, I'm a Mindless Idiot, Whistling Song 4.5

So so good.

Great album, realized I already knew a couple of the songs as Nirvana had covered those on their Unplugged live album.

Love it

What a fun album. It’s punk. It’s rockabilly. It’s country rock. It’s just a boatload of fun.

I feel like so many of these 80s bands just flew under my radar. Probably because I was like four years old when this came out. But I think even my four-year-old self would have liked this. It's whimsical and light without ever becoming cloying, with some great tunes and lovely noodley little guitar bits. Just a perfectly formed album.

Phenomenal. Never gets old, so great and never duplicated. One of the best albums ever recorded. 10/10

One of the most important albums in my life. The Whistling Song is my song until the day I die.

I was sitting there listening to this album thinking, \"wow, this sounds very similar to some of the early Ween stuff,\" low and behold the Dean Ween and Meat Puppets at one point did tour so that slight hunch was correct. Yeah, bloody loved it. A quirky but upbeat album, good stuff. Wish there were a few more vocal tracks is all, just to hear more great stuff from them! Stand out songs: - Plateau - New Gods - What To Do - Aura Borealis - I know I said I wanted more vocal tracks but this is good stuff right here!

Good

Excellent! 4.5/5

Just great! I knew it before but listening to it always makes fun

Another gem that I wouldn't have found without this project. I knew of their Nirvana connection but never really listened before and this album rips. It's a little uneven but overall it answers a question I never thought of asking: What if "Nevermind" had been left out in the Arizona sun instead of the Seattle rain?

Not knowingly listened to this before, surprised to find some familiar sounding tracks..Overall, a mixed bag, interestingly eclectic rather than all over the place annoying and ultimately I rather enjoyed it.

3.7 2x didn't know much about this band or that they were the originators of Lake of Fire. great song and album.

Pretty chill album which also happened to be influential in making one of the most famous bands of all time (Nirvana).

Good album, seemed fairly experimental. Will check out more of their work.

Classic

The two biggest influences on Kurt Cobain - Meat Puppets and Houmous & Chutney! 4.2

