Meat Puppets II

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

De vleemarionetten. De oplettende luisteraar kwam ze eerder al tegen bij Nirvana Unplugged. Dat feitje ligt zo voor de hand dat ik vrees dat de jury me er geen bonuspunt voor zal toekennen. En die drie nummers, waarvan je nog nooit de originele versie hebt gehoord, zijn wel een fijne houvast bij dit toch wat gekkige album. De eerste paar tracks klinken een beetje als de South Park intro van Primus. De meeste nummers houden er een aardig tempo op na, de zanger kan amper zingen en doet eigenlijk schijtirritant, maar past vreemd genoeg wel bij het geheel en de gitaren mogen lekker aan de lange lijn rondsnuffelen. De zanger houdt af en toe gepast het snaveltje op elkaar en de band mag dan even het tilwerk verrichten: hulde. Dit album wordt er echt beter van. Af en toe gaat het wel heel erg richting het bijzondere, maar ik probeer er gewoon maar lekker de humor van in te zien. En ook bij de gekkere shit zijn de gitaren (inclusief basgitaar) aardig lekker bezig ('New Gods'). Ik luister hem via de headset en de gitaren hebben op dit album echt een lekkere textuur. Half uurtje, 12 tracks. Ik vermaak me er prima mee. Uiteindelijk haalt ook deze eenvoudig de 4 sterren en mogen we officieel spreken van een streak. Als je dit een 2 zou geven vanwege de zanger geef ik je echter ook gelijk.

Whoah this album is great. How have I never listened to the Meat Puppets before?

I can safely say I didn't not expect Meat Puppets to sound quite so bluegrassy. Not mad about it, just surprised as my only direct reference point for them is Backwater, which is decidedly more straight-and-narrow 90s grunge-alternative in sound. Lost is a solid one that pulls harder than others on that bluegrass vibe. Messy composition, but I think that's sort of the point. Plateau is a standout jam. Thought it sounded familiar -- Nirvana covered this during their unplugged session. Aurora Borealis also sounds extremely familiar and is easy to vibe to with a simple 4/4 drum cadence and layered guitars at varying distortion levels noodling about. Its simple, but I absolutely love this song. We're Here drips in psychedelia spirit and reminds me vaguely of .moe. Oh, Me actually reminds me of It Ain't Easy by David Bowie. Very different songs, but there is something similar in the way it swells during the chorus. Original version of Lake of Fire is much crustier than Nirvana's rendition -- I could see it not being everybody's cup of tea, but I'm over here drinking. Always loved the writing (for some reason the lyrics nest in my head) and the brokenness of the vocals actually serves as a benefit IMO. Raw and wonderfully messy. I really enjoyed this one and could see myself coming back for repeated listens. Solid 4 / 5.

Only know of the Meat Puppets from Nirvana's Unplugged. Looks like a few of the songs they play there are on here so I'm interested to see how they translate. Aurora Borealis has some bomb guitar/bass work. We're Here has some spacey guitar work. Really digging Mindless Idiot too. His voice doesn't ruin songs for me but these just seem like some fun jam types. What a weird mix of punk, noise, folk. Looking at the genres I guess I like cowpunk lololol End this one with the original issue after Whistling Song. Teenagers is crazy.

I fucking love the Meat Puppets so much. Their ability to create a album where every track stands out as distinct is really impressive. Even instrumentals are entertaining and engaging. Vocals are unique and, in my opinion, that’s all that really matters. I’d rather have this Kirkwood’s wandering voice than some plastic Michael Bublé. I can enjoy the Bub, don’t get me wrong, but you don’t see him on this list for a reason. Every song is great and they all fit together like a cohesive album should. The whole project has a sort of futuristic-skateboard-western feel to it that they pull off flawlessly. Instrumentation and production are incredible, especially when matched with the vocals. The melodies are so timelessly catchy. Everything works so well. The lyrics are memorable if you’re able to understand them and don’t fall asleep from the low energy vocals. “Lake of Fire”, for example has some pretty energetic singing. I just wish the rest could be a little more like that. No other complaints, though. Enjoyed the whole thing. 4/5

Yeah, great. Listening to a podcast about these cats recently, so somewhat serendipitous that they popped up on this app. Meat Puppets II: Money Never Sleeps

4.5

Some like beach grunge vibes. Also OG “Lake of Fire” just as good.

It may seem a bit obscure, but these guys were enormously influential to the bands that made it big in the radio a decade later.

II gets out to a rough start but quickly improves from there. Aurora Borealis is very cool. Was familiar with Meat Puppets from the Nirvana covers. (3.7*s)

frickin sweet

Overall: 8/10 I mostly knew Meat Puppets from the Nirvana MTV Unplugged, but the songs from this album that were featured there sound way different than expected. It's a raw, punky album with the type of vocals that I feel I should hate but fits so well with their music. I also like the instrumental tracks. Really interesting album. Fav Song: Lake of Fire Least Fav Song: The Whistling Song

I think this is one you have to be in the right mood for. Fortunately I am! I didn’t know country punk (now officially counk, pronounced cunk) existed, but here it is. And I like it. Also, they’ve been around *how* long?? Dammit, I’ve just found out it’s called cow punk. Keeping this album for a long drive in summer.

Now this is the kind of weird, quasi-punk, quasi-country, grungey weirdness that deserves to be on a list like this - it's definitely not something I would have picked out at the shops, but I'm kind of digging it! Also, getting this less than a week after the Nirvana live album gave me a real whiplash sense of "wait, why do I know this song - oh hang on!" (Plateau was one of my faves from the Nirvana album, and now I see it's because they didn't write it :P )

If Neil Young is the Godfather of Grunge, these guys are the cool uncles. Like a lot of people, I knew them from Nirvana Unplugged and from Backwater, their hit during the grunge era, but had never listened to any of their albums. This is a very cool album. The singing leaves a little to be desired in spots, but the songwriting and lyrics are outstanding, and the singing fits the style (for example, the singing in Lake of Fire is borderline unhinged, but that works with the lyrics). This led me back to Nirvana Unplugged, which is an all-time great album so it's not fair to compare this album - but they deserve credit for being forebears of grunge nearly a decade early. Lots of great moments - my favorites are admittedly the tracks Nirvana played with them, possibly based on familiarity (Plateau and Lake of Fire). Of the other tracks, favorites were Split Myself in Two (which I originally found a little too unhinged, but grew on me, particularly on close listen), Aurora Borealis, and We're Here. Least favorite were Climbing (the slacker singing was a little too much) and New Gods (noisy sloppy guitar work, which was surprising given that Curt Kirkwood is a pretty good guitarist). Solid 4, maybe even a 5 over time but the sloppiness and slacker singing are keeping me from putting it over the top.

