Reviews (page 2 of 7)
This one was so great. I loved every second of it. I honestly didn't know they were the mtv unplugged nirvarna people. great one.
this is vibes, really good Will I listen to again: 100%
Meat Puppets II is like Minutemen and Sonic Youth with some Dinosaur Jr and Built to Spill sprinkled into the mix. Possibly hearing some Butthole Surfers inspiration as well.
This is fantastic - it kind of both summarises and predicts decades of music. And yeah, it's kind of rough, but it's the real thing, kids taking drugs and heading into the desert to make rock n roll.
I'm giving it a three because they obviously don't give a fuck about being polished and commercial. It's kinda country, kinda messy, and I'm here for it. And one more for the wankers who give it one star. And one for being better than Morrissey. That's five stars. Get you some Meat Puppets!
Worthy of list. Except 'Split Myself In Two', which is painful to listen to. I just can't do distortion that sounds like noise.
Folk, grunge, punk, this album has a lot going for it. I love Meat Puppets. The strained vocals, the ditsy instrumentation, all of it is this kaleidoscope of angry, sad and hopeful music.
top songs: aurora borealis, plateau, new gods, oh me, lake of fire, split myself in two weird but in the way that just hits perfectly from start to finish
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
Quirky and rollicking, a delightful listen, and an indie classic.
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.
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
Nirvana made me love this album even more
Proto-grunge. Lovely guitar effects at times.Very good, despite the mumbly vocal.
It's so funny listening to this so many years after and hearing so much of Kurt Cobain in it. Was this a band that has always been kind of under the radar? Even with the Unplugged album? I think so. I mean I can't say that I've ever heard Meat Puppets come up in any conversation about great/influential bands. But you listen to this and can see that a lot of the rock from the 90s and after owes a lot to this record. I'm not sure I would say that I necessarily like this album, or at least a lot of it, but I do think this is a great album. Not one I would listen to often but certainly important in the history of music. 4/5
Delightfully bizarre.
This record is right up my alley. I fear I am rating it this highly because of Kurt Cobain's obsession with them, but I think I can forgive myself for doing that.
i hear so much of the contemporary music i love tuned into this album. my favorite band's favorite band.
Sounds like it’d be in the soundtrack of a movie of my life
I can understand the bad reviews, but this album kept me entertained. Everything seems thoughtful and you really don't know what the next track will hold.
thank you nirvana for introducing me to this
I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this. By name I envisioned that a group and album named Meat Puppets would not be my taste but I found a groove with this album. The vocals were grating at times, particularly on the first track were it ruined any possible rhythm I could've enjoyed in the song, but by "Lost" I found it. I wouldn't say I was ever a fan of the singing, but on the best songs my mind was no longer drawn to how distracting, and on the worst songs, how annoying it could be. This made the instrumental songs all the more lovely. "Aurora Borealis" deserves all the credit for this rating, which otherwise would never have reached a status close to this. Followed by "We're Here" in which I didn't mind the singing being here. Any grace earned by "Aurora" could've been destroyed here, but they picked the perfect follow up for me to relaxing into the album. Again thankful that the voice doesn't try overpower the jam on "New Gods" like on "Split Myself In Two." The following two tracks, however, make me groan at the finger being poked in my side. Thank god for "I'm a Mindless Idiot" which is the most apt title for an instrumental track by a band named Meat Puppets. Should've been the closure instead of "The Whistling Song" which I do like, but doesn't end as strong as the previous track did for me.
I liked some of the tracks. It's pretty eclectic - but did not like the entire album
Little diamond this one, I really must get this album on cd or vinyl - I said that a few times before with their influences
it was a pretty good album but the vocals were not very meaningful. aside from that the guitar was pretty good. the drums were also quite good.
I like how the song sounds and how the album cover looks like. Because It looks like they used paint (Which they did) the red paint and yellow. Looks like a Cerberus but with one head and the blue and white. Look like stars or like portals that are in the sky. I would also recommend this song to my family tree :D
It was alright, I liked the instrumentals and lyrics but the vocals weren't the best. I'd still recommend to any fans of psychedelic rock.
Slacker punk filtered through the desert, Grateful Dead, and LSD.
the perfect soudtrack to being ripped apart by vultures deep in the american desert
Its a good one
B+
This was fun. There's a really fun garage-punk-band feel that reminds me of my friends' bands I'd go see back in the day. The instrumentation is the real star for me, as I can kind of take or leave the warbling lyrics. But this album as a whole is a lot of fun to listen to. And hearing the original Lake of Fire that Nirvana famously covered in their Unplugged performance is really neat.
A treasure trove of essential songs. A strange synthesis of folk and blues with a hint of maybe country
Kurt put us all onto something here
This is very very very good.
The more I hear from bands like this and Mudhoney, the more affirmed I feel in my long held suspicion that Nirvana was not all they were hyped up to be.
I'll grant this isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed the album. I wish I had come across it in 1984, and it holds up really well. It's protogrunge by a band that sounds like a more mature version of Violent Femmes.
Not sure why but Curt Kirkwood’s unhinged vocal style appeals to me. I enjoyed the album - the music in some parts has a beat people could polka to. “Lost” is one of my favorites on the album. “We’re Here” is quieter for the band, but enjoyable.
Love it
It's kind of remarkable that Meat Puppets have never come up in any of my grunge (and adjacent) playlists. I had only heard the Nirvana cover of Plateau for instance. I didn't like everything on this album but I have no complaints about the instrumentation. I particularly like that the guitar never felt like it was there just to be there. I definitely enjoyed the experience overall and hope that they come up again later on.
Messy, gross, and wonderful.
Split Myself in Two Lost Plateau Climbing The Whistling Song
Finally something interesting to listen to! Worthy of the list, but not a masterpiece.
