Customer Reviews

Humpty Dumpty LSD

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Humpty Dumpty LSD is the best Buttholes album since Hairway to Steven. It contains several rare and unreleased tracks that are sure to bring a tear to any Tejass drunk rock fan. Guitarist Paul Leary adds vocals to many songs and Daniel Johnston also appears on the album. Songs such as Just a Boy and I Hate My Job will take you back to the good ol days of punk. My personal favorites are 100 Million People Dead, a track that originally appeared on the P.E.A.C.E. compillation album, and Earthquake which originally appeared on Where The Pyramid Meets The Eye, a tribute to the late Roky Erikson.

Many people have called this collection of Butthole Surfers Rarities "an album that sounds like it was between Locust Abortion Technician and Hairway to Steven". That a perfect definition of Humpty Dumpty LSD because it sounds exactly like that. Released in 2002, for a moment it seems like they started using drugs excessively again, Theresa rejoined the band and they started jumping around stage again. I hope this won't be the last rarities release as they certainly have more then enough material to make a Humpty Dumpty LSD volume 2, 3 or 4. I've read in an interview that was made shortly after Independent Worm Saloon that they had over 300 songs that were recorded but weren't released on any records. The Surfers had always found time to record while they weren't touring and this guarantees that there is even more material these guys have hidden away. Although half of the material here is Instrumentals, it makes perfect sense considering mush of it isn't actually complete.

This is definitely not the best place to start with the music of the Butthole Surfers. I would say that it would be best to have at least two albums from their 80's era before deciding upon this. Something that is interesting though, on the Vinyl versions, there are 2 bonus tracks, Sinister Crayon 9which later made it to the Butthole Surfers/Live PCPPEP re-release) and Sherman, which I haven't had the pleasure of hearing yet. Here is a breakdown of the album so you will know what to expect.

1. Night of the Day 8/10: A lot of people don't like this and consider it a throw away track, but if you listen closely and pay attention to what is being said, it is hilarious and perfect, also the music is relaxing.
2. 100 Million People Dead 9/10: the original version appeared on several compilations and can be downloaded from their website. This is a much cleaner version and is 7 minutes long. The only bad part is that this is 7 minutes long, it could have been just as good had it been in 4 minutes and not so repetitive.
3. I love you Peggy 7/10: Another one of their Stalker songs, pretty funny.
4. Space I 7/10: relaxing instrumental that features whistles of various types along with multiple kinds of sound effects.
5. Perry Intro 7/10: Another Instrumental, this one leans toward disturbing sludge that could be found under the bathroom sink next to your skull bong. Originally an Intro to the song Perry, and in their combined form is called Perry Mason.
6. Day of the Dying Alive 10/10: Enter a Demo of the first half of Jimi. I actually think this sounds more disturbing than the original especially with Paul's soloing.
7. Eindhoven Chicken Masque 10/10: An awesome instrumental that features trumpets, the two drummers and a variety of sweet guitar riffs, probably could have been a little longer.
8. Just a Boy 8/10: Along the same lines as I love you Peggy, very young Surfers, rather Punk.
9. Hetero Skeleton 9/10: Enter the most Disturbing thing to be found on the record, almost an instrumental I think there are a few things said at the end that may be the Gibbytronix, but this features an insane piano, creepy drums and a Guitar that just sounds loaded with acid. The only bad thing about it is that it drags on for a bit and should have been shorter but it's a terrifically frightening experience.
10. Earthquake 6/10: Kind of fruity, it's a cover of the 13 Elevators Song, it just doesn't seem to fit.
11. Ghandi 9/10: A B-Side for Independent Worm Saloon, it can be found on the Japanese Import. Very relaxing and psychedelic.
12. I Hate My Job 10/10: YES! An anthem for working teenagers everywhere! It's hilarious and obviously very punk.
13. Space II 5/10: A Disturbing Instrumental in comparison to Space I, weird effects found throughout, no whistles this time.
14. Concubine Solo 5/10: It's just a piece to a song, a 4 track.
15. All Day 3/10: The beginning is nice, but this song gets repetitive really, really fast and you just want it to end, kind of like working all day and practically an instrumental.
16. Dadgad 8/10: A Six minute cheery jam instrumental and positive way to end the album.
17. [Untitled] ?/10: This is the real end to the album, and that's all it is. Its six seconds long and its something that kind of tells the listener that the album is over.

