Monster Magnet Album: “Spine of God”

This is the album that spawned the stoner rock genre of the 90's. Monster Magnet have not been this perfect since! This album touches 3 eras of hard rock and metal. The opening track "Pill Shovel" starts off with a wacko drum solo, powered by a Stooges riff and then turning into a lazy riff-fest that exemplifies the Magnet sound. "Medicine" is the closest the band get to raising the Stooges from the dead. "Nod Scene" is a tune at once mellow and heavy. It's quiet parts define stoner rock and it's chugging riff at the chorus is..great. "Black Mastermind" is a nod to the mighty Sabbath with it's whirlwind jam at the end. "Zodiac Lung" is a study in versatility, the quietest moment on the album and the closest they get to Pink Floyd-style ambience. They evoke the ghost of Hawkwind in the classic "Spine of God" complete with a sitar solo! "Snake Dance" is another rave-up rocker, while the cover of Grand Funk's "Sin's a Good Man's Brother" is ten times blusier and sleazier. They top the original here. The album ends with "Ozium", a sprawling, murky sea of guitars and organs. Kinda like what Iron Butterfly would sound like today. This is Magnet's greatest album, a potpourri of hard-rock references that takes the best from the past, mixes & mashes, and hurls it towards the future. Magnet's other albums are great, but it'll be hard for them to the spirit they captures here. This is the truest amalgamation of Black Sabbath and the Stooges EVER!

Originally released in 1992, as this was Monster Magnet's first full-length lp. I've always felt 'Spine Of God' was a very good (near great, actually) album in the way that it apparently displays the strong influences the band has of artists like the MC 5, Hawkwind, Stooges, Hendrix and Blue Cheer. Tunes I thought that leave a long lasting impression were "Medicine", the ass-kicking "Nod Scene", "Zodiac Lung", "Snake Dance" and the guy's tribute to 'those who really do' blow weed rather than just slam the past time activity "Ozium". Should appeal to most stoners, head-bangers and acid heads. Wait a minute, what is this, junior high? Shouldn't put labels on people for how they chose to live their lives. Highly recommended.

Spine of God, Monster Magnet's first "proper" full-length LP, is perhaps the heaviest slab of psychedelic strangeness ever hurled at the stale sensibilities of the average American rock listener. Although this record contains all of the heaviness that one might expect of their fellow "grunge" brethren, the difference here is the drugs! This record owes as much to Syd Barrett and The Ultimate Spinach as it does to Blue Cheer and The Stooges. John McBain's guitar work (and a plethora of effects pedals) highlights the narcotic ramblings of lead singer, Dave Wyndorf: The first three songs-- Pill Shovel, Medicine & Nod Scene. Need I say more? Buy it!

Many are under the impression that mixing drugs and music is not a good thing. However, every now and then, you will come across an album that as stoned writted all over it. Spine of God is one those cds.

Just looking at the cover lends credence to the fact that you will lose your mind spinning this one in your player. However, once the music settles in, you will see that their is more to this band than just a druggy image. Monster Magnet comes full force with this one, as it is easy to see why this one is hailed an influential piece in stoner music.

The opening track is such a mind altering experience, you think you would be listening to Kyuss. The mind bending riff is out there, I thought I had to check myself to make sure I wasn't on anything. The rest of the album continues this feeling. Yet, what makes Spine of God great is that it really just full of great music. Drug references aside, the songs hold together well and the record can be played again and again.

I have yet to listen to this one on any mind altering chemical. I wouldn't want to though, as sometimes those things just destroy good music. However, try to picture what it must be like to alter your senses and play some rock and roll. If you can understnad that, then perhaps you will enjoy this cd. If you are, however, just interested in listening to some great rock, then this one is for you. In either case, this one belongs in your collection.

Its a shame what happened to Monster magnet after 1995. You listen to this, their debut, then compare it to something like God says no and you wonder what went wrong. This is possibly the most fun you can have with music, period.

Anyone who can beat GFR at their own game through their cover of 'Sins a good mans brother' deserves significant honor. Early magnet classics such as 'Pill Shovel', 'Snake Dance' and 'Nod scene' are on offer too, spaced out (pardon the pun) by 3 wild trippy numbers 'Black Mastermind, 'Zodiac Lung' and the title track. Ozium may be the single most addictive song ever.

Avid fans of later magnet releases such as Powertrip may not find that much here for them, but this deserves anyone's money in my book. For fans of Sabbath, Kyuss, QOTSA, Stooges, Hawkwind and dare i say Floyd?