special introductory
paragraph!
Intellectuals Are The
Shoeshine Boys Of The Ruling Elite
Snake Boy
Burl EP
Little Baby Buntin'
Twelve Point Buck
For Ladies Only
Short Eyes 7" (with Tom Hazelmyer)
Uncompromising War On Art
Under The Dictatorship Of The Proletariat
God Hears Pleas Of The Innocent
The Last Waltz
Go, Big Red! 7"
Intellectuals Are The Shoeshine Boys Of The
Ruling Elite - Bone-Air 1984.
There are, however, some winners on the EP. "Parade" features an interesting drum pattern, a catchy chordal bassline, and some great guitar, and the overall interplay makes it a real good one. "Farmer Johnson" has to be one of the most parodically awful songs ever recorded. For starters, there's a really stupid bassline that sounds like it took half a minute to come up. Dan Hobson's drumming could have come out of a "Play In A Day" fakebook, and brother Bill Hobson's shitball hickcore-punk guitar stylings have to be heard to be believed. Add to this mess some moronically offensive lyrics (although the line "Farmer Johnson plants his seed" is really clever and sick in context), and a hideously grating Gerald vocal, complete with retarded orgasm grunts - and it somehow becomes great, precisely because it's so unbelievably terrible. Dig the unexpected and truly pointless hardcore breaks. "Ed Gein" is a hilarious tribute to the infamous serial killer, portraying the legendary nutjob as a guy around town who everyone wants to be like: he always has a woman by his side, he's a ladies' man - and even though we know that Gein always had a woman by his side because he was a severely sociopathic graverobber, the joke never gets old. The chords are also completely bent out of shape while still remaining catchy - a song to really shout along with in a bar after too many cases of Milwaukee's Best (otherwise known as the beer one step above cleaning solvent). "Man of Meat" starts the EP off with a bang, detailing a stereotypical NRA moron's life with the kind of random precision that really lends itself well to the kind of nasty mockery Gerald and Co. were aiming for. It's also a really catchy number with a nice sense of swing - something you don't often get with a punk band.
The other half of the EP doesn't make much of an impression at all. "Dead Folks" is just annoying, with the kind of stiff, stop-start drumming that makes Nick Mason look like a virtuoso, and a dumb repeated line about "going to the last roundup" that just doesn't involve the listener at all. The uneventful, just plain dull cover of CCR's "Run Through The Jungle" doesn't do the original any justice, and "Pile Driver" has funny revenge lyrics, but uninvolving music. "A Man's Gotta Be A Man..." is, however, an affecting statement about entropy that, due to Gerald's ridiculous growl, is also funny as well as somewhat heartfelt.
Overall, this is the kind of EP that people with interests in country and punk should like, if not necessarily adore, and, while it is not essential by any means, paints a colorful picture of a band just beginning to hit its stride.
By the by, you'll probably enjoy Michael's lyrics. Alternating between the wide-eyed innocent glee of "Going To The Beach," the bitter cynicism of "Live Your Life Like You Don't Exist," and the warped dark humor of "Burning House," they present a rather startling thesis on the state of the human mind, torn as it is between memories of youthful hope and awareness of adulterated sickness permeating through every core of our being or some crap. And the melodies are a gas too, once you figure out how they're supposed to go!
Comment: A dam fine album, in my humble opinion. "Don't Cry" is a mini "30 seconds over Tokyo" (Ya think)
My rating is the play in the summer months along with Kyuss, at your next barbebcue of 9's
To me this is one of those albums that won't jump out and grab you at first listen (I think Mark even mentioned something along those lines too) but the more you listen you start to notice more and more stuff, with the exception of maybe "River", which I thought was good right away, along with some other songs that feature great basslines, like "Burning House".
But this thing has been out of print for I don't know how long, so who knows who has the chance to really hear it now? That might be why there are hardly any comments for it too. Touch and Go should really take a cue from Dischord records and re release some of this stuff.
This album reminds me of Jesus Lizard at their best, LISTEN TO THAT GUITAR BREAK ON BURNING HOUSES. Tales of rural terror, done fucking right in every way. Killdozer shits originality and drinks 200 proof melody.
Say, speaking of Garbage, did I mention that Butch Vig was Killdozer's producer? How's that for yesterday's newspaper bringing home the bacon?
"From bottle to bottle, he keeps swimming. He's going nowhere; nothing can pull him down!" Powerful stuff.
See, most folks have never heard of Killdozer because most folks rely on the radio to keep them posted on all the "new music" out there, when, of course, most radio stations are run by ClearChannel, which is just a marketing firm that wouldn't know a creative band if it came up and bit them in the living room. See, here's the deal. John Consumer doesn't really care all that much about music; it's just something to play in the background during a sexy American date or interesting beer event. Thus, if John hears a song with a semi-catchy chorus there on the ClearChannel, and if John has enough money in his wallet (which he usually does because, unlike genuine music lovers, he's bothered to get a degree and a real job), he goes out and buys the band's crappy CD. And so the band ends up selling a phenomenal amount of records on the strength of one half-assed "catchy" chorus. You'll see this over and over again. Crappy bands become household names because ClearChannel and their friends at the record labels push them and push them and push them until John Consumer (his actual GIVEN name!) buys their CD. And this is why most mainstream music is foul. John Consumer (again, his actual GIVEN name!) hasn't the time or patience to try to understand complex new music, and why should he? He doesn't give a crap about music!
