Reviews (page 2 of 7)
So good!
Classic album and a genre definer for the psychobilly sound.
This album sounds like a haunted prom night in a gas station bathroom — loud, dirty, and completely possessed by rhythm and rabies. The Cramps don’t make music; they reanimate it. It’s punk, rockabilly, and a bad fever dream all howling in the same echo chamber. Rating: 4.6/5 Short Review: Psychobilly gospel for the damned — you can practically smell the leather and hairspray melting. Favorite Track: “Garbageman” — sleazy, snarling perfection that makes chaos sound romantic.
So much fun though I wish they'd chosen Psychedelic Jungle instead. How can anyone stay seated when TV Set is on?
Early punk rock was a dismantling and distortion of the original rock and roll sound. It wasn't to disrespect the classics but instead to prove that the loud and noisy sound could be just as (if not more) enjoyable than the pretty and polished. If the Beach Boys traded their T-Birds for the NYC subway, then you'd get the Ramones. If Elvis was cast in a grindhouse horror film instead of Blue Hawaii, then you get The Cramps. The Cramps ride a fine line between sexy and creepy. A difficult but intentional balancing act. This isn't music for the drive-in with roller skates and milkshakes. This is for the dive bars with bathroom condoms and a pinball machine that sometimes works. You don't send these songs to your sweetheart on Valentine's Day. You send it to your occultist muse on Halloween. Burn the rhinestone jumpsuit to find a latex straightjacket underneath. This debut album runs the gamut of eeriness. It kicks off with TV Set, a song from the perspective of an obsessive serial killer. We then run through werewolves and zombies and everything in between. What may be birthed from the jangly blues rock of Jerry Lee Lewis is then made delectably haunting and macabre with Lux Interior's manic shock therapy vocals. Being a week away from Halloween, this album couldn't have come at a better time.
i've heard Strychnine in my own time here or there, but haven't listened to the full album yet TV Set - 4/5 Rock on the Moon - 4/5 Garbageman - 5/5 I Was a Teenage Werewolf - 5/5 Sunglasses After Dark - 5/5 The Mad Daddy - 4/5 Mystery Plane - 4/5 Zombie Dance - 5/5 What's Behind the Mask - 5/5 Strychnine - 5/5 I'm Cramped - 3/5 Tear It Up - 4/5 Fever - 4/5 Average score: 4.4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ huh. sounds like Elvis Presley if he switched to punk. i guess that would explain why the genre is called "psychobilly." i don't hate it. in fact, i may do some more digging into this group/genre. realistically i would give this a 4.5 star rating but i'll round up here. i personally can't justify knocking this down a whole star
If anything on this album makes you think "huh, this sounds like a bunch of other stuff," that may be because this album influenced a bunch of other stuff. More than new music trends, they brought a whole aesthetic with them. Plus, it's super fun to listen to. Play this at your Halloween party.
"The Rocky Horror Picture" show called; they want their soundtrack back. This is such a hidden gem! I recommend blasting this album on Halloween with your garage door open, with sexy women dancing on tables with their skimpy costumes on(side note: there is no way in Hell the Lord taught us these songs). This milestone, my 400th album, was wonderful. Favorite Track: "TV Set".
This. Is. The. Stuff. So good. Is this album my new personality now? Years ago there was a great series on some music blog called “Lux & Ivy’s Favorites” where you could download a ton of songs that the band were inspired by or liked. I recommend you seek that out if you like this album. There are also playlists of those on streaming services.
its actually insane how fucking awesome this is
I would give it 6 stars if I could. Hugely influential on my discovery of music in the not so mainstream genres.
Utterly one-of-a-kind and never to be repeated. The Cramps’ origin story is as outrageous as the music itself, and Songs the Lord Taught Us delivers it all—raw punkabilly bite, sultry graveyard swagger, and spooky, unholy rock energy. Yes. Full stop. Also, fun fact: the first time a guy went down on me, he was wearing a Cramps tee. True story.
There are originators, and there are translators. The Cramps are both. They took their obsessions with oldies rock 'n' roll, soul, blues, rockabilly, and garage rock, horror/monster movies, grindhouse culture, and mid-century Americana and shot them through a shattered prism of modern punk, goth, bdsm, retro-camp, and late 70s/early 80s urban culture; making something entirely their own. Produced by the legendary Alex Chilton, this debut record is a subculture classic. The title itself ridicules the Christo-fascist moral majority that was gaining ground in American society when it was released. They were here to freak out the normals and wanted you to fucking know it. Every track is a good time and is just dripping with reverbed atmosphere. The fuzzed out guitars mixed with that hollowbody jangle laid over absolutely primitive drum rhythms and no basslines is rock 'n' roll at its most bare and depraved. It's a hot rod stripped down to only the parts that will keep it running. Here the Cramps tell you where they are coming from: it's simple and it's raw and it sounds like trouble. And it's trouble I never mind getting into: The Cramps are one of those bands I can put on at any time and it's the right time. There is only one Cramps. Most of the so-called psychobilly bands that followed suit are utterly uninspiring (Deadbolt being a lone exception). The Cramps themselves rejected being associated with the emergent genre anyhow, which is about as punk as it gets. Perhaps because The Cramps' cult aesthetic wasn't a put-on; it was their whole lifestyle. There is a sense of authenticity they carry through all their work that although theatrical and campy, also feels at once genuine and lived-in. I was lucky enough to see The Cramps live on New Years' Eve in Hollywood once and they were magnificent. Completely feral. The beating heart of the group has always been the union of Lux Interior and Ivy Rorschach. I once put in a dating profile bio: "If the love isn't like Lux and Ivy I don't want it." That not only goes for how much they loved and fit each other, but also how much ardor they had for their inspirations. They dug through the grimy, overlooked, and cast-off pieces of mid-century American weirdo culture and shone a luminous blacklight on them. As custodians, curators, and translators of these ephemeral pieces of forgotten and ignored culture, The Cramps are national treasures.
Here's another one I wanna keep short — or try to, anyway. I mean, I don't need very many words to express why I dig psychobilly as much as I do. You take "leather jacket" 50's rockabilly, mix it together with loud and fast garage and punk sensibilities, and top it all with a layer of B-movie horror cheese... Yeah, no shit this is awesome. It's the kind of music where I can completely overlook any flaws the album might have because I'm having so much fun with it. Is "TV Set" maybe not the best opener given how it differs musically from the rest of the album? Suuuure. And there's a couple of songs in there that might not be the **tightest**... But, heck, on a package that's overall this enjoyable...! Believe me, I'm not being uncritical here. Most of what I brought up here is stuff a fellow group member used to justify giving this thing a 4 — and as such, I can't totally disagree with him. For my tastes, though... I mean, maybe it **is** like a cheesy 50's B-movie. You wouldn't go around saying the whole thing is flawless, but dang it, you can have so much fun with it, it makes itself more than worth the price you paid to get into the drive-in where it's playing. And, well, I've repeated that point of mine with different wording for the third time, so lemme just wrap this up here and now. This shit's a regular ol' psychobilly freakout, and I very much thank The Lord for teaching The Cramps these songs. Goodness me, I gotta go listen to more of this stuff...
Psychobilly: a deeply unappreciated genre. 4.5 bumped up to 5.
These guys are a goth rock/psychobilly (rockabilly crossed with punk) band from the 80's. I wonder if Gord Downie drew some influence from them? The singers vocal delivery reminds me so much of the Hip (especially in the song Zombie Dance). I find that stuff neat...finding out what influences artists had... This dude also sounds exactly like the lead singer of the Trashmen when you listen to the song The Mad Daddy. Overall, I really enjoyed this one! Really solid feel good music! Favorite songs: Zombie Dance, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Rock on the Moon, What's Behind the Mask, Strychnine, Fever Least favorite songs: Garbageman 5/5
Didn't think I was gonna like it this much, but absolutely loved it.
