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| | Hairway to Steven | | | Music Artist : | | Butthole Surfers | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | Latino Bugger Veil | | Release Date : | | 1999-08-03 | | Store Price : | | $15.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $15.98 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. Jimi
2. Ricky
3. I Saw an X-Ray of a Girl Passing Gas
4. John E. Smokes
5. Rocky
6. Julio Iglesias
7. Backass
8. Fart Song
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 A classic recording
Submitted on: 2006-11-27 |
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On this classic BHS recording one hears the influences of just about every art-music genre (electro-industrial, trance, psychedelia, noise, grunge, etc.), yet each song is well-crafted and they all seamlessly flow together into one organic whole.
For me, track one seems by far the most powerful and creative. In part we listen in on a child-abusing father and his victim daughter whose innocence is completely destroyed. Part II seems just as powerful and haunting as we hear soothing guitar and farm sounds in the background. It gives the listener a chance to reflect on the sad lives of the characters, and how, although on the surface life seems tranquil and "normal", there is a very disturbing vibe carried over from part I (in part brought on by the father's mostly incoherent ramblings in the background) that undermines the otherwise peaceful sounds. A less daring and creative band would have told this painful story from the third-person narrative, but BHS takes the listener upfront into the psyches of both the attacker and victim. This makes the experience all the more powerful. Regarding the subject matter of this track, I want to emphasize that the essence of BHS lies in creating art through music. And much of art involves creating unique views of human experience and the human condition. And for this listener track one evokes much sadness and pain, because it in general speaks of human brutality towards other humans. I believe this is the effect the band wanted to achieve. For example, the father is provided one of the most demonic sounding voices one will ever hear on a music recording; but very appropriate when heard from the perspective of a child.
The other bookend to this cd are the last two tracks which seem very experimental but alluring due to the driving rhythmns and heaviness brought on by layers of electro-industrial sludge, screeches, screams, and distorted/fuzzed guitar.
Sandwiched in between these bookends are very creative yet catchy pop-rock tunes; each one having its own interesting BHS twist.
Obtaining this cd along with Locust Abortion Technician, and Rembrandt Pussyhorse will IMO capture the very essence and best of BHS. |
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THEIR 2'ND BEST
Submitted on: 2006-06-15 |
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their 2'nd best next to locust abortion technician, from the sickening music and artwork, to the members of the band and their freakish onstage antics, they scored pretty good with this, i think. since there are no song titles on the album, i thought i'd put them here and how long they are.
1. jimi (12:48)
2. ricky(2:36)
3. i saw an x-ray of a girl passing gas (4:56)
4. john e. smokes (6:40)
5. rocky (3:45)
6. julio iglesias (3:05)
7. backass (6:07)
8. fast song (1:35)
5 stars+ |
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Bowling in the barnyard
Submitted on: 2006-04-27 |
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| Even if Gibby & the boys didn't blow the doors clean off for the full length of this LP I would've still gotten a hold of a copy on account of it being for my money the greatest album title of all time. But they did. So that's like eleven thumbs up right there. And eleven too, might I just add, in honour of the one and only Nigel Tufnel, eleven too is the volume you want to set your controls at whenever you get round to plonking this thermogenic Texas doojigger in the Toshiba. |
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 Must only be good when you frying!
Submitted on: 2006-02-25 |
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| I love the Butthole surfers but this one didn't do it for me. Too spacy just to be spacy, it doesn't make me go oh ya that's some cool music. Independent worm saloon and Electric Larry Land are fantastic albums and one or two that i can't think of now. But this one is a thumbs down from me. |
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The Surfers' crowning achievement
Submitted on: 2005-04-02 |
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| Although the Butthole Surfers have produced material that captures the imagination since, nowhere are they more consistent with their art than is the case on Hairway To Steven. The less commercial the Surfers are, the more their style works, and boy, does it work here. You know a band is special when they can produce a song over twelve minutes in length, more than three times what many a radio station considers its upper limit, without a single boring second. Even more amazing is how Gibby Haynes manages to take an "instrument" as tired, as boring as the human voice, and by adding a few effects or idiosyncracies, make it interesting again. Many a (c)rapper or rock star alike could learn a lot from this man. Even when Gibby sings normally, he brings enough to the table to make a more than interesting song. So what else can I tell you? Oh yeah, the opener, somewhat oddly titled Jimi, features one of the most hilarious uses of a voiceover I've ever heard. "You rang?" takes on a whole new meaning here. ;) |
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