Big Lizard in My Backyard

• Artist: The Dead Milkmen
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1985
• Total Time: 41:20
• Type: Contains explicit content
• Genre: Rock

Review

It may not be deathless, but 1984's Big Lizard in My Backyard is that rarest of beasts (as a random listen to any Barenaked Ladies disc will show): a collection of rock & roll silliness that outlives one playing. That mid-'80s favorite "Bitchin' Camaro" already demonstrated that ability plenty of times over. Portraying two guys yammering about Doors cover bands and "going down to the shore" before finally getting to the main point -- the way-cool car of the title -- it somehow finds the lost gap between pseudo-jazz grooves and punky snottiness. As left field a fluke hit single as it gets, its mix of bad taste, rock-star mockery and stoner humor still works well. As a whole, the album shows that the Milkmen know their rock & roll history, whether tackling serious issues with sarcasm or just aiming for straight-up silliness. The opening track "Tiny Town," is a quick thrash-and-scream about small minds in small towns and the blatant idiocy of "Takin' Retards to the Zoo," which is about just what it says it is, find the Milkmen's tongues planted firmly in their cheeks. The reggae-tinged "Gorilla Girl" is about a choice in sweethearts that meets with parental disapproval, while the tense, nervous bite of "Right Wing Pigeons," trashes the Reagan administration with style and smirks. Semi-seriousness crops up on the wistfully poppy "Dean's Dream" about "a girl with long blonde hair" or the instrumental finale "Tugena," which shows that when they want to, the Milkmen can rock out with the best of them. Never too heavy but deeper than expected, Big Lizard captures these disaffected class clowns getting it out of their system with energy. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Tiny Town (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:43)
Beach Song (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:57)
Plum Dumb (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:54)
Swordfish (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:29)
V.F.W. (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:45)
Rastabilly (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:05)
Serrated Edge (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:56)
Lucky (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen, Dana Merino	The Dead Milkmen	(2:06)
Big Lizard (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:57)
Gorilla Girl (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:30)
Bitchin' Camaro (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(2:58)
Filet of Sole (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:55)
Spit Sink (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(2:03)
Violent School (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:55)
Takin' Retards to the Zoo (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(:46)
Junkie (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(:49)
Right Wing Pigeons (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(2:19)
Dean's Dream (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:47)
Laundromat Song (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(1:45)
Nutrition (Lyrics)	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(2:14)
Tugena	The Dead Milkmen	The Dead Milkmen	(5:27)

Credits

Bob Dickie (Engineer), Bob Dickie (Mixing), Dave Blood (Bass), John Wicks (Producer), D.M. (Producer), Dean Clean (Drums), Bob Dickie (Engineer), Joe Jack Talcum (Vocals), John Wicks (Mixing), Rodney Anonymous (Vocals), The Dead Milkmen (Producer), John Wicks (Engineer), Joe Jack Talcum (Guitar)

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