I've been meaning to listen for a while and glad I finally did that was great. Punkabilly is such a fun genre. I'm a big fan of the Fall who seem like an English brother with their "Mancabilly" style. Will definitely be coming back to this one and hopefully their later stuff is as fun as this. Plus extra style points for being in the CBGB scene. Rating: 4.6
Hrikalega hresst, hrátt og skemmtilegt. Færðu heiminum sækórokkabillý hvort sem hann vildi það eða ekki. Tónlist að mínu skapi!
## In-Depth Review of *Songs The Lord Taught Us* by The Cramps Released in 1980, *Songs The Lord Taught Us* is the debut album by The Cramps, a band that pioneered the psychobilly genre by blending rockabilly, punk, surf rock, and garage trash aesthetics into a unique and influential sound. Produced by Alex Chilton and recorded at Sam Phillips' Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, this album remains a cornerstone of alternative music history. --- ### **Lyrics** The lyrics of *Songs The Lord Taught Us* are steeped in campy horror themes, dark humor, and irreverent imagery. Lux Interior’s vocal delivery transforms seemingly absurd narratives into compelling tales. Tracks like “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” encapsulate adolescent angst with grotesque flair, describing puberty as a monstrous transformation: “braces on my fangs” and “puberty rites and puberty wrongs”[1][4]. Similarly, “TV Set” offers macabre humor with lines like “I cut your head off and put it in my TV set,” showcasing the band’s penchant for blending violence with absurdity[1][4]. The Cramps also reinterpret classic tracks with their signature style. Their cover of “Fever” transforms the seductive original into something smutty and sinister, adding layers of raw energy and sleaze[2]. The lyrics across the album are deliberately puerile yet sincere, creating a world that revels in its own trashy aesthetic[1]. --- ### **Music** The music on *Songs The Lord Taught Us* is raw, chaotic, and primal. Poison Ivy’s guitar work is central to the album’s sound; her ability to infuse 60s surf rock with distortion and horror elements defines the psychobilly vibe. Tracks like “Zombie Dance” feature high-octane riffs that evoke both nostalgia for early rock ‘n’ roll and a sense of unhinged rebellion[3]. Lux Interior’s vocals are equally distinctive—combining Elvis Presley’s croon with punk aggression and theatricality reminiscent of horror movie villains. His delivery alternates between animalistic growls and melodramatic crooning, creating an audio experience that feels like an auditory horror film[3]. Percussion from Nick Knox adds to the manic energy; simple yet effective drum patterns provide a driving force behind the chaos[3]. The production by Alex Chilton enhances the lo-fi aesthetic. Recorded at Sun Studio, the album embraces reverb-heavy distortion and feedback rather than polishing imperfections. This raw production style amplifies the band’s rebellious ethos[1][5]. --- ### **Themes** Thematically, *Songs The Lord Taught Us* explores horror tropes, delinquency, sexuality, and rebellion. The band draws heavily from campy B-movie aesthetics—zombies, werewolves, and other monsters populate their lyrical universe. This is complemented by their celebration of trash culture, from rockabilly roots to psychedelic excess[1][5]. The album also serves as a homage to early rock ‘n’ roll pioneers while simultaneously subverting their conventions. Covers like “Strychnine” (originally by The Sonics) and “Tear It Up” (by Johnny Burnette) are reimagined with distorted guitars and chaotic energy that make them uniquely Cramps[5]. In this way, *Songs The Lord Taught Us* bridges nostalgia for rock’s origins with punk-era irreverence. --- ### **Production** Alex Chilton’s production captures the essence of The Cramps’ sound without compromising their rawness. Recorded at Sam Phillips’ legendary Sun Studio—a site synonymous with rockabilly’s birth—the album channels the spirit of early rock while pushing boundaries[1][5]. Chilton’s approach emphasizes distortion, reverb, and feedback rather than technical precision. This lo-fi production style complements the band’s aesthetic perfectly; it feels unpolished yet intentional. Tracks like “Garbageman” feature gloriously distorted guitar tones that embrace chaos rather than suppress it[1][4]. This rawness is integral to the album’s identity as an anti-establishment statement. --- ### **Influence** *Songs The Lord Taught Us* is widely regarded as one of the most influential albums in alternative music history. It laid the foundation for psychobilly—a genre that blends punk energy with rockabilly swagger—and inspired countless bands including The Misfits, Tiger Army, Nekromantix, and Rancid[4]. Its impact extends beyond music; The Cramps’ embrace of trash culture influenced fashion, art, and underground subcultures. The album also serves as a gateway to forgotten musical traditions. By covering obscure tracks from artists like Link Wray and Johnny Burnette, The Cramps introduced listeners to rockabilly’s roots while redefining them for a new generation[1][5]. Their encyclopedic knowledge of first-generation rock ‘n’ roll ensured their legacy as both innovators and preservationists. --- ### **Pros** 1. **Unique Sound:** The fusion of punk energy with rockabilly roots creates a genre-defining psychobilly sound. 2. **Raw Production:** Alex Chilton’s lo-fi approach enhances the album’s rebellious aesthetic. 3. **Iconic Performances:** Lux Interior’s theatrical vocals paired with Poison Ivy’s inventive guitar work create an unforgettable experience. 4. **Cultural Impact:** Influenced countless bands and subcultures while preserving rockabilly traditions. 5. **Timeless Themes:** Horror tropes and irreverent humor remain appealing across generations. --- ### **Cons** 1. **Limited Accessibility:** The trashy aesthetic and chaotic sound may alienate listeners unfamiliar with punk or psychobilly. 2. **Repetitive Elements:** Some tracks rely heavily on similar riffs or lyrical themes. 3. **Technical Simplicity:** While intentional, the rudimentary musicianship may be seen as a drawback by those seeking complexity. 4. **Polarizing Vocals:** Lux Interior’s exaggerated delivery might not appeal to everyone. --- ### **Conclusion** *Songs The Lord Taught Us* is more than just an album—it’s an immersive experience into a world of horror-inspired rebellion and trash culture celebration. Its raw production style, innovative fusion of genres, and unapologetic embrace of absurdity make it a masterpiece in its own right. While it may not cater to mainstream tastes due to its deliberate roughness and niche themes, its influence on alternative music is undeniable. For fans of punk or psychobilly—or anyone seeking an escape into a gloriously deviant sonic universe—this album remains essential listening even decades after its release.
Crazy this is their first studio album. So many cool things about this album i dont have time to comment. Teenage werewolf and Sunglasses after dark two personal faves
Essential punk masterpiece. Lots of things to like about this album if you're looking for something off the beaten path. A real nice Sunday listen.
Sort of like the more experimental bits of The Clash were concentrated down and mixed with Monster Mash levels of camp. Magnificent.
This is one of my favorite bands and this is my favorite album from them. Garbageman is a masterpiece If you don't like this music then you are no fun. Not one person in your life actually likes you because you are so boring and they all talk shit about you when you are not around because of how unfun you are. You need to learn to have some fun and appreciate the great things in life, like this band and this album.
Their best record - a different league than the Black Keys album from last month (which was also very good).
I am glad to hear this record and need more, fast.
The Cramps came on my radar after Goo Goo Muck was featured on the Netflix show Wednesday. I've wanted to check out more of their stuff, so I was excited when they showed up on my review list. I loved it and will listen again.
Love this album! Not every song is top notch, but those who are, really are! A unique band
Toe-tapping psychobilly. I loved this from start to finish!
If these are the songs that The Lord taught The Cramps, then why did He leave us with all the banal preachy ones? Running roughshod for all of fifty-three minutes, bonus tracks and all, The Cramps give us some of the most ragged and demented punk-laden rockabilly that's at once psychotic and confrontational. Surging with adrenaline, Songs The Lord Taught Us ensures itself that it can stay imprinted in the brain of the listener and never leave. Lord have mercy.
