Frankenchrist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Frankenchrist | ||
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| Studio album by the Dead Kennedys | ||
| Released | October 1985 | |
| Recorded | Hyde St. Studios, May & July 1985 | |
| Genre | Hardcore punk, Psychedelic rock, Synthesizer rock | |
| Length | 45:12 | |
| Label | Alternative Tentacles | |
| Producer(s) | Jello Biafra | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| the Dead Kennedys chronology | ||
| A Skateboard Party (1983) |
Frankenchrist (1985) |
Bedtime for Democracy (1986) |
Frankenchrist is the third album released by the Dead Kennedys in 1985 on Alternative Tentacles.
The album was a subject of great controversy because of a poster inserted in the original record sleeve. The poster, H. R. Giger's Landscape #XX, or Penis Landscape, was a painting depicting rows of penises in sexual intercourse. The band was brought to trial for distributing harmful matter to minors, and though the case did not result in a conviction, Biafra's Alternative Tentacles was driven almost to bankruptcy. Only through the support of fans was the label able to stay alive. Biafra came out as a champion of free speech, and was one of the most active opponents of the PMRC.
The songs here focus on the more nightmarish, psychedelic, hard-rocking side of the Kennedys' musical personality. The spaghetti western fascination is also noticeable in the horn parts and in East Bay Ray's atmospheric guitar work. Frankenchrist is noted for its relative lack of traditionally 'hardcore' material (Most of the songs are slower and longer than the majority of other Dead Kennedys songs). "M.T.V. − Get off the Air" is notable for its pointed slam of the music establishment and "Stars and Stripes of Corruption" for its detailed layout of Jello Biafra's political philosophies. On the original vinyl version, Side A was tracks 1-5 and Side B was tracks 6-10.
- "Soup Is Good Food" – 4:18 (Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys)
- "Hellnation" – 2:22 (D.H. Peligro)
- "This Could Be Anywhere (This Could Be Everywhere)" – 5:24 (Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys)
- "A Growing Boy Needs His Lunch" – 5:50 (Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys)
- "Chicken Farm" – 5:06 (Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys)
- "Jock-O-Rama (Invasion Of The Beef Patrol)" – 4:06 (Jello Biafra)
- "Goons Of Hazzard" – 4:25 (Jello Biafra/East Bay Ray)
- "M.T.V. − Get Off The Air" – 3:37 (Jello Biafra)
- "At My Job" – 3:41 (East Bay Ray)
- "Stars And Stripes Of Corruption" – 6:23 (Jello Biafra/Dead Kennedys)
- Jello Biafra - lead vocals, producer, mixer
- East Bay Ray - guitar, synthesizer, bellzouki
- Klaus Flouride - bass, backing vocals
- D.H. Peligro - drums, backing vocals
- John Leib - trumpet
- Tim Jones - keyboards
- Nina T.R. Stapleton - backing vocals
- Laura T.R. Muetz - backing vocals
- Julie Hoffman - backing vocals
- Susan Caldwell - backing vocals
- Danielle Dunlap - backing vocals
- Robyn Lutz - backing vocals
- Kris Carleson - backing vocals
- Steve DePace - backing vocals
- Wild Bill - backing vocals
- Sweet - backing vocals
- Wee Willy Lipat - backing vocals
- Microwave - backing vocals
- Gary Flyod - backing vocals
- Eugene Robinson - backing vocals
- Jeff Davis - backing vocals
- John Cuniberti - engineer, mixer
- Winston Smith - artwork
| Dead Kennedys |
| Ted | East Bay Ray | Klaus Flouride | D.H. Peligro |
| Former members: Jello Biafra | 6025 | Brandon Cruz | Jeff Penalty |
| Discography |
| Albums and EPs: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables | In God We Trust, Inc. | Plastic Surgery Disasters | Frankenchrist | Bedtime for Democracy | Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death |
| Live albums: A Skateboard Party | Mutiny on the Bay | Live at the Deaf Club |
| Singles: "California Über Alles" | "Holiday in Cambodia" | "Kill the Poor" | "Too Drunk to Fuck" | "Nazi Punks Fuck Off!" | "Bleed for Me" | "Halloween" |
| Related articles |
| Hardcore punk | Manifesto Records | Alternative Tentacles | Penis Landscape |
