Punk Rock Retrospective: We're the Meatmen and You Still Suck by the Meatmen

Seldom does a punk rock album accomplish an arena-filling sound while, at the same time, downright insults those who fill the arena. "We're the Meatmen and you STILL Suck" does just that and more; not only does the album succeed with variations of old tracks [re-vamped for a potentially new audience-this was the Meatmen's last album], but Tesco Vee's rants remain fresh, if not timeless.

It should be mentioned, however, that this 'arena-filling sound' isn't actually played within an arena. And those who fill the arena-just a sound effect post-produced for the album. The question remains: could the Meatmen have filled an arena that large? From the evidence on this album, yes, but that arena would have undoubtedly been burned to the ground by the hardcore crowd.

And "We're the Meatmen and you STILL Suck" is as hardcore as it gets without being unlistenable. Just take a look at the track listing; songs with titles like 'Lesbian Death Dirge,' 'Tooling for Anus,' and 'Rock N' Roll Juggernaut' are simply begging to be played at full volume.

Compared to previous Meatmen albums, this remains the cream. Tesco Vee sounds better than ever and, given the time to speak his mind in front of a [mock] audience of 10,000 screaming fans, is more hilarious then ever. Despite this album being released in 1989, much of what he says is still socially relevant, regardless of the absurdity that lies beneath it.

The real magic on "We're the Meatmen and you STILL Suck" comes through on the interludes and aforementioned variations. Whereas the songs on "We're the Meatmen and you STILL Suck" that were previously recorded on other albums can fall flat or disappoint with their brevity and production qualities, their new representations pack a much greater deal of punch. Simply comparing the song 'Wine, Wenches, and Wheels' to older versions will prove this true.

All together, "We're the Meatmen and you STILL Suck" by the Meatmen is a hilarious album, subjectively. Not everyone will like it, if they listen closely to it. But if they are objected to it, then it's a different story. People will actually fear this album; it rocks, the musical craftsmanship is intimidating (namely the lead guitar parts), and Tesco Vee comes off so strong in his Gonzo hate vibe that it's hard to block out.

This is a must have for any real punk rocker. That is, if you can find a copy.