So it's up to us, the "counterculture," to seek out genuinely creative rock and roll bands and buy all their albums so they don't break up. You're too late to save Killdozer, but that's not my issue. If you're a music fan, buy this album! It's funny, loud, rockin', heavy (Michael loves to play that bass heavy), catchy, AND original. And don't fear; they toss together a number of different influences but pop is definitely one of them. Never would Killdozer play a raging slab of racket without a hook. It's not always the finest hook in the world ("3/4" Drill Bit" and "Never Gave Me A Kiss" are pretty weak), but it's at least always a genuine attempt to create something new, may God damn it.
So lets take away all of the Clear Channel anger for a moment and take a look at this fine piece of work. Speaking of hostility, "Little Baby Buntin'" has quite a bit of anger in the form of shotgun blasts ("The Rub"), eye gouging ("Hi There"), and castration ("The Puppy"). Yes it seems that Killdozer really wants you to believe that they're a trio of inbred dumbfucks. While that image may work for, say a band like Nashville Pussy, it doesn't seem to stick to the 'dozer. Their references, their arrangements, hell, even their choice of covers, points to a typical Midwestern mentality: I'm smart enough to let you believe that I'm dumber than you. "Little Baby Buntin'" is an incredible piece of dumb Midwestern grunge. I use the term "grunge" because there never was a band like Killdozer that truly epitomized the word and managed to kill off the moniker at the same time.
Maybe Mark's anger is because we need a band like Killdozer around today just like we did back in 1987. In this age of Clear Channel, "compassionate" conservatism, and Middle East occupation, a nice slab of loud, obscene and irreverent rock played at a snails pace would really hit the spot right now. If you agree, be prepared to fork over some additional $$ for the "Little Baby Buntin'/Twelve Point Buck" cd as the package is out of print and sought after by disconnected people who need a reason to smile.
stumbled upon yr site while doing a bit of research on the hobson bros/gerard trio and dug yr site. just passing on hellos.
By the way, art lovers, the prestigious buck portrait on the cover is indicative of what you'll find inside. Unlike the messy artwork/songs from the past records, these numbers are tight slabs of pop grunge metal, designed to smash your head in the dirt while getting stuck in your head for about sixty years. "New Pants And Shirt" is, in fact, beautiful.
I mean, as beautiful as a song sung by Michael Gerald is going to be, which isn't very much. But it kicks ass!
I'm with Prindle on "Man vs Nature" as it perfectly verbalizes the genius of Irwin Allen movies while still maintaining that wink just in case somebody smarter than you decides to tear into everything that's wrong with "The Towering Inferno." Michael Gerald's rants on this one struck a nerve so deep that, to this day, I still quote from it ("sometimes I feel like a motherless child that needs a bottle of beer"). Practically everyone that I've ever played this album for has laughed and felt a need to drink Old Milwaukee. My wife included, but she stuck to a high end lager.
I ain't joking! Every song on this record is an absolute winner, so much so that any humanitarian U2 sucker would run away shitting their pants in fear.
This is probably the funniest record they ever made. And how? All covers! All covers translated into Killdozer-ese (slow, low, and all those other adjectives I typed in a few minutes ago) and cranked out in HI-larious fashion. Deep Purple, Bad Company, Elvis, Steve Miller, James Gang, Don McLean, and two other artists who shall remain nameless until I remember who they are - all ripped to shreds in one swell foop of the merciless wing of Dillkozer.
And it's not just a joke - it's obvious that they really like these songs or they wouldn't have taken the time to learn them. And they do such a great job! Michael doesn't forget the "whoo-whoo!"s or "ooooooh, lord!"s in "Take The Money And Run," nor does he forget to scream every verse of "Good Lovin' Gone Bad" at the top of his lungs and vocal range, just as Paul Rodgers had done way back in '75 - I mean, if they're talented enough to make "American Pie" sound like it isn't a total piece of horseshit, they deserve the key to the city. Any city they want.
NO, NOT THAT ONE!!!
I'm a big fan of what I call 'The massacre'. I think the 'punk' era bands may have started it...y'know, where the irreverent young lads 'massacre' some old r'n'r standards. The Sex Pistols massacre of Substitute (The Who) was my favourite.
Until I heard Killdozer's fantastic complete massacre of 'Good Lovin' Gone Bad'!!!!!! I hate that song, but I don't give a shit! Then, on the other side was a stupendous massacre of 'One Tin Soldier'....HOLY SHEEP SHIT!!!! I hadn't heard that song for decades.
Hail to the Dozer,
P.S I saw them in 1994 in Aussieland and I seem to recall that I had what y'd call a 'bad day' and got completely drunk (someone said I went on stage and saluted Mr Gerard...couln't tell ya) and I couldn't remember their version of 'Folsom Prison Blues'....arrrrgghhh!