3.5/5

## In-Depth Review: *Meat Puppets II* by Meat Puppets Released in 1984, *Meat Puppets II* stands as a landmark album in American underground rock, fusing punk, country, psychedelia, and folk into a singular, genre-defying statement. This review will examine the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, concluding with a balanced assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Lyrics **Surrealism, Existentialism, and American Oddity** Curt Kirkwood’s lyrics on *Meat Puppets II* are a marked departure from the band’s earlier, more abrasive punk output. Instead of nihilistic rants, the album offers a surreal, almost dreamlike journey through the American Southwest, with words that evoke both existential ponderings and whimsical absurdity. Tracks like “Plateau” and “Oh, Me” are filled with cryptic imagery—“There’s nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop / And an illustrated book about birds”—that suggest a search for meaning in a world of mundane details[1][3]. The lyrics frequently blur the line between the profound and the playful. “Lake of Fire,” for example, tackles themes of afterlife and damnation with a sardonic edge, while “Lost” and “We’re Here” capture a sense of wanderlust and cosmic uncertainty, often reflecting the band’s own desert origins[1][3]. Curt’s delivery, sometimes fragile and quavering, adds an earnestness that makes even the most bizarre lines feel deeply felt[1]. **Pros:** - Unique, surreal lyricism that stands apart from both punk and country traditions. - Emotional honesty and vulnerability, especially in tracks like “Oh, Me.” - Lyrics open to interpretation, encouraging repeated listening and personal connection. **Cons:** - Some listeners may find the lyrics too opaque or nonsensical. - Occasional lack of narrative cohesion can make the album feel disjointed. --- ## Music **Genre Fusion and Instrumental Experimentation** Musically, *Meat Puppets II* is a radical blend of styles. The band moves away from the hardcore punk of their debut, embracing country twang, psychedelic jams, and folk melodies. The opener, “Split Myself in Two,” is the closest the album comes to straight punk, but even here, the bluesy progression and loose, almost shambolic performance hint at the band’s restless creativity[4][5]. Instrumental tracks like “Magic Toy Missing” showcase Curt Kirkwood’s guitar prowess, with jangly, intricate lines that recall both Neil Young and the Grateful Dead[3][4]. The rhythm section, anchored by Cris Kirkwood’s buoyant bass and Derrick Bostrom’s unfussy drumming, provides a solid but playful foundation for these excursions[4]. The album’s most famous songs—“Plateau,” “Lake of Fire,” and “Oh, Me”—are mid-tempo, country-inflected rockers with psychedelic overtones. Their melodies are simple but haunting, and their structures loose enough to allow for improvisation and exploration[1][2]. The music often feels both organic and slightly unhinged, as if it could fall apart at any moment but never quite does. **Pros:** - Inventive fusion of punk, country, folk, and psychedelia. - Memorable melodies and distinctive guitar work. - Instrumental variety, from raucous rockers to contemplative jams. **Cons:** - Sloppy, unpolished musicianship may alienate those seeking technical precision[4]. - Some tracks feel underdeveloped or meandering. --- ## Production **Lo-Fi Authenticity and Raw Energy** Produced under the auspices of SST Records, *Meat Puppets II* has a distinctly lo-fi sound. The recording is raw and unvarnished, with minimal studio trickery. This approach suits the band’s aesthetic, emphasizing authenticity over perfection[1][5]. Vocals are often buried in the mix, guitars are fuzzy and sometimes out of tune, and the overall sound is warm but rough-edged. The production captures the band’s live energy and sense of spontaneity. There’s a sense that the songs were recorded quickly, with little concern for technical polish—a reflection of the band’s drug-fueled, improvisational approach during this period[1]. While this can make the album feel immediate and alive, it also means that some performances are ragged and uneven. **Pros:** - Raw, unfiltered sound enhances the album’s authenticity. - Captures the band’s chemistry and live energy. - Lo-fi warmth suits the album’s desert psychedelia. **Cons:** - Occasional muddiness and lack of clarity in the mix. - Some listeners may perceive the production as amateurish or sloppy. --- ## Themes **Desert Mysticism, Dislocation, and the Search for Meaning** Thematically, *Meat Puppets II* is rooted in the landscape and mythology of the American Southwest. The album’s songs evoke wide-open spaces, shimmering heat, and a sense of existential wandering[3]. Titles like “Plateau,” “Aurora Borealis,” and “Lake of Fire” conjure images of vast, mysterious terrain, both physical and metaphysical. Many tracks grapple with questions of identity, purpose, and belonging. “Oh, Me” is a philosophical meditation on selfhood and connection, while “Lost” and “We’re Here” explore themes of travel and uncertainty[1][3]. There’s also a thread of religious commentary running through the album, particularly in “Lake of Fire” and “Plateau,” which question received wisdom and poke fun at spiritual platitudes[1]. **Pros:** - Rich thematic content that rewards close listening. - Evocative sense of place and atmosphere. - Engages with existential and philosophical questions. **Cons:** - The abstract nature of the themes may be alienating for some. - The album’s mood can feel inconsistent, shifting from playful to profound. --- ## Influence **A Blueprint for Alternative Rock and “Cowpunk”** *Meat Puppets II* is widely regarded as a foundational album for both the alternative rock and “cowpunk” movements. Its blend of punk aggression with country and psychedelic influences was unprecedented at the time, paving the way for bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pavement, and Dinosaur Jr.[1][3]. The album’s influence was cemented when Nirvana covered “Plateau,” “Oh, Me,” and “Lake of Fire” during their iconic MTV Unplugged performance, introducing the Meat Puppets’ music to a new generation[1][2]. The album’s willingness to disregard genre boundaries and embrace experimentation has inspired countless artists. Its spirit of creative freedom, combined with its embrace of imperfection, helped define the ethos of American indie and alternative music for decades to come[1][5]. **Pros:** - Hugely influential on grunge, alternative, and indie rock. - Helped legitimize genre-blending in underground music. - Inspired artists to prioritize authenticity over technical perfection. **Cons:** - Initially underappreciated; its influence was recognized only in retrospect[1]. - Some elements (especially the country influence) may not appeal to all fans of alternative rock. --- ## Pros and Cons Summary | Pros | Cons | |----------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | Inventive, genre-defying fusion of punk, country, and psychedelia | Sloppy musicianship and lo-fi production may deter some listeners | | Surreal, thought-provoking lyrics | Lyrics can be opaque or nonsensical | | Authentic, emotionally honest performances | Some tracks feel underdeveloped or meandering | | Rich thematic content and strong sense of place | Mood and style can be inconsistent | | Raw production enhances immediacy and warmth | Lack of technical polish | | Groundbreaking influence on alternative and indie rock | Initial lack of commercial success | | Memorable songs later immortalized by Nirvana | Country elements may not appeal to all | --- ## Conclusion *Meat Puppets II* is a singular achievement in American music—a record that embraces contradiction, blending punk’s energy with country’s twang and psychedelia’s expansiveness. Its lyrics are both playful and profound, its music both sloppy and inspired, and its production both raw and inviting. While it may not be for everyone, the album’s influence on alternative rock is undeniable, and its best songs (“Plateau,” “Lake of Fire,” “Oh, Me”) remain timeless. For listeners willing to embrace its eccentricities, *Meat Puppets II* offers a journey as strange, beautiful, and unpredictable as the desert landscapes that inspired it.