STEEL POLE BATH TUB - TULIP (1990)

What the hell is going on? I can't believe this is the first post from Steel Pole Bath Tub. I should be strung up by my spurs and given a 1000 lashings.

STEEL POLE BATH TUB. 4 words together that will give you weird google search results. But this 3-piece from the Bay (orig from Bozeman MT) made a clambering and pronounced lump on the noise rock forehead in the 90s. And lots of bands have been smacking themselves silly trying to re-create this kind of protrusion, only producing small, itchy red spots. Because of the timeframe of the 90s, when everyone was trying to be the next big post-Big Black band, SPBT got a little lost in the engulfing brew, not breaking out as big as they should have. But I feel they are more important now than ever. Their career includes a slew of singles, lots of cover songs, comp tracks and an 'unlistenable' record that the majors tossed back in their teeth.

They launched a handful of full-lengths…blanketing heavy, rattling thunks, textured, sonic walls of experimental racket, layers of distorted samples and sounds, all coated with sweet n sour dark humored lyrics. Tulip was always one of my favs, so it only seems appropriate to make it the first Steel Pole post here at staticfraction.

(Tupelo / Boner Records 1990)

DL: TULIP