Tue Feb 14 2023
5
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...
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Meat Puppets II
Meat Puppets
1984
- Album Summary
Meat Puppets II is the second album by the Phoenix, Arizona band the Meat Puppets, released in 1984. It is a departure from their self-titled debut album, which consisted largely of noisy hardcore with unintelligible vocals. It covers many genres from country-style rock ("Magic Toy Missing", "Climbing" and Lost") to slow acoustic songs ("Plateau" and "Oh, Me") to psychedelic guitar effects ("Aurora Borealis" and "We’re Here"). The cover art is by Curt Kirkwood and Neal Holliday. Rykodisc reissued the album in 1999 with extra tracks and B-sides, including a cover of the Rolling Stones' Aftermath-era track "What To Do." The Meat Puppets' SST labelmates Minutemen covered "Lost" on the live EP Tour-Spiel and their last studio album, 3-Way Tie (For Last). Three of the album's songs were covered by Nirvana (as the Kirkwood brothers joined them onstage) during their "Unplugged" show for MTV ("Plateau", "Oh, Me", and "Lake of Fire").
Reviews
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Date
Tue May 30 2023
5
One of the best American Guitar albums ever made.
Thu Jun 29 2023
5
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.
Wed Sep 20 2023
5
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.
Wed Apr 05 2023
3
pleasingly weird but so noodly
Fri Apr 07 2023
2
Woof, vocals rough. The instrumentals were pretty good, but not good enough to redeem.
Thu Mar 09 2023
5
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
Fri Apr 21 2023
5
Just great! I knew it before but listening to it always makes fun
Fri May 05 2023
5
Excellent! 4.5/5
Fri Aug 04 2023
5
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!
Thu Aug 24 2023
5
One of the most important albums in my life. The Whistling Song is my song until the day I die.
Wed Sep 20 2023
5
Phenomenal. Never gets old, so great and never duplicated. One of the best albums ever recorded. 10/10
Thu Feb 16 2023
4
The Meat Puppets are one of those hardcore punk bands on SST that evolved to a more mainstream sound, from fast and loud to chill and low key. I have Meat Puppets II on both vinyl and cassette, despite the fact I'm not a huge follower of the band. The first record was too fast and unintelligible, while their albums after II were a bit boring for my taste. On the second album, I compare it to the Replacements, Hootenanny album, their breakthrough record where their sound brought in more musical genres, styles and wrote more accessible songs. For me, this album was my sweet-spot, I still enjoyed the off-key vocals, ragged, sometimes off putting songs and it was punk enough to keep my interest. Though their sound is not for everyone's taste, I really like this album. Love the cover art too!
Mon Feb 27 2023
4
- Drunk rock and roll -Cowpunk - Fun project ( will probably grow on me )
Sun Mar 05 2023
4
A wild ride. But behind the slight sillyness there is some excellent songwriting, I even enjoyed the songs with country elements. I was surprised to hear some songs Nirvana covered/popularised
Mon Mar 06 2023
4
Pretty easy to see why Kurt Cobain would be into these guys. They did it better without him. Best track: Lake of Fire
Thu Apr 06 2023
4
Had no idea what to expect from this one but really enjoyed it a lot! Punk light, if that's a thing. Shocked that it was made in the '80s, feels much more recent. Lots of excellent guitar work and melodies on here, I especially loved all the instrumental tracks on the back end. It seems like a few of the track titles repeated for me, but I don't think it was the same song twice. Anyway, plenty to love on here. This is the sort of unknown album that I love to get on this journey! Favorite tracks: Magic Toy Missing, Oh Me, Lake of Fire, I'm a Mindless Idiot, 100% of Nothing, Aurora Borealis. Album art: Abstract, melting colors. Reminds me of that Action Brown Cocodrilo Turbo cover if you left in the sun a few days. Pretty cool. 4/5
Wed Apr 12 2023
4
This was much better than I expected. Sort of loose and raucous but also well crafted and interesting tunes. Will listen again. 4 stars.
Thu Apr 13 2023
4
4.5 nawet za aurora borealis
Thu Apr 13 2023
4
This album does not put its best foot forward with the first song, but after that I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I like the instrumental interludes.