I faintly remembered the name "Meat Puppets" from researching "Nirvana" when their "MTV Unplugged" album came up on the list earlier. Other than that I don't think I'd ever heard about them before. The tracks that have vocals have pretty clear punk-vocals but the music is more rock/country so that's a bit interesting. All in all I liked it and may return to explore more in the future Standouts Plateau Lake of Fire 4/5

Singular technical ability. Yes country goes well with punk and psychedelia. Their sound is visionary and at first they were the only ones who could see what was going on. But a few repeated listens and you're right there beside them. I would play this in the car with the kids--they loved it (or at least partly). Those trilling guitar runs, the off beat drums, the imitation of my singing style. Everything here is oddly beautiful or beautifully odd.

it's funny how one singer can so distract me from being able to properly enjoy the music (Antony & the Johnsons, Rufus Wainwright), while another, objectively worse singer (this guy), won't bother me. I get why people hate this, but I dig it. I'm not sure I find his bad singing charming, but it's part of the whole aesthetic. (I will confess I wish he could hit at least *some* of the notes.) 3.5 Rounding up.

Another band I was interested in but couldn't really access back in 1984. I really enjoyed this. Did they inspire Jeff Tweedy?

A fine album with real artistic approach. The instrumentals really bring a depth to the best songs Nirvana wrote

Ooh. That was good. This is an interesting little album right here. Meat Puppets aren't a super influential band or anything, but I think there's enough popularity to warrant this album being included. There's also enough quality for inclusion, as I think this album is pretty good. The style is pretty unique. I like the blend of various influences like punk, country, and psychedelia. It works pretty well. The singing is certainly interesting, but I think there's a charm to it. The songs are solid. Perhaps the biggest impact of this album was that three of its songs, "Plateau," "Oh, Me," and "Lake of Fire" were part of Nirvana's MTV Unplugged show, where they were joined by the two main members of Meat Puppets for the performance. That's neat! I haven't heard Nirvana's Unplugged album yet (I'm waiting for this generator to give it to me), but it's pretty cool that these guys influenced and got to work with Nirvana. Those songs are great by the way, as are the other ones on the album. Overall, this is a nice album that I enjoyed. 4/5.

Erster Song ist schon etwas hart, aber dann öffnet sich das Album in seiner Breite und inspiriert zum späteren Grunge, grossartig!

Another Great One! They opened for Stone Temple Pilots. Lake of Fire!..Fantastic!

This is a solid album by a great band. Just a year away. From becoming the most underrated band of the 80s

Some catchy tunes

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.

i love it when music is bad <3 highlights: we’re here; new gods; oh, me; lake of fire (dec 10 2023)

The lead singer sounds like he’s constantly on the verge of tears, which is pretty apt because that’s how I was living at Villanova when I first got into the album

Ich mein wenn nirvana drei lieder von dem Album covered kanns nicht schlecht sein

Honestly not bad. I expected the band that inspired Nirvana to sound more like the Butthole Surfers, but I can get behind some of this.

4 - There was a lot of unique stuff on this album, most were good, some were great, some sucked. Cool to learn a few classics were from this too

Favorite Tracks: Lake of Fire Plateau

Pretty great and influential album. I wonder how well known it would have been had they not been highlighted by Nirvana's unplugged concert however. That's how I heard of them, along with most people I would imagine. They were definitely ahead of their time either way, hard to believe this was released in 1984! Sure the singing is a bit rough in places, but the guitar playing and songwriting are brilliant.

Despite the singers' admittedly Unique singing voice, this is still some pretty decent folk-tinged punk. Solid 4 for me.

I’m at a 4. I can see why Kurt Cobain liked these guys. They’re just kind of honest. That is to say, this album isn’t overly produced to hide any flaws – it actively welcomes them at times. There are moments where the vocals are hanging onto the beat by a thread, and to hear something like that in 1984, when everyone is trying to hit on masterpieces to compete with Thriller or any of the other stiff competition of the era, is rather welcomed. It’s also just a really fun blend of genres with a bit of variety – this album kinda bounces back and forth in time and goes all over the place. There’s some 70s rock tropes in here, the punchiness of 80s drums, a bit of garage/grunge influence that would be more present in the 90s, and even an occasional soundscape reminiscent of late-2000s indie rock. It’s not necessarily ahead of its time or anything, or super innovative, but it sounds pretty damn good. I can’t say this ever got into 5 territory for me – it certainly flirts with it a few times, namely on the tracks that are perhaps more well known as part of the MTV Unplugged performance, but it never keeps a consistently high mark on the other songs. There’s not any bad tracks here, though. It’s a fun album, and it’s a rather quick 30 minutes, even with about a quarter of it taken up by instrumentals. Obviously, this album’s influence on Kurt Cobain may be its legacy in the long run, but it’s rather good in its own right. Pretty solid 4.

Enjoyed this album. Kind of like a punky, raw vocal, MJ Lenderman, but back in the 90s.

Really good! First time listening to these guys.

This might be a controversial pick - but I just love alt-country stuff - early Wilco like AM and Summerteeth, Son Volt, Drive-by Truckers. Lots of similarities to those guys in the Puppets, though just alot of more punk on top of it. This was one of Cobain's favorite bands - they played a bunch of their songs on MTV Unplugged. Yeah, some of these songs are pretty annoying at first (and second and third listen), but overall I'm super into it. The instrumental tracks are the highlights for me - Aurora Borealis, Mindless Idiot, 100% of Nothing. Pretty close to a 5 for me.

VERY surprised by the diversity in this album. I really enjoyed it and can see how they could be an influence for a lot of other bands.

Enjoyed it!!!

This is the first time hearing Meat Puppets, and just realized how impactful they were to the scene. Some of the top songs, and due to it inspiring Nirvana, it would be lake of fire and plateau. Such a great and trippy experience

I really enjoyed this. And I've never heard the originals that Nirvana covered.

Lots of people reviewing this record didn't listen to it. Yes his vocals are bad and yes some of the tracks are noisy. But this record has heart. Big time.

I did not listen to them ever, but I get why they were one of Kurt Cobain's favourite bands.

