Customer Reviews

Bucky Fellini

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Dead Milkmen share something in common with Frank Zappa: Hippies, with their emphasis on peace are revealed as declasse bums. Beatles idolatry is disdained. Teenage THE SMITHS/THE CURE fans who wear black nail polish are toast according to the Dead Milkmen worldview.

So what is cool, you may ask? Swapping bodilly fluids with nasty forest creatures(The Badger Song). Building a huge miserable failure from scratch is to be considered a high watermark of civilized societies (City Of Mud). The Milkmen are sharp enough to realize that voices which emanate from within aren't neccessarily a bad sign, (The Specialist) providing that your libido runs on a more potent mixture (Nitro Burning Funny Cars).

BUCKY FELLINI: It's a little bit country, it's a little bit surfy. A sprinkling of adolescent angst, for the may queen, mixed with a liberal slug of disaffected scorn for the "established" counterculture (stickin' it to the establishment, man...) as it was affected by Art-Rock wannabes during the 80s club scene.

That, plus it really kicks ass, in an 80s hair-band kinda sense!

Really, I did. When it was recommended to me, it was as if, "oh what do you mean you don't have this? It's like standard issue." And when I got it, I thought, this album is so awsome, why did it take me so long to hear it. But now I realize, not everyone loves this album, or has even heard it, or even the heard of the Dead Milkmen. In some ways, the songs on this album are so tightly arranged, crafted, and played, that one could make a Beatles comparison. And Dave Blood's bass playing is worth mentioning, on this and all albums. He really was one of the best bassists. This is the most polished and well produced album they put out as well. It is their Dark Side of the Moon.

Ah, Bucky Fellini. What can I say about this gem? Even though it parodies "Ballroom Blitz," "the Pit" is probably my favorite DM opening track. It also includes classics like "Watching Scotty Die," "Instant Club Hit," "Surfin' Cow," and "Tacoland." Sadly, the owner of that glorious bastion of booze was killed during a robbery a while back. This album was recorded in Austin, and therefore has the obligatory Daniel Johnston track. It is also the groups' first collaboration w/ Brian "Mudlounge-Bongwizard" Beattie, of Glass Eye fame, I believe. Beattie loved recording w/ vintage, and I mean VINTAGE equipment, and it definitely shows here. Personally, I preferred the drum sounds on "Paisely," but Bucky doesn't suffer from the recording; rather, it seems to really play a role in the overall mood, which is really, really fuzzy. There's even a disclaimer on the inside: "Warning--this album contains reverb. Don't try this at home." That makes me smile, because it makes me wonder if it's a playful jab at legendary, acerbic "engineer" Steve Albini, who proclaimed his hatred of the effect in the mid to late 80's. At the very least, Albini must have had some kind of influence on the DM, as Rodney name checks Big Black on "Beezlebubba" (Sri Lanka Sex Hotel) and shouts out the man himself on "Metaphysical." (Now Everybody's Me). Wow, I just got really sidetracked. Anyway, "Bucky Fellini" captures the Dead Milkmen in their prime; you can't go wrong w/ this record.

I bought this album (in 1987) having never heard a Dead Milkmen song, and as soon as the music started I was hooked. I've been a Dead Milkmen fan ever since. The music is raw, funny, and pure! From Rodney's unique vocal style (this guy has one of the best-sounding punk voices you'll ever hear) to Joe's grungy, garage rock guitar to Dean's caffeine-charged drumming, Bucky Fellini has it all. Best of all, this is one of the albums before they flip-flopped their format and ruined themselves; before Rodney, for some unknown reason, decided to hand over most of the vocal duties to Joe. (Don't get me wrong - Joe was GREAT, and still is! But the Dead Milkmen should never have tried to become Butterfly Joe in the midst of a great thing!!) Anyway...buy this CD! You won't ever regret it. It's as simple as that.

This has to be the best Dead Milkmen album from top to bottom. Big Lizard is very good and a bit more of a commercial success (if that can actually be said) but there are a lot of tunes and almost every song will be your "next favorite" Dead Milkmen song. If you like other DM suff, this is an absolute must!

I had friends in high school who were really into the Dead Milkmen. I first heard Big Lizard in My Backyard and thought it had some good songs, then heard Eat Your Paisley and thought it had a few more good songs. However, Bucky Fellini impressed me as none of their releases before or since. It is solid and well worth having. If you don't know the Milkmen, you may want to listen to some of their stuff first as they're not for everyone. Irreverent, juvenile and fun would be a good description of them. Their style is punk meets a lot of other stuff. If you like the Milkmen but don't have this, then you must get it!

I remember when I first bought this album I was a little bit disappointed because I didn't think it was as good as it predecesors, Big Lizard and Eat Your Paisley. Looking back I realize how foolish I was as their first two albums are tough to beat. Bucky Fellini stands on its own and does so quite well. The mocking of Ballroom Blitz at the beginning of the Pit cracks me up every time and Big Time Operator, Instant Club Hit, and Jellyfish Heaven are real stand-outs. My personal fav is Watching Scotty Die, a humorous look at toxic pollution. The best song TITLE, though is definitely (Theme from) Blood Orgy of the Atomic Fern. How do they come up with this stuff? Highly recommended.

This has to be the darkest/funniest album I ever heard. "Ive got a kid his name is Scott, he's going blind and his blood just will not clot." (Watch'n Scotting Die) or "I met Andy Warhol in a really shiek party, blow it out your hair do 'cause you work at Hardees." (You'll Dance to Anything). This album is the "There's Something About Mary" of Music. Have to get it. One last thing..."This world is full of People who look a lot like Gavin McLoud!" -Nitro Burning Funny Car.

What a glorious album!

It's the Dead Milkmen; how could it possibly be wrong/bad? The Milkmen are the bomb!!!!