24 Nov 2024
UsernamePassword

Remember Me? | Join | Recover
Click here to sign in via social networking

Mike Puke - Album Review: The Sound of Puke

25 Jan 2019 // A review by darryl baser

The Sound of Puke is possibly the best, and most fitting, title for an album ever.

The album begins with the title track, The Sound of Puke which starts with a sample of The Sound Of Music straight from Julie Andrews' mouth, but don’t worry she’s vocally run over before she can say ‘music’, as Mike sings "Puke" over her singing the word ‘music’…If you’re unsure what I mean, give it a listen. There’s also another great vocal sample during the "Doe a deer" section of the song.

Mike Puke began in legendary Nelson punk band Dead Centre who toured the South Island with Mike eventually putting down roots in Dunedin. He now calls Kaitangata home.

Musically it’s mostly fast and furious. You always know where you stand with Mike Puke.

Yet with Woolly Pink Slippers he’s got his tongue firmly in his cheek and he could potentially be referring to himself getting older and going soft. But you won’t catch me saying that to his face.

I’m A Pig was one of the first songs Mike Puke wrote on his own and became a Dead Centre classic. It comes from Mike and his fellow punks being hassled by police in Nelson in the 80's.

Election Day is along the classic anarchist credo of ‘no matter who you vote for the government wins’, the chorus includes the words: "vote for no one, ‘cause no one cares".

The tune Politician is along similar lines. The opening words are “fucking scum,” meaning the party which gets Mike Puke to vote will be managing a huge win.

Seriously this album is a great collection of re-worked tunes from over Mike Gale’s 30+ year career as one of the most underrated underground musicians to make a racket in Aotearoa. If you like old school punk, but with a modern underground take.

Jon and Rex is a not at all subtle stab at countries with lax gun laws, and men who love their guns so much that it leads to a grossly inappropriate relationship between man and firearm.

The 25 song album documents a lengthy career.

The last song The Charming Month of May has Puke branching out, as it is a Robert Burns poem interpreted in Mike Puke style. It also appears on the second Burns compilation put out on Zelle Records called My Bonnie Bell.

Much of the language is colourful so it’s not for people who are scared of profanity.

Rating: ( 4 / 5 )
 

About Mike Puke

Releases

Mike Murders Music
Year: 2021
Type: Album
The Sound Of Puke
Year: 2019
Type: Album
Sick In The Head Part 1
Year: 2013
Type: Album
Sick In The Head Part 2
Year: 2013
Type: Album
An Horrific Fracas...
Year: 2009
Type: Album
The Nightmayor Of Nelson
Year: 2003
Type: Album

Other Reviews By darryl baser

MEDaL - Album Review: Sequela
14 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Christchurch trio MEDaL are a combination of many years of New Zealand musical history. Singer and guitar slinger David Mulcahy was in JPSE and Superette, bass player John Billows has spent time with The Renderers and Dark Matter and drummer Mark Whyte is part of Into The Void.
Read More...
The Bobby Holidays - Album Review: At The Beach
13 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
The Bobby Holidays' At The Beach opens with the song Jane, syncopation is to the fore with a great horn section blowing against bass, drums and guitar. The song has an up tempo happy summer vibe.
Read More...
Mad Cow - Single Review: Same Boat
01 Dec 2022 // by darryl baser
Same Boat is the latest single to be released Taranaki 3-piece Mad Cow. Mad Cow are mainstays of the New Plymouth have been around since the 1990’s in the North Island’s music scene, evolving from school band No Comment.
Read More...
The New Existentialists - EP Review: Last Days of the Internet
23 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
It might seem like George D Henderson has been a part of the New Zealand music landscape for about as long as Keith Richards has been playing guitar. He’s been in the Flying Nun arena with The Puddle based in Dunedin.
Read More...
Nika - Single Review: Saviour Complex
03 Nov 2022 // by darryl baser
A song with an interesting title will always grab my attention, and the idea of people with a saviour complex has always fascinated me, so when the new song by Nika called Saviour Complex was offered to me to review I almost somersaulted. The song opens with a gently and alluring piano melody before Nika’s voice kicks in and from the first notes some vocal training is obvious.
Read More...
The RVMES - Single Review: Simple Things
05 Oct 2022 // by darryl baser
Oh My God. There are bangers then there’s this tune.
Read More...
VÏKÆ - EP Review: Love Games
25 Aug 2022 // by darryl baser
Veronika Bell, known to music fans as Vikae, has been composing and producing music for a good few years, and is gaining some crossover traction between the dance and pop worlds. While she writes many of her tunes on a piano, and can perform them beautifully with piano and her impressive voice, it is the dance-styled pop versions of her tune which have been garnering her acclaim.
Read More...
Mecuzine - Album Review: Locksmith Thief
21 Jul 2022 // by darryl baser
Now that’s a great way to open an album. Bruised and Broken is the first track of Mecuzine’s new album Locksmith Thief, and my god what an epic track to open their new record.
Read More...
View All Articles By darryl baser

NZ Top 10 Singles

  • APT.
    ROSÉ And Bruno Mars
  • DIE WITH A SMILE
    Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
  • BIRDS OF A FEATHER
    Billie Eilish
  • TASTE
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • I LOVE YOU, I'M SORRY
    Gracie Abrams
  • ESPRESSO
    Sabrina Carpenter
  • SAILOR SONG
    Gigi Perez
  • LOSE CONTROL
    Teddy Swims
  • A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
    Shaboozey
  • GOOD LUCK, BABE!
    Chappell Roan
View the Full NZ Top 40...
muzic.net.nz Logo
100% New Zealand Music
All content on this website is copyright to muzic.net.nz and other respective rights holders. Redistribution of any material presented here without permission is prohibited.
Report a ProblemReport A Problem