10 Best Punk Rock Albums Of The 1980s
4. Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II
The extent to which punk devalues technical ability can be overstated, with many of the great hardcore bands, for example, being terrific musicians. When it comes to the Meat Puppets, though, it does to an extent ring true. Curt and Cris Kirkwood really cannot sing, and their instrumental ability isn’t exactly incredible. Do they ever make a great sound, though.
Their second record pulled away from the hardcore of the first, instead fusing punk structure with ghostly cowboy noise. This country punk offering was a seminal record with an untouchable and versatile sound. “Split Myself In Two” is a spirited opening, but “Aurora Borealis” is refined and downright pretty.
The most important tracks are “Lake Of Fire” and “Plateau”, two tracks that whip wildly from ponking barroom country to the howl of the damned on the chorus. The Meat Puppets were another of Kurt Cobain’s favourite bands, and on these tunes you can hear the blueprint for much of Nirvana.
It’s hard to tell at times whether they’re being deliberately sloppy or trying their best, but the ramshackle sound is unique and brilliant when paired with such great songwriting.