A group that will never grow old

Alternative rock old-timers Meat Puppets are back with their fifteenth studio album, Dusty Notes, and despite the 37 years it has been since their first release, the band sounds just as great as ever. The current lineup of the group consists of original members Curt Kirkwood on lead vocals and guitar, Cris Kirkwood on bass and backing vocals and Derrick Bostrom on drums. Joining the original group is Curt’s son Elmo Kirkwood on guitar and Ron Stabinsky on keyboard. Meat Puppets have always been a genre-crossing group, and Dusty Notes is no exception. It combines elements of alt-rock, psychedelic and country rock, creating a collection of songs that are as unique as they are beautiful.

The album begins with “Warranty,” a song that features some beautiful soft vocals from the Kirkwood brothers, and some great guitar riffs. The lyrics play into the psychedelic style of the song, “When you first saw / You should’ve known / There was no more/ Than what was shown.” The second song on the album is “Nine Pins,” which is a heavily country-western influenced song. It features what sounds like banjo picking and vocals that could have come out of a modern folk album. Despite being known as a rock band, Meat Puppets certainly have the talents to create country influenced music, and “Nine Pins” is arguably the best song on the album.

Some other notable songs are the title song “Dusty Notes” and “Nightcap.” “Dusty Notes” is another country-influenced song, but with vocals that have more of a psychedelic sound to them. It’s a fun song, and it has a great chorus that speaks to the power of music. “Music flows through an open door / Can’t keep it closed, it’s liking to swing / Dusty notes drift across the floor/ Can’t keep it clean, it’s a magical thing.” “Nightcap” is different in style, as the verses sound more like a song from the early ’60s, while the chorus is faster and has more elements of modern rock. The harmonizing of vocals from the Kirkwood brothers is what stays consistent throughout the song, and they truly compliment each other beautifully.

The album ends with “Outflow,” not the most unique song on the album, but much like how “Warranty” is a great way to begin it, “Outflow” is a great way to end it, as they both serve as bookends to the content between. The lyrics also are beautiful, creating a perfect image of serenity. “Let the wind and rain the water take the ocean / Let the stars melt down from the sky.”

Dusty Notes is available for purchase now, and Meat Puppets will be touring the U.S. and Europe this spring and early summer.