Fri Apr 21 2023
4
Enpä ole tainnut kuunnella näitä koskaan ennen? Tiesin Nirvanan lainanneen Plateaun, mutta oli siellä ainakin pari muutakin. Kovin poukkoileva levy joka taitaa olla tyylille tavanomaista. Ehkä paras levy tähän asti aivan puskista tulleista bändeistä.
Sun Apr 23 2023
4
Definitely enjoyed this one a lot more than I'd thought. I was afraid this would just be unlistenable hardcore noise, but it was certainly more varied and interesting then that. There were a few tracks that were a bit hard to listen to, but then some were also worthy of five stars. Rounding the total up from 3.5 And Kurt Cobain really liked this album I guess, which is also something at least.
Sun Apr 23 2023
4
Jättebra
Sun Apr 23 2023
4
Raw, jangly, groovy
Sun Apr 23 2023
4
Genuint så heat hu ha ja int hört talas om detta
Sun Apr 23 2023
4
The variety on display here is really intriguing, as is the range of quality. How good would this have been with a decent production team behind it? Giving this 4 slabs of meat, mainly because I really want to come back to this. 🥩🥩🥩🥩
Tue Apr 25 2023
4
I'm a very casual fan of Cheap Trick but this live album really showcases what made them special. Super high energy and equal parts catchy and noisy. So many bops.
Wed Apr 26 2023
4
Vivid memories of learning that all my favourite Nirvana songs were actually by some weird band called Meat Puppets
Thu May 11 2023
4
Really good record that everyone should try once. This band honestly has so much and it deserves the praise it gets
Sat May 13 2023
4
bettter than I expected
Sat May 13 2023
4
Some songs deserve 3 stars, some deserve 4 stars
Sat May 13 2023
4
Was slightly dreading when I saw the band name but what a high energy killer first opening song. However then goes a bit country - if it had been all like the first song it would have been a 5. There's enough great music in here to make it a really good album, however the country tinge to it impacts the enjoyability by a lot. 3.5
Sun May 14 2023
4
Ont-ils influencé Jack White? J’ai pensé à lui à quelques reprises. Eux-mêmes marient de nombreux courants de façon réjouissante. Beaucoup aimé les guitares d’Aurora borealis
Wed May 17 2023
4
Really dug this
Wed May 24 2023
4
I enjoyed this! I only knew them from the Nirvana unplugged but I enjoyed this album. Little country/bluegrass in there.
Tue May 30 2023
4
Weird album, incoherent and with doubtful vocal performance, but somehow it works. Good pick by Kurt Cobain for his MTV show.
Mon Jun 05 2023
4
Surprisingly surprising. Much deeper than I was expecting, and great tunes.
Fri Jun 09 2023
4
Very creative
Mon Jun 12 2023
4
This seems to anticipate and frankly transcend a lot of alt/indie/grunge developments to come after it. Definitely at the top of that game.
Mon Jun 19 2023
4
Aside from a few duds, this album has quite a bit to offer. It sets itself up as a passable 80s punk album, but a few tracks in, you realize the band has a lot of surprises in store. I really dig the guitar effects scatted throughout that compliment the song structures. Not to mention the killer instrumentals.
Fri Jun 23 2023
4
Had a bit of a Meat Puppets phase back in the day, but never really come back to them. They’re good! Like a heavier REM B
Fri Jun 23 2023
4
Great album. I feel like the singing holds it back a little, which is a weird thing for me to say. But the Nirvana takes on unplugged that are more melodic are just definitively better versions. The guitars and instrumentation are fire though. 3.75/5
Fri Jun 23 2023
4
This was pretty great, wish I had given it some attention when it was contemporary. I remember hearing the Meat Puppets for the first time, as many did, when they appeared on Nirvana Unplugged. Their subsequent album didn't do much for me, but I never went back and listened to their older stuff. I love the mix of country and psychedelic and punk. It's funny they are credited with being an early "cow punk" band as some of their tracks remind me of The Cows.
