It may not be deathless, but 1984's Big Lizard in My Backyard is that rarest of beasts (as a random listen to any Barenaked Ladies disc will show): a collection of rock & roll silliness that outlives one playing. That mid-'80s favorite "Bitchin' Camaro" already demonstrated that ability plenty of times over. Portraying two guys yammering about Doors cover bands and "going down to the shore" before finally getting to the main point -- the way-cool car of the title -- it somehow finds the lost gap between pseudo-jazz grooves and punky snottiness. As left field a fluke hit single as it gets, its mix of bad taste, rock-star mockery and stoner humor still works well. As a whole, the album shows that the Milkmen know their rock & roll history, whether tackling serious issues with sarcasm or just aiming for straight-up silliness. The opening track "Tiny Town," is a quick thrash-and-scream about small minds in small towns and the blatant idiocy of "Takin' Retards to the Zoo," which is about just what it says it is, find the Milkmen's tongues planted firmly in their cheeks. The reggae-tinged "Gorilla Girl" is about a choice in sweethearts that meets with parental disapproval, while the tense, nervous bite of "Right Wing Pigeons," trashes the Reagan administration with style and smirks. Semi-seriousness crops up on the wistfully poppy "Dean's Dream" about "a girl with long blonde hair" or the instrumental finale "Tugena," which shows that when they want to, the Milkmen can rock out with the best of them. Never too heavy but deeper than expected, Big Lizard captures these disaffected class clowns getting it out of their system with energy.
Best track of best Dead Milkmen album...to think otherwise is just silly. And, I don't mean referencing Tony Orlando and Dawn silly. I mean driving around in a monster truck with the words "THE UNIT" across the back window silly, just pointless.PS What's wrong with these MOG folk that "punk" isn't in the drop down menu for genre? It would be one thing if I could fill in the genre myself, but th...
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"Henry's post":http://mog.com/etcvisitor/blog_post/30573 got me thinking, what do you give to the kid who's just getting into good music? What collection of songs would make sure he/she doesn't head down the wrong paths? What would give them a sense of history, without being stuffy and boring? Will I ever stop asking questions?Um, right ...So, shout them out. And, please, this is for the childr...
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tomorrow night i have the honor of sharing the stage with Joe Jack Talcum, former member of the Dead Milkmen at the only legitimate place in town, grand palace. this is a really cool thing and i am really happy about it. but i am a little confused about one thing. i understand that not everyone knows the line up of certain bands, so when i say Joe Jack Talcum and people say "Who?" im not too wo...
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"Henry's post":http://mog.com/etcvisitor/blog_post/30573 got me thinking, what do you give to the kid who's just getting into good music? What collection of songs would make sure he/she doesn't head down the wrong paths? What would give them a sense of history, without being stuffy and boring? Will I ever stop asking questions?Um, right ...So, shout them out. And, please, this is for the childr...
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tomorrow night i have the honor of sharing the stage with Joe Jack Talcum, former member of the Dead Milkmen at the only legitimate place in town, grand palace. this is a really cool thing and i am really happy about it. but i am a little confused about one thing. i understand that not everyone knows the line up of certain bands, so when i say Joe Jack Talcum and people say "Who?" im not too wo...
More >
A good friend from high school died this week. He had an amazing mind and very sweet soul. Friends are flying to our home town from across the country to attend his funeral and I'll probably leave in the next few days. But in the meantime, I'm thinking about him constantly and feeling very old. He loved "Big Lizard" and all the songs on this album. He used to type the lyrics in typing cl...
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Best track of best Dead Milkmen album...to think otherwise is just silly. And, I don't mean referencing Tony Orlando and Dawn silly. I mean driving around in a monster truck with the words "THE UNIT" across the back window silly, just pointless.PS What's wrong with these MOG folk that "punk" isn't in the drop down menu for genre? It would be one thing if I could fill in the genre myself, but th...
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I thought I might MOG a bit about venues that stand out in the highlight reel of concerts past. From 1985-1987 I spent a lot of time at "Dean's Parkade Lounge" in downtown Cedar Falls Iowa. We typically came in the back door by the bathrooms and pool table (singular) to the sounds of country music and the company of country leaning compatriots. But then we went through "the magic black curta...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Tiny Town |
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| 2 Beach Song |
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| 3 Plum Dumb |
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| 4 Swordfish |
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| 5 V.F.W. |
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| 6 Rastabilly |
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| 7 Serrated Edge |
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| 8 Lucky |
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| 9 Big Lizard |
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| 10 Gorilla Girl |
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| 11 Bitchin' Camaro |
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| 12 Filet of Sole |
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| 13 Spit Sink |
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| 14 Violent School |
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| 15 Takin' Retards to the Zoo |
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| 16 Junkie |
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| 17 Right Wing Pigeons |
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| 18 Dean's Dream |
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| 19 Laundromat Song |
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| 20 Nutrition |
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| 21 Tugena |
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Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "Big Lizard in My Backyard")
