If Right and Natural isn't quite yet the White Light/White Heat of a new generation, it's getting close -- unknown upon release, venerated by multitudes of listeners and bands since all out of proportion to its public profile. The insane secret of the record is its perfect -- if not note-perfect -- combination of hooks, folky influences (especially from the U.K. -- "Baby Greaser George" is practically an acoustic T. Rex homage), and utterly outrageous, hilarious lyrics and stories. Nothing is sacred, but the methods used would probably frighten even Monty Python or South Park's creators at their prime. The centerpiece to everything is gay love, lust, and more at its most crazed -- song titles like "These Are the Finest Queen Boys I've Ever Seen" and the sweetly catchy celebration "Homos" help say it all. Right from the start, when Dennis Flemion slurs "I've got drugs...that'll blow your mind tonight...out of your mind tonight" on "Out of the Mist," things can't help but be more than gone. By the time the song gets to the priest with drug-filled lips, listeners will have decided whether to stay the course or get out while the getting's good. One definite fun point about Right and Natural is seeing how it influenced future artists. Beck sampled the double-tracked claim, "That was a good drum break" -- even though the break is audibly terrible -- from "I Don't Care if You Disrespect Me (Just So Long as You Love Me)" for "Where It's At." The Blake Babies, meanwhile, took the song title "Rosy Jack World" for an album, and so forth. What makes the album all the more grand is its ear for tenderness in unexpected areas -- "Been a Month Since I Had a Man" is gently melancholy, and more straightforward (if not straight) than anything else around it. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
It's Only Right and Natural is the second album by the band The Frogs and was released in 1989 by Homestead Records. Gerard Cosloy, who was in charge of Homestead at the time, came into possession of some of the Flemion Brothers' improvised homemade tapes and signed them to the label. The Flemions were originally hoping that Homestead would release their debut album The Frogs, but Cosloy convinced them to release a gay-themed album instead. The album was recorded on 4-Track reel-to-reel in Dennis's living room and was originally meant to be for the Flemion brothers and their friends' own amusement, and was not originally considered for release.
Most of the songs on the album deal with stereotypes associated with homosexuality, especially negative ones used by social conservatives. The lyrics are highly satirical and portray stereotypes in an absurdly over-the-top manner. Shortly before the album's release, the Flemions went forward with a gay-themed live act, with Dennis wearing a trademark pink sailor suit. Audiences who knew the Frogs from their earlier material were often confused by this change of direction. The album has since become an underground classic and favorite of the alternative elite and fratboys alike. The album's cover depicts a very young Dennis Flemion wearing a gay pride button. The album was a frequent target of conservative Christians at the time of its release, and was featured in the video series "Hells Bells: The Dangers Of Rock & Roll".
The album was one of Kurt Cobain's favorites. It was on the Nirvana Top 50 albums list.
The quip "That was a good drum break" from the song "I Don't Care If U Disrespect Me (Just So You Love Me)" was sampled for the song "Where It's At" by Beck.
Australian punk band Frenzal Rhomb covered the song "Homos" from this album, which was released on their "i miss my lung" single and also in the traveling flea circus release.[1]
The Lemonheads have performed "Homos" and possibly other Frogs songs in concert.
Dennis Flemion ·Jimmy Flemion
Jay Tiller · Brian "Beezer" Hill · Damien Strigens · Eddie "King" Roeser · Scott Shimpff · Josh Silverman · John W. Busher · David Geschke