This is a great album and massive fun to listen to. I regret never having seen The Cramps live! Standout tracks are TV Set, Garbageman and Fever, but the album as a whole is just a great listen throughout and a nice mix of covers and originals.
I love The Cramps and I love this record. They were just so out there and committed to being only what they wanted. Whatever that was. I guess a B-horror movie punk-a-billy outfit.
Actual sewer dweller music
Very cool vibe to this album, the rockabilly without the stupid look, they had their own more original stupid look(that I love and think improves the whole package).
Ironici, potenti, energetici e anche un po’ folli!
4.5
love these guys
Nice
I love The Cramps. I was very happy to see this here. I just love their overall sound that just "oozes". I'm assuming the Misfits didn't make the list (shame) but this works for some Halloween time music
Tight, atavistic rock'n'roll. You can tell their songs on this album were honed over years of playing live. Easily the greatest Cramps album.
Another great band from the 70s NYC punk movement. The stripped bare rockabilly punk would inform generations of garage bands for decades to come. Produced by the legend Alex Chilton, this is music at its rawest, most amazing best.
Slightly patchy but still articulate and deep pop electronic influenced melancholy
All the rockabilly punk you never knew you wanted but need.
Not content with merely subverting the conventions of punk music to incorporate obscure relics of low-brow white trash culture, The Cramps proceed to beat you over the head with their new concoction named Psychobilly. Leaving aside my prior adoration of this group’s catalogue, I expected this album to draw criticism for a lack of variation in their style of musical attack. But such trifles simply don’t enter my thinking while Lux Interior breathlessly splutters and yelps over Poison Ivy’s spidery guitar lines - her sensually twangy solo in the midst of the absurd chaos of “Garbageman” is the precise moment I fell in love with this group. Whatever you think about this genre of music, its importance is absolutely irrefutable. The Cramps took one look at the pristine image of middle class America in 1980 and instead embraced its concealed obverse, its Mr Hyde, contorting the authentic fantasy of rockabilly USA. Whatever their formula lacks in subtlety, it matters. Profoundly.
I know the name and some people who like them but really didn’t know what to expect. This album is a lot of fun. Rolling Stone’s description of their music as Phsychobilly fits perfectly. The lead guitar is simple but is played on a guitar that is a beast and played to sound hollow. To be sure, this is a compliment.
I was a teenager staying up late one Saturday night watching rage when the Cramps came on, performing Can Your Pussy Do The Dog? on the Tube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfvCDyVlVIw) It was one of those moments that changes everything; it was the first time I had heard or seen the Cramps, and it totally blew my mind. Lux Interior writhing around on the floor barking like a dog and almost fellating the microphone was one of the most rock and roll things I had ever seen. The sound was tough, and more than a little rough around the edges. Poison Ivy Rorschach's guitar technique wasn't as polished or flashy as (say) Joe Satriani, but it rocked like hell. The Cramps are one of the bands that showed me that I really love loose, gritty, tough rock and roll. I don't care if it is badly recorded, sloppily performed (even better, sometimes), or almost stupidly simple, but it needs to rock. The Cramps are dangerous and sexy and they rock. And this album is where it all started. I love that Alex Hilton knew not to polish the edges off them. One of my great regrets is that I never saw them live, although that performance on the Tube is burned in my psyche, and has informed everything I look for in rock and roll ever since. God bless you, the Cramps, you changed me forever.
4.5
Great rock/punk/rockabilly
Liked it never heard of them before
Brilliant of course. *Zombie Dance*
Crazy good
Classic garage rock and roll
Kendte det ikke. Gode vibes. Giver mig lyst til sol og bajer
This is a very fun album. Rockabilly but all goth and campy. The singer has an unhinged voice that I really like.
Honestly this was good. Had some fun energy.
#162/1001 🇺🇸 Marvelous stuff. Rockabilly garage punk. Never listened to this before but will revisit. Best tracks: TV Set, I was a Teenage Werewolf, I'm Cramped, Whats Behind the Mask
Music for people who unironically enjoy Ed Wood movies (I mean this as a compliment)
a freaky wild ride with a Rocky Horror vibe. Strange and unsettling but ultimately fun as hell.
Lovely horror punk.
++: TV Set, Rock on the Moon, Garbageman, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, The Mad Daddy, Zombie Dance, What's Behind the Mask, Tear It Up, Fever +: Sunglasses After Dark, Mystery Plane, Strychnine +-: I'm Cramped 8,7/10
Hard not to love The Cramps. Good album.
Enjoyed this more than I expected
Most of this album is good rock ‘n’ roll; however, some of it gave me cramps
I mean it's The Cramps, so clearly I don't have anything bad to say, but it's also clearly a first album. I like Flamejob.
It's the early 80s, it's the Cramps, it's dark psychobilly! What is not to like!?
INPUT = {"artist": "The Cramps", "album": "Songs The Lord Taught Us"} LINEUP = {"men": 3, "women": 1} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 0, "women": 0} TOTAL_MEN = 3 TOTAL_WOMEN = 1 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 25 OUTPUT = "Score adjusted accordingly. 4/5"
And that's my music!
I had been looking forward to the Cramps album that is in this book, and though I did not like it quite as much as I thought I would, it's still a very good album. For me, the weakest tracks were the cover songs. The originals were all great. The Cramps do not take themselves too seriously and I think that's part of their success. Good listen and I'm surprised the cumulative score for this one is below a 3.0 My favorite songs: TV Set Garbageman I Was a Teenage Werewolf The Mad Daddy What's the Behind the Mask Strychnine Tear It Up
In the 21st century, bands play garage punk rock because they can’t really play properly. The Cramps took a different approach and recorded their debut album *Songs The Lord Taught Us* exactly as raw and rough as they wanted it to be—despite their far superior musical and instrumental skills. This kind of thing has always remained rare in punk rock, but I actually really enjoy listening to bands like that. Of course, it’s still a long way from the major milestones *London Calling* and *American Idiot*, but it was definitely an entertaining 53 minutes.
It's hard for me to gauge how subversive this would have been in 1980. It's fun though. And fun to learn that Alex Chilton produced it!
Campy as hell; Lux Interior's vocals can best be described as evil Fred Schneider, this record is loud and fun. The guitars sound trashy as fuck, and there's practically zero low-end in the mix, but it really benefits the dark twist on classic rockabilly and garage rock. It does kind of grow stale by the end, but there's some truly amazing songs here. Especially "Sunglasses in the dark" and "Garbageman".
I dare say this doesn't sound like the Lord taught them these songs at all. But it does sound good, whomever taught them these songs. It's some good old fashioned garage rock with a bit of punk. It's not my favorite music or a particularly outstanding one but it is a fun album to put on to just rock out for a bit.
I love a good surprise. And I really was not expecting much with this one but I found it shockingly good. Who knew I was a fan of "psycho-billy?"
I've heard The Cramps before but not really given them a proper listen as I'm not particularly a fan of rockabilly or campy horror movies so it seemed like they wouldn't really do much for me. I also didn't realise just how many different record labels they had during their career, presumably because they were difficult to manage..Their musical output though is great and I'm glad I got around to finally giving them a chance. The first five songs were fantastic then we get to The Mad Daddy which was the first song that I found that I thought the schtick might be wearing a bit thin, but then straight after that the weird metallic hum that starts off Mystery Plane kicks in and they were back into keeping me highly entertained. There was one other song (I'm Cramped) which I found a bit basic but otherwise there's no pet up in the quality and the cover of Fever at the end was a great finale. For me, it's a very strong 4, almost a 5 but maybe not quite musically or thematically diverse enough to really warrant top marks.
never heard of these guys before and i have no fuckin clue what psychobilly even means but it sounds like these guys kinda invented it. if it's all like this maybe im into it actually? i fuck w/ this sound for sure. i like the frantic vocal style even if i can't really understand what lux interior (really good stage name btw) is actually singing most of the time, and i always love distorted guitars drowned in delay and reverb, so this is definitely my kinda shit. im feeling a lot of surf rock influence in here too which like, idk if thats a common thing in psychobilly or what but either way im enjoying it. i think my pick for favourite track is a coin flip between "i was a teenage werewolf" and "the mad daddy", but the quality is pretty consistent throughout so its a hard call to make. my only real complaint is that it can be a little samey, but its one of those cases where im into the sound enough that i don't care that much, yknow? i had fun with this one. definitely another album i could zone out to on a hot day. i gotta investigate psychobilly....
