Customer Reviews

Spine of God

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Monster Magnet... so much can be said about these Jersey boys gone bad. When I first heard this record, about a year or two after it's release, I was pretty blown away.

Recorded in the wake of a glam rock explosion, this is probably my favorite record which has no discernable production value whatsoever. A backlash if there ever was one, Spine Of God is the polar opposite of a Poison or Slaughter record stylistically, yet the subject matter (drugs, girls and drugs) is about as over the top as possible. Dave Wyndorf, the megalomaniacal singer, tells us not to "yank on the Spine of God", and if you don't want whatever happened to him to happen to you, you had better not. With his "Pill Shovel" he bashes our heads and drops a hundred tabs of acid on our ears' tongues. Whee!, its a ride and you would be advised to keep your head and arms inside the cabin at all times.

This is considered by some to be Magnet's best album, and I would have to agree. The peak of fearless lyrics and former lead guitarist John McBain's spacy playing are appealing to say the least. Sure, the guiars are fuzzed to the point of utter confusion and the drums sound like they were recorded in a deep well, but it's all part of the party. This brand of rock and roll is supposed to sound dirty. The following album (Superjudge) mostly matches the feel of Spine Of God but updates the production 200%, which was probably inevitable; Spine, however, remains unmatched in raw power.

Lately Magnet has been receiving feverish attention from music critics and has appeared on two magazine covers, which to me seems awfully late. Although I haven't heard the new record (God Says No, unreleased by 3/5/01) I can't imagine that the boys from Red Bank, NJ have changed their sound so much as to warrant this attention. If you've read the recent articles etc. about Monster Magnet and you want to hear them at their mind-f**ked best, pick up Spine Of God. It'll blow the doors off your head.

This is the album that spawned the stoner rock genre of the 90's. Monster Magnet have not been this perfect since! This album touches 3 eras of hard rock and metal. The opening track "Pill Shovel" starts off with a wacko drum solo, powered by a Stooges riff and then turning into a lazy riff-fest that exemplifies the Magnet sound. "Medicine" is the closest the band get to raising the Stooges from the dead. "Nod Scene" is a tune at once mellow and heavy. It's quiet parts define stoner rock and it's chugging riff at the chorus is..great. "Black Mastermind" is a nod to the mighty Sabbath with it's whirlwind jam at the end. "Zodiac Lung" is a study in versatility, the quietest moment on the album and the closest they get to Pink Floyd-style ambience. They evoke the ghost of Hawkwind in the classic "Spine of God" complete with a sitar solo! "Snake Dance" is another rave-up rocker, while the cover of Grand Funk's "Sin's a Good Man's Brother" is ten times blusier and sleazier. They top the original here. The album ends with "Ozium", a sprawling, murky sea of guitars and organs. Kinda like what Iron Butterfly would sound like today. This is Magnet's greatest album, a potpourri of hard-rock references that takes the best from the past, mixes & mashes, and hurls it towards the future. Magnet's other albums are great, but it'll be hard for them to the spirit they captures here. This is the truest amalgamation of Black Sabbath and the Stooges EVER!

This is the album that spawned the stoner rock genre of the 90's. Monster Magnet have not been this perfect since! This album touches 3 eras of hard rock and metal. The opening track "Pill Shovel" starts off with a wacko drum solo, powered by a Stooges riff and then turning into a lazy riff-fest that exemplifies the Magnet sound. "Medicine" is the closest the band get to raising the Stooges from the dead. "Nod Scene" is a tune at once mellow and heavy. It's quiet parts define stoner rock and it's chugging riff at the chorus is..great. "Black Mastermind" is a nod to the mighty Sabbath with it's whirlwind jam at the end. "Zodiac Lung" is a study in versatility, the quietest moment on the album and the closest they get to Pink Floyd-style ambience. They evoke the ghost of Hawkwind in the classic "Spine of God" complete with a sitar solo! "Snake Dance" is another rave-up rocker, while the cover of Grand Funk's "Sin's a Good Man's Brother" is ten times blusier and sleazier. They top the original here. The album ends with "Ozium", a sprawling, murky sea of guitars and organs. Kinda like what Iron Butterfly would sound like today. This is Magnet's greatest album, a potpourri of hard-rock references that takes the best from the past, mixes & mashes, and hurls it towards the future. Magnet's other albums are great, but it'll be hard for them to the spirit they captures here. This is the truest amalgamation of Black Sabbath and the Stooges EVER!

