Mark’s Pick(s) of the Week: Big Lizard in My Backyard AND Beelzebubba by The Dead Milkmen

           

            I figured this would be as good of a time as ever to post about these guys.  Eric recently wrote about the 4 seasons in a not-so-passive-aggressive attack on me.  It’s true I’m not a big fan, and can’t really name to many tracks, but I’d have to have a heart of ice to not enjoy some of those tracks.  It did make me think, however, about how crazy and important certain acts can be to people.  They are sacred, and the idea of not likening or knowing them is just blasphemous.  I know for a fact a lot of you readers don’t know these guys, but that doesn’t make me any less upset at you for it.

            The Dead Milkmen make some of the best acid punk of the 80’s.  Straight out of Philly (Represent!) these guys are loud, weird, fast, funny and damn good when you least expect it. You don’t think of punk, especially the “poppyer” stuff, as being really technically impressive.  Most of the time the band is trying to be as fast as possible, but Butterfly Joe really manages to impress me with finding the medium between fast while still being strong.   Another great thing about these guys is their song range especially relative to their genre.  Anyone in the same category as the Ramones, and the Sex Pistols don’t really have to have extreme song diversity, but these guys still manage it without loosing a signature sound.

            I didn’t think you’d notice that I made my pick two albums…but since you brought it up I guess I have to explain myself.  I just could choose between them OKAY!  I’m only human.  They each had their strengths, and since I’m the James Dean of the blog I decided they are both getting into this post.

            First we have Big Lizard.  This is their first album, and is full of really fast songs about a bunch of random subjects like disliking the beach, taking acid, and of course having a big lizard in your backyard.  All the tracks are pretty solid, and is to me one of their most consistent albums.  The biggest downside is probably there isn’t really a major hit on this album.  Check out this track about his new car…sort of.

Beelzebubba is kind of a different animal.  It’s a bit more hit and miss in my opinion.  There are some FANTASTIC songs, but then there are some that I’ll almost always skip.  The Milkmen’s best song is on this album, so even if it’s not the strongest there is no way to ignore it:

           

In summation: I’ve loved these guys for years, and always will, and because of this everyone in my vicinity will be made aware of them (consider this your warning.)