Sejt.
Great album, pretty iconic, not much more to say
Sleeper hidden gem alert! Psychobilly, when done right, has to be one of the coolest evolutions of any sound. I'm sure that most bands doing rockabilly/psychobilly in the 80's and beyond grew up on American rock progenitors like Elvis. To be able to essentially play the same genre of music, but with an aesthetic twist and sonic iteration, must've been a thrill. The Cramps kill it on here. Immediately I thought about how much this guy sounds like the lead singer for The B52's. I liked the way "Garbageman" steamrolls forward with that constant kick and snare going. Then "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" is a classic deserving all the praise it gets. I adore the echo and reverb combo that creates something like a haunting vibrato effect on the lead vocal. "Mad Daddy" is hysterical in its delivery of a very classic 50's rock-on-the-dancefloor sound, once again just flipped on its head to become something more gothic altogether. "Tear It Up" revisits this method with just as much success towards the end of the original tracklisting. Then that cover of "Fever" to close it out! Total slam dunk!! The insidious, creeping, ocassionally offbeat delivery had me enraptured. Coupled with instrumentation that's minimal 90% of the time, then spastic 10% of the time. Wonderful. Loved this. It falls just short of a 5/5 for me, I think some variation in vocal delivery or song structure could've pushed it over the edge. But for these guys to be one of the first ones through the wall for psychobilly music? An incredible feat. Wildly captivating. It's late April as I review this, but it sounds like Halloween in my ears
Fun, dark, dirty, sensual. 4/5
3.9 surprised I never got into The Cramps when I was listening to Reverend Horton Heat and the like. I enjoyed the album thoroughly, even if it's not the most sophisticated of the 1001. I checked out other albums in their catalogue briefly and recognized a couple of album covers, but nothing else really caught my ear or felt vastly different sonically.
This is rock n roll, energy, fun. 4 Star
Brilliant. Take rockabilly and punk rock, add like this B-Movie twist, but the woman in charge, camp it up... it's a blast. Loved every second of it and am now in the cult. Thank you very much.
Fajne całkiem
Punk rock?
listened to half of this walking on a dock in a foggy oregon town and felt like I was in a jim jarmusch movie
Not the greatest sounding album, but I like the horror/rockabilly mix
This was a nice surprise. My previous familiarity with the Cramps was the kid in high school with the Dead Kennedies jacket and the Cramps T-shirt. Psychobilly is apparently a genre I enjoy. A couple of great tracks like TV Set, Garbageman, and I Was A Teenage Werewolf. The rest is solid. Somehow this was produced by Alex Chilton. Go figure
Unique brew of 60s rock in a greaser movie culture born in the 80s.
rockabilly horror punk - what's not to love?
Awesome and their best in my opinion. Never been able to find a good copy on vinyl. If someone asked me where to start with the Cramps, this is the album I’d point to. Before they got more into their smut phase.
The Misfits and Dick Dale wrote an album together.
A real good, grimy time. Rudimentary in places in all the right ways. Feels other-worldly in places too. Think I was in the right mood to listen. Fun stuff.
This was a bit of fun.. enjoyed the rockabilly flavor
I guess this is pretty basic music-making but there is something visceral and appealing about the sound it makes.
The guitar in TV set has moments where it sounds like, Great balls of fire. They sound like the live band that plays in Harry Potter Goblet of Fire. The mad daddy sounds like jailhouse rock. The highest 3 possible. Kept from a 4 because the whole album sounded very similar and I don’t need to recommend it to anyone.
Great classic punk. Reminded me of clubbing in the 80s.
Sacramento mentioned!
Raw and gritty, just the way I like it. I could listen to this stuff all day. Well maybe not, but perhaps everyday... Not overly angsty, just enough to make you go "Yeah man, I know what you're getting at" while stomping your feet and clapping your hands to some stripped back, naked and basic rock and roll.
Have heard of the band but never listened to their music. This album rocks though. Really enjoyed the rockabilly style and tremolo guitars. Garbageman was my favourite track.
Love the Cramps. One of the coolest bands ever.
Sounds like if X grew up with and were best friends with the Butthole Surfers before moving to LA and recording an Alex Chilton album. The production sounds very similar to the EPs he’d put out in the next few years (Fuedalist Tarts, No Sex)
Keby som to počul v 80-tych rokoch, stal by sa zo mňa skalný prívrženec. Baví ma to. Pri Mystery plain mám pocit, akoby z toho čerpali Sigue Sigue Sputnick...
4.3
If the Lord taught them these songs, then the Lord is cool as fuck. Great album. Werewolves, zombies, dancing on the moon. Just a genuine fun album that doesn't take it's self too seriously. I will be revisiting this!
I’m Cramped after listening to this album.
I wasn't totally sold until "Garbageman" and "I Was a Teenage Werewolf." Yeah it basically is horror-movie "Be Bop a Lula" several times over and over again, but it is a pretty fun sound for 35 minutes.
I mean, more 80' rock
Fun
Hell yeah.
A really good album, I liked TV Set, Rock On The Moon, Tear It Up and Fever the most.
4.5
Music doesn’t have to be serious or important to be Good.
Love it! I love good Rockabilly. These guys spawned a whole herd of great songwriters in this genre. The one dude chewing the guy out in Teenage Werewolf (there, wolf) seems like a jerk. Just saying.
Heard Before? Only "TV Set" and "Garbageman" Notes: - the tinny, primitive, indeed cramped production suits this material perfectly. - I didn't know psychobilly and horror punk came together by 1980. wow! - delay pedals for everyone! - fun mix of covers and originals. they especially nail the Sonics' "Strychnine". - obviously they really only do one thing. but what a thing. Verdict: Get cramped! Ridiculous, over the top, fun as hell. Listen Again? For sure. At the very least, I've put a few tracks on my Halloween playlist.
Rockabilly meets punk. I can see Elvis or Jerry Lee Lewis singing these songs. A few years later, the Stray Cats came and smoothed out the edges.
First music I heard that made me realize music could feel dangerous. Unmatchable energy and vibe.
Good Rockabilly
Great classic punk album.
i love these guys
Here we go...the music I love. I see that many people don't like this or barely like it. I tend more to Gun Club, but this here is in the same generally arena. Just a bit funky, a bit grimy. So yeah I love it. 4 dance floor stars. And I mean we are getting down and dirty. (Question: where's the Gun Club in this list?)
I really enjoyed this. It’s not quite a 5 star album, but it has some real bops on it. Teenage werewolf sounded super familiar, not sure if I’ve heard it before or if someone copied that guitar
this was a fun album - the post punk and rockabilly elements are comically straight forward that it almost feels satirical, but mixed in with static noise on songs like Sunglasses After Dark before devolving into some catchy and weird instrumentals pull me in. the album gets a bit tedious at the end though.
It turns out I like my rock groups shaggy and with more than a hint of psychobilly sound and nods to extremely corny horror.
Don't know why this album is getting a lot of hate, fun music. Certainly better than the million punk albums in the list :) Favorite track: I was a teenage werewolf other picks : strychnine, fever
I love The Cramps. I've learned about so many great and quirky obscure tracks from the ones that they've covered over the years. Always something great to discover. Ultimately, their albums are somewhat uneven but Lux's energy is amazing and Psychobilly is such a fun genre. Great band and quality album.
good background music
Reading more about them they sound like the wackiest people out there. Liked this a lot. Odd choice to end the album on a cover but I love the way they play.