You can see why Kurt was so inspired here. You just had to be there
Really good. Surprising how much influence they had on Nirvana.
It’s kind of baffling this is from the first half of the 80s. It really has some exceptional peaks but also has some stretches of uninteresting filler. I think the best Meat Pullets album is a greatest hits
Y pasó lo que más temía, que el álbum no estuviera disponible en ninguna plataforma de streaming de música. Solo los afortunados que tengan el disco en físico pueden presumir que lo pueden escuchar cuando sea. Afortunadamente, un buen samaritano subió las dos versiones del álbum. Y tengo que decir que me sorprendió lo mucho que me gustó, hay algunas canciones que combinan country con rock y haya esas me gustaron. A mi parecer no cantan bien pero aún así disfruté las canciones con letra, y aún más las instrumentales.
The first time i hear the name Meat Puppets is from a book that talk about Nirvana, now i understand something and why they were influential for the works of Kurt. Onestly this is a good album, from punk to psychadelic rock, there's a lot to talk and listen about. Need to listen of a lot of contemporary artis and previous/next work by them,
I can see why Kurt Cobain was such a fan.
strong start that wanes over time
Je n'avais jamais entendu le mot "cowpunk", j'achète! C'est un intéressant mélange de genre (country punk psychedelic), qui de ce que je connais n'a pas souvent été revisité depuis. J'aime le son de bass, super punchy. Des parts de guitare magnifiques aussi. Les autres auditeurs semblent parfois hair la voix du chanteur, ça se passe ou ça se casse. Super weird, mais super bon album, du moins pour moi ça se passe. C'était un des bands prefs et influence directe de Kurt Cobain. Ils ont d'ailleurs joué sur le live de Nirvana à MTV. 3 tounes de cet album d'ailleurs. Je vais y revenir certainement, belle découverte
I have always enjoyed this album as a whole better than the sum of its parts. I think that is what makes this one hard to digest for a lot of people.
It was a pretty cool album after I got over the disappointment of a band called Meat Puppets not being a girl group.
"All of these songs are off their second record." Very familiar with the tunes from Nirvana MTV Unplugged.. I've heard them in their original form (here) several times, but certainly prefer the "give a fuck" effort from the Unplugged versions better. It's actually not even close. That said.. Holy shit, the remainder of this album is pretty enjoyable. I like their departure from their earlier unorganized scream punk. It's like, they learned how to play.. This is a solid slice of cow punk, with its fair share of twangy charm. A hidden honky-tonk in the middle of a mosh pit. I'm going the opposite direction here.. I know the Unplugged songs (and prefer those versions), so let's snag some of those tasty instrumental tunes for the playlist. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Magic Toy Missing - Aurora Borealis - I'm A Mindless Idiot - New Gods
This is some guitarwork that is all over the place and pretty creative. I appreciate the guitar playing. I'm also really impressed that this is from 1984 and sounds very 90's. I've heard of this band but never listened to them. I can hear how they probably influenced alot of my favorite artsist: Nirvana, Beck, Ween, Butthole Surfers, Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr... I was a 3 at first listen but after giving this a deeper listen, I'm gonna go 4. I would like to listen to more albums by these Meat Puppets.
Was an interesting mix of tunes. I probably wouldn’t listen to the Meat Puppets, but I am glad I did.
I really liked this album. I love the super chill guitar rock vibe. Some really nice melodies. I haven't listened to these guys a lot but I like a handful of songs, and didn't know they were the original artists for some of these songs.
No los conocía, ta gracioso que su álbum anterior era puro hardcore noise y aqui estan de chill
This album was before my time, but holy crap did it influence so many of my favourites. I should listen to it directly more than I have
8/10
Good commute listen
I would have LOVED this in my CIRRIE days. I still like it! What a mix of styles.
It was a good album. I really liked Plateau and Aurora Borealis. There was some garbage songs on here, but there was like 13 other good songs. Overall, I would give this album a 3.8/5!
I will not include the bonus tracks from the 1999 CD reissue in this review. If you're familiar with Nirvana, then you're likely also familiar with Meat Puppets. This psychedelic cowpunk outfit would prove to be influential to many alternative and grunge artists. In the case of Nirvana, it was to the point where Curt and Kris Kirkwood were invited to perform songs from this album with them for their MTV Unplugged performance. After giving Meat Puppets II a spin, I can hear the influence they had on those later bands. This is a pretty manic country punk record, this side of the Gun Club. Opening up with the rapid-fire flurries of "Split Myself in Two" and "Magic Toy Missing", I can make out some cool twangy guitar licks from Curt alongside the tight rhythm section of Cris and Derrick Bostrom. Pair that with Curt's shaky vocal ramblings dealing with trepidation and self-discovery, and the resulting sound of this album feels very timely for the alternative acts that would follow. Sure, the lo-fi production made some songs lack a certain punch, and I wasn't much into the repetitive "New Gods" or the closing track "The Whistling Song", but it's amazing how much craftsmanship they fit into such a tight package. Obvious highlights are the songs Nirvana would later cover with them, like "Plateau" and "Lake of Fire", but I also dug the atmospheric exploration of the instrumental "Aurora Borealis", the straightforward country tune "Climbing", and the acid-drenched angst of "Lost". Overall, Meat Puppets II is a solid record; a stylistic shift for the band that proved substantial.
Grungy. Original. Raw.
4/5 - much better band than I’d given them credit for. Close to a 5.
