Matthew Smith-Lahrman sheds light on the words of Curt Kirkwood, founding member and songwriter of the Meat Puppets, a pioneering rock 'n' roll band of the last four decades. A lyricist whom Rolling Stone writer Kurt Loder once rated alongside Bob Dylan, Kirkwood remains an im...

In The Meat Puppets and the Lyrics of Curt Kirkwood from Meat Puppets II to No Joke!, Matthew Smith-Lahrman sheds light on the words of Curt Kirkwood, founding member and songwriter of the Meat Puppets, a pioneering rock ’n’ roll band of the last forty years. Smith-Lahrman covers Kirkwood’s lyrics on nine albums, from 1983 to 1995, when he wrote virtually every lyric for the band. A lyricist whom Rolling Stone writer Kurt Loder once rated alongside Bob Dylan, Kirkwood remains an important, yet overlooked songwriter. The original Meat Puppets spent their early career releasing albums on the seminal indie rock label SST Records, moving on to the major label London Records in the early 1990s. Along the way they forged a unique blend of punk, country, psychedelic, and hard rock that paved the way for the grunge and alternative movements. As a lyricist, Kirkwood commonly addresses the individual psyche and behavioral expectations, drug use, mental illness, and Christianity. As the original Meat Puppets began to dissolve, Kirkwood turned to writing about personal issues: his frustrations with the major label industry, the death of his mother, the addictions of his brother, and the demise of the band itself. The Meat Puppets and the Lyrics of Curt Kirkwood from Meat Puppets II to No Joke! is the perfect work for Meat Puppets fans worldwide.

Arranged in sixteen musical categories, provides entries for twenty thousand releases from four thousand artists, and includes a history of each musical genre.

This fun-to-read, easy-to-use reference has been completely updated, expanded, and revised with reviews of over 12,000 great albums by over 2,000 artists and groups in all rock genres. 50 charts.

Table of contents

Over a decade's worth of classic albums that defied categorization. An appearance on Nirvana's classic 'MTV Unplugged' performance. A hit video on MTV. A gold certified album. An opening slot on a sold-out tour with the Stone Temple Pilots. By the end of 1994, it appeared as though the Meat Puppets were poised to become the success story of the '90s. However, what seemed like in the blink of an eye, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare. Too High to Die: Meet the Meat Puppets is the first-ever book to fully examine the entire career of this highly influential and respected band. Comprised of nearly 50 exclusive interviews (including band members past and present, friends and fans from other bands, etc.), you'll finally learn the real wild and wooly tale of the mighty Meat Puppets.