Search - Cramps :: How to Make a Monster

There's Nothin' On The Radio When You're Dead...

Clark Paull | Murder City | 10/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the early 80's, one of my close friends, whose woman done him wrong and was so skint he could only afford to eat mustard sandwiches and instant marcaroni-and-cheese, listened to nothing but The Cramps for three solid months because it buoyed his spirits. No, he wasn't in a rock and roll band. Laid-off auto worker...



While a down-and-out mindset isn't a prerequisite to listening to The Cramps, it certainly helps to get down to their level. At this point, it's obvious to anyone who's been paying attention that they're spinning their wheels in their own unique universe of bad taste, tawdry sex, over-the-top violence, and sub "B" exploitation flicks - no apologies offered and none needed - but it ain't a bad rut to be in.



This compilation takes a look back to the days when Erick Purkhiser and Kirsty Wallace (that's Lux Interior and Poison Ivy to you and me - I know, I'm hopeless!) hatched their dream of hitting Sun rockabilly, filthy R&B, and juvenile delinquent film soundtracks with defibrillators coated with cobwebs, eye of newt, and body parts stored down in the lab, and shouting "It's alive!" at the night sky.



Chances are if you're reading this, you aren't looking for an SACD/audiophile listening experience, which is good, because the quality of some of the early material included on "How To Make A Monster" makes most bootlegs sound like virgin vinyl, with the tape hiss on the 1976 rehearsal material recorded with guitarist (and Detroit boy) Bryan Gregory (nee Greg Beckerleg) threatening to drown everything else out. What emerges from the ether, however, is what might pass as background music for a party down in the torture chamber, early passes at now-established Cramps classics like "Domino," "Sunglasses After Dark," "TV Set," and "I Was A Teenage Werewolf," with Gregory's sister Pam (christened Pam Balam) and Miriam Linna handling the traps. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the (wait for it) four rehearsal takes of "Rumble Blues" recorded with Gregory's successor, Kid Congo Powers.



Disc two is comprised of two sets of "Gravest Hits" and "Songs The Lord Taught Us" era tunes recorded at Max's Kansas City and CBGB in 1977 and 1978 respectively, when the band decided to take their vision public. It's a helluva beautiful wreck, with Lux drooling and about to burst an aneurysm, going on and on about who knows what, and Gregory and Ivy bringing the fuzz and distortion. If your idea of a party is fresh underwear, steer clear.



As if all of this sonic roughage wasn't enough, Lux and Ivy's liner notes are some of the best ever, loaded with personal and sometimes disturbing anecdotes, early photos, flyers, and detailed recording information. The Cramps have always been their chew toy and, as they stress in closing, nothing they've ever done has ever been meant as schtick, a popular misconception that "cuts us to our core." Point taken.







"

Early Stuff

Kenneth M. Goodman | Cleveland, Ohio United States | 10/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If your favorite Cramps CDs are Psychedellic Jungle/Gravest Hits and

Songs the Lord Taught Us, then How To Make A Monster is for you.

You probably won't dig EVERY track, but there's enough great stuff

to qualify this double CD as a "keeper." CD 2 contains two

historic live performances, both very early in their career: at Max's Kansas City and at CBGB's. Lack of modern production values, in this case, is a plus; because their raw greatness shines through.

Also there's a virtually naked picture of Ivy in the excellent

liner notes that I enjoy looking at very much. The live version

of The Way I Walk is especially special, as you can actually hear

the moment they win the audience over. Teenage Werewolf comes

off great as well; as does Domino."

The Cramps - 'How To Make A Monster' 2-CD (Vengeance)

Mike Reed | USA | 01/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nice audio scrap book of some truly rare/nearly impossible-to-find snippets from the vaults that spans through much of the group's twenty-five plus year career.A total of 45 tracks.Disc one has plenty of semi-rough demos and rehearsal sets.All are of very listenable quality,dating back between 1976-88.Out of the six segments here,I think I like the 1982 A&M Studio demos the best,with "Five Years Ahead Of My Time"(one of the best Cramps songs I think I've ever heard),"Call Of The Wighat" and the Tommy James&The Shondells cover "Hanky Panky".Also fun to hear were the two October 1976 roughs "I Was A Teenage Werewolf" and "Can't Hardly Stand It".Disc two is a REAL gem.First part is a good-sounding nine track gig from the band's third EVER playing gig at Max's Kansas City in January 1977.With cuts like "Don't Eat Stuff Off The Sidewalk","Sunglasses After Dark","TV Set" and the unforgetable "I'm Cramped",you get to fully experience a real 'live' vintage Cramps concert.Check out the sparse-sounding crowd,but then again,this WAS their 3rd show.Second part is from another concert,a year later at the famed CBGB's,with tunes like "The Way I Walk","Human Fly","Uranium Rock" and "Subwire Desire" show you the way to yet another Cramps shindig of days gone by.This concert has been widely-available as both a bootleg(I'll assume)as well as a legit release known as 'Lucky 13'.Wanted to mention that I've seen something like six(6)Cramps bootleg CD's in the past year and even on those discs,there ARE songs here on 'How To Make A Monster' that I don't remember seeing on any of those boots.Also,this 2-CD is tracked MUCH better,perfect in fact.Back cover of the release notes that all these cuts are in fact previously unreleased.I believe that might mean THESE actual demo/rehearsal versions.Either way,'How To...' is a MUST-HAVE for any and all Cramps fans.Old,new,die-hards and just fans who enjoy collecting rare/live recordings of those such-cool bands that many of us never really seem to grow tired of.The line-up on many of these tunes are:Lux Interior-vocals,Poison Ivy-guitar,Byron Gregory(R.I.P.)-buzz guitar and Nick Knox-drums.Comes with an irresistible 24-page full-color booklet packed with loads of rarely(if ever)seen photos,well written liner notes and memorabilia.Most highly recommended."