Here's a list of possible songs to put on any Humpty Dumpty LSD type sequels. Whatever (I Had a Dream), Pottery, Hybrid, All the Pepper Remixes (I believe there are 4), The Legless Eye, Good King Wencenslaus, Who was in My Room Last night? (Trent Reznor Remix), Neee Neee, Clean it Up, Matchstick (Demo), Flame Grape, Other 1982-83 demos, Sherman (From the Vinyl version), Tiny Rubberband, Summer in the City, Underdog, Interviews, any songs from the rare fan club 7"s, I have 4 of them - they feature live songs, the 12 songs from After the Astronaut, Hurdy Gurdy Man Remixes, The Lord is a Monkey (Demo/Remix), maybe a backwards version of the song Hay (its actually just a bunch of drums jamming), and if you've ever heard Jimi at 45rpm, you'll notice that Gibby is actually sounds normal and very interesting, and how about a studio version of No Rule? That song has been played in concert forever and it's never been on a record.

I know that the Butthole Surfers are kind of on a hiatus right now, but let's hope that they get back in the studio and release some new stuff or at least release more stuff like this. Most of it isn't great classic songs, but they are still enjoyable, even the bad ones I can find myself listening to. Get this if you are a Big Butthole fan. Hoped this helped.

For those that know and love the surfers as the most brain bending, soul-chewing outfit EVER - you rock. For those that put on Humpty Dumpty or Locust Abortion and think "I don't get it". Give it up!!! You never will!!!! I love and adore this CD just as I love and adore the surfers and always will. I'll continue to support them no matter what choices they make in the studio. They are dangerous and squishy and brilliant technicolor reaching sharply out at you in a musical world full of blank, flat, harmless snoring.

My only sorrow regarding the surfers is that in about ten years the rest of the world is going to catch up their first four CDs (plus this one) and there is going to be an ENORMOUS Surfers revival. Just wait and see. It may take twenty years. People are fairly dense. Just turn on the radio and listen. Listen in any "trendy" coffee shop. It's the most inert, harmless, lifeless blah stuff. No risk. No daring. Very dour and downbeat and "cool". A lot of posing by the camera-ready lead singer, hair immaculately coiffed. Jesus. Excuse me while I blow my brains out.

Anyway, this album is brilliant and you should buy it immediately. Don't even think. Just buy. Click and buy. I promise you won't be sorry. I loved the songs on here. The surfers have an amazing way of blending punk, metal, psychadelics, and trance into the most exquisite, beautiful package. I love the eastern feel to some of the songs. Some, in particular "All Day" have a legitimately spiritual feel. I would say the weak points to the CD "Concubine" (just feels too incomplete) and "Eindhoven Chicken Masque" which doesn't really feel as much like a surfer song.


Buy this album!! You won't be sorry!!!

If you are a Surfers fan and loved them live and on record, and suffered through the radio friendly 'Electric Larryland' and that more recent abomination, 'Weird Revolution' and its references to pop hack Dr. Timothy 'let's all put on flashing glasses and pretend we're on drugs' Leary, then you are truly in a rotten state. Remember the good ol' Surfers? Remember that music that twisted your brain? The atonal sounds and pounding drums and sonic assaults that made your parents run screaming from your closed bedroom door like scalded dogs? 'Humpty Dumpty LSD' is a return to the vaults for little tidbits of joy to make you forget that the last two albums were little more than disco (what else is techno?) with the BH name stuck on them. Relax. Reminesce. Curl up with your loved ones and put this little firecracker in the CD player. Enjoy! There is little else to say. This is the real Butthole Surfers that I have known and loved for years and saw live on occasion (I still have flashbacks). I cannot recommend it enough for those of you who, like me, wondered if somehow Gibby Haynes decided to become Depeche Mode. Look Mommy, the paint on my walls is peeling...

This is a very uneven compilation of unreleased and rare home recordings, practice-space jams, comp tracks, and outtakes from 1982-1994. Unfortunately after listening to this you'll know why most of this wasn't released before. Its more of a collection of (mostly instrumental) sketches and half baked ideas than an actual album. Of course their are some good songs such as "I Love You Peggy", or the 13th Floor Elevators cover "Earthquake", or "Endhoven Chicken Masque" but Humpty Dumpty LSD also contains a lot of absolute garbage such as "Night of the Day", a number played on acoustic guitar accompanied by unintelligible low pitched and unintelligible high pitched voices. It's as boring a song as you can imagine. Or the worst number "Perry Intro" which may or may not be the beginning to the song Perry that has been slowed way way down to a sludge like crawl. I mean come on, this is the kinda crap that every kid with a tape player or digital delay has done since tape machines (or delays) were invented. Big time yawn for that one.

Most of this album just isn't that interesting or groundbreaking, the quality of the "songs" isn't high. In fact it's pretty low because this stuff wasn't intended for release. Its like a Buttholes sketch book, not a finished work. If that sounds interesting to you or if you are a die hard fan you may want to pick this up, otherwise avoid it or rip it from a friend.