Play this album loud cruising through Arizona post-apocalypse
this album comes out fuckin swinging. "split myself in two" sounds like if a song could have a panic attack with its frantic guitars and vocals repeatedly descending into a swirling mass of feedback. i love it, and so its a shame the energy kinda drops off after that, but there's still a lot to enjoy here. between the extremely short song lengths and wide variety of sounds, even the weaker parts are done with and left behind before i'd bother skipping. to be honest, despite my disappointment that more of the album doesn't sound like the opener, some of the slowest tracks are the ones i like the most, especially the ajj-esque "lost", and "aurora borealis", which is just a dope instumental that i find myself bobbing my head to every time. it definitely helps that im really into the whining vocal style of the kirkwoods, which kinda makes me wanna bully them, but like, in a good way. yknow? anyway its a good album, even if i do wish it held onto the chaotic energy of the first track just a little bit longer. already listened to this like 6 times now and definitely will listen again. which is easy given its only half an hour long lmao
Fun and unrefined. I love how the vocals range from the edge of almost cracking to low and subdued behind the walls of acid rock guitar. I also really love the range of percussion which is 100% garage band but gets borderline country in some tracks in tandem with the bass. None of it feels stale. Another top tier album for a roadtrip, especially "Lost" which was such a highway #mood to sing along to.
Messy, in a good way - it sounds like a band in a room, all together, with some tequila and some edibles, expressing themselves as how they feel in the moment, not worrying about the details of the pitch of the vocals, or if the drums are in time, as long as it expresses the feeling they want
Despite being made in the 80’s, this made me appreciate 90’s music more.
It's loose, thrashy, grungy, at times very melodic almost country. Pretty cool album. Can see the influence they had on Cobain
Unexpectedly good and funny and fun. The list needed more stuff like this.
For the number of times I listened to Nirvana unplugged, I’m quite ashamed this is the first time I ever listened to this album.
Interesting getting this album queued up a few weeks after Nirvana’s Unplugged. If I heard this record in the 90s, I would have *hated* it compared to the Nirvana covers. But after a youth steeped in indie, it feels right at home, teeing up Wilco and Pavement. Doing something bold, raw and messy in the early 80s — punk-adjacent, but more loose and sad — feels rather brave in retrospective. I could listen to The History of Grunge playlist all day (but I might turn it down sometimes).
A great, influential album. I downloaded a few songs I didn’t already have on my phone. Really should play more Meat Puppets!
Enjoyed much more than I expected. Very cool blending of different genres. Clear that this album influenced a lot of 90s bands.
Very entertaining! There were so many different musical twists in the album, off-key, funky rhythms, funny lyrics.
Will listen to this again.
I like Meat Puppets and own a few of their albums, including this one. I suspect like many others, I was introduced to them by the Nirvana Unplugged performance - the tracks they covered are on this album and they all sound great. They're a peculiar band - tightly performed music that defies categorisation but clearly influenced the Grunge scene and that so-called, 'slacker' sound of the 90s, Pavement, etc. This is a good record that I don't listen to enough, but Up On The Sun has always been my go-to.
Surprisingly good for US pump rock.
Some funky af riffs. Voice is whatever but it's got that angsty punk vibe. Some really catchy stuff, I regret skipping this for so long.
I like meat! I like puppets! I like Meat Puppets!
A sometimes forgotten side act of the Grunge era. Raises the "is it better to burn out to fade away" perpetual question of pop music. Probably more a consequence of naming yourselves "Meat Puppets." I usually put them in the same bin as "Butthole Surfers" -- serious musicians who made the mistake of taking the bait to name themselves as a novelty act. I had forgotten about "Lake of Fire" and "Plateau." These were staples of my teen radio years. Still surprisingly good. Makes me want to track down their more work since. Seems like they have gone the Flaming Lips route of continuing to produce and tour -- but maybe with replaced members of the lineup.
Probably a 3 but I am giving it a 4 because it is the only Meat Puppets record on the list and I want to give them their due. I like "Up From the Sun" better but this one has some gems.
Yes indeed.
much twangier than I expected. also, I'm issuing an apology to my mother for that one time she couldn't go to a meat puppets concert because my sister and I were fighting. sorry, mom. I'm sure she started it.
Favorite songs: Magic Toy Missing, Lost, Plateu, Aurora Borealis, Oh Me, Lake of Fire, I'm a Mindless Idiot From Bonus track version: What to Do
Fun and unique, you can easily hear the influence on indie rock
Heard most of this album before as it was covered by Nirvana live in New York
Kurt Cobain’s life mission was to make people listen to Meat Puppets II, so once we all went and actually did it… There is something to this murdering piece of trash, though.
I wonder what percentage of people who take the Nirvana-Meat Puppets II expressway end up saying “what the fuck is this? This is dogshit” 73.1% is my guess
very interesting. love the different genres and styles
Standouts Plateau Aurora Borealis Lake of Fire I'm a Mindless Idiot Teenagers What to Do
So for the younger generation rediscovering Nirvana, this is definitely an essential album to listen to, especially alongside Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York. The Kirkwood brothers actually performed with Nirvana during that session, and they also covered three songs from this album, which were "Plateau," "Oh, Me," and "Lake of Fire." What I really enjoy about this album is how smoothly they were able to mix cowpunk with psychedelic rock, while maintaining that raw punk sound and still pulling off that dry, sun-baked desert atmosphere.
They can play but they can't sing for shit. Still love it though 😂 Some interesting things going on in the album. Not to forget that it also influenced one of the biggest bands of the 90s. So I get why this album is on the list. Solid 4 for me.
Direct and varied songs. I really liked it. Of course, the songs Nirvana covered are among the best ones. I also enjoyed the instrumental Aurora Borealis. 4 stars after just one listen.
I liked it! Good balance between vocals and instrumentals
Really fun, interesting multi-genre exploration. I think I really dig “cowpunk” but the vocalist is truly terrible.
This is special. Could be a 5. Lopsided genius. They really can't sing but it doesn't matter.
I listened to this earlier this year when looking for bands with weird names. I liked it then, and I like it now! It’s not overt, but the guitar work on here can only be described as the sick nasty.
