It’s 1985, the year the United Nations decided to call International Youth Year. The San Francisco 49ers defeat the Dolphins for the NFL Championship. It is the 40th anniversary of the atomic bomb being dropped on Japan, and DNA is used in the first criminal case. But none of these events are anywhere near the importance of one thing: The Dead Milkmen release Big Lizard in My Backyard this year.
It’s always nice when a band puts out some rockin’ jams, but it’s even better when they put out rockin’ jams that are also funny. Fortunately, this album contains these types of songs. They are catchy and witty, as most of you should already know. Not bad for their first LP, right? Right.
While the sound stays fairly true to simple punk/college rock, there are certainly other influences. There’s a little bit of country, some rockabilly, a touch of reggae. Of course, using these styles helps with comedic effect, but they are also just cool. That’s right, cool. I’ll say it if I want to, and I just did. Eat it. I dare you. The thing that’s so great about this little gem is that they do manage to keep the music fun. Sure, it’s not always PC, with songs like “Takin’ Retards to the Zoo,” but do we really always need to be so nice? The answer is obviously a no. Nice is for social workers (sometimes). I’m not a social worker, and I think it’s funny to see old ladies fall down on ice in winter. Does that mean I’m going to Hell? Well, no, because Hell doesn’t exist, but I don’t think I would go to a hypothetical hell either. I will also not be going to any sort of hypothetical hell for liking The Dead Milkmen. That’s just the way it is.
At any rate, this album is great. It’s simple and fun. It’s humorous. It’s danceable. It’s all you need in a good record. Unleash her again.
The Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl" (even though it's not on the album... but everything else on youtube was just shitty)
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