The Dead Milkmen, Beelzebubba (1988)

Where bought? I mean it must have been Action in Preston. Where else could I have got this? Completely baffled here.

Two years on from Eat Your Paisley! is the same essentially humorous punk-centred group, but they're far more proficient at writing songs in different genres. The humour hits a little more squarely (though I wonder if it is a bit of a dig at the rural south) than the bratty stuff from the previous records, and there's a pre-occupation with death and futility that wasn't really there before except as jokes.

This one tends to be considered their best by some because it contains their one semi-hit 'Punk Rock Girl'. Hate to be a terrible and basic fan of bands but this is probably my favourite song by the Milkers, to be honest. My favourite part is the (presumably deliberate) bit where he attributes 'California Dreaming' to the Beach Boys and sings a bit from it. Have a listen:

Interestingly - to me at least - this one is sung by Joe, who usually plays guitar, and clearly (if comically) presents a straight relationship. I mention this just in case anyone things the 2021 state of permissiveness just happened, but here's Joe talking about a couple of songs from a solo album that appear to be 'about men':

I did not think of it as a coming out album. Yeah, I'm a faggot. And of course there is one song about a boyfriend, even though it is a ridiculous song. But I was not trying to come out. I had thought by then I had come out already. I had written a lot more gayer songs for Jiffy Squid, years before. But I guess you have to come out over and over again when you are gay. Once just doesn't do it. And I do write some songs from my point of view, but a lot of them I try to take a different imaginary point of view. With the Dead Milkmen I was collaborating with three guys who were not gay, so I did not feel comfortable writing anything from an obviously gay point of view. "Punk Rock Girl" for instance was written with Dave, who sings backups.

Also, so many people just somehow knew I was queer when I was growing up I started to think that everyone automatically knew. I'm not going to go draw attention to it. And, beyond that, I can honestly say that for part of the time with the Dead Milkmen I was making an effort to not be queer, though it did not work. As for "Stuart", while I certainly hoped no gays would be offended, I felt it was funny. The absurd idea of gay Martians and a queer conspiracy to bring them to earth can't really be taken too seriously. Well, I suppose there are stranger conspiracies that are taken seriously. You either think it's funny or you don't.

An interesting band for sure, and they all seem like cool guys. Mark Prindle has interviews with Rodney (vocals, keys) and Dean (drums) too, but it's the Joe and Dave ones that stuck with me.

I note as well that they 'came back' early last decade and the record is a totally worthy addition to their discography, although to me it seemed odd not having Dave there.