8 / 10
Nirvana unplugged cover Plateau, oh me og lake of fire(?)
i like meat puppets and i really enjoyed this album
It was slightly psychedelic, not at all what the name suggests chill, much more our vibe than expected.
There was one song where the singer just like forgot how to sing in tune? That was annoying. Otherwise, this is a really good and wide album, covering a lot of different styles and sounds. It's kind of a weird album, which makes sense, based on the sound they're going for and when this came out. I think if this band existed 20-25 years later, it would feel more refined, but just as broad and outlandish. Favorite Song(s): Aurora Borealis
So far ahead of it's time, it's crazy. These guys should be talked about alongside the Pixies
Really good and ahead of its time.
Precursor to Nirvana
Okay, I've always been creeped out by this band's name, so I've never taken the time to listen to any of their work. That was a mistake on my part. I love all the music, but the vocals are hit or miss for me (mostly miss), which explains why my favorite songs are the instrumentals like Teenager(s), I'm a Mindless Idiot and especially Aurora Borealis.
proto-pavement?
Only a couple skips but some amazing instrumentals
Really enjoyed this more than i thought i would from the initial song tbh. The structure of the songs as well as the songs themselves were funny and i loved the instrumental tracks. Something something illustrated book about birds
This is fantastic. You can hear the alt rock explosion of the 90s ten years before it happened, and with a fun country twist. I think it should be highlighted that Meat Puppets actually do have quite a nice sense of melody, and some of their calmer, country influenced songs are really quite sweet. Conversely, they’re not scared of straight up punk wailing. ‘nothing at the top but a bucket and a mop and an illustrated book about birds’ is one of the all time great lyrics.
Not my cup if tea... Gave it a go. Tried to like it. Well produced. But not sounds i can warm to.
This is definitely some unique music. I like how they mashed up blue grass/country, punk, rock, and other styles There's almost some jam band going on in Aurora Borealis. I found some of the vocals to be kind of annoying, but it wouldn't surprise me if that's exactly what they were going for. So punk. The question is, is this album really amateurish or is it a work of genius to make it sound that way?
There would be no grunge without this album
Favorite track(s): Lost, Plateau, Oh, Me, I'm a Mindless Idiot
Vocals a little meh, but what a jam. 4/5
Pleasant
Proto-nirvana. Class though.
The quality of the music is not that good. This sounds like some guys who are really trying, but are aiming too high for their playing ability. Having said that, somehow I like it. It works and I think it's the strength of the Meat Puppets' songwriting. Liked Songs Added: Plateau Oh, Me Lake Of Fire What To Do
★★★★½
231125 13:19 4 / highlights: split myself in two, lake of fire, plateau
Sometimes I wonder what it's like to like in Arizona.
I like this album.
I liked
I definitely understand why Kurt Cobain liked this band.
4/5
What a name. I was weirdly drawn to this album. I even thought the lows were pretty great.
I found this enjoyable and forgot it was the birth place of 'Plateau' and 'Oh, Me', and 'Lake of Fire'. A pleasant listen on first attempts. One to come back to after I've completed the project. If it got under Kurt's skin to inspire him, perhaps it's a classic, 7/10 (rounded up) seems more than fair at this stage.
More of a Up On The Sun guy, but a quality album of 'cowpunk.'
Punk beats and country rock, didn’t know it before listening, some songs feel familiar. Nice guitar sound, slightly grungy, Kurt Cobain definitely knew them. And then comes Lake of Fire, haha, called it. This is Nirvana‘s origin basically.
Fun jams
Really interesting and unique sound. I thought the songwriting was great. I am a big fan of both bluegrass and punk music so "cow punk" as I found out it's called, makes total sense to me as a genre! You can tell they're having a lot of fun and not taking things too seriously, while making some genuinely innovative and intriguing music. It makes total sense why this band is often cited as one of Kurt Cobain's favourites. They push back hard on the status quo but clearly have some deep down musical brilliance to create something totally worthwhile.
Not too bad, but a little too zany.
Aujourd'hui, le grand livre sacré des "1001 Albums" m'a sorti une nouvelle pépite, ou du moins, un caillou à l'allure étrange qui pourrait bien contenir de l'or. Aujourd'hui, on plonge en 1984 avec les Meat Puppets et leur deuxième album, sobrement intitulé "Meat Puppets II". Avant de commencer, il faut se remettre dans le contexte. 1984, c'est le règne de la new wave synthétique, du hardcore pur et dur sur des labels comme SST (où ils étaient signés, d'ailleurs), et du rock de stade permanenté. Et au milieu de tout ça, trois frangins du désert de l'Arizona, les frères Kirkwood, qui décident de balancer un album qui sonne comme si Neil Young avait pris de l'acide avec des cow-boys punks sous un soleil de plomb. C'est débraillé, c'est bancal, mais bordel, qu'est-ce que c'est bon. "Meat Puppets II" est un putain d'ovni, un disque schizophrène qui refuse de choisir son camp. Ça part sur des arpèges countrysants, ça accélère sur des rythmiques punk, ça plane dans des délires psychédéliques, et la voix de Curt Kirkwood, nasillarde et faussement détachée, flotte au-dessus de tout ça comme un vautour au-dessus d'une carcasse. On est loin, très loin de la rage codifiée du hardcore de Black Flag ou des Minutemen, leurs colocs de label. Ici, la rage est diffuse, blanche, écrasée par la chaleur et la poussière. C'est une