Flashback Friday: Cows – Cunning Stunts (AmRep 15 Bash SATURDAY!)
Opening with the famous slap and wail of a baby, the seminal Cunning Stunts LP from local legends Cows takes off like a rocket ship from the first moments, and doesn’t let up over the it’s 12 song, thirty odd minute lifespan. It is a heavy canvas buzzsaw riffs and semi-tractor-on-speed rhythm section, all wrapped up in the madcap vocals Shannon Selberg, who also brings his bugle and harmonica to the party. The 1992 LP was the third from Cows, and it was a step out of the mud in regards to letting their melodies and and hooks have a bit of room to breath. While they still cultivated a beautiful amalgamation of noise, punk and elements of hardcore, Cunning Stunts is a clear documentation of a band that knew how to push the envelope while opening up their sound to a wider audience. It is a confident and well-oiled group who captured a record that stands the test of time. Listen to the whole LP above, and see a slightly altered Cowz lineup Saturday as the headliners at the AmRep 15 Bash that is happening at Grumpys in Downtown Minneapolis, also featuring The Melvins, Gay Witch Abortion, Run Westy Run, Hammerhead and more.
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