These Austin punks spent a decade playing underground clubs and sleeping on floors next to the cat-litter box before scoring an unlikely commercial breakthrough with this 1996 album. The key to the highway was the modern-r... more »ock radio hit "Pepper," a novelty rap tune that reinvents Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" from the perspective of postpunk nihilism, Texas-style. Another rock-rap track, "The Lord Is a Monkey," grafts a lyrical nod to Snoop Dogg over a mutilated Jimi Hendrix guitar lick. The rest of the album alternates pop-punk rave-ups ("Ulcer Breakout," "Ah Ha") with noisy acid freak-outs ("My Brother's Wife," "Space"). The Buttholes have not released an album since Electric Larryland. But it's all right, Ma, they're only bleeding. --Rick Mitchell« less
These Austin punks spent a decade playing underground clubs and sleeping on floors next to the cat-litter box before scoring an unlikely commercial breakthrough with this 1996 album. The key to the highway was the modern-rock radio hit "Pepper," a novelty rap tune that reinvents Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" from the perspective of postpunk nihilism, Texas-style. Another rock-rap track, "The Lord Is a Monkey," grafts a lyrical nod to Snoop Dogg over a mutilated Jimi Hendrix guitar lick. The rest of the album alternates pop-punk rave-ups ("Ulcer Breakout," "Ah Ha") with noisy acid freak-outs ("My Brother's Wife," "Space"). The Buttholes have not released an album since Electric Larryland. But it's all right, Ma, they're only bleeding. --Rick Mitchell
Member CD Reviews
Amy T. (simplyamy) from DAKOTA DUNES, SD Reviewed on 11/3/2007...
HOw can you not love butthole surfers?
CD Reviews
A Gateway Drug
Gunther Haagendazs | Up High in the Trees | 01/31/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think too many people take this CD seriously. It was a crazy experiment from the Butthole Surfers, as is all their work. Though most of these songs could be considered "pop rock" songs, there is a wide variety throughout the CD. You got your almost country-like tunes such as TV star, the hard rock song The Lord is a Monkey, the Punk Rock Birds, the French almost instrumental Let's Talk About Cars, and rockers like Ulcer Breakout and Thermador and you have the accidental hit Pepper with its awesome one minute guitar solo at the end. The success of ElectricLarryLand was a complete accident and I think people just need to chill out about it.
I think that the main reason I enjoy this CD is because it was the second one I bought from them (the first being the Weird Revolution), now I own all their CDs (including their Double Live limited to 4750 copies), several albums on Vinyl and a copy of their rare Family BBQ Video. I know now that their songs from the 80's are better hands down, but that doesn't mean I can relax from time to time with this album. I think if the Butthole Surfers had been continuing their Acid Streak into the late 90's it would have ultimately destroyed them. This album too destroyed them in some way, they weren't able to release another official album until 2001 and that one was sub par.
Why do you think that the band members were doing all those side projects? There was P., Paul Leary, Drain, Jackofficers, etc. And who said pop-type songs should be banned from the Butthole Surfers Catalog? Remember the song Hey off A Brown Reason to Live? Their first record? We have to remember that that was a pop song too. This album is a partial mistake but it's not a sell out. Many of the lyrics and songs still have a slight dumbed down edge that you wouldn't see in other bands. The weird trance/comedy song My Brother's Wife comes to mind, and lets not forget about the lyrics to The Lord is a Monkey, or the randomness of Cough Syrup. The presence of the Gibbytronix on a few songs like Space makes it feels like a short sleepy grateful dead jam. This is a nice Butthole Surfers album to fall asleep to (in a good way).
I recommend getting this album first because it's an easier access to their later material; it sucks you into their world. It's the "gateway drug". It prepares you for the hard Acid of Locust Abortion technician, the alcohol of Independent Worm Saloon, the Meth of Hairway to Steven, the cocaine behavior of Psychic...Powerless... and so forth. Please do not let the negative reviews deter you from this album, it can only help in making you a Butthole Surfers Junkie, and believe it or not, that is actually a good thing.
"
They just keep getting better!
Lee Rentless | Pugetropolis | 04/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love the Surfers. The first album I ever heard of theirs was "Brown Reason To Live" going on 20 years ago (egad), and as it so often is with enduring favorites, I hated it at first. After a few weeks of repeated listenings I began to see the light (like a neon sign in hell) and became hooked. My brain, and the ears to either side of it, will never be the same, and I am...glad.I have overheard those who consider themselves purists and staunch fans from their first recordings lament that this album is too commercial. It simply isn't so. "Pepper" was radio friendly, but these guys dabble as well in pop as they do in anything else. Besides, if you're still singing the same tune at 38 as you were at 18, you're just not paying attention. WARNING: Do not listen to "Ulcer Breakout" while driving a vehicle. Even in my acceleration-challenged Mazda I have cheated death while pushing it to it's acceleration and cornering limits. White knuckles, death-grin, eyes watering...you just can't help it, and you wish for something faster and more dangerous.-"Ever felt the torque of a hemi?"
-"Ever gone so fast you could die?""
Thanksgivings coming on the Fourth of July
Brufus | Samsara | 10/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
Okay all you f'n BHS snobs... Hairway to Steven is great and all... Groundbreaking when it was released... But so is Electric Larry Land... This is great loud ca-razy in your face psycho acid punk rock from Texas...
This CD has some of BHS best songs like Cough Syrup, The Lord is a Monkey, etc... c'mon every song from start to finish is great on this CD... No duds.
"She comes from out west on a nickles worth gas
She's got her mind on her money and her dope up her @ss..."
That is just classic Gibby Haynes Butthole Surfers brilliance!
If you trully dig what the surfers are about then this CD will rock your F'n socks off... give 'em a taste KG"
Butthole Surfers - 'Electriclarryland' (Capitol)
Mike Reed | USA | 10/07/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Even though this release by the Butthole Surfers is MY personal favorite of their entire repertoire,I've heard some older fans comment they didn't care for it much.'Electric...' is less perverse,than say the likes of their 'Locust Abortion Technician' effort.Cuts I seem to remember carrying more than their own weight were "Pepper","Ulcer Breakout","The Lord Is A Monkey","TV Star" and the CD closer,the unforgetable "Space".Saw the band on this very tour and I was blown away.Have a strong feeling their tours that followed were a bit scaled down.Straight to the point:just great heavy alternative rock.Recommended.Might appeal to some fans of Flaming Lips,The Cramps,Sonic Youth and Jesus Lizard."
Weird Rock At Its Best
J. Rothfuss | St. Louis, MO United States | 01/03/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Before I picked up this CD, people told me the Surfers sucked. I beg to differ. The Butthole Surfers infuse Rock/pop, industrial, blues, alt-country to make very dynamic music. From the first song to the last, the Surfers rarely fail to please my ears. A couple songs on the album ("my brothers wife", "lets talk about cars") are just plain strange, but it adds to the uniqueness of the band. Heavy punk riffs over bluesy bass and great lyrics; what's not to enjoy?
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
Amy T. (simplyamy) from DAKOTA DUNES, SD