How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Average
Value for Money
Advantages:
None Really
Disadvantages:
Lots quite probabally
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Texas is a strange place evil lurks there in the guise of the Bushes as they are children of Satan sent to destroy all that is good an pure. It is also the home of the Butthole Surfers, 13th Floor Elevators and Kinky Freidman (1) who it could be argued are also children of Satan sent to destroy all that is good and pure. It all comes down to what goodness and purity you want to see destroyed, I'm with the latter camp myself.
This album was recorded during their time with Capitol records in 1993, and is produced by former Led Zepplin Bassist John Paul Jones, probably thanks to the increased recording budget available. The title "Independent Worm Salon" Is and obvious statement about their feelings about major labels signing independent artists, but I would not say no to a big fat advance and worldwide distribution of my own music any day.....
We kick off with "Who Was In My Room Last Night?" which is weird noisy high octane rock and roll, then we journey into "The Wooden Song" which is pleasant acoustic psyche which transforms into an psychedelic electric soundscape. "Tongue" is a hybrid of funk and garage psyche, and hard industrial music and is a lot more experimental. The best psychedelic music is not nice flowers in the sky stuff it is stuff that wraps round your mind and takes you on a traumatic journey through your own headspace, and this is what the Butthole Surfers do best.
"Chewin' George Lucas' Chocolate" and "Goofys' Concern" are a rallying call for all non-conformists everywhere set to superb heavy rock and roll....... "Alcohol" veers down a more experimental with Gibby Hayes going back to using his voice as a musical instrument, and it is an unpleasant piece of nasty psychedelic rock. "Dog Inside Your Body" continues this unpleasantness and even though I understand the lyrics I wish that I did not......
"Strawberry" takes us back to more familiar musical territory and even sounds a bit like a gothy REM, but Goth and REM both suck balls and the Butthole Surfers do not. "Some Dispute over T-shirt Sales" lyrically is an almost exact rip off of Ministrys’ "Jesus Built My Hot Rod" which Gibby Hayes has provided guest vocals for, and is a great piece of gonzo hillbilly rock and roll. Considering that the "Jesus Built My Hot Rod" Single outsold Madonna and the accompanying T Shirt sold like hotcakes it is kinda obvious that this is a sly dig, but not necessarily at another artist.
"Dancing Fool" is just plain strange rock and roll and I love it........ "You Don't Know Me" musically is a superb piece of psychedelic indie pop, lyrically lets just not go there a bit like REM on really bad acid. "The Annoying Song" is just that but absolutely wonderful.
"Dust Devil" again has all the classic Butthole Surfers elements Psychedellia, weird industrial bits and great unpleasant noisy rock and roll. "Leave Me Alone" is surprisingly straight rock and roll only twisted with Gibby Hayes incomprehensible vocal. To me this stuff is gold dust and I hope I never get sick of it..............
"Edgar" is disgustingly psychedelic and I could draw comparisons with it and a lot of the psychedelic indie music that came out f the UK in the late 80's and early 90's which is no bad thing. "The Ballad of The Naked Man" sounds like a Enio Moricone soundtrack gone wrong with obvious blue grass influences. The album is completed by "Clean It Up" which is 8 minutes and 39 seconds of pure industrial noise which even taxes my listening abilities.........
If you can work your way through this album or any Butthole Surfers album then it is a truly rewarding experience. Due to the eclectic nature of the music it is not for everyone but their is something on this record that most folk will appreciate. I personally think that everyone should listen to at least one of their albums before they die and since this is one of their more commercial works this is probably the best for most folks.....
You can get it for a fiver in Fopp opposite Tescos on Market Street in Manchester as well........
(1) Kinky likes cats so he is not truly evil
More details
How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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