Let's talk about the legendary album ‘Meat Puppets II,’ released on SST in 1984.
This Meat Puppets gem ranks highly on my list of great cowpunk albums and has influenced my musical sensibilities pretty heavily in recent years. The album blends country twang with punk energy and psychedelic experimentation, all set on the desolate landscape of the Arizona desert. The Meat Puppets also played what was probably the best show I ever saw at DG's Tap House (RIP).
Check out “Lost” and “Climbing” for key tracks with heavy country influence.
And you can’t really talk about this album without mentioning that Kurt Cobain loved it and included some of its songs on Nirvana’s legendary ‘MTV Unplugged in New York’ record (and even invited Meat Puppets members Curt and Cris Kirkwood to play during the performance).
I’m gonna give ‘Meat Puppets II’ a spin tonight, and I highly recommend you do the same. You won't regret diving into this impressionistic masterpiece of weird cowpunk goodness!
Do you have thoughts on ‘Meat Puppets II?’ What other records deserve to be in the cowpunk hall of fame?