sorte de "country-punk psychédélique", un truc qui ne devrait pas exister mais qui, une fois que tu l'as entendu, te paraît d'une évidence confondante. Pour être tout à fait honnête, et pour que les plus jeunes d'entre vous situent la bête, il faut prononcer le mot magique : Nirvana. Voilà, c'est dit car pour 90% des gens de ma génération, les Meat Puppets sont avant tout "le groupe que Nirvana a repris pendant leur MTV Unplugged". Et quelles reprises ! "Plateau", "Oh, Me", "Lake of Fire"... Kurt Cobain, en invitant les frères Kirkwood sur scène ce soir-là, a fait plus pour leur popularité que dix ans de carrière. Il a rendu un hommage vibrant à un groupe qui, comme les Pixies ou Sonic Youth, a façonné en profondeur le son qui allait exploser au début des années 90. En écoutant "Meat Puppets II", on entend les prémices de ce rock alternatif, ce mélange de mélodies pop tordues et d'énergie punk brute. On comprend pourquoi un type comme Cobain, torturé et en quête d'authenticité, a pu se reconnaître dans ces chansons étranges et poétiques. Je me souviens, à l'époque où je tenais la caisse du magasin de disques, on avait tout le catalogue SST. Les disques des Meat Puppets prenaient un peu la poussière, et puis, paf, l'Unplugged de Nirvana. Le lendemain, tout le monde voulait du Meat Puppets et on a dû recommander des cartons entiers. C'était beau de voir un groupe aussi singulier enfin recevoir un peu de lumière, même si c'était par procuration. Alors, pourquoi 4/5 et pas le sans-faute, me direz-vous ? Eh bien, si l'album contient des chansons absolument parfaites, des perles brutes comme "Plateau", "Lost" ou "Climbing", sa cohérence est parfois mise à mal par des interludes instrumentaux un peu longuets. On sent le groupe qui part en jam, qui se fait plaisir, et c'est tout à leur honneur, mais ça casse un peu le rythme, faut bien l'avouer. Ces délires guitaristiques, bien que sympathiques, s'étirent un poil trop et nous sortent de la transe dans laquelle les chansons nous avaient plongés. C'est le seul petit reproche que je ferais à ce disque. C'est ce qui l'empêche, à mon sens, d'atteindre le statut de chef-d'œuvre absolu comme un "Daydream Nation" ou un "Doolittle". Mais ne boudons pas notre plaisir, cat Meat Puppets II reste un disque essentiel, un album charnière qui a prouvé qu'on pouvait être punk sans hurler, jouer de la country sans être un redneck, et être psychédélique sans se perdre dans des solos de vingt minutes (enfin, presque). C'est le son aride et hypnotique d'un groupe qui s'en foutait royalement des modes et qui traçait sa propre route, poussiéreuse et magnifique. Un disque qui sent le vécu, la sueur et la liberté. Et rien que pour ça, il mérite amplement sa place dans le grand livre. Un classique, un vrai, avec ses petites imperfections qui le rendent encore plus attachant.
Loved the guitar and the country punk.
cabilla
Split Myself in Two - 3/5 Magic Toy Missing - 4/5 Lost - 3/5 Plateau - 5/5 Aurora Borealis - 5/5 We're Here - 4/5 Climbing - 4/5 New Gods - 4/5 Oh, Me - 5/5 Lake of Fire - 5/5 I'm a Mindless Idiot - 4/5 The Whistling Song - 4/5 Average score: 4.2/5 not too bad at all. i think i've only heard one other cowpunk album and this is the first one I've liked at all tbh i enjoyed the instrumentals more than i did vocals, not sure i care for the singer's performance in some parts. still a pretty good listen overall, i could see myself coming back to a few tracks again
Like a lot of people I imagine, I heard these songs first via Nirvana’s unplugged album. Overall, the songs here are more frenetic and loose sounding, giving them a clear identity outside of those covers. Aurora Borealis might be one of my favourite instrumentals too.
wiedermol keeein plan was das isch. erste song mega punky zweite mega country. haha ui mega churz. okay sie sind nomel e band wo halt mega nirvana beiflusst het. i see. lost isch no cute haha sehr sogar mit de ultra höche gitarre. aurora borealis tönt wie moderne indie rock 1:1 peach pit. hä aber crazy dases 1984 so musig geh het. ich ghör au unknown mortal orchestra bi ihne gad bi new gods die gitarre. i'm a mindless idiot tönt au suuuper geil wow. jö d chords mit de klassische und denn die chratzig country giti cuuute. hä aso s tönt null noch 80er und s isch afoch easy guete indie? so s chönt 2005 usecho sii huuere crazy. whistling song au super herzig. mags mega fest. nöd alles glich fokussiert aber catchy und interessanti gutarreparts vorallem. rhythm section tönt tight. VIAAA
Nirvana did it better, but this album is great and worth a listen!
Never knew they were around in the mid 80s. His album definitely feels different than I remember them in the 90s.
Punky, but also folky? Intriguing blend
Good stuff. Lotta variety. Dig it. 4
I thought these guys would be way harder. Turned out to be some kind of weird punk that I mostly enjoyed.
I do love me the Meat Puppets. I hadn't heard this album. Started much more aggressive than their later albums I was more familiar with, but then drifted more into the sound they later leaned into, such as Aurora Borealis and Plateau. Shy of their peak, but still a great album and worthy of the 1001 list.
Wow, this was an unexpected pleasure. The first song is an all-out assault and must admit I read the Wikipedia review that talked about this album being a departure from their first that had “unintelligible vocals and chaos” - along those lines anyway - and thought, have they really departed from that? Luckily, they did, though this remains a chaotic piece of brilliance. Country instrumental has never sounded so good as when it’s put to punk/grungy vibes and I agree it’s more engaging than Nirvana where there are obvious parallels. I’m very on the fence but it’s maybe (just) not a 5 for me, but it’s darn close.
