The 1981 Listening Post - The Cramps - Psychedelic Jungle

 The Cramps - Psychedelic Jungle 

#104

March 27 1981

The Cramps

Psychedelic Jungle

Genre: The Cramps

2.5 out of 5

How did The Cramps get such a solid set of bona fides? There are better examples of Rockabilly. Lux Interior’s Psychob illy by way of 1960s Munsters TV show isn’t all that ground breaking to me or exciting. At this point, after listening to three Cramps albums my feeling is that, as an important band, they have a great logo. 

Yeah, they are better than Tav Falco but there’s SO much better out there that usurps this that I just don’t get the love. 

The track from this album that they are most known for is, I think, “Goo Goo Muck”. I am very reluctant to make it a highlight as it’s a cover. A fine one but…is the world that much better off for it? Ivy and Lux come across as late night lounge bar Nuggets acolytes whose love for Russ Meyer and Cash Flagg films is worn on their sleeves. 

Sadly, the original Interior/Rorschach songs are interminable and boring. Do those things mean the same? I don’t care. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/psychedelic-jungle/724545890

The 1980 Listening Post - The Cramps - Songs the Lord Taught Us

The Cramps - Songs the Lord Taught Us

#98

Chairman Barnes

The Cramps

Songs the Lord Taught Us

Allen’s Rating: 3.5

Chairman’s Rating: 3.75

Highlights:

Garbageman

The Mad Daddy

Tear it Up

Strychnine

Genre: Post-Punk Rockabilly("Psychobilly")

Gonna cop to the fact right off that I'm not all that well versed with The Cramps body of work.  However, I was excited to dig into this undiscovered trove of music that passed me by in my formative years.  If they had been on my radar back in the day I'm sure I would have been attracted to their somewhat sardonic re-casting of Bill Haley-style rock into a b-movie, reverb-drenched post-punk aesthetic.    

There's some fun music here but it seems seems to have an identity problem.  Or, maybe more accurately, a location problem.  This is not music that was engineered for listening through ear buds, tiny tinny laptop speakers or even on a home stereo. No, this music demands to be blasted loud and strong while cruising the streets on a summer night with the windows down. Preferably in a gas-guzzling steel death trap of an American car.  Any pre-70's vintage will do. 

The songs range in energy from languid to scorching.  Alex Chilton produces and keeps the mayhem coolly contained while cranking the late-night TV psycho horror vibe.  The song TV Set establishes the mood with a metaphorical (or IS IT?) dismembering of a woman which carries straight through to the (maybe overly) subdued cover of the Peggy Lee classic, Fever, at the end.  In between we're treated to parties with zombies, rides on UFOs, a lunar sock hop, a paean to poison and more.  

I think what may have kept me at a distance was a youthful aversion to the horror shtick.  But, once you peel that back there's nothing very far afield in this album aside from some deliberate forays into dissonance and flirting with gory subject matter.  It appropriates, lashes out, pays due homage and shoots spitballs at a few icons. This album may have turned some heads in its day.  Today however, it feels kind of lightweight.

https://open.spotify.com/album/6S9rbimtTmC0v6UBWqSpay?si=bdfFLRFhR4WGS_WNxbkBIg

The 1986 Listening Post - The Cramps - A Date with Elvis

The Cramps - A Date with Elvis

#68/1235

February 1986

The Cramps

A Date with Elvis

Genre: Psychobilly

3.25 out of 5

Highlights:

Cornfed Dames

Hot Pool of Womanneed

“The Hot Pearl Snatch”?

“Can Your Pussy Do the Dog”?

“What’s Inside a Girl”?

“Kizmiaz”?!?

“Hot Pool of Womanneed”??

No one could ever accuse The Cramps of subtlety. Or not trying to be the Howard Stern Show of Psychobilly. They must have been guests at some point, yes? Boomers be working out some weird shit, man. 

I was never much for the style of rock music that seemed to watch The Munsters and decide, “Yep. That’s it. That’s the pinnacle for the art form for me.” Even The Stray Cats managed to find a way to expand the sound. (They weren’t very successful at it but, at least they seemed to try). 

Now there’s something to be said for Lux’s commitment to this genre. And his warble. Which alone is the reason to listen to “What’s Inside a Girl”. In fact, it’s the only reason. He’s a 1960s Hanna Barbera cartoon version of Elvis Presrock. 

I want this to be so good. I mean, come on, look at their band name design. It’s right out of Fangoria. They belong on a bill with The Fleshtones and The Misfits. You know who would be a good double bill?! Jonathan Richman. If I could have, I would’ve teamed them up for a record. 

It’s just that it all leaves me wishing it was better. 

https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-date-with-elvis/929348066