For his first solo album, Mike Watt assembled a different band for each track, creating a veritable who's who of post-punk and alternative rock -- Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, Thurston Moore, J Mascis, Frank Black, Evan Dando, Dave Pirner, Henry Rollins, Flea, Lee Ranaldo, Mike D, and Pat Smear all appear, among others. Predictably, the sound is somewhat schizophrenic, but no more so than the average Minutemen album. Ball-Hog or Tugboat? is more polished than anything the Minutemen released, yet looser than fIREHOSE, filled with jazz-inflected breaks and sheer sonic freakouts, but dominated by a surprisingly large number of pop songs. On the power pop rush of "Piss-Bottle Man," Dando sings with more emotion than on most Lemonheads records, and "Chinese Fire Drill" shows an effective folky side to Watt's music. And Watt's own vocals on "Big Train" are as big-hearted, sly, and funny as the album itself.
I have a certain affinity for the Funkadelic song "Maggot Brain". I think it could possibly be one of the best guitar solos in rock history, if not the best. I mean it can stand next to anything Hendrix wrote, it's that good. Funny thing is, the first time I heard it, I actually heard the rather impressive cover by J. Mascis on the Mike Watt album Ball Hog or Tug Boat - an album I don't reme...
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Mike's post about getting over some music and growing appreciation for previously dismissed works jarred my brain. For one, I used to like Pearl Jam. I know that is not a revelation but it really ended up being the antithesis of my tastes not too far after they debuted in 1991 or so. But still, that video of Alive with the alternate guitar solo at the end can still give me tingles - I do not fa...
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Bass legend Mike Watt and a ton of his talented, famous friends made an awesome album called 'Ball Hog or Tug Boat' in 1995 I believe. I FINALLY replaced my copy...i am happy
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There's something awesome about having something pop up on 'shuffle' that you forgot you even had loaded on yer iPod ...Today's blow-my-mind track is Mike Watt's "Max and Wells" from the Ball Hog or Tugboat? album --- an awesome slinky bass throb coupled with searing J Mascis guitar work and gravely Mark Lanegan vocals. Anyways, work's been insane. Life's been peachy and exhausting. I'm still w...
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... so, despite what MOG is telling everyone, I don't actually turn 30 until Sunday. My wife, however, apparently has no regard for waiting for the proper celebration day, as she decided to hand over one of my birthday gifts for me to open yesterday. After years of pining for them but not actually taking the initiative to get them, The Wife went ahead and bought me a collection of the original ...
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a post by a guy named Waydutch done reminded me of the greatness that was fIREHOSE, and of course, Mike "Watt" Watt.Nothing too expository, just some full-on Watty goodness.Turn it up.fIREHOSE- Down With the BassWatt- Piss-Bottle ManWatt- Big TrainEnjoy.
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I have a certain affinity for the Funkadelic song "Maggot Brain". I think it could possibly be one of the best guitar solos in rock history, if not the best. I mean it can stand next to anything Hendrix wrote, it's that good. Funny thing is, the first time I heard it, I actually heard the rather impressive cover by J. Mascis on the Mike Watt album Ball Hog or Tug Boat - an album I don't reme...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Big Train |
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| 2 Against the 70's |
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| 3 Drove up from Pedro |
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| 4 Piss-Bottle Man |
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| 5 Chinese Firedrill |
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| 6 Intense Song for Madonna to Sing |
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| 7 Tuff Gnarl |
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| 8 Sexual Military Dynamics |
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| 9 Max and Wells |
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| 10 E-Ticket Ride |
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| 11 Forever - One Brother's Opinion |
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| 12 Song for Igor |
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| 13 Tell 'Em, Boy! |
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| 14 Sidemouse Advice |
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| 15 Heartbeat |
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| 16 Maggot Brain |
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| 17 Coincidence Is Either Hit or Miss |
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 "Ball-Hog or Tugboat?")
