I love "Big Lizard in my Backyard". First Dead Milkmen album I ever got. In fact, I knew very little about the group and assumed the album was a 'best of' compilation, it was so solid. "Eat Your Paisley" was the second record of there's I got a hold of, and it was great too. Never owned "Bucky Fellini" or "Beelzebubba" but borrowed friends' copies and enjoyed those as well.

I knew they had a live album out, but thought that was about it. I was wrong. There were three more Dead Milkmen records, the ones that get scant distribution and nobody really talks about...

and for good reason.

First of all, the group signed to Disney-owned Hollywood Records, leaving their original label RESTLESS. Kind of cheapened their rebellious, mock-rock platform, but that's not the worst of it. Their first album on that label also turned out to be so tame it was downright lousy. In fact, most of the stuff they put out on Hollywood sounds like a major-label Dead Milkmen impersonation rather than the real deal.

I think it is because the group tried to hold on to their immature attitude while they were so obviously maturing, and it sounded like they were just simply capitalizing on it. They did have a knack for writing and performing sharp pop tunes, and probably would have fared better had they just changed their name and let go of the image that strengthened their early material, but was just wearing thin as they got older.

Anyway, Stoney's Exta Stout is typical of their post-Restless career. There are a few catchy tunes, such as "Airplane Interiors", but something sounds off (that scream at the end is kind of awkward). "Blues Song" is an okay attempt at their old rambling comedy but it's just nothing new. "Like to Be Alone" is just scary, Dean sounds like he's dying.

If your a hardcore Milkmen fan, you might need to have this. But it really isn't that flattering to their sense of humor or musical abilities.

[Note: Hollywood Records has since cancelled production of most of their Milkmen material, an indication of how badly it was recieved. It is also hard to find this particular album on anything other than audio cassette.]


Recommended: No

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House