| Metaphysical Graffiti | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | The Dead Milkmen |
| Cover: | Metaphysical Graffiti.jpg |
| Released: | 1990 |
| Recorded: | February 1989 – January 1990 |
| Genre: | Punk rock, comedy rock |
| Length: | 52:09 |
| Label: | Enigma[1] |
| Producer: | Brian "Bongwizard" Beattie |
| Prev Title: | Beelzebubba |
| Prev Year: | 1988 |
| Next Title: | Soul Rotation |
| Next Year: | 1992 |
Metaphysical Graffiti is the fifth studio album by the Dead Milkmen, released by Enigma Records in 1990.[2] [3] The album title and cover art, the latter designed by the band's drummer Dean Clean,[4] parody the 1975 album Physical Graffiti by Led Zeppelin.[5] [6] Two tracks ("Do the Brown Nose" and "If You Love Somebody, Set Them on Fire") appear on Death Rides a Pale Cow.
The album peaked at No. 164 on the Billboard 200.[7]
Like Bucky Fellini and Beelzebubba, Metaphysical Graffiti was recorded in Austin, Texas, and was produced by Brian Beattie.[4] [8] Gibby Haynes, of Butthole Surfers, appears on "Anderson, Walkman, Buttholes and How!"[1]
The video for "Methodist Coloring Book" had to be reedited before MTV would agree to play it, due to imagery the network was worried may be offensive.[9] Enigma printed and mailed coloring books to promote the track.[10]
People wrote: "When the Milkmen played their first punk parodies in the mid-1980s, they sounded appropriately fresh. Now they sometimes seem to be as dated as the music they ridicule."[11] The Chicago Tribune deemed the album "more screaming, more production and less melody." The Ottawa Citizen called it "funny, loud, fast and violent."[12]
The Los Angeles Times wrote that "parody is in safe hands with the Dead Milkmen."[13] The Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph called Metaphysical Graffiti "a savagely sarcastic collection of commentaries on greed and religion."[14] The Washington Post thought that "Milkmen albums usually turn on the existence of a single standout tune-'Bitchin' Camaro', for example, or 'Punk Rock Girl'-and this outing doesn't seem to have one."[15]
All songs written by The Dead Milkmen