Monday, April 27, 2009

Song of the Day: Cereal Killer (Green Jelly)

This was a comedy-punk band that formed in 1981. Founders Bill Manspeaker and Joe Cannizzaro wanted GJ to be the world's worst band.

They failed at that, given Creed's existence (there's a joke: Creed is what Pearl Jam would sound like if they SUCKED). Granted, I've never heard their early stuff.

No, Green Jelly isn't nearly as bad as they'd like us to believe, and this title track from their 1992 "video-only" album is one of their best. Still, there's a song called "Misadventures of Shitman" on the same album. Things balance out.

The verses are rapid-fire and mockingly typical of metal bands of the '80s and '90s--growling and screaming, menacing-sounding stuff meant to piss off the fundies and parents.
Follow your nose, it always knows the flavor of death where ever it goes....
Terror in the supermarket, shoppers are in horror,
Shredded boxes in the aisles, corpses on the floor,
Those who ran, this joy is mine, now they're going to pay,
Super gory slaughter now the order of the day!

(chorus)
Toucan Son of Sam!! (3 times)

(growled)
Silly rabbit...Trix are for kids!
The over-the-top vocals are funny enough--but the beginning of the second verse always leaves me laughing helplessly: the singer growls "The flavor of death, wherever it goes--" and on "goes" he goes into the wildest rock vibrato I've ever heard...and drags it out for more than 10 seconds, turning that vibrato off and on. Cracks me up every time.

Update: Now with VIDEO!!



That wild vibrato bit happens at about 1:40.

"Part of your delicious breakfast!"

Wikipedia page on Green Jelly.

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