Search - Meat Puppets :: Rise to Your Knees

Great Puppets reunion

D. simonton | GA | 07/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's great to hear the reunited Kiekwood brothers. Personally, I liked the last incarnation of the Puppets on Golden Lies. And Curt's other ventures, Eyes Adrift, Volcano and his solo cd, were all very good. But the new album, Rise To Your Knees takes the band to a new level. The current Puppets are a little more serious and laid back. Songs like Spit, Stone Eyes, and The Ship are simply beautiful. Upbeat songs like Radio Moth and New Leaf are welcome additions, however a different version of New Leaf recorded by the previous members from Golden Lies was previously released on the Meat Puppets complilation a few years ago. I would like to have heard Chris' bass and vocals a little more, but this album is definately well worth buying."

Arizona desert-rockers return

Likebeingalive | Atlanta, GA USA | 07/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Having had a few days to digest the first proper release by Meat Puppets in twelve years, I feel I have reached a verdict. First off, let me state up front that I hold this band in extemely high regard. To me, they are legends who have had a profound impact on my musical sensibilites. I enjoy all of their albums, with my favorites being Up on the Sun, Meat Puppets II, and Forbidden Places. Prior to the release of Rise to Your Knees, I read several reviews which invariably compared this release to their SST catalog and essentially all reviews reached the conclusion that it didn't hold a candle to those albums. One American socio-political publication which masquarades as a music magazine went so far as to give it only one-and-a-half stars out of a possible five. However, I came across an interview with Curt Kirkwood in which he expressed his love and enthusiasm for Rise to Your Knees. Now being a huge Puppets fan whose word am I to take? Obviously, Curt's and boy am I glad I did because this album rocks. In true Puppets fashion it is inventive, imaginative, and endlessly creative. All of the familiar elements are present- cosmic guitar riffs, trippy sonics, and surreal lyrical imagery. There is a reflective theme throughout, perhaps attributable to aging and/or Cris' struggle with substance abuse. By the way, we're all rooting for you Cris, you rock so hard! Anyhow, if I had to compare it to other Puppets records I would say it most closely resembles Too High to Die and No Joke. Songs run the gamut from traditional Puppets rockers (New Leaf, Disappear, Radio Moth), to poppier fare (Enemy Love Song, Island) to ghostly space rock (The Ship, Fly Like the Wind). Many songs find a groove and ride it into the ground in a way reminiscent of the 1986 song Out My Way. All in all the brothers Kirkwood and new drummer Ted Marcus have created another unique masterpiece in classic Meat Puppets fashion that will provide years of listening enjoyment for those dedicated to this wonderful band. I leave tomorrow to see them play in South Carolina. Can't wait..."

Worth the wait

Carol Pezet | Visalia, CA | 07/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Rise to your knees" was well worth the wait. There isn't a song on this album to skip. From the first song to the last, this album is complete gold. The Kirkwoods are still at their best, and new drummer Ted Marcus fits perfectly as a puppet. Buy this album now, you won't regret it. I would go as far as to name it "Best album of 2007"."