Yksi parhaimpia löytöjä tältä listalta ainakin tähän mennessä. Bändi oli tuttu nimeltä ja olin kuullut varmaankin vain yhden biisin. Rämisevää rockabillya punk- ja garage soundeilla ja kauhuteemaisilla sanoituksilla.
I like this, and when I was a teenager I would have LOVED it.
Guitar noises that sound like bugs and saws, awesome!
I really enjoyed this album it's kind of a cross between Bauhaus, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Sonics. With possibly throwing in a little bit of the Ramones in there as well. "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" is obviously the standout track but I also like others such as "Zombie Dance", "TV Set" and "The Mad Daddy". Actually "Mad Daddy" is a perfect homage to the Trashmen's Steve Wahrer "Surfin' Bird" delivery. If I have any takeaways from this album it would be that it does kind of overstay its welcome. The last three songs, though they don't take away from the album, don't really add anything to it. Lopping them off would make this a much tighter 10 track Lp. (8.4) ★★★★
Genuinely really fun. A vampy take on rockabilly - really reminded me of early Nick Cave, but more tongue in cheek. Not sure how much I'll return to this, but can see myself adding a few tracks to some playlists.
Fun stuff
Whoa, this was great. Listened to it three times for multiple reasons, but by the third time I had really fallen in love with it. Somehow The Cramps were totally off my radar.
It's pretty awesome, a lot like misfits Will I listen to again: 99%
TV set- 6 rock on the moon- 7 garbagemen- I was a teenage werewolf- 6 sunglasses after dark- 5 or 6 mad daddy- 7 mystery plane- 6 or 7 zombie dance- 7 what's behind the mask- 7 strychnine- 6 im cramped- 6 tear it up- 7 fever- 7 the cramps made songs about real shit people went through every day. such as dancing with ghouls or fucking a witch in a warehouse
Very good.
Good fun rockabilly surf garage rock. Great rolling drums and jumpy guitar licks. Would be awesome live.
Like the B52s and siouxsie making a halloween album together, pretty damn fun
heck yeah the birth of psychobilly!
This was fun rockabilly, glad to have discovered it thru the list! 4/5
So obvious where Stray Cats got some influence. Cool, 80's Rocakabilly!
My intro into the psychobilly genre, which is such a unique intersection of my love for 80s music and horror. It's a little too sensational sounding for me, but the album is super cohesive. Makes me want to watch Rocky Horror. The guitarist Poison Ivy is iconic. Fav song on first listen: Fever
Like Social Distortion does the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rockabilly fun
fun 4
En bisarr klassiker, inget jag lyssnar så ofta på, men rackarns vad bra rätt dag. Jag hörde The Cramps första gången som 14-åring tillsammans med några punkare på en fest i Tyskland. Bra första introduktion, men först i 25-års åldern började jag lyssna på dem, mitt livet hade kanske blivit annorlunda om tyskarna fått med mig på tåget som tonåring.
Love the sound of this, feel like it should be rated higher, punkabilly has such a fun energy to it.
I would have selected Gravest Hits but this is very good, too. I would love to see a movie about these guys and particularly Poison Ivy. She doesn't get the credit she deserves and she's always been a bit of a mystery to me. I worry about her since Lux died - is that ok? Pilgrimage to Glendale!
Get spooky
Not all the songs are great but the attitude makes up for it
Enjoyed it very much, a blast of an album start to finish
Minimalistisk bra! Høres ut som en alternativ virkelighet hvor Tim Burton designet 50-tallet. Vokalisten høres helt ut som Jon Spencer til tider også, og det er vel nesten det som gjør det til psychobilly. «Sunglasses after dark» er høydepunkt. Eneste som trekker ned er at låtene er litt repeterende, og det tror jeg er fordi Cramps har valgt å satse blytungt på stemning og ikke fullt så mye på å utforske spennet som kan finnes i rockabilly. Stray Cats fikk til det veldig godt, men så hadde jo de Brian Setzer da. Ble også overraska over at Alex Chilton produserte. Han er en fyr som er virkelig verdt å få med seg. Fra tenåringsidol i The Box Tops på 60-tallet, til en helstøpt trilogi av album med Big Star og en tur innom punk/new wave. Selv om han ikke spiller rockabilly selv så er flere av soloplatene hans i samme minimalistiske ånd, og ikke minst skranglete.
Silly silly silly what fantastic concept songs! As always with The Cramps the vocals are unmatched. Not many who do what they do but they’re the best at it!
(83/100)
Good
If life gives you brain cramps
This album is trash. Fills my heart with garbage.
I still remember hearing the Cramps for the first time in the intro to Baker 3 in 2005. Completely blew my greasy little mind
This is a seriously fun album and a perfect one for heading into the Halloween season. Garage-ish, goofy, and vocally over the top. I definitely hear how these guys influenced Frank Black/Black Francis of Pixies. Songs like "Mystery Plane" and "Strychnine" could be from his solo albums.
I’ve heard of The Cramps before, but other than hearing one of their songs on the show Wednesday, I’ve never listened to their music before. I’m not quite sure what to expect out of this album, but I’m betting it’s going to be incredibly unique and weird, and I’m here for it! Songs The Lord Taught Us was really fun, and I loved its unique psychobilly sound. I was expecting this album to be more along the lines of Bauhaus or Siouxsie and the Banshees, but I was pleasantly surprised the raw, guitar driven sound. This album was bursting with energy, but the vocals gave it a campy fifties vibe that I found really enjoyable. The songwriting was kooky and strange, and the cover songs were really well performed as well. This album did have one big weakness in my opinion though, and that was the vocal mixing. I felt like I had water in my ears while I listened to this, and it about drove me insane. Everything else was great though, but that factor was enough to keep this album at four stars for me. However, I was pleasantly surprised at how each song had really unique guitar playing. The lack of a bass guitar allowed the Cramps to create some really unique sounds, and I think it worked to their advantage. As far as my favorite songs on this album, I thought “Garbageman,” “Sunglasses After Dark,” and “Mystery Plane” were all great. Their closing cover of “Fever” was fantastic as well, its chill vibe was the perfect way to conclude this album. I had a blast listening to this album, and with October starting next week, I think I’ll be paying this album another visit really soon.
probably won’t listen to this as a whole again but could really picture myself jumping around to all of this at a live show. The kick drum is kickin. Saved Garbage Man and Strychnine. Actually may pump myself up to Garbage Man before shows
Yesssss before listening to this I only knew Human Fly and this album was so fun. Teenage Werewolf kills me. Maybe a little long, maybe a little repetitive as a whole album but I loved it.
Cheeky and fun. I'm a lover of surf rock, so a spooky goofball version of it is always welcome.
The Cramps are very good at what they do. Though this overstayed its welcome a bit, I still had a good time.
Some of this was a little boring. A lot of it was fun, exciting, and surprising.
Goth rockabilly glam noise ... Kinda fuckin wit it 😎 Just had Elvis' version of Fever earlier this week!
Fun sound and good instrumental parts. Can definitely see myself coming back to this one.
Punk bom
Fun as hell. Attitude for days. Ground zero psychobilly. Puts me in the best kind of mean mood. Viva la Cramps!
Better than Coldplay
When the 1st song played i buckled into what I thought would be a long tough listening ride. But as the songs progressed I found myself doing a familiar dance that I could not quiet put my finger on. Then it hit me...Wednesday Addams dance!!! I googled and sure enough the same group sang that song. Honestly, I had fun with most of the songs and I can see this playing in the back ground of a wild house party.