Sun Jun 25 2023
4
i actually really liked it
Fri Jun 30 2023
4
This album is a strange one to actually sit down and listen to, since, like most people, I became familiar with the Meat Puppets through Nirvana's Unplugged album, which featured three of the songs on this album. It feels weird to hear those songs in their original context. This album is really cool, though. It's funny how many hardcore punk bands were able to really find their niche after abandoning that fairly limited subgenre (see also: Boys, Beastie). This is a really cool early alternative album with a lot of country elements fused into it, with some psychedelic rock mixed in for good measure. The music is really great and feels innovative for 1984. The vocals are...not great, but that also doesn't feel like their goal. Overall, it's a really cool album 4/5
Sat Jul 08 2023
4
Wait, this came out in 1984? What the hell were they thinking? What the hell were they listening to? This is an absolute mess of a record in the best possible way. Hardcore bluegrass anyone? Tracks seem to alternate from catchy and engaging to annoying and unlistenable and I suspect on my next listen the catchy / annoying alternating will switch around. Bizarre.
Fri Jul 14 2023
4
Rock ecléctico. Interesante.
Thu Jul 20 2023
4
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Split myself in two
Thu Jul 20 2023
4
On my first listen I was really enjoying the start, but eventually I started losing interest. It turned out I was accidentally listening to the deluxe edition with half a dozen demo tracks at the end sooo problem solved ✅ But on the flipside, the demo version of Aurora Borealis at the end was one of my favourite tracks 🤷♂️ Less flashy than its album counterpart, but just kinda groovy and chill. This was a great discovery! Full of ideas, nice short tracks, lots of energy but also kind of meandering about. Thanks 1001 albums generator ❤️
Sun Jul 23 2023
4
I'd never even heard of the Meat Puppets before, so this was a pleasant listening experience. Lots to love here, great guitar, interesting lyrics and delivery. I can see how the vocals might put some people off, but they were a good fit as far as I was concerned. Nowhere near perfect and it petered out a bit towards the end a little. Definitely worth 4 stars though.
Fri Aug 04 2023
4
Some cool noise rock not sure how I feel about the voice but the songwriting more then makes up for it
Sat Aug 05 2023
4
Curt Kirkwood has annoying vocals but the band just has something. 4 stars because the instrumental tracks are great.
Tue Aug 08 2023
4
Much better than I expected.
Wed Aug 09 2023
4
You have to admire the musical diversity of Meat Puppets. Each song has something different to offer, something surprising.
Sat Aug 19 2023
4
Really enjoyed how ramshackle this is at times but then some of the guitar playing is sublime
Wed Aug 23 2023
4
Aika vekkuli ja viihdyttävä levy. Rockia, punkkia, grungea ja vähän noiseakin. Ei alkanut kyllästyttämään missään vaiheessa.
Wed Aug 23 2023
4
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.
Fri Aug 25 2023
4
A wild ride through nearly every genre out there - sags a bit in the back half, but man is the front loaded with amazing tracks. Manages to dip its fingers into a bunch of musical pies without feeling too scatterbrained but rather just the right amount. One of those out of left field finds that make the whole project worthwhile, would’ve never found this without getting it here.
Sat Aug 26 2023
4
Rumours swirled when Nirvana said special guests would appear at their acoustic MTV concert. Would this be another “Last Waltz”with rock and roll royalty?Would Scorsese make the film? Confusion and a chorus of “wtf’s” were rampant when the special guests turned out to be The Meat Puppets. The fast pace of the first song reminds me of Jim Carroll’s “People Who Died”. Given his high pitched voice I surprised myself by enjoying this. The album them delves into songs influenced by country and other weirdness. It’s reminiscent of the Wilco and perhaps Chilli Peppers. The MPs have enough of the “We don’t care if we’re popular“ attitude that I can see why Nirvana liked them. There’s even a whistling song appropriately called “The Whistling Song” and some fine guitar playing.
Tue Aug 29 2023
4
Ramshackle yet full of chill gems, the second Meat Puppets album is loaded with the familiar and the waiting-to-be-discovered, ensuring those who become acquainted with this album regardless of its run time (almost 30 minutes in the original release, almost fifty in the repress) that there will be nothing but raw brilliance throughout. No surprise that this was a favorite of Kurt Cobain's. Favorites: Split Myself in Two, Lost, Plateau, Aurora Borealis, We're Here, Oh, Me, Lake of Fire, The Whistling Song, Teenager(s), What to Do, 100% of Nothing.
