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JELLO BIAFRA
& THE MELVINS
Sieg
Howdy!
Info... courtesy of Alternative
Tentacles Records!
What, you need more reasons? Jello Biafra and the Melvins are
musical pranksters united for a common cause - to detonate your
brain with some of the most twisted rock anthems ever crafted!
Starting off album #2 with a heavier-than-life version of the
Alice Cooper cult classic, "Halo of Flies," an intricate
tune that alternately slithers and crushes, the band then proceed
to treat us to a completely different extended take of their
tune "The Lighter Side of Global Terrorism" (Jello's
Hawkwind influence showed through when he asked the Melvins
to create a take on the song similar to their cover of "Youth
of America" by The Wipers). With the first two harrowing
tracks clocking in at over fifteen minutes -this is not what
you'd expect from a Jello record - steering into a more Melvinoid
direction, but remaining distinctly separate from anything easily
definable - far from a mishmash or outtakes collection, even
the Jelvins were surprised at how well Sieg Howdy! flowed as
an album.
Through the course of the album the band (yes, they sound like
a proper band, not a "project!") erupts with colors
of its respective players in turns. Biafra's spleen-venting
rants "Voted off the Island" and "Those Dumb
Punk Kids (Will Buy Anything)" are amongst his most acerbic
(not to mention insightful!), and the Melvins' cathartic drum
and guitar workouts pummel brilliantly through "Lessons
in What Not to Become" and the septic all bass-chug of
Kevin Rutmanis (making his final appearance on vinyl with the
Melvins on this album) and Buzzo that anchors "Wholly Buy
Bull."
Of course, the cherry on top is Jello and the lads ripping through
a new, updated version of "Kalifornia Über Alles"
- as sung by the Gropenführer himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger!
With Jello's unmistakable wit and even more distinctive punk-rock
croon fully intact, it's a breath of fresh air to hear a live
Jello classic sound the way it was intended to for a change!
The album's remaining remixed tracks serve to deepen the impression
that what has been created throughout the course of this collaboration
is the work of a band - A band whose songs have enough depth
to remain interesting in new and sonic environs. Dalek's chilling
reworking of "Dawn of the Locusts" brings the song
into a completely different light, and Al Jourgensen's (Ministry)
take on "Enchanted Thoughtfist" is so cold and almost
new-wave-y that it works brilliantly. The tone of the track
reaches waaay back into the Ministry back catalog, surprising
even Al himself! Then the fresh new tag-team Deaf Nephews (Dale
Crover and Toshi, the album's engineer) reshape "Caped
Crusader" into a disturbing cartoon version of itself to
round out the record. The fact that these songs are open to
this kind of interpretation, and that these interpretations
work so well is a testament to the quality with which they were
crafted in the first place.
Once again, the band is joined by Adam Jones from Tool on guitar
for over half the tracks, and this time around, the stunning
artwork is provided by none other than Camille Rose Garcia!
27 minutes of new and never before heard Jello Biafra and the
Melvins and 17 minutes of remixed weirdness from the group's
friends has created a record that surpasses its predecessor
in sheer sonic audacity and is an extremely satisfying listen
in its own right. Whether you missed the boat the first time
around, or you couldn't get enough of Never Breathe What You
Can't See, it's time to stand up, put your right hand over your
heart, extend that middle finger, and say it loud - say it proud
- SEIG HOWDY!
Track Listing:
1. Halo Of Flies
2. The Lighter Side Of Global Terrorism
3. Lessons In What Not To Become
4. Those Dumb Punk Kids (Will Buy Anything)
5. Kali-Fornia Uber Alles 21st Century
6. Wholly Bun Bull
7. Voted Off The Island
8. Dawn Of The Locusts
9. Enchanted Thoughtfist
10. Caped Crusader
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