Search - Meat Puppets :: Sewn Together

The Kirkwoods deliver

Mr. Frostee | Springfield, MO, USA | 05/13/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very few albums really grab me on first listen, even among my favorite albums. Sewn Together is one of those rare few. Weird, wonderful and beautiful, all at once. This is now my favorite since Too High To Die. Where Rise To Your Knees was experimental and occasionally a little self-indulgent (which was okay, since my tastes run parallel to theirs), Sewn Together is much tighter, without losing the sense of whimsy that the best Meat Puppets songs have always had. If you like the Meat Puppets, buy this album. It's just that simple."

Another Brilliant Effort

John Pross | 05/12/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must preface this by saying I'm at the point that Curt Kirkwood can pretty much do no wrong in my eyes. But that being said, this is a genuine 5 star effort by the Puppets of Meat.



As much as I liked Rise to Your Knees, Sewn Together is definitely a more typical Meat Puppets album. Longtime fans will appreciate it because of its throw-back to some of the old styles we came to love so much from the old indie days. Songs like Sapphire and Smoke will remind you of some of the dark psychedelic songs of old (Like Being Alive, Wish Upon a Storm from Monsters) Meanwhile you'll think you're listening to Mirage or Up On the Sun again with the beautiful title track and Love Mountain (which you would almost swear is a leftover track from Mirage) Meanwhile Blanket of Weeds and S.K.A. show that they can still rock out. And as always some new ideas creep in there such as Curt's almost oriental sounding mandolin-playing on the country-esque I'm Not You.



In short what you will find on this album is great melodies, warped lyrics (no surprise there), finely played (but never overplayed) instruments, and an indie-psychedelic-rock-country mix that only the amazingly original Meat Puppets can provide.



Thanks for another masterpiece boys."

Miraculous

J. Fraser | concord, NH United States | 07/09/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The fact that the Meat Puppets are even on the scene is a miracle in and of itself. After Cris Kirkwood's well-chronicled struggles throughout the 90's and early 00's few even entertained the idea of any new Pups material. Sure, Curt kept on making records (some fine, others so-so)and playing the occasional show, but something was always missing, namely Cris. So when "Rise" trickled out nearly two years ago with little fanfare, and even less press coverage, no one really knew what to expect. Could Cris still play...sing? Fortunately, the answer was a resounding YES, as "Rise" proved to be an interesting, but uneven

comeback.



What was more astonishing were the crazed live performances that took place during '07-'08. Anyone who saw them live or heard the tapes from that tour heard the full power of the live Meat Puppets

experience. The band was on top of their game, equaling, if not surpassing their legendary gigs of the 80's and very early 90's. Yet another miracle!! But, the miracles didn't stop with their mind-blowing live performances, no, then came "Sewn Together". I'll be honest, I didn't feel they had another classic lp in them, but was I ever dead wrong. "Sewn" certainly can stand with any MP juggernaut (II, Up On The Sun, Too High to Die).



Their sound may no longer be revolutionary, but their playing has never been better. The Kirkwood's sew togther quite a few different MP eras over the course of this lp, with nary a dud in sight. Curt's playing is from another dimension (why isn't he mentioned in the same breath as other guitar giants?), while Cris does his punk Jaco

bass deal like only he can. Drummer Ted Marcus is more than solid on the drums (Derrick Bostrom who?). No need to comment on individual tracks, because to me the lp has to be taken in as an entire listen, much like UOTS. It's exceedingly rare for artists this far along in the careers to make such an amazing "comeback", but the miraculous Meat Puppets have done it. Buy the lp and go see them live.

"