Skag Heaven
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| Allmusic |   [1] |
Skag Heaven is the second record by the American punk rock band Squirrel Bait, released in 1987 through Homestead Records. Squirrel Bait disbanded after the album's release and the band's members went on to form Slint, Bastro and a number of other influential indie and post-rock bands.
Single
The band went into the studio with engineer Howie Gano in 1986 and recorded the songs "Kid Dynamite" and "Slake Train Coming". While listening to the mixes, guitarist David Grubbs invited Karl Meyer of local band Human Zoo to do some backtracked vocals based on a dream related by Julian Bevan from the Cincinnati hardcore band Sluggo: "Tiny people, tiny people. So small you can fit them in the palm of your hand. Prove that they're not real and win a hundred dollars." The lyrics can be heard, slowed down and played backwards, during the song's final instrumental section. At concerts, the band would speak the words (forwards) during the song. Grubbs re-recorded this backtracking for the LP version of the song.[2]
The single's two songs were not originally intended for inclusion on Skag Heaven, but the band only had eight songs for the album and wanted to release something longer than their first EP.[3]
Track listing
| 1. |
"Kid Dynamite" |
3:10 |
| 2. |
"Virgil's Return" |
2:26 |
| 3. |
"Black Light Poster Child" |
1:55 |
| 4. |
"Choose Yr Poison" |
2:29 |
| 5. |
"Short Straw Wins" |
2:51 |
| 1. |
"Kick the Kat" |
2:43 |
| 2. |
"Too Close too the Fire" |
1:55 |
| 3. |
"Slake Train Coming" |
2:32 |
| 4. |
"Rose Island Road" |
2:42 |
| 5. |
"Tape from California" |
2:59 |
All songs written by Squirrel Bait except for "Tape from California" by Phil Ochs.
Personnel
- Squirrel Bait
- Additional musicians and production
References