Ik kende een paar nummers - uiteraard via Nirvana - maar best wel een wijs album. Ik snap waarom Kurt Cobain fan was. 3.8

4.0

One of my favourites from the 84 deep dive. 4.5/5

8.3 ★★★★ Could have been higher if I liked his vocals better, but band wise I freakin loved it.

I missed out on the OG release and Mirage is my first entry point into the MP. You can hear some of the future Grateful Dead vibe here, but certainly more "edgy" than later releases.

You're going to recognize so many of these songs as covered by other bands!

Surprised to really enjoy this given my only exposure was Nirvana covers. Like the Pixies, this feels shockingly modern for having been released in 1984, with a twangy, alt-country feel to some songs that strikes me as way ahead of their time - combined with dissonant singing that reminds me of Isaac Brock. While a few songs lean punk, that's not the overwhelming majority of the album - and with the instrumental tracks, it feels like an early, funkier Calexico or something.

Bellino

Not familiar with the history of the different editions of the 1001 albums book, but I suspect that the retrospective inclusion of this album in Dimery's list partly stems from the fact that Nirvana covered three songs from it in their MTV Unplugged concert (backed by members of Meat Puppets themselves). It sure takes the genius ear of Kurt Cobain to spot the potential of those three standout tracks as recorded here. Not to say that the original album is not worthy of indie-rock fans' interest. The psychedelic folk-rock cuts are stellar on this one. Of course, there are "Plateau", "Lake Of Fire" and "Oh Me", of *Unplugged* fame, but also the equally beautiful (and yet strangely ominous, not to mention harmonically unpredictable) "We're Here" and "The Whistling Song". Plus the wonderfully dreamy instrumentals "Aurora Borealis" and "I'm A Mindless Idiot". The guitar work on each and every one of those cuts is truly impressive, with a lot of intricate flourishes that bring a lot of off-kilter and uncanny emotions on the table. The only (somewhat important) issue I have with this record is that its punk-rock / country-rock / cowpunk tracks (take your pick) are pretty underwhelming (and even grating) at times. They're cluttering the start of each of the sides of this original LP, and please, oh please, keep on listening after they're gone, or you will miss the truly great stuff this record has to offer. One last thing, about the vocals: a lot of listeners will notice that Curt Kirkwood is often out of key, but I don't think that's a real problem if you focus on the surreal-yet-evocative lyrics and the emotive performance. Even with its flaws, this album is one-of-a-kind, and has aged pretty well. Evidence enough that during the eighties, you had to look into the underground to find more authentic and heartfelt music. Not sure I will include *Meat Puppets II* in my own list, because if you take its few duds away, its length is more akin to the one of an EP than an album proper. But I'm glad it was on Dimery's list, at least. 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list, rounded up to 4 8.5/10 grade for more general purposes (5+3.5). Number of albums left to review: 130 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 376 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 223 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 281

Thought I wouldn't like it, but I listened twice in a row. Not bad. I like the guitars here.

Ótimo e especialmente fudamental pelos músicas do Unplugged do Nirvana.

Dai bellino

Very weird album but I really enjoyed it

When I read about the band's punk roots, I realised why I hated this album on first listen. I've never been able to get past how try-hard it is the way some punk bands will go to the trouble of booking a studio and a professional producer, and then proceed to act like they're too cool to care about recording an album of any quality. That's how I felt about this album: a bunch of insufferably smug, warbling tools trying to hide their neediness behind an affected aloofness. But on second listen I lightened the fuck up and realised that the songs are actually good and I should stop assuming so much about bands who are probably just having fun, which is what music is all about.

not bad

Really really enjoyed this one. I knew the Meat Puppets were a huge influence for Nirvana (Cobain specifically) but had never listened to them. I’m really glad I got to listen to this and see how this album in particular affected one of the most influential bands / live albums of all time. I also realized listening to this that I miss instrumental tracks coming in between songs. The showcase of talent is always great to see and a nice break from focusing on lyrics for a first listen.

I got really nervous with a band name like Meat Puppets. I came in expecting some hardcore metal, but was surprised with what was delivered. Good song variation, some solid jam vibes, and a few standout songs. These are some of the worst vocals I've heard and I love it! You see it a lot in punk music "I may have no talent, but I'm still going to try and jam as hard as those hair bands of the 70's". Just because they're tone deaf doesn't mean they can't learn the guitar and that they don't have something to say. I liked this way more than I was expecting, but I can also absolutely see why someone would give this a 1 star. I can see this being an obscure band that I bond with someone over randomly in the future.

INteressanter MIx aus Folk, Lofi, Psychadelic, rock und härteren hardcore sachen. Dem Album fehlt deswegen so ein bisschen der rote Faden. Gutes Songwriting dem die musikalische QUalität (GEsang,INstrumente) manchmal etwas entgegen steht, was aber wohl auch beabsichtigt ist. Verdient auf jeden Fall einen PLatz auf dieser Liste. 3,7

Kind of dinosaur jry

Crazy Alt rock album way way ahead of its time

This was a pretty fun listen

Of course this album was a big inspiration to the alt-rock acts of the late 80s and early 90s, I mean, just listen to it. Just enough country twang to be subversive. Enough fuzz to rock hard, but still melodic enough to gather a crowd willing to jam. It's its own thing through and through, with only small things you can pick out and go "oh they probably did that because of this act," but otherwise you're listening to the sound of an all new era of entertainment, and while its still ironing out some of the kinks, okay, A LOT of kinks, its otherwise nothing short of revolutionary.

