''Big Lizard in My Backyard'' is the debut
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
by
the Dead Milkmen
The Dead Milkmen is an American punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia. Their original lineup consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman ("Rodney Anonymous"), guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro ("Joe Jack Talcum"), bassist Da ...
, released by Restless Records in 1985.
Although the album yielded no singles, it achieved enough notoriety to create a fan base for the band. Five of the album's tracks appear on the 1997
compilation
Compilation may refer to:
*In computer programming, the translation of source code into object code by a compiler
**Compilation error
**Compilation unit
*Product bundling, a marketing strategy used to sell multiple products
*Compilation thesis
M ...
''
Death Rides a Pale Cow: The Ultimate Collection''; four tracks appear on the 1998 compilation ''Cream of the Crop''.
Production
''Big Lizard in My Backyard'' was produced by John Wicks and the band.
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Cover artwork
The album's cover artwork was designed by the band's drummer, Dean Clean.
Critical reception
''Big Lizard in My Backyard'' received strong reviews, with critics singling out "Bitchin' Camaro", calling it "hilarious" and "career-making."Maximum Rocknroll
''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly zine of punk subculture. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and hardcore music, and primarily featur ...
'' wrote that "these 20 satire-laced songs are real crack-ups, and backed up by tight playing that incorporates funk, country, and lots of other styles into their punk approach." ''Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' called the album "frenetic goof pop," writing that it's "full of the kind of scruff-and-tumble guitar and funtime lyrics that made 1977 punk such a refreshing blast."
Track listing
All tracks written by the Dead Milkmen
The Dead Milkmen is an American punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia. Their original lineup consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman ("Rodney Anonymous"), guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro ("Joe Jack Talcum"), bassist Da ...
# "Tiny Town" - 1:45
# "Beach Song" - 2:00
# "Plum Dumb" - 1:56
# "Swordfish" - 1:31
# "V.F.W. (Veterans of a Fucked Up World)" - 1:48
# "Rastabilly" - 1:07
# "Serrated Edge" - 1:59
# "Lucky" - 2:10
# "Big Lizard in My Backyard" - 1:59
# "Gorilla Girl" - 1:33
# "Bitchin' Camaro
"Bitchin' Camaro" is a song by American rock band the Dead Milkmen, released on their debut album '' Big Lizard in My Backyard'' (1985). The song was written by vocalist Rodney Linderman, guitarist and vocalist Joseph Genaro, bassist Dave Schul ...
" - 3:01
# "Filet of Sole" - 1:57
# "Spit Sink" - 2:01 (Produced By Mike Ace & Jonny Earthshoe)
# "Violent School" - 1:58
# "Takin’ Retards to the Zoo" - 0:48 (Produced By Mike Ace & Jonny Earthshoe)
# "Junkie" - 0:52
# "Right Wing Pigeons" - 2:21
# "Dean’s Dream" - 1:49
# "Laundromat Song" - 1:47
# "Nutrition" - 2:17
# "Tugena" - 5:27 (instrumental
An instrumental is a recording normally without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through semantic widening, a broader sense of the word song may refer to instru ...
)
Personnel
;The Dead Milkmen
* Dave Blood
David Schulthise (September 16, 1956 – March 10, 2004), also known as Dave Blood, was the bass guitarist for the punk band The Dead Milkmen. Schulthise was born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. He helped form the band in 1983 along with fello ...
– bass guitar
* Joe Jack Talcum
Anthony Joseph "Joe" Genaro (born October 15, 1962 in Wagontown, Pennsylvania) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist and co- lead vocalist for the punk rock group The Dead Milkmen. Residing in Philadelphia, Genar ...
– guitar, Vocals
* Rodney Anonymous
Rodney Linderman (born 21 May 1963), also known by his stage name Rodney Anonymous, is an American musician, journalist, and humorist currently based in Philadelphia. He is best known as the lead vocalist, keyboardist and co-songwriter of the ...
– vocals
* Dean Clean – drums
References
External links
Official Site Discography
{{Authority control
The Dead Milkmen albums
1985 debut albums
Restless Records albums