Short Eyes 7" (with Tom Hazelmyer) - Amphetamine Reptile 1990
During a break in their whirlwind tour of parts unknown, Killdozer (with Tom Hazelmyer) entered the studio to record the bizarre bluesy bendy watery concoction "Short Eyes" and worried wiggly harmonics stomper "Her Mother's Sorrow." Although not the most instantly hooky songs in the Killdozer catalog, both are full of interesting musical/noisy ideas and hilarious lyrics. For example, the former features the couplet "There's two sorts of folks that populate this land/Let me shake off my dick and go wash my hands," while the latter offers "I'd give my left nut just to get a glimpse of her sweet womanhood once more" and "I'd drag my balls through a mile of broken glass just to beat off on her shadow." Talk about NSFW!
Best,
Craig "Skeeter" McMurtry
Co-host, Skeeter & Testicle in the Morning
NSFW 101.8 FM
Where Our Motto Is "Talk About NSFW!"
And We Can't Get On The Air Because "Our Call Letters Start With An N!"
Uncompromising War On Art Under The Dictatorship
Of The Proletariat - Touch And Go 1993.
Plus, it's exciting to think about how, as ridiculous and entertaining as it seems today, there's still no way in hell this record could have been released thirty years earlier. "Weird World," as the Weirdos might name a song.
Comment: Stunning! and slightly pointless. And everything you said in your special introduction, plus more.
My rating is the, how could anybody not like "Grandma Smith Said a Curious Thing" of 10's
"The Nobbies" is pretty great though, thanks to our old friend, Larry Repetition.
One last note -- I can't help but notice that there's not a SINGLE Hobson in the band anymore. How could Michael Gerald go on tour with no Hobsons? What an arise!
i've been converted for quite some time...
i noticed you didn't have their killdozer '85 record on there.... have you heard it? have you heard OF it?
i could probably tape it for you along with a few songs from the _god's favorite dog_ compilation.... did you ever hear their cover of emf's _unbelievable_?
well, ponder this, and send me an email.
If he needs a new website let me know I ll set one up for free!
Killdozer '85 was an album by a different Killdozer, who changed their name to Sharkey's Machine and did a pretty good album on Shimmy Disc, I believe it was.
They were amazing. Incredible. Wonderful. And, darn it, the sweetest and most supportive guys I ever had the honor of sharing a stage with. They watched our show every night and said positive things but would always end with a wink and a nudge and a "watch this" and proceed to burn the entire place to the ground with controlled power and grace.
I gave up music shortly after and have been happy ever since.
Thanks for the website and the personal writing -- nicely done.
But lesbiaaanest (let's be honest); you're not here because you care about Killdozer's final studio single. You're here because you heard there's a hot new Killdozer tribute double-CD in the stores today thanks to Minneapolis' ismist Recordings in conjunction with Wisconsin's Crustacean Records. Well, take it from me: if you like Killdozer, you'll love hearing their hits "brought to life" through the ear, nose and throat of specialists like:
- AmRep founder and Halo Of Flies frontman Tom Hazelmeyer!
- One-time Columbia recording artists Season To Risk!
- The J.J. Paradise Players Club! (featuring former members of Unsane, Kill Van Kull and Glazed Baby!)
- Chicago punk blues duo Cash Money! (featuring John Humphrey from God And Texas!)
- Chicago hard rockers Mount Shasta! (featuring John Forbes from one of my favorite old Atlanta local bands, Dirt!)
- Nebraskan garage punk trio Red Max!
- NYC punk-metal trio Kung Pao!
- Iowan noise-rock monsters Scrid!
- Maryland brutal metal pounders Meatjack!
- Wisconsin electronic/noise rockers IfIHadAHiFi!
- Wichita, KS's own Ninja School!
- Crustacean Records artists The Skintones!
- Rocket Fuel Is The Key, who had an album out on Thirsty Ear over a decade ago!
- A band called "Gorch Fock"!
...and many, many more!!!
But that's not all! You'll also get two rare Killdozer tracks -- a remix of "King Of Sex" and a For Ladies Only-style cover of The Trammps' "Disco Inferno"!
But that's not all! You also get a CD cover! So don't delay -- visit www.ismista.com today and buy yourself a copy today! Don't delay -- order today! Also, today!
Oh, I forgot to tell you the name of it! It's We Will Bury You: A Tribute To Killdozer!
Say, while we're on the topic of you buying things, have you ever heard stand-up comedy? I know, it's great isn't it? Especially in the hands of such masters of the form as Maria "Funny Voices" Bamford, Lewis "Mature Fuckin' Political Comic" Black, Doug "Mark Prindle, But On A Stage" Stanhope, John "Even His Voice Is Hilarious" Bowman, and Marc "His Second Album Is Hilarious; Skip His First One Though" Maron! That's why you need to visit Stand Up! Records today and buy some stand-up comedy to take to a comedy club and play really loud through a boombox while another comedian is on stage!
Better yet, click on the link below and buy thousands of dollars of goods and services at Amazon.com so I can 'score' a percentage of your payment!
Isn't it incredible how irritating a mere punctuation symbol can become when somebody uses it over and over and over and over again!
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