Search - Residents :: Duck Stab

The Residents breakthrough album

David Fields | Lincoln, Nebraska United States | 07/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the classified ads section of Rolling Stone when I was in high school this group called the Residents kept begging me to buy one of their albums. Of course, I always wanted to (being a kid, you always want to please people), but never did (being a kid, I had no money to indulge on the Residents).Back in 1978, I lived, for a brief period of time, in Denver, Colorado. As part of my passage of time, I would hang around in Wax Trax and look for something new to listen to, mostly punk rock and new wave albums. On the shelfs were some Residents stuff, mainly "Meet the Residents, Fingerprince, and two EP's named "Duck Stab" and Buster and Glenn". I avoided the EP's, not wanting to pay the money, but did pick up the other two. While I thought the Residents were, well, wierd, I didn't know then that I would become the fan I am today (at 45, being a Residents fan - and a grandfather - seems a bit out of synch with reality).Soon, Duck Stab and Buster and Glen were put together as one, and I bought it.I was astonished. These weren't the noodlings of some art group - this was pop music! Constantinople drove me nuts with its singer (whose singing to date I can compare to scraping my fingernails onto a chalk board) The Laughing Song cracked me up, because it is like listening to an inside joke (which it probably is) Elvis and His Boss predates cube-e, and is probably the best parody of Elvis ever done by the one eyed wonders. Weight-Lifting Lulu is dark, and beautiful Hello Skinny is my favorite song in the entire album, and The Electrocutioner hooked me to the Residents forever. If you're looking for some songs written and performed by the Residents this is the album to find them in, every song is original, no two are the same, and they're all good (if strangely arranged and played). This is an essential Residents album."

"Ignorance of your culture is not considered cool."

Michael Sean | Seattle, WA - US | 05/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This terrific disc is comprised of two EPs ("Duck Stab" and "Buster & Glen"), and it represents one of the best albums from the group's 'classic' period (1972-80). The songs are fairly linear and the lyrics are even sung clearly, but don't take this to mean that they've become radio friendly. These catchy little numbers are 14 nightmarish excursions into the demented nursery of the Residents, and after you've weathered one sitting they'll continue to poke at your brain for days. This was their best selling release at the time, and helped push their mystique further into the attention of the American underground. Les Claypool has named this album as one of his favorites (Primus has covered "Sinister Exaggerator," "Constantinople" and "Hello Skinny") and much of the warped style on Ween's "The Pod" and "Pure Guava" albums can be traced back to this record. It also features some excellent guitar work by the late Snakefinger (aka Philip Charles Lithman). This CD is required listening for fans of fringe artists and unusual music, and it's easily an essential Residents title."

They try a pop album... and succeed!!!

The Bass Ninja | ghjg | 06/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Residents are known for their arty experimentalism on avant-garde discs like Eskimo, Third Reich N' Roll, and Not Availible. However, Duck Stab/Buster And Glen revealed a new side to the ol' op-tops. Released in 1978, it was a combo of two EPs that showcased short, concise songs with understandible lyrics-then put through the Resdiential wringer. The result is what can be described as Top 40 for space aliens. Opener "Constantinople" is one of the three undisputed classics on this album, graced with constantly appearing on setlists and covers by Primus. The track is an eerie ditty bringing to mind creepy electronica. The second classic, "Sinister Exaggerator", is a slow and surreal nightmare with lyrics about god-knows-what. The other classic, "Hello Skinny", is a cool tune consisting of bass, clarinet, and echoed vocals.
However, many of the "non-classics" are just as good, some even better. "Blue Rosebuds" is a fantastic love song that shifts gears from surreal to psychotic; "The Booker Tease" is a dirty instrumental with cop-show guitar courtesy of Snakefinger; "The Laughing Song" is a eerie se shanty sung by a redneck; "Bach Is Dead" has a melody that sounds like someone scratching on a balloon and has a famous bridge of three quarter-notes; "Elvis And Is His Boss" is a hilarious splice of the Batman theme and heavy techno, and it even has a I-IV-V progression (!); "Lizard Lady" is an angry little piece of synth goodness; "Semolina" is a harmony-driven ballad; "Birthday Boy" is a demented child's song; "Weight-Lifting Lulu" sounds like a surf tune on tranquilizers; "Krafty Cheese" sounds like nothing lees than an invasion by robot gardeners (you'll see); and "The Electrocutioner" is a 2-parter: a manic blast of squeals, and a slow drift, both sung by some creepy lady.
All in all, Duck Stab/Buster And Glen may not be The Residents' best album, most it's their most accessible while being a fan favorite at the same time. Groovy!"