I just love it when some random album I've never heard on this list slaps me in the face and says 'Notice Me!'. This is rockabilly punk that makes me think of Quentin Tarantino's predilection for similar music. Maybe I'll give him a call (I've got him on speed dial, ya know?) and get his take on the importance of intertextuality as a vehicle for adding thematic texture and depth to an element within a film.
Rockabilly punk, surprised how much I like this
perfect album for Halloween night
Raw, energetic,
Loved it, weird and unique
Like Halloween surf rock. It’s grungy, punky and danceable. Would I listen to it everyday? No. Do I appreciate its whacky sound? Absolutely.
Such a great record. Teenage werewolf is an all time classice
Gothy, punky, noisy me likey. I can see how this may not be everyone's cup of tea but in the right mood this album slaps. The simplicity and rawness of the instruments and vocals are like a patina on well loved mustang.
Now this was a lot fun. Surf, psychobilly, punk, whatever it is, I like it.
The Cramps are great, love that voice vibrato. driving surf rock sound with a punk ambiance.
I’m at a 4. Solid stuff overall here – feels a bit more like a Weird Al-ish album, with a healthy respect & admiration for the garage/punk/rockabilly style it’s going for, but with more of a comedic / less serious lean. It’s all played totally straight, which is the key to making the album work. When it works, it really works; the best stuff on this album is enjoyable as hell, especially given that most of these are shorter tracks. They don’t overstay their welcome, and even if they do, it’s still good enough to survive off of the instrumental vibes alone for the most part. All in all, this feels like a natural step forward from the slightly unpolished tones of a band like The Sonics (who are covered here!), while blending them with the production tricks and clarity that would emerge throughout the 70s. It’s a good mixture, and one that makes for a fun album. So, why the 4, and not a 5? It’s just because the musicality isn’t as consistent as I’d like it to be, I dunno. The first two tracks don’t set the tone right – they’re reverb-heavy, the lyrics / vocals feel a bit dissonant, and while it’s all technically sound, it’s got that intangible feeling of something being “off”. After those first two tracks though, this album mostly glides; only two other tracks didn’t quite click for me, and that’s “Mystery Plane” & “I’m Cramped”, the former for the repetition in the instrumental biting at me too much, and the latter for having big secret track energy as part of the main album. I also think that “Fever” just doesn’t quite work as an ending track – I would’ve closed on “The Mad Daddy” or “Tear It Up”. Am I nitpicking? Yeah, probably, but those are all enough to keep this at a 4 for me. Make no mistake though; it is a *fun* album. If you can look past some of the quirks I didn’t vibe with, you might be at a 5, and I wouldn’t blame that at all. If they’re THAT big of a deal, then maybe this won’t play well for you. Regardless, I enjoyed it. It’s a solid 4, and maybe if we were listening to this in October, I might be inclined to let the spookier / fall vibes carry me to a 5. For a July listen, it’ll sit at a 4.
The Cramps are like black licorice. Some people really like black licorice. It's nice when a band puts a new style on the map. These folks really are the epitome of psychobilly. I also really like the band name, and this album name is {chef's kiss}!
i’m still working thru it but honestly it’s weird in the perfect way
Mad fun album
Pretty great. Ahead of its time. Worth the listen
I have no clue what to say about this album. It's fun, energetic and brief. I would give it a 3 for what it is, but I feel a 4 is more appropriate for everything that spawned in it's wake.
It's a shame that The Cramps didn't receive much mainstream notoriety until well after Lux Interior has died and the band ceased to exist. Thanks to a featured scene in "Wednesday", The Cramps were finally recognized for their outsized genius and influence. Unfortunately, co-founder Poison Ivy has yet to be known as the true visionary and leader (both within the band and throughout the emergent Psychobilly scene) that she was. For further learning: The Cramps performance of "Tear it Up" is featured in the concert film, "URGH! A Music War." The 1980 film is comprised of live songs by primarily I.R.S. label bands, including The Go-Go's, The Police, X, Pere Ubu, Gary Numan, and many others. It is a fantastic showcase of Punk, New Wave, and Post-Punk music of the time. Sadly, the soundtrack is unavailable on streaming platforms and the movie itself can only be found on the obscure Plex app.
First time listening to The Cramps. Not sure why, this is right in my wheelhouse. Great debut album, definitely will get more listens. Psychobilly at it's best.
Pretty good stuff.
4,5
Nobody does this better than the Cramps. Its a perfect version of what it is. I just don't feel like what it is can ever exceed 4 stars.
abrasive. Noisy. Sloppy. Pretty freaking awesome. Rockabilly surf rock freaky fun. It was a great album to listen to.
Lovely stuff. Brought back some great memories.
Kannte ich nicht, eine echte Entdeckung!
Klikkuð plata. Varð bara betri með hverri keyrslu.
oh i loove this, i just KNOW trad goths eat this band up, it’s so like that one 50’s rockabilly auntie i literally cant pinpoint it, defo in some indie horror series, i was gonna say its goo goo muck ish but they literally wrote it so let me stay quiet, love their version of fever
Expected a 2 star album, got a 4 star. Would be shocked if early modest mouse wasn’t fans of these guys.
so first fuck it how many effect pedals are present on this fucking album tell me the monetary value of them added up and shut up eternally for me. apart from using the guitars to reinforce the lyric's atmosphere and fusing punk rock with 50s rock'n'roll one thing that the cramps did well is to prove is a band can have no bassist and do very well and this made the existance of bassists a joke. certified halloween album. guaranteed by the review writer, half a goth who just wears black and failed to do makeup. aka horror movie enjoyer. 4/5
This album's awesome. Imagine 1950s small town America with ice cream shops and drive in movies and "Enchantment Under the Sea" high school dances except everyone is a zombie or vampire or werewolf
Can’t beat a bit of ramshackle psychobilly punk rock 😀🤘🎸
Kind of a surf, punk album with little hints of rockabilly. Liked the cover of fever. Cool album!
A cool half step between surf rock and punk rock. I can hear how they influenced all the bands. I like. A strong album
Not sure if there's anything original here, but i really enjoyed it!
I Was A Teenage Werewolf sounds remarkably well today. Great album.
Can figure out what size pilot jets to install in the carburetor to make your vintage motorcycle idle better? Listen to this album. Worried that you can't muster the courage to pick up the phone and ask out your crush? Listen to this album. Can figure out how to resolve the main conflict in the great American novel you're writing? Listen to this album. Want to be a better guitar player? Listen to this album. This isn't music, it's a marinade. You soak yourself in it and you become at least 50-75% better at doing cool shit. Don't believe me on this one? Well try this experiment- put in your headphones, hit play on this bad-boy, and go for a walk down a crowded city street. If you don't feel like the main character in a Tarantino flick I'll eat my hat (mesh-back trucker style, natch).
- Good stuff .... I've been introduced to the parents of Jon Spencer (he basically copped his entire shtick from this band). This is is the Fugs, The Holy Modal Rounders, rockabilly Pere Ubu, the same vein of Americana that Handsome Family is in, Elvis on acid .... it goes on and on ... too bad it's such a shitty recording .... great fun. -
Fun album, I like this proto-psychobilly sound. The Cramps is a band I've for a long time been aware of and have just never really listened much, but I would for sure want to listen to this more.
I've never heard a genre of music be created by sarcastically playing a different genre. Loud and weird. I appreciated it more after a second listen
3.5, rounded up to a light 4 It’s just completely its own thing, which is very refreshing. Just unapologetically weird, spooky, horny. Like music intentionally made to be in the background of a bad B-horror movie, and I adore that for them.
Nice
I was well aware of The Cramps- "Cant Hardly Stand It" was an old roommates favorite song. While I'm not typically a huge punk fan, I found myself really enjoying this album. It is high energy, surprisngly catchy and does a good job of being rough just to the edge of dissonant but not crossing that line. Overall- I liked it a lot. Pribably just shy of a 4 but I feel like it earned the bump up.
