MEAT PUPPETS

Indie-rock darlings the Meat Puppets didn’t miss a meat, er, beat with their move from SST to the major London label and their release of 1991’s Forbidden Places. In fact, the album arguably represented a step up from their late-period work at SST, displaying that offhandedly brilliant charm that won the band so many fans in the first place.

The album opener Sam is a frenzied rocker that recalls the early days with maniacal, “auctioneer”-style vocals, and the album closing, pickin’ and spinnin’ instrumental Six Gallon Pie is equally breakneck in tempo and dazzling in execution. No Longer Gone offers a hit of that desert mysticism that leavened albums like Meat Puppets II and Up on the Sun, and Whirlpool showcases Curt Kirkwood’s underrated guitar chops. In short, an essential piece of the Puppets’ catalog, finally widely available at retail on vinyl for the first time since its release 35 years ago.