I listened once at work and was slightly underwhelmed, but there was enough that piqued my interest to give it a second listen. Although it's a bit whacky, there is a lot to like in this album. Some parts sound like a less annoying Neil Young, some parts reminded me of Jack White, and others are a type of proto-grunge. The first head turner was the instrumental "Aurora Borealis" which was interesting, warbly, and a bit chaotic but held together with a satisfying bassline and plodding drumbeat. A track so nice they played it twice... "I'm a Mindless Idiot" was another highlight with its satisfying blend of country motifs munged together into something a bit different. Munging definitely the overriding theme of this album. A really nice find and a great album to ponder over with repeat listens. It had me slightly bemused, thinking: "This is really good, isn't it? I'm not sure quite why but I think it is..."
Bored of the constraints of hardcore punk, they did what they wanted to here. Like Husker Du and Black Flag, they proved that Punk could be more than thrash and scream by just doing what they wanted to, even if it pissed off their core audience. I hate the term "important", but this is an important landmark in early punk rock that influenced grunge bands like Nirvana and pushed from punk into alternative before that was really a term. This is one of those great records that one doesn't often think about but once you're listening, you remember and "get" it.
I am probably in the minority here, but I think the Meat Puppets segment of Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance is the best part. I think Kurt really transforms those songs in a great way. They are still really good here, just not as intimate. Overall, this is a very good album, it is very unique, but there are a couple of songs I am not super crazy about. High 4.
Some good songs
a classic
fast chaotic music very interesting, feels like a new sound but looking at the album this was released during the mid 80s this was not a sound i expected during this era.
cowpunk!! is !! epic!!!
Very much my style, like it on first listen and could imagine loving it on a second or third. 4/5
Fav: Plateau Least Fav: We’re Here Prefer these to the Nirvana MTV versions tbh
If I hadn't known anything about The Meat Puppets and I read that they were a mix of punk and country, I think my eye would have started twitching. That sounds like a pretty obnoxious combination, like a proto-Kid Rock. Fortunately, this album is nothing like that. The band managed to take the best of both worlds and make something really unique for the music scene of the early 80s. It's the rural atmosphere of the American West that comes through, not the rigid and toxic Nashville sound. The punk side is more gritty and untidy than angry and fast. As with other punk bands, the unpolished sound is part of the experience, though it might feel jarring at first. This is another album that really benefits from multiple listens. The biggest claim to fame that The Meat Puppets ever had was at one time collaborators with Nirvana when Kurt Cobain invited them on stage for the famous MTV Unplugged performance. It's hard not to think about Cobain while listening to songs like "Plateau", "Oh Me" and "Lake of Fire". But the Meat Puppets deserve credit beyond simply having one high profile fan. They made a great album here that I'm sure I'll return to.
Tycker ändå det här var intressant. Jag kommer definitivt lyssna igen
I should have taken note of what Kurt was trying to say more. Loose but clever and mysterious.
Good music, good writing, excellent instrumentation, but a lousy vocalist - not as bad as the douche from Radiohead, but he's working on it.
It's cool
Crazy getting this only a few days after the Nirvana MTV live one because I guess it means I can remember all the songs which they played together. I do think Kurt Cobain is a better vocalist than this guy, but the songs which they played during the other album are really well written, and quite a lot of these have long instrumental parts or are totally instrumental. I really like the delays and effects on the guitars, I think its a great way of making it seem like there's lots of guitars, but actually only one. It makes parts more feel like 'dream pop'. I think this is the middle ground between punk and 'grunge', as the guitars sound very much like 90s stuff, so I think in that way its very ahead of its time. I thought I would hate the 'cowboy punk' thing, but I think it actually works quite well and I guess someone had to try it right? Favourite songs: split myself in two, lost, plateau, Aurora Borealis, we're here, climbing, new gods, Oh, Me, I'm a mindless Idiot, teenager(s), I'm not here, what to do, 100% of nothing. Overall around 8/10 (but quite close to 9 as it feels like you're getting a lot of quality and interesting stuff)
II thumbs up
Chaotic and fun and foreshadowed so much of what was to come in the 90s
okay yay ❤️
Surprisingly good. Especially the alt country rock stuff.
There were parts that sounded fantastic and then there were parts that sounded a little too "out there" for my ears. I'd personally put it at 3.5 if I could.
As I was listening to this one, I was thinking this sounds a lot like Nirvana Unplugged, and lo and behold several Meat Puppets songs were covered in that session. This was an unexpecetedly good album, pretty louche but cool
thoughts: this is ‘mood whiplash: the album.’ it’s absolutely insane. it’s a trip across america. and it works. i didn’t know what to expect after the first track went so hard, but some of these instrumental tracks show a great level of talent and the ability to transform the band within its own album. songs: “split myself in two”, “aurora borealis”, “i’m a mindless idiot” rating: 7.5/10
I feel like this album is going to have a lot of one star reviews, from people who want singers to 'sound nice' and 'be able to sing'. To those people, I can only shake my head sadly. This album is so much fun and really interesting. Obviously, there are also the songs later covered by Nirvana on Unplugged, which are just good to hear - even if you do slightly wish it was Kurt and Co. But whatever, this was a great discovery. I'd reserve the right to give it 0.3 on another day.
I whine about a lot of bad albums in a row, but I have been on a bit of a lucky streak of late. Like 98% of the population, I came to know the Meat Puppets based on Nirvana's Unplugged album. I bought Too High to Die and then worked my way through their back catalog as I got a bit older. The three songs from Unplugged are here but there are a lot of other really good songs. I'm not even sure what genre (cowpunk?) is represented by the Meat Puppets but I feel they were very ahead of their time. It's grunge that's not grunge and covers a lot of genres. The vocalist's voice doesn't bother me too much, as I grew up listening to vocalists that weren't incredibly great at actually singing. Plus, this is a pretty lo-fi effort, so I would not necessarily expect exemplary production. Great songs all around though. Split Myself In Two Plateau Lost Oh Me Aurora Borealis I'm a Mindless Idiot Lake of Fire The Whistling Song
Meat Puppets II is the second studio album from the Phoenix-based band. This is a dramatic departure from the band's first release, which was primarily noise-filled hardcore. Their second effort contains hints of hardcore, but is a mixture of country, punk, and some folk. The album was critically and commercially successful, and helped the Meat Puppets become one of the most successful bands on their label, SST. The mixture of genres in the band's music helped expand the range of music that's called "punk," and became part of a subgenre called "cowpunk." The band's ability to incorporate new sounds is evident in this early work, and helped propel their long career.