I surprised myself with how much I enjoyed this. I’ve criticised some other albums for being too much of the same thing with the twelve bar blues as it can feel too unimaginative, whereas this album uses that same chord progression a lot, but makes it very interesting. It’s a funk mix of punk with vibes of rockabilly at times. I like how odd the vocals are, and how rough and ready the music sounds. It’s almost as if it was recorded in a garage, but by people who really knew what they were doing in order to make it not sound TOO rough. This is a fun album.
Good, like the rolling Stones but without the fatigue it's having heard it all a load
nothing special, but cool sound. could be better, but im pretty sure than i can listen to it more than just one time
Alternative 80s rock band. Garage trash, rockabilly. Very cool and edgy in a retro way. Sci-fi, horror, fast and dirty. Halloween punk, surf horror.
Munster-esque bops
This album was a pleasant surprise! I don’t normally go for this kind of psychobilly punk, but "Songs The Lord Taught Us" is a wild, gritty, and fun ride from start to finish. It’s raw, ridiculous, and oddly addictive.
Good time
What a fun album.
Was expecting this to be "The Craps" but instead I ended up enjoying this album! 4 ⭐️
Kind of annoying noisy/distorted/low quality punk but still not bad?
Good fun rockabilly surf garage rock. Great rolling drums and jumpy guitar licks. Would be awesome live.
Rockabilly punk, dark atmosphere, songs about werewolves and zombies, a bit 'goth'... definitely neat. I put a couple tracks in my halloween playlist.
Raw excitement
Surf-horror, just like it says on the label.
8/10…psychobilly / punk
I was expecting more of a horrorcore type style, but I still really liked this. This take on punk is a really interesting one, and definitely one I want to explore more.
An energetic mess, very entertaining.
Yeah, I like this gear too. Kind of a halloween inspired rockabilly surfer jam.
Brash, energetic, surprisingly musical, and deeply enjoyable.
Fun Rockabilly punk
This was a fun album to listen to. Noisy, brash, and with crazy lyrics. I won't be adding it to my collection but I liked it a lot. Four stars.
love the cramps just so fuzzy and dirty.
Messy and energetic, I love it. Finished the first track and it's already 4/5. Very thrashy, very lo-fi. Classic punk sound. I always find this kind of music enjoyable. Definitely 4/5, maybe even higher.
The first and forever greatest psychobilly record ever made. The Lord hath taught The Cramps well.
I was a teenage werewolf Braces on my fangs I was a teenage werewolf And no one even said thanks And no one made me stop I had a teen-land mind I had to blow my top And under teen full moon No one could make me stop No one could make me stop A teenage werewolf A parallel bars A teenage girlfriend Got a lot of scars Somebody please, make me stop Please, stop You know, I have puberty rights And I have puberty wrongs No one understood me All my teeth were so long Ooh, and no one made me stop No, good God A Mid-west monster Of the highest grade All my teachers thought It was growing pains, oh no no Ahh, somebody stop this pain The 80's were a great time to be weird. 4/5
A hoot.
Love this album. Always a spooky good time and love the banter at the start of teenage Werewolf
Jesus, What did this sound like before the remastering? I do like the Cramps, they are 1 of 1 when it comes to deconstructed honky tonk with a singer who seems to be perpetually on the run from vengeful ghosts.
Fridays and Saturdays- 1980s - elbow dancing to the Cramps in a hot and sweaty club. That”s my youth right there.
The Cramps are great but this is not my favorite album. Great music for all us punks and creepy kids. I love the raw, surf music mixed with catchy lyrics that you "sing" even if you don't want to.
I think the Cramps were one of Tiger Army’s influences.
I dig their whole psycho-billy thing. It's fun and playful and somehow dangerous at the same time. It's new, it's old, it's exciting. The singer is great. Like Johnny Rotten or Karen O, he's so much a part of the sound, it can be a bit overwhelming, but most of the time I was perfectly whemled. Wish they had a standup bass—or any bass—to flesh out the sound. But what do I know?
Rock-a-Billy / almost B-52s feel on some songs
Very energetic and intense, got some of those classic sounds mixed in. Made me want to dance. Really liked some of the tracks, and when it was good it was really good. The stuff I like. I ended up wanting more tracks. Highlights: Rock On The Moon Garbageman The Mad Daddy Mystery Plane Strychnine
Some great stuff, pretty raw and fun. Less convinced by some of the more rockabilly stuff, but hard to argue against what the band is doing with it all.
Fun, rockabilly style with some garage rock. Vocalist Lux Interior (RIP) has a very unique sound. Including this with monster-filled lyricism makes for a fun and weird album.
A perfect dark side match to the B52s.
If you took all the Ramones, Misfits, and Cramps t-shirts in the world and piled them up horizontally, you could reach the moon and back three times. I completely made that stat up, but the fact that it feels vaguely believable shows just how ubiquitous these bands—or rather, their logos—have become. While all three are rooted in punk, share a fascination with the macabre, and have been portrayed as oddball figures, it’s The Cramps who, at least to my ears, have the least accessible sound. Let’s get it out of the way: The Cramps are weird and chaotic. Not exactly what you’d put on while driving your grandmother to run errands. But if we were to measure an artist's worth solely by their appeal to octogenarians, not many albums would make the cut. For those of us who thrive on weird and chaotic, Songs The Lord Taught Us is the perfect way to occasionally let loose. The album takes 1950s rock and surf music, injects an (un)healthy dose of horror movie schtick, and creates a sound that, even 40-plus years later, feels a bit left of centre. It’s Halloween music that you can (and should) play year-round, with its spooky atmosphere and campy, theatrical energy. Reverb-heavy guitars and Lux Interior's echoing, wild vocals make parts of this album sound unhinged—in the best possible way. While the psychotic surf rock vibe might get a bit exhausting over a full album, this record inspired a long list of modern acts, including The White Stripes, Queens of the Stone Age, Nick Cave, Ty Segall, and The Hives. For me, that’s a net positive. Did/Do I own this release? No Does this release belong on the list? YES Would this release make my personal list? If I am being honest, probably not Will I be listening to it again? infrequently.
I actually like this way more than I was expecting to. It reminds me of a John Waters movie. Rockabilly punk (punkabilly?) that doesn't take itself too seriously. I like how high-energy it all is!
Bizarre, weird and fantastical. Horror movie music in the oddest sense, theres not really a way to describe this album beyond rocky horror picture show and honestly thats a great thing. Im giving this album such a strong score partly because theres nothing quite like it ive listened to so far, its fun its original and its bold.
Sort of punky, I enjoyed this a decent amount, not 100% sure I'd ever listen to again but it was fun
Taught by the Lord of Trash, but damn if it ain't a treasure for all.
i had heard some of these songs before and I love them. I was lucky to get to see The Cramps live in 1994 in SLC and it was such a fun night. One of the all time great live experiences I've had.
Ganske ait hørte ikke alle remixene tho
Honestly, I really quite liked it, band seems very very cool
Rockabilly undead beach party! Love it. Absolutely deserves a spot on this list.
I loved this. I was aware of The Cramps from the Bad Music For Bad People album cover that you see on t-shirts everywhere. But for some reason, I'd never been exposed to the music. But this is the kind of garage punk that I can sink my teeth into. Songs The Lord Taught Us is deeply indebted to 1950s rock, 1960s garage rock, r&b and surf, 1970s punk, and classic Universal Monster movies. I love the lo-fi sound. I love the energy. I love the obvious influence of Link Wray. I want to hear more.
I like the Cramps… but the vocals are so buried… and it was way too long. Why the repeated tracks?
Until this day I had never heard The Cramps and it is now one of my chief regrets. 4 out of 5.
Really solid garage-y rock with plenty of offbeat subject matter and creative lyrics! Loved this one.
This album is really fun. It's just goth, rockabilly all the way through. Every song puts me into the mind of vintage monster movies in the best way. It's a cool vibe that I enjoyed a lot.