Wed Aug 30 2023
4
A touch long, but pretty good. Not hard to see how much they influenced Nirvana.
Thu Sep 07 2023
4
Tää bändi oli tuttu vain Nirvana-covereista, mutta käy ilmi, että tykkäsin paljon enemmän kuin Nirvanasta! Huikea puolituntinen, pitää tutkia näitä lisää. Vahva 4, melkein tekisi mieli antaa viisi.
Mon Sep 18 2023
4
Very good
Mon Feb 13 2023
3
I've tried to listen t9 this album several times, and it always starts out str9ng but by the end I've just zoned out and lost interest.
Tue Feb 14 2023
3
These guys are all over the place. One aspect that remains consistent is that the vocals are subpar. Thankfully…strangely thankfully…there are a lot of instrumental parts to the album. I definitely recognized Lake Of Fire. Digging more, I had no idea that Nirvana’s Unplugged album covers three of these songs (even though Kurt Cobain straight up says it). After making that connection, I can hear the influence on Nirvana. I turned the album off just past the end of the original track list. I made it through. There’s barely enough interesting material to pull this above the JBZ.
Tue Feb 14 2023
3
I wish I could tell you what I thought of "Meat Puppets II" without having first heard "Plateau," "Oh, Me," and "Lake of Fire" repeatedly on Nirvana "Unplugged." Hearing the Nirvana versions first just isn't fair. Though I hope they exposed a lot more people to the Meat Puppets? I actually owned the Meat Puppets' "Too High To Die," which came out the year after "Unplugged," though I didn't come to them through the covers. I think it was hearing "Backwater" on the radio. "Backwater" is a pretty stereotypically mid-90s alternative rock song, but the rest of "Too High To Die" is pretty good and holds up well. But the major difference between that album and "Meat Puppets II" is the vocals. Curt Kirkwood simply became a much better singer over those 10 years, and it makes their later work so much better. Their early/mid 80s stuff may have been so underground that they were deliberately going for crappy vocals. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for "Meat Puppets II" (just barely) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for "Too High To Die"
Fri Feb 17 2023
3
The opening tempo feels like an alternate universe where hardcore came from out West. The descent from there never fails, exactly, but the record never peaks. Along with distinction in style, I liked the instrumental back-and-forth of the sequence.
Mon Feb 20 2023
3
This album should dispel the myth about what a musical genius Kurt Cobain was. He was a damn poser who ripped off others' music even more than Jimmy Page did on the first few Zeppelin albums. Cobain wasn't just influenced by these guys. He didn't have an original idea in his head. As for the Meat Puppets? I like them. This album was pretty good. I wonder if their singer was trying to sound like the guy from the Violent Femmes, or vice versa? Just curious.
Wed Mar 01 2023
3
Geen enkel nummer bleef hangen. Maar was wel goed voor op de achtergrond
Thu Mar 02 2023
3
Fairly underwhelming but was likely ahead of its time genre-wise.
Sun Mar 05 2023
3
Proper grungy, who gives a fuck if it sounds shit ROCK. As made famous by Unplugged with Nirvana. Some decent tracks on here. With a classic or two. Sot Plateau Lake of fire Oh me I’m a mindless idiot 3/5
Thu Mar 09 2023
3
Album was interesting for sure. I would consider this a textbook album. Through you for a loop but still sounded great and something I needed
Thu Mar 09 2023
3
Helt okej!
Fri Mar 10 2023
3
3/5. A unique and one of a kind album. I learned what Cowpunk was so that was cool. Somehow it feels like it is not trying at all but also trying too hard. Still good enough for 3 I think.
Sun Mar 12 2023
3
Interesting and quite refreshingly diverse album. .swings from genre to genre which makes it a bit uneven but stimulating.
Wed Mar 15 2023
3
I’d only ever heard of these guys from the lake of fire cover on Nirvana unplugged. Not too bad but nothing special.
