Ministry

In Case You Didn't Feel Like Showing Up (Live)
Sire Records



Maybe this slab sounds tame by today's standards, but to my ears back in 1990, this is what I thought was simultaneously the end and beginning of rock and roll. I had always been a big punk fan, and was saddened by the demise and/or co-option of punk. And most attempts to jump start the genre seemed to lack any danger, originality and was simply too nostalgic. Although I was marginally aware of the band Ministry, this album really caught me by surprise. It seemed to meld the best of industrial and punk and graft it to the power and fury of heavy metal, all with the political bent that seemed missing from that genre. Although they'd put out two studio albums that led Ministry away from British influenced dance-rock, this is the one that has a sound one could imagine hearing by sticking your head in the business end of a jet engine. It pummels and pounds the senses with precise and bombastic percussion from twin drummers, oodles of hard-edged synths, razor sharp guitars and psychotronic samples galore.
It also helps that it has more than its share of help with Killing Joke's Martin Atkins and Skinny Puppy's Nivek Ogre, Chris Connelly (in his John Lydon impersonation phase) and a guest shot by Jello Biafra (sadly not included on this disc).
The closing track Stigmata burns the venue down and leaves you shaking.
I dedicate that track and Thieves to the circle of tyrants thrown out in our last election and the hopes that it's just the beginning.

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Thieves

Thieves, thieves and liars, murderers Hypocrites and bastards [in laughter] Hey thanks for nothing! Morals in the dust Two-faced bastards and syncophants No trust Thieves! liar! Inside, outside, which side, you don’t know My side, your side, their side, we don’t know Which side are they? which side are they? Which side of their mouth do you suppose that it came? Which side are they? which side are they? Which side of the grass is greener? Inside, outside, which side, you don’t know My side, your side, their side, we don’t know You’re like a great big fucking gun, Just waiting to get squeezed! Breathe, forfeit erection! Toxical injection Geriatric fuck-fest We still believe in lies Thieves! liar! Inside, outside, which side, you don’t know My side, your side, their side, we don’t know Who started it? who started it? Which side are they? which side are they? Which side of their mouth do you suppose that it came? Which side are they? which side are they? Which side of the grass is greener? Inside, outside, which side, you don’t know My side, your side, their side, no one knows You’re like a great big hit of acid, Waiting to be taken!