These guys wrote 3 of the songs that Nirvana played on their MTV Unplugged record (Plateau, Oh Me, and Lake of Fire... All of which are on this record). These guys are an odd genre. Sometimes it's straight grunge, other times it's like country mixed with punk or grunge.... Which I've learned has a classification.... It's called cowpunk.... What an awesome name. I don't mind this stuff, as long as you ignore the fact that the singer can't sing... Like at all. I'm Not Here is a good example of that "cowpunk" style. It sounds like Johnny Cash on speed. Favourite songs: Lake of Fire, Plateau, Magic Toy Missing Least favourite songs: Teenager(s) 4/5

I’ve heard of Meat Puppets before, usually in the context of bands who influenced Kurt Cobain, but I’ve never listened to them before. How does one make a meat puppet though? I’m envisioning a sock puppet made of ground beef, but a sausage on a stick would probably be a lot more practical since it would be less messy. Plus, with a sausage, you can make dick jokes. I digress. I can’t believe that this album came out in 1984. I don’t recall having ever heard guitar playing quite like this before. The rhythms on this album may have been in the driver’s seat, but there was still a wide variety of guitar tones, with plenty of distortion and fuzziness to go around. I really loved how this album took some sounds and influences that were clearly from country music, but changed them around to create something so new and different. It’s like taking the parts from a sewing machine and building a microwave. The vocals and lyrics were really quirky, but they fit the overall sound of the album really well. Kurt Cobain’s inspiration comes through loud and clear on this album. The guitar playing and lyrics laid the foundation for Nirvana to build on several years later, but Nirvana still managed to create something completely new from their inspiration on this album. There weren’t any songs that really stood out to me as my favorites, I just enjoyed the album as a whole. Even though I enjoyed listening to this, it’s not the sort of thing I gravitate towards, and it felt a little tedious in some stretches. Still, this album’s importance and influence can’t be understated, and it’s definitely worthy of being on this list.

Blimey you can really tell how this band influenced Kurt Cobain. Great album!

pretty good

Wow. Somehow I never got around to listening to this band. I guess I assumed I wouldn’t like them?? I am learning I’ve done lots of incorrect music assuming through the years, and I’m exciting for the next album that comes along and makes me realize how wrong I was. But I loved this! It did get a bit jammy toward the end, iirc, but the rest of it more than makes up for it.

Thoroughly enjoyed this highly creative album. It includes two of the songs covered on Nirvana's Unplugged album, but I now can't remember which ones as there are so many bangers. Definitely one to keep returning to.

Enjoy one of their albums, the ine with Backwater. Know a few other songs from nirvana unplugged First song a lot punk. Reminds me of suicidal tendencies, 10 years later 2 instrumental wasn’t expecting that 3 this is a little more ‘country’ sounding than expecting. Liking this ‘not punk’ sound 4 nirvana covered it. This singer doesn’t have the strongest voice Going thru, this is more like the album I have, enjoying this Good cymbal Oh Me. Lake of fire could be on Bleach. 1983. The direct influence of this album on Kurt cobain makes this a must-listen, that it’s quite surprisingly musical otherwise is a bonus I’m a mindless idiot - sublime sampled this wow What to do - bass reminds me of Violent Femmes. Couple other times too. Auoura borealis another instrumental. 3? 4? This is a pleasant album minus the couple punk songs 4 stars good influential album. Wow. Couple punk songs hold this back from 5. This should have been bigger. Great album for a list like this.

The Meat Puppets refine their sound and fully settle into their identity. The three songs that the Kirkwood brothers performed with Nirvana during their Unplugged set are probably the best, but every song is worth hearing.

I liked this more than I expected. More country-tinged than I thought going in. It's ok.

Knew the hits and that was it, had no idea they were this good. Great album

Plateau -> Aurora Borealis -> We’re Here is absolutely sublime I really had no idea meat puppets were this good. New favorite.

This is a great record. I didnt know about meat puppets until nirvana unplugged, but 10 years later this record was still good.

At first I wanted to write "I love the fucking Meat Puppets.", then I realized there's no "the" in the name so I typed "I love fucking Meat Puppets." And well, you get the idea. This is an awesome album.

Classic cowpunk, really good stuff. 4 stars.

Kurt steered us right

Prima album, Nirvana heeft wel de pareltjes eruit gepikt. Originele sound

In addition to the excellent Nirvana Unplugged albums there are some really good instrumental jams. Particularly Aurora Borealis and Magic Toy Missing

I, like many other people, were turned onto the Meat Puppets through Nirvana’s unplugged album. I’m a gen Z but was big into Nirvana throughout high school and tried listening to this album back then but I wasn’t quite ready for it. For some reason listening to it now was really fun. I dig the country punk sound on here. Must’ve been really jarring for fans of their first album to hear them go to this. The best part of this album imo is the guitar work. Very intricate riffs and solos that don’t get the credit they deserve.

Pretty good. I dig the country punk vibes.

Another great album! Meat Puppets are a band I forget about, and when I’m reminded I always think, man I should listen to these guys more. Hopefully I’ll remember this time. Great ramshackle indie rock music.

I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would. It was great. I went back and forth about how I feel about the vocals, but I like them!

4.3 - Having grown up on Nirvana Unplugged, I’ve clearly been sleeping on the Meat Puppets. This record is a cool and casual mashup of country, psychedelic and proto-grunge. The guitar work is stellar — reminds me of J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. In addition to the songs that Kurt Cobain elevated to 90s pantheon status, there are lots of choice instrumental vignettes like “Aurora Borealis.” This is a happy discovery — thanks, Robert Dimery.

4.2 - This was a ride. Some hard listening in parts, but musically so interesting to me. I would definitely come back to them in the future

Having an eponymous album name is a sure sign of self confidence. This band know what they are doing, with 12 songs blasted out in under 30 minutes in an entertaining mix of thrash, proto-rap and country, apparently inventing the genre cowpunk in the process. Good fun!

This was so much better than I remembered, and then my Apple Music just went off playing Nirvana, NIN, and my 90s favorites...

Take the songwriting of country and make it in the style of punk: That's much of Meat Puppets II. They also do some of the most unique alternative rock of their time. Curt Kirkwood has some unfortunate vocals but the rest of the band makes up for it with incredible instrumentation.

Never heard of this before but knew some of the songs from Nirvana covers. Enjoyed it, good combination of different rock subgenres. Fav songs: What to Do, Plateau, Lost

Plateau feels like a Nirvana song. The whole album rides the line of interesting and sonically pleasing in a way that never quite lands. It feels masterful in execution, but just misses my palette.