Thu Mar 23 2023
3
Bizarre, genre-bending... somewhere between punk and country, like the country that likes driving in the desert looking for aliens. Obviously I'm familiar with this through Nirvana Unplugged, but I'll admit I like their version of "Plateau" better. Favorite tracks: "Plateau", "Aurora Borealis"
Fri Mar 24 2023
3
Un bizarre d'album qui va dans tout les sens, mais c,est pas mauvais . 3
Fri Mar 31 2023
3
Debated whether to give this a 3 or a 4 for a while, but ultimately I don't think I liked it enough to listen to repeatedly. It's good though, some very off the beaten path punk music. Might come back to it if I'm in the mood I guess? 3.5 rounded down.
Mon Apr 03 2023
3
Some goofy dudes noodling around. At their best they sound like Nirvana, which doesn't surprise me given their influence on Nirvana. At their worst they sound like Some goofy dudes noodling around. Which is what they are.
Mon Apr 03 2023
3
Meat Puppets are good or not good not sure I think I like them enough
Wed Apr 05 2023
3
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.
Fri Apr 07 2023
3
It's fine enough; some good songs. But even though the variety here is fun, it does lead it to be inconsistent, and the vocals... I'm usually all for "unique" vocalists but this was a rough go. Overall it's a good record but there is a lot that I don't seem to get out of it.
Fri Apr 14 2023
3
A bizarre mix of punk and country, though despite being an oddball kind of album it didn't really stand out to me that much. Might go and listen again eventually just in case it gets better on the second listen. Favourite: Magic Toy Missing
Sun Apr 16 2023
3
Leuke stukken, afschuwelijke stukken. Zo wil ik deze plaat graag samenvatten.
Sun May 07 2023
3
The sound these guys have is so shitty and awful but in an intentional way that makes it fun to listen to. Just the kind of shitty that comes full circle into becoming good
Mon May 15 2023
3
This feels like the kind of album where you uncover some hidden depth on repeated listening, but it really didn't do much for me on the first listen. My opinion on first time through is a 2, but I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt and add a star.
Sat May 20 2023
3
Very interesting album with a range of different genres, although ultimately just shy of 4 stars for me personally
Sat May 20 2023
3
Not unbearable, but forgettable.
Fri May 26 2023
3
Not too bad and not what I expected
Fri May 26 2023
3
As a general rule, the music is alright, but the singer leaves a bit to be desired.
Wed Jun 07 2023
3
Oh cool, cowboy punk! I don't love the vocals on this one, but the instrumentation is good. Also a surprising amount of variety, especially for a punk record. This definitely isn't for everyone, but it's got charm.
Sun Jun 11 2023
3
I didn’t enjoy the opener, found the first couple of songs repetitive in and of themselves. But ended up feeling a little sad the album had ended. Go figure.
Wed Jun 14 2023
3
Quirky and almost child-like. Didn't leave an impression
Thu Jun 15 2023
3
не, не моё
Mon Jun 19 2023
3
I find much of the guitarwork on this record to be interesting, compelling even, but the cowpunk vocals and trailer park vibes do not work for me.
Tue Jun 20 2023
3
Cowpunk, countryfolk. Escuchable ... Hay un punteo que me recuerda a Guedeon Della (Just For A Day)
Wed Jul 05 2023
3
Never heard of the Meat Puppets until Nirvana’s Unplugged album came out. This is my first listen to the album. They have a great sound. Why have I not heard this before? I was 17 in 1984…. This could have been with me my whole life… Right from the start, it rocks. Plateau might be one of the best songs I never heard before! Standouts: Plateau, Oh Me, Lake of Fire, Lost Others: Split Myself in Two, Climbing, I’m a Mindless Idiot, The Whistling Song, What to Do (bonus track) 3.5/5
Thu Jul 06 2023
3
Enjoyed it. If I listened longer it may go up but a standard 3 is fine for now.
Sun Jul 09 2023
3
Fist time through this one I wasn’t impressed. The more I listen the better I am enjoying it. Favorites: Keeping Pigs Together Others: Some Kind of Kink, Don’t Go Nowhere, The Rough and the Quick 3/5