I liked tracks 2 and 7
(otherwise, I ended up not liking this album and got rid of it)

With this album, it is dreadfully apparent that the Butthole Surfers absolutely do not have a huge back-supply of awesome unreleased music, the way I always imagined they did. This CD is a skimpy 16-song collection of alternate takes, unreleased music, and compilation tracks, and it's not a mystery why most of this wasn't released. The Butthole Surfers aren't the kind of band that worries too much if someone thinks a song sounds terrible, but a lot of these songs don't actually sound finished. "Day of the Dying Alive" and "Perry Intro" in particular just seem like bits of recording left on the tape during the sessions for various albums, added here to fill out the running time.

The compilation tracks fare best, like "Eindhoven Chicken Masque", since they at least appear to be completed compositions. "All Day" in particular is a long, twisting psychedelic number that might actually count as one of the better Butthole Surfer songs in general. And the record isn't devoid of good songs: "Dadgad" is a pretty enjoyable pop tune. But overall, throwaways like "Hetero Skeleton", the solo version of "Concubine" and "Just a Boy" make this album an endurance test for even moderate Butthole Surfers fans. This is really for creepy superfans only.

Perhaps feeling guilty after making long-time fans suffer the pop monstrosity of "Weird Revolution", Butthole Surfers finally take their rightful place as The Grateful Dead by raiding their extensive Vault to assemble this crucial collection of odds, sods, out-takes, compilation tracks, and 4-track psychotica.
Spanning from 1982 neu-wave thru mid-90's practice space jams, the meat comes from the golden years of "Rembrandt Pussyhorse" and "Hairway to Steven", when the drugpunk aliens from Outer Texas continually warped minds with each show or song. Hearing comp-only tunes like "All Day" and "Eindhoven Chicken Masque" will have you digging out yr dog-eared copy of the P.E.A.C.E. compilation or that old cassette dub of "A Texas Trip", while new revelations like the home-recorded Space I & II or the early demo of "Jimi" will remind all that they are the True Acid Kings.
It's all old stuff. Who cares? The Buttholes could keep pooping out this [stuff] for years and retire to the old burn-out's home. Hopefully the first of many many volumes...

Review of both Weird Revolution plus Humpty-Dumpty LSD by the Butthole Surfers

As many know, the infamous Butthole Surfers have been around since the early 80s and have been a staple in the psychedelic/weird/alternative/call it what you like scene of then and also since. Gibby Haynes (lead singer) and his band of miscreants have been scheming all over the world.

From their first self-titled EP in 1983 up to their latest full LP release Weird Revolution in 2001, and beyond to the recently uncovered 2002 compilation of b-sides known as Humpty-Dumpty LSD, the Butts have really made a name for themselves.

I will attempt to cover the bases of both most recent releases.

After 1993's Independent Worm Saloon came out, the well-polished farce of metal, blues and more, I thought it would most likely remain my favorite Butthole Surfers album. I have been right, for the most part, although Weird Revolution and Humpty-Dumpty are no small feats.

Weird Revolution began conception as an album entitled After The Astronaut but there was so much disarray and squabbling between band and record label over the recordings that the push to release the material was all but given up for a good while. ATA came out only via bootleg mix versions, while although good, it wasn't a finished project. There was always a huge amount of speculation as to songs, order, and the original cover art to what was to be After the Astronaut was stolen by the record company and given to Marcy Playground.

So after all this, a normal band wouldn't have survived. But the Butthole Surfers are NOT a normal band. They tallied up the dead and threw together the best synth-rock opus that this world has seen in a while. The Weird Revolution was the result. Many songs from ATA are included, in new versions and such. In some cases friends of mine would contend the original mixes/versions were better.

But I enjoy Weird Revolution thoroughly. There are high and low points; the mangled Malcolm X speech in the beginning, plus Kid-Rock fused first single "The Shame of Life" -- and second pop-satire catchy-as-hell single "Dracula From Houston" are amongst these. Also included is "They Came In" - which was on a Mission Impossible soundtrack of yore, and great cuts like "Jet Fighter" and perhaps my favorite, "Intelligent Guy". There are so many more songs that I'm not even mentioning.

As for Humpty-Dumpty LSD, the rarities/b-side compilation released earlier this year, I would highly reccomend this record for mostly die-hard fans only. There are some really wild moments, like the rocking "One Hundred Million People Dead" (a longer version of the song that appeared on the P.E.A.C.E. compilation), "Day of the Dying Alive" (what would eventually become 1988 album Hairway To Steven's "Jimi") or an outtake from 1994 entitled "Dadgad".

It's actually quite a good selection. With luck, the Butthole Surfers will keep messing with our minds for many years to come...

this is the ultimate "wig-out" cd.if you're reading this you should buy it BEFORE you do what I think you're gonna do.......
for real though it's a crazilly rediculous collection of all the "material" that they came up with when they were "caught up in the moment".so it would seem.