What a strange album this is. So these guys are most famous for being on Nirvana's MTV Unplugged, where Nirvana covered three songs from this album with Meat Puppets band members supporting ("Plateau", "Oh Me", and "Lake of Fire"). Apparently these guys were pretty obscure before the MTV show, but Kurt Cobain was a huge fan. The MTV show was recorded in 1993 and this came out in 1984, so it wasn't new at the time or anything. This thing is truly all over the board though. It definitely gives punk vibes, but the lyrics are a lot more thoughtful (nice?) than a lot of what you get in punk. This was released by the same label that released "Double Nickels on the Dime" by Minutemen, and that one also came out in 1984. While you can see some similarities if you squint a bit (a bit chaotic, questionably talented singer, short songs), this felt a lot more polished and thoughtful to me. It rocks pretty hard at times, it has this country thing going on, there's a number of acoustic-only songs (some of which are pretty slow, others that vibe nicely), a bit folk-y, it's got it all really. Wikipedia calls the genre cowpunk, and I have no idea what that means but I'll believe it because this is a bit of everything. Speaking of the singer, is he good? Honestly I have no idea. Some songs he sounds kind of awful, some songs it works ("We're Here", "What To Do"). This is one that I feel like is going to have bad reviews on here and I can't really explain what I like about it, but I think I like it. Peak example of the line between genius and the terrible is thin. It's far from perfect but it's really unique sounding and feels somewhat timeless to me. There's some really great songs on here, I like the instrumentals, it's a good vibe. Probably a 3.5, but there's enough good on here I'm rounding up, it's unique. Favorite song: We're Here Other: Split Myself in Two, Lost, Plateau, Aurora Borealis, Oh Me, Lake of Fire, I'm a Mindless Idiot, Lost, What To Do, 100% of Nothing, Aura Borealis 4/3/24

I found this band after the Nirvana Unplugged. While the singer's voice takes some getting used to, this is a really cool album. I enjoy the blending of folk, country, and punk. Both versions of Plateau are great.

I don't know how I would have felt about it if I didn't know that three of the songs from Nirvana's Unplugged album were covers from this album. But since I knew that, I heard it as a thread connecting Zeppelin and the Ramones with Nirvana. Yeah his voice is annoying but I really just wanted to go smoke a cigarette in a bar and hear them live with Kurt and the boys.

3/14/24

Nirvana influence! Okayyy! I liked it very much. I maybe expected a more grungier sound, but I think it's because Kurt covered so many of their songs. What really got me was featuring multiple of the same song titles with different renditions. I've never seen that on a studio album.

3.8/5 Best Track: Plateau

Cowpunk, rock psicodélico, bluegrass, folk, Americana. Me ha hecho gracia. Venga, un 4.

enjoyed it

Pretty sold. I enjoyed the variety of styles but especially the more country tracks. Nothing was really bad I’d say. Light 4.

This is a really good mix of alt-country and punk sounds. Very electric. I liked the instrumentals a lot.

I liked this album more than I expected to. I don’t think I’d put it on again for additional listens, but it had stronger Melodies than I anticipated. It sounds like this must have been massively influential on Wilco (but also in Nirvana and Pixies). Hilarious band name.

Hard to classify the Meat Puppets -- some elements of punk, country, psychedelia to different degrees depending on the track. Super creative, innovative sound -- vocals and instrumentals were adequate but the songwriting really takes the lead here. Prairie, Aurora Borealis (and the reprise, Aura Borealis) and Lake of Fire (covered famously by Nirvana) are my favorite tracks, but I could listen to this album multiple times.

A very fun, genre-bending album. Thrashy folk

It's a new mix of genres to me. It's interesting to listen an album that transitions from metal to prog rock and jazz

Never was able to get into the Meat Puppets too much, but I enjoyed this quite a bit today. Great proto-grunge energy, a good decade ahead of its time. Noisy and ramshackle on the surface with hints of sophisticated songcraft going on underneath. Noodly in places with some excellent guitar playing, and yet somehow most of the songs don't crack the 3 minute mark. The vocal can get rough and deliberately tuneless, but it's not without an off-kilter charm. Fave Songs: Lost; Plateau; Climbing; I'm a Mindless Idiot; The Whistling Song; Oh, Me; Aurora Borealis

One of the Godfathers of Grunge.

Music for the love of making music. So chaotic, and raw, yet has direction and purpose. The unfinished feeling of the album only adds to the wonderfulness of the album.

had only heard of this band through Nirvana, definitely something interesting and caught my ear.

Good!!

I'd heard the name Meat Puppets but had never listened to them. My first thought going into this album was holy crap, why are there 19 tracks? Turns out Tidal just has terrible UX and doesn't always mark the extra tracks (or that the albums are rereleases, for that matter). It was originally 12 tracks, all pretty short. I ended up sticking around for the extras anyway. "Split Myself in Two" — the lyrics are fun, but the music is basically "Blitzkrieg Bop." "Magic Toy Missing" is a Primus meets Grateful Dead-goes-punk jam session? Kind of a bop (ha ^), though. Third song — alright, so rockabilly punk is where we're going. I can dig it. Fourth track — is this where Beck got his inspiration from? Fun post-punk instrumental break in the middle of this song. Sonically, I like the more psychedelic songs like "Aurora Borealis" and "We're Here." But the more country songs like "Climbing" aren't bad. "Lake of Fire" sounds like Neil Young on a bad trip (in a good way). Heading into the extra tracks, you get a sense of their thrashier style on the intro of "Teenagers" before it mellows out into more of a psychedelic jam. I could take or leave the thrash stuff — kind of glad they decided to evolve into the latter sound. I've never seen Nirvana's Unplugged show (aside from a few snippets), but knowing that Meat Puppets were guests and performed several of these songs with them makes sense to me. You can definitely hear the influence this band had on Cobain and grunge. I liked this album way more than I was expecting to. I'm a big fan of The Living End, so rockabilly punk isn't unfamiliar to me. And I don't *love* jam bands, but I can do some Phish in moderation, and I enjoy a lot of The Cure's more psychedelic stuff, so this album was an interesting mix of all of that. Not perfect, but I'd listen to this again. 4/5 stars

I wasn’t sure at all about then when it started - but after the explosion of the start it goes on a pretty lovely journey of styles from punk to country via Americana and indie… all in all a lovely unexpected treat.

Puppet this Meat. So good

Raw noisy cowpunk that inspired Nirvana! These guys have a stripped down fast country-infused punk sound that's incredibly fun to listen to. Lots of variety here, like the ambient "Aurora Borealis" and "I'm a Mindless Idiot", the noise rock "Split Myself" and "New Gods", the jam band "Oh Me", the neo-psychedelia "We're Here", and the Gram Parsons "Cosmic American" style of country in "Climbing". We even have what might be classified as post-hardcore in the bonus track "Teenager(s)". Every song left an impression, and there are some standout hits in here, particularly the ones later covered by Nirvana in their Unplugged. For innovation, resourcefulness, diversity, and great track order, it stands out as a landmark of the decade.

