PICK OF THE MONTH
FLOGGING A DEAD COW >> A TRIBUTE TO THE DEAD MILKMEN. SUPERPICKLE RECORDS 2001

The Dead Kennedys’ was perfect. Duran Duran’s was hilarious. Aerosmith’s was a piece of shit befitting an equally fecal musical act. Were talking about the tribute album—perhaps the greatest meter of any band’s career

Assuming it’s recorded in the honoree’s twilight years, this acoustical homage usually reflects the band’s permanent place in rock-and-roll history. Unless of course, Behind the Music does a smarmy biography to change our opinion. But if you waged an earnest, no-bullshit career, the groups most influenced by your work will probably perform an earnest, no-bullshit cover of your songs. Conversely, any bands that wore spandex will unmercifully be heckled. The Dead Milkmen’s tribute album falls quite appropriately (aside from the spandex part) somewhere in the middle.

Spending the larger sum of their career in relative obscurity, it’s only fitting that the Milkmen’s music be redone by a nationwide slew of independent acts. Flogging a Dead Cow sports 17 tracks from underdog musicians like Joe and the Chickenheads, SNMNMNM, The Von Steins, and many more. While a few songs are rendered in their original form, most are spun into completely new directions. Some flop, some are amazing, while others just leave listeners wondering what went wrong. The same can be said of the The Dead Milkmen’s music in general: It may not have been pretty, but it always got our attention.

Finally, Flogging a Dead Cow serves as a reminder that despite all the fake street credibility and prefab hip spoonfed to us on a daily basis, there’s still a multitude of unknown, unsigned bands that aren’t afraid to turn out good music. It’s little surprise that this is the same role played by The Dead Milkmen 10 and 20 years ago—a befitting tribute album indeed. -By Eric Seeger