I've always wanted to like the Cramps a lot more than I do, they really do nail few songs so well but they also have some really just dull songs, at least in the studio. As a live yes there great, they would put on a killer show. Musically for the whole album a 3 but originality get's them to a 4. Curious if a Meteors album will pop up, same sound. same era but British.
Great re-listen
Pretty much a one-trick pony of an album, but I greatly enjoy that one trick. Sort of like an audio version of a music history chart going from 1950 to 1980. I'm guessing this one's going to have a lower average/global rating on here, but for me it's an easy 3.75 (rounding up to a 4) Favorites: TV Set, Mystery Plane, Fever
love the Cramps and this age of punk music
The cramps have a “je ne sais quoi” about them. They shouldn’t really work. But they do. And their musical influence is clear if you like rock & roll or indie or grunge. They just don’t seem to be trying very hard and that’s what makes it so effortlessly cool.
Garage Punk, chulo.
#214. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that. One of the reviews said they were like the B52s meets the Addams Family, and I think that sounds about right. This was weirdly fantastic. 4/5: yes
Love me some goth punk
Some over the top rockabilly by a deranged sexually disordered bunch of freaks. It's a delight!
This is a great debut from the inimitable Cramps, led by the sadly departed Lux Interior and the vampish Poison Ivy. The concert I attended at Hammersmith Palais in 1985 still stands out as the greatest gig I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing! Some might say that their music is purely derivative, one dimensional rehashed rock 'n' Roll, but it's so much more than that! The humour and wordplay evident in so many of their songs is as big a feature as the raucous performances and Lux's manic screams. Standouts here are 'I was a teenage werewolf' and the riff-tastic 'Sunglasses after dark'. There's a fine portrait of the band in Kid Congo Power's excellent recent memoir, and for those who want to delve further into the band's oeuvre, I would recommend the follow up album, 'Psychedelic jungle' and the live set 'Smell of female'. The band weren't pc or subtle but were so entertaining and powerful. Check it out! After all, any band who can release an album called 'Look mom no head' surely deserves half an hour of anyone's attention!chance
Psychobilly!! 1950s rock n roll / rockabilly meets..whatever awesome pushover shit this is
Cool bands, cool songs, I dig The Cramps goth rockabilly punk vibes.
i like the cramps but man 40 minutes of them is a bit much and nothing on here is as good as whats on gravest hits. still good though. 7/10
4/5. Angry punk and rockabilly. I have no idea what he is saying ever but I did enjoy the energy for sure. It's almost scary at times with the ambience, like the Crickets mixed with Tom Waits. It's a little aggressive at times and although I do dig it at times, the vibe can throw me off a little. No doubt, I do really like this, especially Fever, Teenage Werewolf, and Garbageman, just gotta be in the mood for sure.
Songs the Lord Taught Us The Cramps, a band I’m aware of as being very influential and much loved, but I’m not sure I could name one of their songs. I must have heard at least one of them but not that I can recall. Pretty interested to hear this though. I thought it might be a bit thrashy in a Germs kind of way, but actually it’s a great garage rock n roll rockabilly Carl Perkins surf punk thing. I really liked its immediacy, where the enthusiasm and attitude are more important than the musical proficiency. The Alex Chilton production is great - exactly what the songs and band need. I really love the buzzy tone of the lead guitars and the whole echoey sound, all with the drums bashing away at the back. The cover of Fever is excellent, the riff picked out in the guitar with loads of echo and the sharp lead parts. You can hear how influential it was on that 2000s kind of garage revival. I bet the Strokes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Hives, Raveonettes, Black Keys, White Stripes, Kills etc would all name it as an influence. I can also hear a bit of Nick Cave, particularly on Fever. Maybe not the best from a pure musical/technical point of view, but that’s not really the point. I thought this was great - rough, loose, direct, dynamic. Just what you want from this kind of album from this kind of band. ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Raw, rockabilly 80's punk. Love, love, love it.
One of my favorite bands as a kid. I still think Bad Music For Bad People is superior overall, but then it's essentially a greatest "hits" album so wouldn't make it onto this list. The debut is still fun, maybe a bit repetitive. 3.5.
A bit one note, but it's an enjoyable note. A nice dose of psychobilly which was, overall, a lot of fun.
I liked this but I like some terrible stuff. You'd need to be in the right mood, but this took me right back to a specific time and place. It feels strongly genetically linked to my genre horcrux, Horror Country.
Elvis wäre stolz gewesen 😊
If you like punk, you'll probably like this. If you don't like punk, it won't be for you. This is unashamedly punk through and through. Personally I quite like this, but I will say I think I'd get pretty tired of it if I tried to listen more than once every few weeks or so.
This is THE psychobilly album. These guys combined punk and rockabilly and make it seem like the perfect marriage. It has the spirit and energy of both, and is recognizable as either. You can't deny what these guys tried to do, and how successful they were. The lyrics are silly and childish full of teenage rebelliousness, covering 1950s horror and sci-fi subject matter like werewolves, zombies, and UFOs. The song structure is minimalist with simple repeating beats and surf rock riffs, built on abrasive, gritty recording, high distortion, and an out-of-control vocalist that evokes both Iggy Pop and Jerry Lee Lewis. It's quite an outstanding creative record, and I enjoyed all the tracks. There were some consequences for the poor recording that it made it a bit of a hard listen, including inaudible lyrics in some tracks, and repetitive directionless riffs. It's clustered and messy, which is part of the charm, but nevertheless makes the songs a bit repetitive and inaudible at times.
Even if “I Was a Teenage Werewolf” was the only good song on the album, this would still be excellent. But this awesome song is surrounded by other similarly great goth-punk/psychobilly songs. It’s like The Cramps committed to a weird novelty aesthetic but then really stuck the landing and came out with some awesome tracks that were ahead of their time while still relevant for the shifting music scene of the early 1980s. Their covers of classic rock and roll artists are just as at home as their original tracks, and they really make the covers their own. Particularly “Sunglasses After Dark” with the fun “Ace of Spades” interpolation thrown in the middle.
To me. It’s a mixture of white stripes, queen and Halloween music. Fun listen and will add a couple of songs to my Playlist.
Perfect from start to finish!
I like punk rock, cheesy science fiction, and slasher movies. As a result, I am legally required to enjoy The Cramps. It cannot be helped. This is just some punkabilly fun. Highlights - TV Set, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Mystery Plane, Strychnine, Tear it Up, Fever
FUCK YEAH top 3: strychnine, garbagemen, I was a teenage werewolf honorable mention: TV set
I throw this record on and am immediately transported to an eerie, edgy Halloween party where everyone’s costume incorporates leather and lung darts are passed out in lieu of candy.
crampy goodness. 4 stars.
The Cramps don't play by anyone's rules. They create their own reality. It's a reality where surf rock , rockabilly, punk rock, and goth sensibilities are perfectly harmonious neighbors and it's a reality I'll gladly often revisit. There's nothing less goth than surf rock, and look how they pull off sonically referencing Link Wray's "Rumble" in "I Was A Teenage Werewolf".. it's as if there was something dark and brooding about the prior genre that only they noticed.
Now I know what Psychobilly means
Genre: Garage rock, garage punk, psychobilly, neo-rockabilly 1980 5/5: I Was a Teenage Werewolf, Garbageman, Fever 4/5: TV Set, Sunglasses After Dark, What's Behind the Mask, I'm Cramped, Rating: 3.5
This is well worth the listen. I've heard the Cramps before, they're cool. But I never explored further than what crossed my path. A lot of fun, not all great, but certainly felt like an album. I can appreciate this.
Pois gustoume bastante a verdade, non estivo nada mal
An odd but unique mixture between disco and punk. The Cramps definitely paved the way for musical blends that came after them.
This album is pretty cool. Not mind-blowing, but it has some good songs.
Fun!