There's a term I hadn't heard before - cow punk! I like it! Fun to unexpectedly hear a couple songs I think of as Nirvana songs from their MTV Unplugged performance, but of course they were Meat Puppets songs first. They sound that lets you know they are not afraid to go for it, not afraid to just play - you can hear mistakes, but it just adds to the personality of the music, and I respect how they're making it work. Did I just become a Meat Puppets fan?

Despite this being a fairly laid back, somewhat twangy, and at times jangly album, you can really hear where Kurt Cobain got some inspiration, particularly in the vocals, even on the songs Nirvana didn't end up covering on Unplugged. I can't help but be won over by the loose and carefree warmth of the whole thing. Just puts a smile on my face. The fact that this came out in '84 makes it all that much more impressive. A humble lo-fi indie affair at the height of the slick production era.

Interesting that Kurt Cobained knew/loved these guys. Not for any bad reason just a lot jammier than I expected. I loved a slowed down jam they had called "up on the sun" but this album is just straight up energy. Reminds me a bit of primus/TPOTUSA. Very good reverbed out jam guitar rock record.

Was about to give up on this one as it’s not on Spotify or Apple Music but I’m glad I didn’t. This was pretty amazing. Additional star for not being unnecessarily long and another for rocking this good and different during the dreadful 80’s

This is kinda cool. The influence on Nirvana was awseome to hear.

I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. A significant chunk of it was instrumental and occasionally got a bit heavy, but overall the mix of tracks was very impressive and makes good use of the album format. I wasn't a huge fan of the vocals though, which is why I won't give 5 stars. Stand-out: New Gods

Damn, Nirvana was hella influenced by this band. And I feel like a dummy for not knowing about the details of their Unplugged performance - wow. I enjoyed this album far more than I expected. It's dusty Western prog/alternative rock. I'm glad this was on the challenge. I'll listen to more of this band.

first listen i have never heard anything like this and i listened to the whole album while assembling cheap utility shelves

I most definitely knew some of these songs, two for obvious reasons. Kurt sure drank heavily from the Meat Puppets fountain when developing his signature vocal sounds. A very worthy inclusion in the list.

Nice this. I’d heard a few tracks before during my teens from my Nirvana obsessed pal, but didnt know anything else about them really other than their influence on Nirvana and plenty of lofi bands. Which is quite clear to see, I think Dinosaur jr, Pavement, etc have a lot to thank these for! Preferred the songs with singing, over the more bluesy/americana type tracks (although I did enjoy the Minutemen-esque drumming to a few of them). Fairly sure Nirvana covered Lake of Fire or at least ripped it off. Great song though. Will be back.

Grew on me, listened to it twice. New Gods was the standout. Cohesive and yet not really. Punk-adjacent.

Cowpunk, rock psicodélico, bluegrass, folk, Americana. Me ha hecho gracia. Venga, un 4.

Great guitar work. This is Garage Psych at its finest. Beutifuly produced, abandoning any lo-fi tendencies and noiserco of thier previous release. A classic album bolstered by some MTV unplugged publicity some years later.

I was going to say that like a lot of people my age I discovered the Meat Puppets because of Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged session, but I realized that’s only partially true. My actual first encounter was hearing Backwater, which was a big alternative hit in 1994, and I liked it so much I taped it off the radio onto a cassette on my boombox. That they were signed to a major label and receiving airplay in the first place can most likely be attributed to Nirvana— record execs were signing all sorts of alternative bands in the post-Nirvana boom, especially bands Kurt approved of. At the time I thought the Meat Puppets were a new band. They sounded like all the other young groups on alternative radio at the time. (I would make the same mistake with Violent Femmes…) I had no idea they’d already been around for over a decade until after I’d heard Unplugged. I think I may have gotten Too High to Die first, though I only liked Backwater and quickly traded it in. I remember being excited when I found a copy of Meat Puppets II in the cutout bin at the CD store at my local mall. I also remember being flummoxed by what I heard when I first put it on. I liked the three songs covered on Unplugged, but what the heck was going on with this album? There were elements of country, there were several instrumentals, the playing and singing were kinda sloppy, the distortion on the guitar sounded flangey (which was definitely not cool in the ‘90s), and the whole thing sounded cheaply recorded— this was definitely not the Butch Vig/Chris Lord-Alge radio-friendly pop punk I was used to. All of those things may have been detractors at the time, though they eventually became the reasons I grew to love the album. (Listening to it now, I wonder how much of it unconsciously influenced me to want to make a country punk album when I played in bands in the 90s and early ‘00s— something none of my band mates ever were interested in, haha. The sound in my head was pretty much what several of the songs on here are, more punk than country, unlike the popular alt-country bands of the era.) Anyway, this is a weird but charming album. It surprises me that I don’t own any other Meat Puppets records. The only other one I remember ever listening to is Too High to Die, and I can only recall Backwater from that one.

there's nothing on top but a bucket and a mop (for this WAP)

Good energy, and a different sound from a lot of this list

If there's a cowpunk album you've got to listen to, it's that one. So much fun.

I didn't think I would like this album, but I ended up liking it a lot more than I thought. Punk with excellent songwriting and full of emotion.

Super fun. Really busy but I liked it

I think that I should like this more than I do. If I had heard it earlier in life I probably would've loved it. Maybe it's because I've just heard their influence in so many others that hearing them now has less effect. All in all, I'd probably give it a 3 or 3.5 for my enjoyment. I liked the country tinged songs more than the more "psychadelic" stuff. I'm giving it a 4 for being so influential to others.

When this first came on I thought omg because the first track is not for me. Luckily it got better. What a weird album though. And I did keep imagining Kurt Cobain’s voice, which helped tbh. Again wishing this was a 10 point scale. I want to give it 3.5

Really good album of countrified punk, varried and interesting and unique. I was predisposed because I very much like the songs that Nrvana covered on their unplugged album. But all the songs on this sprawling epic had something to offer. Loved it. 4 stars

It's punk i guess. Country punk. With a cool bass solo. Will not listen again but was interesting.

The album was surprisingly good, especially after the opening, hardcore track there were more acoustic and psychedelic rock songs on it, some of them I've known because Nirvana covered them later. I liked it!

Proto-grunge, obviously a huge influence on Nirvana and their peers. Enjoyable and fun, without ever ascending to the heights of some of the bands who followed them. I will be diving into the rest of their stuff (when I get time!)

