''Big Lizard in My Backyard'' is the debut

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

the Dead Milkmen The Dead Milkmen is an American punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia. Their original lineup consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman ("Rodney Anonymous"), guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro ("Joe Jack Talcum"), bassist Dav ...

, released by Restless Records in 1985. Although the album yielded no singles, it achieved enough notoriety to create a fan base for the band. Five of the album's tracks appear on the 1997

compilation Compilation may refer to: *In computer programming, the translation of source code into object code by a compiler **Compilation error **Compilation unit *Product bundling, a marketing strategy used to sell multiple products, such as video game co ...

'' Death Rides a Pale Cow: The Ultimate Collection''; four tracks appear on the 1998 compilation ''Cream of the Crop''.

Production

''Big Lizard in My Backyard'' was produced by John Wicks and the band. The introduction to " Bitchin' Camaro" was improvised.

Cover artwork

The album's cover artwork was designed by the band's drummer,

Dean Clean Dean Sabatino (born 21 May 1962) is an American musician, best known as Dean Clean, the drummer of the satirical punk rock group the Dead Milkmen. Sabatino lives with his family in Media, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Having earned a d ...

Critical reception

''Big Lizard in My Backyard'' received strong reviews, with critics singling out "Bitchin' Camaro", calling it "hilarious" and "career-making." ''

Maximum Rocknroll ''Maximumrocknroll'', often written as ''Maximum Rocknroll'' and usually abbreviated as ''MRR'', is a not-for-profit monthly online zine of punk subculture and radio show of punk music. Based in San Francisco, ''MRR'' focuses on punk rock and ...

'' wrote that "these 20 satire-laced songs are real crack-ups, and backed up by tight playing that incorporates funk, country, and lots of other styles into their punk approach." ''

Spin Spin or spinning most often refers to: * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin quantum number, a number which defines the value of a particle's spin * Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thr ...

'' called the album "frenetic goof pop," writing that it's "full of the kind of scruff-and-tumble guitar and funtime lyrics that made 1977 punk such a refreshing blast."

Track listing

All tracks written by

# "Tiny Town" - 1:45 # "Beach Song" - 2:00 # "Plum Dumb" - 1:56 # "Swordfish" - 1:31 # "V.F.W. (Veterans of a Fucked Up World)" - 1:48 # "Rastabilly" - 1:07 # "Serrated Edge" - 1:59 # "Lucky" - 2:10 # "Big Lizard in My Backyard" - 1:59 # "Gorilla Girl" - 1:33 # " Bitchin' Camaro" - 3:01 # "Filet of Sole" - 1:57 # "Spit Sink" - 2:01 (Produced By Mike Ace & Jonny Earthshoe) # "Violent School" - 1:58 # "Takin’ Retards to the Zoo" - 0:48 (Produced By Mike Ace & Jonny Earthshoe) # "Junkie" - 0:52 # "Right Wing Pigeons" - 2:21 # "Dean’s Dream" - 1:49 # "Laundromat Song" - 1:47 # "Nutrition" - 2:17 # "Tugena" - 5:27 (

instrumental An instrumental or instrumental song is music without any vocals, although it might include some inarticulate vocals, such as shouted backup vocals in a big band setting. Through Semantic change, semantic widening, a broader sense of the word s ...

) "Gorilla Girl" was not included on the original U.S. Enigma/Fever LP release. "Tugena" was present on the original release (as the last track) but was unidentified and not labeled until later pressings.

Personnel

;The Dead Milkmen *

Dave Blood David Schulthise (September 16, 1956 – March 10, 2004), also known as Dave Blood, was an American musician best known as the original bass guitarist for the punk band The Dead Milkmen. Schulthise was born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. He hel ...

– bass guitar *

Joe Jack Talcum Anthony Joseph Genaro (born October 15, 1962) is an American musician, best known as the guitarist and co-lead vocalist for the punk rock group The Dead Milkmen. Residing in Philadelphia, Genaro has performed with a number of punk and indie ro ...

– guitar, vocals *

Rodney Anonymous Rodney Linderman (born 21 May 1963), also known by his stage name Rodney Anonymous, is an American musician, journalist, and humorist currently based in Philadelphia. He is best known as the lead vocalist, keyboardist and co-songwriter of the ...

– vocals *

– drums

References

External links

Official Site Discography
{{Authority control The Dead Milkmen albums 1985 debut albums Restless Records albums