Customer Reviews

Betty Pickup

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this album way more than I'll be able to express here. After seeing Muzzle open for Throwing Muses on the tour to support this album, I was absolutely, 100% blown away by their intensity on stage. Never mind that they wrote killer pop songs, with beautiful harmonies and memorable riffs that WOULD NOT leave my head for days afterwards. It's few bands whose songs I'm humming (not knowing the words yet) for days after first seeing them live. This is one. When I bought the album the following week...just say it immediately entered my "Desert Island Disks" list, period. I've since bought copies for friends who I thought might appreciate the band, and none has been disappointed. Muzzle's sophomore effort was not quite as good as this, and I suspect that may be why they broke up shortly afterwards. But appreciate this for what it is: a pop gem that has aged gracefully, destined to find its way into your CD player again and again, spreading joy with each new visit.

My Dad saw these guys play in a very famous book/cd store in Seattle in 1997 and loved them, of course he purchased the album then and there. 6 months later we were ramstacked, and amoungst the items stolen was the Muzzle CD. Do you think we can find it here in Australia? NO! We couldn't even find it in Seattle on our return in 1999/2000, the band was that popular.
I was thrilled to finally find a copy on Amazon after years of searching (yes I had tried Amazon before).
The only thing I was worried about was whether or not my Dad would still like them.

The short answer to my long story is my Dad still LOVES Muzzle.

Just have to find their website now.

I think this was a period of time in music, that a lot of great bands got unnoticed. Which in someways is unfortunate. This album being one example. A great blend and push forward from all things grunge. Has a very tannin-centric dry mouthfeel. But yet refreshing as it cruises through your brain. Sharp hints of lime, and the aroma of a good BBQ party. Finishes off with a passing reminder of cigarettes, cheap beer, and sex. I would like to have seen more of this type of artistic passion.

When I picked this CD up used, I wasn't sure what to expect. I had only heard one song by them on a compilation disk, and it wasn't even on this album. All I can say is that Betty Pickup is a unique treat. It blends catchy rythms with fun (and sometimes even heartfelt) lyrics. They have a unique ability to go from fast punk tunes (like "Not A Singalong," "Bay Windows," and "Goner") to slower, more melodic songs (such as "Bleed On" and "Flying Lesson"), while never losing the album's edge and still allowing everything to flow together.
There isn't a bad song in the bunch, and this is one of the few rare CDs that gets better with every listen. There are some real standout tracks, though, such as "Free Trampoline" (which will be stuck in your head for days), "Bleed On" (which reminds me of an 80s song. Maybe it's just me, but I keep thinking it should be on a movie like Say Anything), and "Glug" (who couldn't love a line like, "I could tell by the way she called me ___hole, she'd given up on me"?).
Comparing them to other, better-known bands, I'd have to say they have lyrics similar to Blink-182 (but better, of course) and their music sounds like early Green Day (think 39/Smooth or Kerplunk). But they have a sound clearly their own. Pick this CD up. I guarantee you won't regret it.

this album rocks from start to finish. it has the listenability of good pop music but with awesome guitar and drum work. the album never slows to a crawl with sappy ballads that other bands use to try and show some sensitive creative side but moves along perfectly. one of the few albums i listen to from start to finish every time and probably the best album i own.these guys should be a huge band. buy it and tell people you know about it.

This CD is sooooo good. It's harmonic power pop with a harder edge. If you like rock, you have no excuse to not own this.

I love this album way more than I'll be able to express here. After seeing Muzzle open for Throwing Muses on the tour to support this album, I was absoltely, 100% blown away by their intensity on stage. Never mind that they wrote killer pop songs, with beautiful harmonies and memorable riffs that WOULD NOT leave my head for days afterwards. It's few bands whose songs I'm humming (not knowing the words yet) for days after first seeing them live. This is one. When I bought the album the following week...just say it immediately entered my "Desert Island Disks" list, period. I've since bought copies for friends who I thought might appreciate the band, and none has been disappointed. Muzzle's sophomore effort was not quite as good as this, and I suspect that may be why they broke up shortly afterwards. But appreciate this for what it is: a pop gem that has aged gracefully, destined to find its way into your CD player again and again, spreading joy with each new visit.