Yep, it’s that time of year - it seems every time Scorpio comes around I get a little obsessed with SP. Listening to them right now, “RABIES” - a true classic and Al’s involvement in it helps me to forgive his recent transgressions.
The crazy thing is, if you consider the capabilities of what Al does now, you kind of question how much Rave or Critter had on those songs…
And considering how Ogre fucked Al’s wife, you almost wonder how sessions would have went beyond 1989…W.E.L.T. happening…but then again, Too Dark Park wouldn’t have happened.
The crazy thing is, if you consider the capabilities of what Al does now, you kind of question how much Rave or Critter had on those songs…
And considering how Ogre fucked Al’s wife, you almost wonder how sessions would have went beyond 1989…W.E.L.T. happening…but then again, Too Dark Park wouldn’t have happened.
lol wtf. ogre fucked patty?
[reply]The crazy thing is, if you consider the capabilities of what Al does now, you kind of question how much Rave or Critter had on those songs…
And considering how Ogre fucked Al’s wife, you almost wonder how sessions would have went beyond 1989…W.E.L.T. happening…but then again, Too Dark Park wouldn’t have happened.
lol wtf. ogre fucked patty?[/reply]
yeah… umm… what?!
i need more info here…
i wish that Ogre would write abook about his time with Ministry/Al… to be fair, i wish most fo the guys from that time frame would write books about it, Chris’ book was amazing, and it touches on a time period for the band i have always wanted to know more about.
It’s strange to me to see Rabies called a “classic” by some here. I was already knee-deep into SP by '89, and always thought this album was a ‘bump in the road’ in their career. I knew before the album came out that Al J. was going to be involved, and remember being slightly dismayed and annoyed by the guitar-heavy tracks (Tin Omen, Fascist Jock Itch). Also, maybe because of the new digital sampler technology at that time, the overall sound of the record was not as impressive as the previous 3 records. Many of the drums/samples/synths sound ‘cheap’ at times, and the programming was not as complex. They did a much better job of processing their sounds on the earlier releases.
I don’t hate Rabies, but I think it’s FAR from their best output. That said, they still managed to write a couple of gems with “Rodent” and “Worlock”. Hexonxonx sounds like SP borrowed Manufacture’s cheap synths, Two Time Grime is kind of a cool continuation of the beats heard on Cleanse, and Rivers might be the only other song I actually care about on this album. Oh, and the cover art looks like a contractual obligation for SRG. 
Unwanted 2 cents aside, this is definitely the best time of year to dust off the SP and crank it.
1002
What? ogre fucking patty if so Al was okay with it. It was Pauls replacemant during the filth pig sessions she cheated on Al with that caused the divorce notice how we never even heard his name. but yeah listen to f.j. itch that’s all Al with the pailhead vibe rabies is cool as a stand alone record just not so much as the follow up to vivi sect 6
I agree pretty much with Tenohtwo’s assessment of Rabies. I bought the Tin Omen 12" a couple of months before the album came out, and was pleasantly surprised as I discovered my two favorite bands were working together. That excitement did not really carry over once I had heard the whole album with that intolerable dolby noise reduction slapped over the top, and it still is the least played by me. At least the 1993 remaster fixed the sound problems.
I see Rabies as an experiment for them, one that was a bit of a mixed bag. The album does has a certain groove on it other SP albums do not, but it is a step down from VIVIsect VI overall. Your mileage may vary.
1989 overall was a bleak year to be a Puppy fan, the tour wasn’t happening, Ogre ran off with Ministry, and it was up in the air whether or not the and would continue. Of course everything sort of worked out, and Key and Goettel put out 4 albums the next year including Too Dark Park.
Yeah, I’m pretty much on the same page with Rabies. Feels like a ministry side project than a puppy album. And it was a total switch after VivisectVI. Rabies isn’t a bad album by any means, but it doesn’t really “fit” with the others. Only of it’s kind.
I’ve never liked Skinny Puppy…I have tried but their music is not for me. I like Cab Vol and numerous other Industrial/Electronic bands but never enjoyed a SP album…I think I just don’t dig their trying to sound spooky and dark flavour?
I only liked Rabies because I was totally gay for Ministry at the time…I dug Rabies back out recently and had a listen and discovered I now think it’s horrible. In saying that I do have a weird soft spot for Worlock…regardless I’m still selling the thing along with Nihil and Beers Steers & Queers on vinyl…I’ve listed the whole lot as a bundle on ebay for £13.99 over the last few weeks and no one wants to know about it! I guess Industrial fans don’t like vinyl or don’t like those albums?
Buy my stuff…buy my stuff…buy my stuff…
Love Rabies.
People with a mad-on for Al have always hated it, but I think it’s got a cool sound.
Sorry, I should’ve added allegedly…sorry Angie…
I know I’m in a minority but Rabies is my favorite Puppy album, next is Too Dark Park, next is Remission - honestly those are the only three I listen to any more. I loved Cleanse, Fold and MIND back in the day but ViViSECTVI has never been a favorite except for the singles. Truth be told, except for Halloween/Scorpio its rare that I want to listen to Puppy except for the singles.
i LOVE rabies! rodent and tin omen are some of my fav skinny puppy songs.
i’ve always wanted to cut out and loop that really fast noisy distorted part in tin omen and make a song out of it. that would be so cool.
When I was younger I had such an erection for Puppy’s harder material like Rabies, Too Dark Park and Last Rights. These days I really appreciate the early stuff like Bites, Remission and Mind: TPI. The music had a certain quality to it back then, not sure if it was all the analog gear or what exactly, but their overall sound had this melodic, dreamy, zone-out quality in addition to the abrasiveness.
Last Rights is a twisted fucking album, a smorgasbord of crazy ass sounds. Listening to this one you can here the beginnings of the Download project. Love this one but it always takes me to a dark place… great suicide music it would be.
i also love rabies. one of my favorite skinny puppy records.
Rabies was what got me into SP due to Al J.'s influence. Though, I admit the B-sides are almost as good as the LP… “Spahn Dirge”, “Brak Talk” and “Amputate”…yeah!
I used to hate “Spahn Dirge” and then I listened to it last night and for the first time ever, I really enjoyed it. The song offers a glimpse into a much stranger Skinny Puppy than heard anywhere else.
Yup I’m going to follow Tenohtwo’s advice and CRANK it. Most likely VIVIsectVI because it’s my favorite teehee.
I used to like Skinny Puppy like 20 years ago. But it’s hard for me to honestly remember now if I really thought it was good music or just wanted to scare my parents and everyone around me. Regardless, I did see them live on the “Last Rights” tour which was quite amazing. Fantastic theatrics and stage props.
I try listening to them every once in a while hoping that they’ll spark some excitement in me again, but I truly find most of it unlistenable.
Not sure what I can add about Rabies that hasn’t already been said. It was the fourth or fifth album of theirs I heard after Last Rights and Too Dark Park turned me into a fan. I remember being put off by how guitar and beat oriented most of the songs were and how much “Worlock” stood out as the greatest song. The lyrics also didn’t seem as deliberated as other efforts and were more scattershot in topical approach than an album like Vivisect, where all the words stay centered around environmentalism and animal rights. Rabies isn’t as pointed. Many years later I’ve come to appreciate it a lot more even if I hesitate to rank it as one of SP’s best.
As for Al’s influence, if he’s responsible for writing THE RIFF in “Rodent” then good on him. I find it easy to forget the guy was capable of bringing really great elements to the table sometimes.