eMusic Features

Who are…The Men

By Austin L. Ray, eMusic Contributor

On 2011's Leave Home, The Men unleashed a sprawling, overwhelming, brute-force basher of a rock 'n' roll record on a mostly-unsuspecting public, leaving a bunch of exhausted, gape-mouthed listeners in its wake In following up such a galvanic-if-difficult release, the Brooklyn foursome presents Open Your Heart, a more accessible and delightfully mixed bag that touches on hardcore, Buzzcockian power pop, classic country drinking songs, straight-ahead rock and propulsive, building jams the likes of which would… more »

04.19.11 eMusic Q&A 0

The Meat Puppets

By Andrew Perry, eMusic Contributor

Born at the height of hardcore punk, Meat Puppets exemplified the kind of group who, as they grew up, were not to be contained by punk's three-chord template. They followed their first furious record on SST with a series of brittle explorations of folky, country-tinged psychedelic-rock, flying in the face of hardcore's machismo. The band's story, however, is very hardcore. The trio, centered around Curt Kirkwood (vocals, guitar) and his brother, Cris (bass, vocals), gradually crept… more »

They Say All Music Guide

What does a band do when they’re trying to follow up a masterpiece? Release another masterpiece, of course. That’s exactly what the Meat Puppets did with 1985′s Up on the Sun. Issued one year after Meat Puppets II, the songwriting had become more focused, the performances were tighter, and Curt Kirkwood’s vocals had progressed from a high-pitched warbling to a soothing monotone. Up on the Sun catches the Arizona trio in a relaxed mood, for the most part; the tunes aren’t wound up as tightly as its predecessor, with the album-opening title track, the instrumental “Seal Whales,” and “Hot Pink” being fine examples. Other highlights include “Maiden’s Milk,” which contains some great instrumental interplay between the band members, as well as the upbeat “Away,” the funky “Buckethead,” the psychedelic “Two Rivers,” and the furious “Enchanted Porkfist.” As with the other 1999 Meat Puppets reissues on Rykodisc, rarities and demos are included as bonus tracks, including a haunting demo of the album’s title track. – Greg Prato