Pretty Music for Pretty People is the tenth studio album by the Dead Milkmen, released in 2014.[4][5] It is their second studio album since reuniting in 2008.[6]
| Pretty Music for Pretty People | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 7, 2014 | |||
| Genre | Punk rock, Alternative rock | |||
| Length | 51:25 | |||
| Label | Quid Ergo | |||
| Producer | Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey | |||
| The Dead Milkmen chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Alternative Press |   [1] |
| PopMatters | 8/10[2] |
| Punknews.org |  [3] |
The album includes the four limited-release singles that followed 2011's The King in Yellow: ("Dark Clouds Gather Over Middlemarch", "Big Words Make the Baby Jesus Cry", "The Great Boston Molasses Flood", and "Welcome to Undertown"), and most of the b-sides from those singles, which first appeared in 2012 and 2013, in addition to previously unreleased songs.[4]
It was released on CD on the Quid Ergo Records imprint, and digitally by the band on their website on October 7, 2014. A limited edition LP with the title Pretty Music For Pretty Special People was also released by Quid Ergo, containing only the previously unreleased songs, plus the "C-Sides" from the singles which had until then only been available digitally.[7]
Production
The album was recorded at Miner Street Studios, in Philadelphia, by Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey.[citation needed]
Critical reception
The Portland Mercury wrote: "Switching gears from hardcore to new wave to electro-inspired songs like the uncomfortably satirical 'Anthropology Days'—with lyrics inspired by various horrific and ridiculous forgotten factoids from history—they're still some of the greatest architects of observant punk rock."[8]
CD Track listing
- "Pretty Music for Pretty People" - 3:48
- "Big Words Make the Baby Jesus Cry" - 3:07
- "Welcome to Undertown" - 3:43
- "Now I Wanna Hold Your Dog" - 1:34
- "Make It Witchy" - 2:50
- "Mary Ann Cotton (The Poisoner's Song)" - 3:46
- "I've Got to Get My Numbers Up" - 3:00
- "Anthropology Days" - 3:11
- "Somewhere Over Antarctica" - 4:11
- "Dark Clouds Gather Over Middlemarch" - 3:12
- "Streetlamps - Walking to Work" - 2:14
- "The Sun Turns Our Patio into a Lifeless Hell" - 3:03
- "The Great Boston Molasses Flood" - 3:54
- "All You Need Is Nothing" - 3:08
- "Ronald Reagan Killed the Black Dahlia" - 1:33
- "Hipster Beard" - 3:50
- "Sanitary Times" - 2:36
LP Track listing
- "Pretty Music for Pretty People" - 3:48
- "Make It Witchy" - 2:50
- "Mary Ann Cotton (The Poisoner's Song)" - 3:46
- "I've Got to Get My Numbers Up" - 3:00
- "Sanitary Times" - 2:36
- "Anthropology Days" - 3:11
- "The Sun Turns Our Patio into a Lifeless Hell" - 3:03
- "All You Need Is Nothing" - 3:08
- "Hipster Beard" - 3:50
Personnel
- The Dead Milkmen
- Rodney Anonymous – vocals, keyboards, tack piano
- Joe Jack Talcum – guitar, vocals, piano
- Dandrew Stevens – bass, tack piano, stylophone, synthesizer, vocals
- Dean Clean – drums, bells, sampler, vocals