Get Out of My Way

AMG Review of Get Out of My Way

Eugene Chadbourne
All Music Guide

A picture disc exists of this release, but it is no big deal, just an enlarged label with a kind of typical shot of a mugging Mojo Nixon and stoic Skid Roper sidekick guy. This set of songs has the notorious one about the MTV VJ, "Stuffing Martha's Muffin," but needless to say the hit on the corny music video network was buffered a bit by Nixon himself going to work there. This is an EP, about ten minutes per side, but there are some listeners who think that's a good dose for someone such as this artist, whose entire performance and presence are the pure essence of confrontation. That is not intended as a criticism. The entertainment audience at large has set up certain guidelines for lengths of performances, but that doesn't mean such guidelines are always a good idea; in the case of Nixon and Roper, they come off well with a quick romp such as this. "Burn Down the Malls" is a good idea all around, and much more serious than the Martha song. Nixon also dares to confront on levels that superficially seem meaningless. And amazingly, those who dig deeply into a tune such as "Jesus at McDonalds" will find that it actually is meaningless, which is even more courageous.