The Meat Puppets are a good listen. Some good song on this album.
This is a very interesting sound for a record that came out in 1984. It's a noisy, hardcore punk, garage rock feel with elements of country which you would think wouldn't mix at all, but I think it works really well. It's a little all over the place at times but I found myself enjoying it more often than not. There's some great guitar work here. The opener has a good riff and the next track 'Magic Toy Missing' takes the fantastic picking and soloing of country music and turns it into a fantastic instrumental complete with foot tapping drumming. 'Lost' also has a good solo. 'Aurora Borealis' is another instrumental that almost delves into psychedelic. Apparently Nirvana covered three tracks from this for their 'MTV Unplugged' album and you can see why. 'Lake Of Fire' in particular does sound like Nirvana, especially the vocals, I can see Kurt covering it for sure. Speaking of vocals I see a lot of reviews slating them but I'm not having it. On the more punky tracks like 'Split Myself In Two' he sounds over the top and I like it It's a very enjoyable half hour and I would definitely give it a spin if I had 30 minutes to spare.
It's trash but it's my type of trash.
Rating: 8/10 Singer can't sing for shit but this is great, nice combination of styles and quite catchy instrumentally.
Surprisingly good
Awesome sound, felt like it had a distinct identity and texture across the album. Will have to check out more of these guys
Surprisingly good despite this is hyped only because of nirvana
Surprisingly fun album that gets better deeper into the tracks... might check out the expanded release
Solid nirvana covers
Meat Puppets II is weird, messy, and kind of brilliant — in other words, classic underground punk. If The Brothers Meat are good enough for Kurt Cobain, they’re good enough for me. Hearing the original versions of “Plateau,” “Oh, Me,” and “Lake of Fire” is a trip after knowing the Nirvana Unplugged versions so well. They’ve got this spaced-out, twangy vibe that’s totally their own — part punk, part country, part whatever-the-hell-they-feel-like.
Great record! Fav: Plateau
A lot of fun
Some band names are so bad you hesitate to listen to the music. Hello Meat Puppets. Once I got past the band name, I really enjoyed this album. It’s unfortunate that I won’t pursue additional music from the Meat Puppets. It was an enjoyable event but no more.
Listened Before? N These guys were relatively unknown until Nirvana invited them to participate in "Unplugged" and it shows - the 4 songs they played at that concert with Nirvana are light years ahead in streams on Spotify. That being said - Nirvana was right to give them exposure. These dudes created some great guitar-driven music in the 80s, with unique themes and sounds. I really enjoyed this whole album and will probably revisit it many times. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Plateau
I liked this. The singer is awful but the instrumental tracks are really cool. He’s also trying to be awful, which I don’t get, but it’s his jam. I'll be looking for more Cow Punk.
most palatable of its genre
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.
Solid album, knew Kurt was into them but i never listened to them outside of his covers.
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.
3.5
The last US punk i got generated was dreich so let's see how this goes. See now there's something to this. Not sold on his voice I'm probably gonna tire of it by the end of a full album but I like this sort of darker americanah guitar. That doesn't mean anything but I know what I'm trying to say. Punk is a strong word for this. Like i don't dislike it but it's not noisy. Shout please. ..hm nah i kinda get it it's subverting something or reinventing something or whatever. Like I'm not necessarily having the greatest time with this but i appreciate what it's doing. O shit a heavy guitar shouting song! Nah this is really growing on me it's a real Jarvis Cocker's Carrier Bag Of Influences. I do have to go to work though so I'm breaking off after The Whistling Song and will be back later Honestly this feels like a group of guys in their bedroom doing whatever the hell in whatever order and I think that's cool and artistically bold. They repeated a song???? Respect. Also a lot of instrumental so I'm not tired of his voice but it's grown on me a bit anyway. Hard to rate... probably a 3.5 tbh but I'll round up. See i would have Never listened to this without this website and that would have been a shame!!
I would probably have given this album five stars if the band had a singer who could sing. There is a lot of musical talent on display, but the vocals really hold it back in my opinion. Definitely a four-star album though, in my book.
The OGs paving the way for the future in this original work of art.
Another discovery. Nirvana were right. Announces itself with Split Myself In Two, which just rolls along and then collapses at the end. Good fun here. Sounds 90s but isn't.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. This is far more sophisticated and complex. No wonder Cobain was a fan. I don’t love some of the whiny vocals, but they knew how to play. Enjoying the instrumentals very much.
tre canzoni presenti in nirvana unplugged, tra cui plateau. capisco perché abbiano ispirato Kurt, tra il 3 e 4 do 4
I was not expecting to like this at all. Strangely, a few albums back, I was served up the Nirvana Unplugged album and these guys appeared on a few tracks. Anyway, this was really good. Lots of different influences. I would quite happily listen to it again.
