Product Description

The early-1980s post-punk musings of the Meat Puppets give new meaning to the term "alternative country". Instead of adding a country flavour to traditional rock, or overdriving ahonky-tonk sound, the group achieved a genuine marriage of avant-rock weirdness and earthy Americana on this, their defining release. The frenzied two-step of "Magic Toy Missing" and "Lost" mates hoedown with electric freakout. The group'stripping-in-the-desert sense of neo-psychedelia is displayed at its apex on the twisted classic "Plateau" and the acid-drenched country-punk of "New Gods". Like Neil Young (a strong influence), the Meat Puppets were blessed with a totally natural sense of strangeness that allowed them to be both ofthe earth and beyond it simultaneously. This reissue's generous helping of bonus tracks helps sweeten an already immensely appealing pot.

Track Listing

1. Split Myself In Two
2. Magic Toy Missing
3. Lost
4. Plateau
5. Aurora Borealis
6. We're Here
7. Climbing
8. New Gods
9. Oh Me
10. Lake Of Fire
11. I'm A Mindless Idiot
12. Whistling Song
13. Teenager(S)
14. I'm Not Here
15. New Gods (2)
16. Lost (2)
17. What To Do
18. 100% Of Nothing
19. Aurora Borealis (2)
20. New Gods (3)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48648 in Music
• Released on: 1999-03-15
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Damn Good
Hey y'all meat pup's fans,

This was the first Pup's album i bought and i NEVER lived to regret it. Bought like many puppets fans after hearing unplugged. I was blown away by those famous three tracks, escpicially Plateau and Lake Of Fire. A lonely guy named Kurt loved this album, and so should you.

It gave a nice base for them to build on after the frankly dismal 'Meat Puppets (I)' album. If you want punk there's nothing wrong with MP I. However, if you want sweet calm chill music with a splatter of psycadelica, MP II is gonna be your first MP album of many.

Categorising MP II is impossible, as it clearly comes from many influences. However, Kurt Kirkwood (Meat Puppets leading man) described them as "world beat" and i think that kinda sums it up.

MP II itself is an amazing album. The diversity between songs such as 'Split Myself In Two' to say 'Aurora Borealis' is simply mind-blowing. Some of the guitar work is ultimate.

'Split Myself In Two' strikes a dischord right away. The singings out of tune, the guitar and bass are rushed and the drums pump to keep up with the chaos, perfect thing to come home to after a bad day.

'Magic Toy Missing' is "about how the moon is really just a pattern showing where to put your spirograph toy". Showing the genius (or alternate thinking) of Curt. A nice banjo-style instrumental.

'Lost' is amazing, showing Curt's Arizona roots amazingly. You will have to listen to it hard to get the real meaning.

'Plateau' - a famous track. The compostion of the solo strives through creating a mind-blowing sunrise of emotion. Maybe the actual track could have been performed better though...

However, 'Aurora Borelias' is the ultimate in what i call 'chill' music. The guitar is breath-taking, a beautiful landscape formed in the mind makes this piece of music in my top 5 of best ever.

I need not say anymore, but with the Rykodisc's release of 'Bonus Tracks' this Album can not and will not be ignored.

MP II is a brilliant piece of art. Although i'd say this should be your first Meat Puppet album, i would'nt say it is their best work (a close 2nd to 'Up On The Sun', which is, in it's own way, the ultimate 'chill' album).

Thanks For Reading All This. Buy MP II & You Will Have A Lot More Relaxing Or Active Or Mind-Blown time.

A Meat Pups Fan

Sheer brilliance...
Meat Puppets 2 is, simply, a mind expanding, and then mind blowing album. We open with a country tinged hardcore classic in the form of 'Split myself in two' and then head on a rollercoaster journey of exotic and pure soundscapes and observations on life through the lyrics. Curt Kirkwood's guitar work is simply amazing.

However, the standout must be track 5 of the album 'Aurora Borealis'. Quite simply, this song is possibly the greatest piece of music ever committed to disc...if you've ever been to a desertor in the Scottish highlands this song will evoke memories and visions...it's like a musical form of an acid trip (one would imagine!)...

Put simply, open your mind and give the Puppets a try. I own both this and 'Up on the Sun', both CDs permenantly in my CD player (With 'II' playing as I write this). If it were possible to rate this higher than 5 stars I would...

a few fillers but overall brilliant
The meat puppets were a greatly undervalued band off the 80's and this cd shows off some of their best work. Some has been showcased by nirvana in "unplugged in new york" but even if you have that this cd is well worth a listen especially for the first 3 tracks.