I actually liked it a great deal I didn’t care AS much for the country-rock type songs, but I really liked a lot of the chill tracks and the hazy noisier distorted guitar songs. In the past I really disliked most songs with any “noise” but now I can oftentimes enjoy it I recognized “Lake of Fire” from that Nirvana cover on their live album

Very good

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.

A touch long, but pretty good. Not hard to see how much they influenced Nirvana.

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.

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.

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.

Aika vekkuli ja viihdyttävä levy. Rockia, punkkia, grungea ja vähän noiseakin. Ei alkanut kyllästyttämään missään vaiheessa.

Really enjoyed how ramshackle this is at times but then some of the guitar playing is sublime

You have to admire the musical diversity of Meat Puppets. Each song has something different to offer, something surprising.

Much better than I expected.

Curt Kirkwood has annoying vocals but the band just has something. 4 stars because the instrumental tracks are great.

Some cool noise rock not sure how I feel about the voice but the songwriting more then makes up for it

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.

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 ❤️

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Split myself in two

Rock ecléctico. Interesante.

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.

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

i actually really liked it

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Very creative

Classic cowpunk.

Surprisingly surprising. Much deeper than I was expecting, and great tunes.

Pleasant and a surprise. A new rabbit hole to lose myself in

Weird album, incoherent and with doubtful vocal performance, but somehow it works. Good pick by Kurt Cobain for his MTV show.

I enjoyed this! I only knew them from the Nirvana unplugged but I enjoyed this album. Little country/bluegrass in there.

Really dug this

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

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

Some songs deserve 3 stars, some deserve 4 stars

bettter than I expected

Really good record that everyone should try once. This band honestly has so much and it deserves the praise it gets

Vivid memories of learning that all my favourite Nirvana songs were actually by some weird band called Meat Puppets

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.

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. 🥩🥩🥩🥩

Genuint så heat hu ha ja int hört talas om detta

Raw, jangly, groovy

Jättebra

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.

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.

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.

4.5 nawet za aurora borealis

This was much better than I expected. Sort of loose and raucous but also well crafted and interesting tunes. Will listen again. 4 stars.

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

Pretty easy to see why Kurt Cobain would be into these guys. They did it better without him. Best track: Lake of Fire

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

- Drunk rock and roll -Cowpunk - Fun project ( will probably grow on me )

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!

This is a wee bit of a hidden gem. Was slightly put off by the band's name, perfunctory album title and naive cover art if I'm honest - but this is very listenable. Kind of low-fi alt country in places, kind of speedy rockabilly in others, a wee bit hardcore around the edges. Kurt Cobain must have been a fan as a couple of these tracks are familiar from Nirvana's Unplugged record. I feel like this may have also provided some inspiration to the excellent British sarcasto-rock outfit Ten Benson?

Can't believe that I hadn't heard this album. I can see why Kurt Cobain/Nirvana covered it, they must have been a big influence on them. It's not perfect, but it's definitely worth a listen. I would have never guessed that this was released in '84.

I've already been exposed to quite a few of these songs through Nirvana, so it's cool to hear where they came from originally. But beyond that, this albums isn't anything too special to be honest. I like the very gritty approach to their style of folk rock, which I think actually really suits the very fast pacing on the album with each song being so short. There really isn't much to it outside of that, I was expecting a bit more but I guess having already heard some of this album be performed by Nirvana on arguably the greatest live album of all time, it was never really going to live up to that.

I thought this was a triple blind, but I had actually heard “Plateau” before… Overall a solid album, not really my taste. It sort of felt “grungy” meets “hootenanny” in a way that was unexpected.

This was cool to hear such a big inspiration from Kurt Cobain. Nirvana has covered a couple of these songs and you can hear meat puppets influence in Nirvamas original songs

Suprising I didnt know what to expect with the band name but I liked it Rock not too heavy nice riffs and vocals perhaps a little dated but worth another listen

Another don’t judge an album by its cover situation

Fun and upbeat. The cheery day at the pub.

Meat pupets III

Not bad, part of it is instrumental so made a great background noise

Thought I had heard this before but then realized it's Nirvanas better cover of Lake of Fire

jesus was NOT in the mood for this one tragically

Solid but didn’t really step outside of that

Day973 - crazy that this was 1984. i remember hearing nirvana do lake of fire for their unplugged and saying it was a meat puppets song. they really polished up by the “too high to die” album in 1994.

Can't sing but definitely can play. And whistles on tune

nirvana sure made 3 of these songs their own.

- "Cris Kirkwood, former bass player for the Meat Puppets rock band, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for attacking a security guard with a baton outside a post office." - I was surprised to find that I knew a couple of the songs... probably through Nirvana. I get grunge, punk, and (too much) bluegrass. - Don't love the singer's voice - it's thin, whiny, and often out of tune. The instrumentals were more enjoyable and interesting to me (especially the guitar) - they seemed to work harder on the song's atmosphere and evolution when there were few or no vocals (e.g., Aurora Borealis). - Lyrically, I don't really know what the songs are about. - I liked the mix... felt like I could easily separate all the instruments. - It's a short album, but I'd still cut the bluegrassy songs out.

rough vocals. I probably would have liked this type of chaos when I was a teen

Sufficiently weird, hoped I would like more though.

This was cool wish the list was more wild

Bob Dylan meets Slightly Stoopid? There’s something else in there, more light punk inspired. I liked it. Will listen again.

Это странный альбом, немного сумбурный, но он мне очень понравился. Я очень рад, что послушал его, и с удовольствием послушаю ещё раз. Теперь понятно, почему Nirvana их каверили, да и в целом это и есть Nirvana... без героина Meat muppets "II", 1984 год, 8,5/10 #слушал

The most 3 album of all the 3 albums on the list. Firstly, my expectations were set way low as I did not expect to like anything by a band called Meat Puppets. Surprised I was then, that they have a fair old country Americana twang in parts. There's lots of interesting stuff on here but a lot of it just passes by too quick. Admittedly I got bored by the end as I realised half the album linked is bonus tracks that add nothing. But for all the interesting instrumentation in parts the songs are too short and then move straight into something different. Which then does the same. Have more commitment, Puppets. Aurora Borealis and Lake of Fire probably stood out most.

first of all great name. second of all this is how i find out who nirvana covered lake of fire from. overall i enjoyed this but didn’t grip me.

