Released: 1989
Tracks: Good Time Boys; Higher Ground; Subway to Venus; Magic Johnson; Nobody Weird Like Me; Know Me Down; Taste the Pain; Stone Cold Bush; Fire; Pretty Little Ditty; Punk Rock Classic; Sexy Mexican Maid; Johnny, Kick a Hole in the Sky
Best track: Magic Johnson
Tracks to skip: Punk Rock Classic, Sexy Mexican Maid
Man, nearly every song on this thing is great. Whoever wrote the horn parts for Subway To Venus is a stud. These guys were mighty funky back in the day. I really don’t care at all for their later stuff, it’s just so poppy to me. It doesn’t groove like this album does. The band had something to prove for this one, they weren’t just writing mediocre stuff and letting radio play take care of the rest. They were determined to show how bad ass they are. This album is a big ol’ slap in the face of pure bad assness.
Besides the stupid Sexy Mexican Maid, the only track I usually skip is Punk Rock Classic, and it’s really interesting reading the lyrics. Isn’t the fictitious “Joe” in the lyrics what they’ve now become? Seems like it to me.
The rest of the album is pretty much one big highlight. Magic Johnson was the song that really impressed me the first time I heard this. And then getting into the rest of it (Knock Me Down, Pretty Little Ditty, Johnny, etc.) just made me respect these guys so much. The musicianship on here is mind boggling and their attitude is so infectious. This is a fantastic album and so worth your time.
Rating: 96
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