4 stars
For some reason I really strongly thought this album wasn’t on here. I think the songs nirvana covered are the best songs, but new gods is pretty great and so is the instrumental Aurora borealis. 4/5
Proto-Grunge. Versteh hz woher Nirvana seine Riffs klaut hat
What an absolute gem of an album. Just love the dweeby dorky vocals and the lo-fi production. There’s variety, great guitar work and greatbass, and some catchy melodies. “Oh, Me” is just sublime. Only 1 criticism, the drumming; so basic.
low 4, dark, psychedelic, hard
Needs to be heavier in the rotation
Excellent, first time I’ve listened to this group but think they could grow on me. Broad range of styles given a heavy guitar treatment. Really enjoyed this
12 temas en menos de media hora, punk-rock y mucho más. La voz de Curt Kirkwood sin duda influyó en J Mascis. Su música y estilo no solo en este sino en toda una pléyade de bandas posteriores. Nirvana tocaron nada menos que 3 temas en su Unplugged: "Plateau", "Oh, Me", y "Lake of Fire". Split Myself in Two comienza a todo tren para luego derivar en un psicodélico de lo más estimulante. Línea que abrazarían en el siguiente disco, los excelentes Up on the Sun y Mirage. Lo mismo sucede con la instrumental y ¿country? Magic Toy Missing y ya sin tapujos en Lost. Plateau sigue sonando igual de fascinantes a pesar del tiempo. Aurora Borealis encajaría en cualquier disco de Neil Young, algo que sigue en la instrumental Aurora Borealis. En We´re Here ya se vislumbra el giro hacia The Byrds que emprenderían. Uno de sus mejores temas. Climbing, más country alternativo y New Gods acelera con ritmo hardcore. Oh, Me y Lake of fire ya son parte de la historia por formar parte del MTV Unplugged. I'm a Mindless Idiot conduce de forma brillante al coerre con The Whistling Song. Poco más se puede pedir en apenas 29 minutos. Ejemplares.
I quite enjoyed the country twang meets hardcore here - not the usual bedfellows. Kurt Cobain was clearly a fan.
Meat Puppets! I only know one of the songs on this album, "Lake of Fire" which I love from the Nirvana unplugged concert. I'm looking forward to seeing how much I like the meat puppets, a band I have heard of a long time ago, but have never really listened to. The first few songs are good so far. "Lost" reminds me of Willie Nelson for some reason? Not what I expected but okay. Lots of upbeat, driving guitars and drums. I lied! I know two songs. "Plateau" which was also covered by Nirvana. I quite enjoy the more garage rock (?) vibe of this album. It's what good rock and roll was meant to be...simple, fun, guitars, bass and some drums.
Very solid album I can see myself returning too. It’s pretty unique
I don’t hear this style very much so this was cool
Good
This is my first time listening to Meat Puppets not in the form of a Nirvana cover. This was great fun, raw and folkier than I expected, with several roots/punk instrumental interludes that give the varied tracklist a more intentional and meditative quality as the album progresses. Gave me moments of Wilco, of Big Thief, and of course many hardcore moments for the grunge boyz.
I feel like I enjoyed a good amount of this but for some reason it took me so long to get through. I like this in a similarish way to the way I enjoy the Juno soundtrack. I think the instrumentals r good too I just feel like if they decided to put lyrics to them id enjoy it more.
Elska kjötbrúðurnar. Þetta er vangefið hrátt. Illað dæmi.
Mjög fínt og hressandi amrískt pönk. Fer í alls konar áttir.
Where do bad folks go when they die?
RING OF FIRE
I love this band for their sincere mishmash of hardcore and southwestern Americana, aggressive rhythm playing and surprisingly elegant harmonics…if you listen to Up on the Sun you also realize they are huge nerds, a fact that makes me love them even more. Maybe an acquired taste but endeared to me. “New Gods” slays.
Really liked this. Can hear how it influenced so many other bands I love.. it’s almost like the original alt country at times.
"Meat Puppets II" is the second studio album by Phoenix, Arizona rock band the Meat Puppets. Wiki has an interesting list of genres that include cowpunk, psychedelic rock, bluegrass, folk and Americana and they all fit somewhere during the album. This second album was a change from their more hardcore punk debut. Bandmembers included Curt Kirkwood (guitar, vocals), Cris Kirkwood (bass, vocals) and Derrick Bostrom (drums). The album was met with favorable reviews. The Meat Puppets still hang on to their hardcore roots in the opener "Split Myself in Two." Fast drums and bass. Feedback and a dreamy guitar. I think Curt is singing about playing cards with a guy he hates. They slow it down on "Plateau." A melodic acoustic guitar. Curt strained vocals at the higher pitches as he's scaling a plateau. Kurt Cobain was a fan. There are three instrumentals on this album and "Aurora Borealis" showcases them at their jam band best. Speaking of showcasing, since reading about the cowpunk genre, I was waiting for it; along comes "New Gods" with feedback and a fast, country music-type beat. I guess the band needed a break since they slow it down on the next song "Oh, Me." It's slow, plodding but builds. Painting himself as indulgent. The bass drum pounds, in comes the screeching guitar and Curt's raw and ragged vocals in "Lake of Fire." Lots of talk of death and moaning. I read the lyrics were based on the Book of Revelation. Hmmm..... probably the Meat Puppet's signature song. This album is fast and slow. They do touch a number of musical styles...punk, psychedelic, jam band, country, dreamy and Americana. But, the sound is unique to them and you know when you're hearing a Meat Puppets' song. The band admittingly was doing a lot of drugs at the time so I'm not surprised I don't know what the lyrics mean half the time. The average song length is somewhere between one and a half and two and a half minutes....the Pixies were taking notes. I might like their next album "Under the Sun" slightly better but this is an excellent album.
It's not really good, but I like it anyway. Instruments are OK. Singing is not very stable. Songs are good. Reminds me of the White Stripes, but this is much older. Favorite song: Teenager(s)
January 20, 2025 HL: “The Whistling Song”, “Lake of Fire”, “Aurora Borealis”, “New Gods”, “Lost” Neat (Puppets II)
Country, punk, psychedelia - what a ridiculous combo, in 1984! Generally loved this, especially when it leaned less into the punk side of things. You can hear the influence on Nirvana and Kurt Vile especially in my mind. Highlights Plateau, Aurora Borealis, I’m a Mindless Idiot - maybe I am, but this is good music 4.25/5