This was very hit and miss for me. It felt a bit like the sort of amateur band you see at the local music venue supporting an up and coming out of town act. The vocals were pretty bad in points and the overall feel wasn't very tight. Clearly they had some alright songs and nirvana realised this in order to incorporate them into the unplugged session. But it wasn't mind blowing. But then some parts kinda fell into place and just worked as an unpolished thing that you could get into. It wasn't great and I think I'd have like to have heard them played better, but maybe that's just what nirvana did.

I forgot what I was going to say.

greatness

Wonder how many artists I love quote this as an inspiration. I see it could be a seed of something I enjoy but for the most part, I think this isn't a stand out for me.

Chill enough and they are skillful as can be. Very unique sound but not necessarily one I'd seek out nowadays Highlights: "Split Myself in Two", first "Aurora Borealis", "Teenager(s)"

The instrumental tracks are the highlights of this record. The dissonant vocals and chaotic melodies take center stage and beg for attention. Not a bad album by any means.

It's a little interesting how much the Meat Puppets changed their sound from the 80's to the 90's. I admittedly don't know a ton about them, only their more commercial stuff from the 90's. I guess I wasn't sure what I was expecting in their second album here. It's pretty raw and almost experimental at points, introducing some bluegrass/country on top of a punk foundation. The vocals were lacking, however.

Good

I've heard Nirvana's cover, but never any songs from Meat Puppets before. Ended up enjoying this quite a bit. They mix up the tone quite a bit on this album. 3.4/5.

I didn't know the influence these guys had on grunge and the Seattle sound. I love the artists that drew inspiration from them, and I can hear where that influence came from. I think this is album is surprising and entertaining. Pops of psychedelic rock with some country and roots in punk. I don't love the vocals, but I usually don't on punk albums. That's not the point of the record. The overall sound makes up for it.

Is it punk? Is it country? Is it grunge? I dunno. And I bet they’re not real sure either. It kind of works, but the contrast between those genres mentioned are very distinct. It’s pretty unique though. 3.0/5.0

Huh. Don't know what u was expecting, but not this. Great instrumentals, strong guitar

It's pretty good!

Det er egentlig utroligt at jeg, i 32 år med Nirvana’s unplugged album, aldrig har fået undersøgt Meat Puppets og deres musik. Nu hvor jeg endelig har fået der hørt har jeg 2 “take-aways”: 1) Vokal betyder virkelig meget. Det behøver ikke være skønsang. Men en vokal kan enten skure en rigtigt eller forkert. Curt Kirkwood skure ikke mega godt i mine øre. 2) Ens heltes helte behøver ikke altid være ens egne helte. Det har klart nogle kvaliteter her og der (de sange Nirvana coverede, instrumentalen, den punkede New Gods og The Whistling Song), men ellers læner der sig for langt ind i en country sound jeg ikke er stor fan af.

Ооочень специфический альбом. Однозначно необычный, но не сильно запоминающийся в целом. Ряд песен весёлые припанкованные. Есть клёвые мелодичные моменты на гитаре в духе последующего инди-рока.

Like probably everyone else, I came to this after Unplugged in NY via the used CD section at Weird Harold's. I get why it was discarded, but it shouldn't have been. Good stuff.

I liked the instrumental

Very different album and you can really see how it influenced nirvana. I don’t mean specifically the covers that were done on the unplugged album but the loud soft dynamic as well as the unique singing

Aside from the songs that would be covered by Nirvana, the best of the bunch is the western-themed Aurora Borealis, a beautiful guitar performance (strangely there is a second Auroroa Borealis on the album). I think if I had heard this in 1984, I would have given it a two star review. The fact that Kurt Cobain fell in love with this music and chose 3 of the songs to be in the unplugged performance gives it another star, in his honor. New Gods is an excellent punk\thrash song and reminds me of Metallica.

Sucks to say but I think I prefer the nirvana versions

Although I enjoyed listening to this, I think the likelihood of me coming back to it through choice is probably next to zero. The songs I like the most, Plateau and Lake of Fire, are covered by Nirvana in MTV Unplugged anyway and I kind of prefer those versions despite not being the originals.

I like the meat puppets but Nirvana did the Meat Puppets better than the Meat Puppets.

Does this album represent the first true step towards grunge? Is it more post-punk? Why did Nirvana take such a liking to this? All questions I can't really answer. What I can say is that it was very interesting to hear the original versions of some of the songs that Nirvana chose to do on their Unplugged set. Not surprisingly, I came to the conclusion that the original MP versions were generally inferior. That all said, there are some cool tracks on here, most notably Plateau which is an excellent track. I also really liked Aurora Burealis, probably because the lead singer wasn't ruining this song like he does most of the rest of them. It really is him that holds this back a bunch. All the same, the songs are at least interesting and given what they inspired to come, I am going to give this a generous 3 stars.

some hardcore stuff on here, but it's very apparent that this album is on this list because of it's "cowpunk" country punk blend. I am led to believe that this is the first or best of it's kind. For that reason I think it deserves to be on a list of 1001 albums you should hear before you die. From what I can deduce from this album, the blend of songs and themes and psych inspired elements make it revolutionary for it's time. Personally, the singing is a bit strained, but aside from that the instrumentation is pretty well put together. I'll give it 3/5, as it's an easy listen, and someone from the desert west can really grow to love something like this. I see it's merit.

This one I think I’ll need to go back for a second listen to fully grasp. It was amusing. Very interesting sound— alt rock weird indie vibe. Good energy. Wouldn’t say it blew me away though.

Creative guitar work left me enjoying instrumental portions like “Aurora Borealis.” Spotty vocals left me with a mixed reaction to the album as a whole. 3.5 stars, with extra credit for having 19 songs on a regular length LP.

Weirrrrrd stuff

Some.good stuff here, was surprised at how much more I enjoyed the Unplugged versions of the songs they did with Nirvana. Was hoping to enjoy this more.

Quirky and cool. Sounds so fresh for '84!

Hand up - I thought this was going to be terrible after I started the first song but its really pretty decent. Best Song: Lake of Fire Rating: 5.5/10 Stars: 3

It's alright, but I really prefer the Nirvana covers

Good album. Probably on here for "Lake of Fire". I think there next album is better, but this shows the bands transition into alt country psychedelic music. I enjoy the fact that they are deadheads who mixed that influence into punk music. 3.5/5 Will listen again

Pretty good, though it mostly is nice to hear the original versions of the tracks Nirvana plays on their MTV Unplugged album. Not bad, just not sure if it's "essential". 3/5