Originally released in 1992,as this was Monster Magnet's first full-length lp.I've always felt 'Spine Of God' was a very good(near great,actually)album in the way that it apparently displays the strong influences the band has of artists like the MC 5,Hawkwind,Stooges,Hendrix and Blue Cheer.Tunes I thought that leave a long lasting impression were "Medicine",the ass-kicking "Nod Scene","Zodiac Lung","Snake Dance" and the guy's tribute to 'those who really do' blow weed rather than just slam the past time activity "Ozium".Should appeal to most stoners,head-bangers and acid heads.Wait a minute,what is this,junior high?Shouldn't put labels on people for how they chose to live their lives.Highly recommended.

Hands down, this album is what the 60's & 70's should have been. From beginning to end, this album is powerful, soul-stirring, & awe-inspiring. It laid down many hallmarks that were Magnet signatures well into "Dopes to Infinity." The lyrical content does not have quite the "cosmic" feel that later albums did, but it still has that Dave Wyndorf feel of "If only I culd figure out what this means, I'll realize the important message he's trying to tell me here." If there's anything missing from the album, it's the lack of solos. Of course, this is becuase Ed Mundell had not joined the band yet. Still, I would not change the title track for anything. "Nod Scene," "Medicine," & "Sin's a Good Man's Brother" (a Grand Funk Railroad cover) are great examples of the Magnet's hard-hitting style, while tracks like "Black Mastermind" & "Ozium" are trippy enough to get you high without need of drugs. All in All, this album is a must-have for any serious Magnet fan, though I can't imagine a hardcore Magnet lover that doesn't already own this work of art.

Spine of God, Monster Magnet's first "proper" full-length LP, is perhaps the heaviest slab of psychedelic strangeness ever hurled at the stale sensibilities of the average American rock listener. Although this record contains all of the heaviness that one might expect of their fellow "grunge" brethren, the difference here is the drugs! This record owes as much to Syd Barrett and The Ultimate Spinach as it does to Blue Cheer and The Stooges. John McBain's guitar work (and a plethora of effects pedals) highlights the narcotic ramblings of lead singer, Dave Wyndorf: The first three songs-- Pill Shovel, Medicine & Nod Scene. Need I say more? Buy it!

I will start off by stating that this album is essential for any Monster Magnet fan to own. It's also essential for a fan of stoner rock to have. You just cannot go wrong with this record. Everything about it is perfect. From the excellent fuzzed-out guitar riffs to the production sound, everything about this one is flawless. Each song is a standout track. From the drum solo on the opening track("Pill Shovel") to the pyschedelic feel of the ending song("Ozium"), this is one of the few albums I can actually listen to all the way through without skipping a song. And lest I forget "Spine of God", a song that is very reminiscent (to me, at least) of "The End" by the Doors. This album is recommended to anyone with a good taste in music.

Many are under the impression that mixing drugs and music is not a good thing. However, every now and then, you will come across an album that as stoned writted all over it. Spine of God is one those cds.

Just looking at the cover lends credence to the fact that you will lose your mind spinning this one in your player. However, once the music settles in, you will see that their is more to this band than just a druggy image. Monster Magnet comes full force with this one, as it is easy to see why this one is hailed an influential piece in stoner music.

The opening track is such a mind altering experience, you think you would be listening to Kyuss. The mind bending riff is out there, I thought I had to check myself to make sure I wasn't on anything. The rest of the album continues this feeling. Yet, what makes Spine of God great is that it really just full of great music. Drug references aside, the songs hold together well and the record can be played again and again.

I have yet to listen to this one on any mind altering chemical. I wouldn't want to though, as sometimes those things just destroy good music. However, try to picture what it must be like to alter your senses and play some rock and roll. If you can understnad that, then perhaps you will enjoy this cd. If you are, however, just interested in listening to some great rock, then this one is for you. In either case, this one belongs in your collection.

Spine is the epitomty of Magnet. Forsake all A&M releases!!! This is the genuine article. There has not been another Magnet record since this. You owe it to your brain to own this recording!ECHOPLEX ECHOPLEX ECHOPLEX ECHOPLEX ECHOPLEX ECHOPLEX ECHOPLEX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its a shame what happened to Monster magnet after 1995. You listen to this, their debut, then compare it to something like God says no and you wonder what went wrong. This is possibly the most fun you can have with music, period.

Anyone who can beat GFR at their own game through their cover of 'Sins a good mans brother' deserves significant honor. Early magnet classics such as 'Pill Shovel', 'Snake Dance' and 'Nod scene' are on offer too, spaced out (pardon the pun) by 3 wild trippy numbers 'Black Mastermind, 'Zodiac Lung' and the title track. Ozium may be the single most addictive song ever.

Avid fans of later magnet releases such as Powertrip may not find that much here for them, but this deserves anyone's money in my book. For fans of Sabbath, Kyuss, QOTSA, Stooges, Hawkwind and dare i say Floyd?