Locust Abortion Technician

Locust Abortion Technician was the first Butthole Surfers album to not be recorded in a professional studio. After growing tired of living on the road, the band relocated to Winterville sometime in 1986, where they rented a small two-bedroom house, and used their meager savings to purchase an old Ampex 8-track tape machine and two microphones. Having set up a temporary home studio, the band set off to record what would become their third full-length LP. Despite the band downgrading from the equipment used on their previous record, guitarist Paul Leary believes that the inferior equipment forced the band to be more creative than they might otherwise have been.

Additionally, the new studio freed the band from having to worry about recording costs, allowing them to experiment even more than on previous releases. Jeff Pinkus has also said that the home studio gave them the luxury of taking extended breaks for drug use.

Many of the album's tracks also underwent extensive in-studio development. Although doing this had become a Butthole Surfers tradition, Locust Abortion Technician was one of their last recordings done in such a manner; on subsequent releases the band would go into the studio with more fully formed songs. Pinkus has expressed the opinion that the earlier, more chaotic recording sessions resulted in much of the spontaneous creativity that had propelled the group's early albums.

File:Human Cannonball.ogg

Locust Abortion Technician is an experimental blend of punk rock, heavy metal, and psychedelic music.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/butthole-surfers-mn0000633181/biography|title=Butthole Surfers – Biography|first=Jason|last=Ankeny|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=November 4, 2017}} This fusion led the band to be associated with the emerging grunge and sludge metal sounds. It also employs elements of worldbeat rhythms, noise music, progressive guitar, and folk music, and has been described as art rock, noise rock and alternative metal.{{cite book | last1 = Christe | first1 = Ian | author-link1 = Ian Christe | title = Sound of the Beast: The Complete Headbanging History of Heavy Metal | chapter = Transforming the 1990s: The Black Album & Beyond | publisher = HarperCollins | year = 2004 | location = New York City | page = [https://archive.org/details/soundofbeastcomp0000chri/page/225 225] | isbn = 978-0-380-81127-4 }} The song "Sweat Loaf" utilizes a warped riff parodying the verse riff from the Black Sabbath song "Sweet Leaf". Not all the tracks are guitar-oriented, though; the song "Kuntz" was created by processing the song "Klua Duang" ("The Fear") by Thai artists Phloen Phromdaen and Kong Katkamngae through Gibby Haynes' "Gibbytronix" effects system.{{Cite web|url=http://ngro_obsrvr.tripod.com/articles/tongueterror.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110202041/http://ngro_obsrvr.tripod.com/articles/tongueterror.html|url-status=dead|title=Ken Lieck, "Reissuing the Butthole Surfers," The Austin Chronicle Newspaper Vol. 18 Issue 52|archive-date=November 10, 2007}} The song "22 Going On 23" is an early example of a song dealing directly with a woman's coping, or lack thereof, with sexual assault.{{Cite web|url=https://genius.com/Butthole-surfers-22-going-on-23-lyrics|title=Butthole Surfers – 22 Going on 23}}

This album marked the debut of bass player Jeff Pinkus, as well as the return of co-drummer Teresa Nervosa, who had left the band in December 1985.Michael Azerrad, Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes from the American Indie Underground 1981-1991 (New York, Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2001) 303 It was also the first Surfers full-length album to feature lead singer Gibby Haynes' Gibbytronix vocal effects, which feature on the songs "Sweat Loaf" and "Human Cannonball" (although Gibbytronix were employed on "Comb" on the Cream Corn from the Socket of Davis EP a year earlier).

The Butthole Surfers regularly play songs from Locust Abortion Technician during their live concerts, including "Sweat Loaf", "Graveyard", "Pittsburgh to Lebanon", "U.S.S.A.", "Kuntz", and "22 Going on 23".

• "Sweat Loaf" is a take on the Black Sabbath song, "Sweet Leaf".
• "HAY" is a different mix of the "22 Going on 23" recording, played backwards at double speed. What sounds like voices saying "Hey!" in the song are, in fact, field recordings the band made of cows mooing outside a nearby slaughterhouse, also backwards at double speed. In the final part, there is something that seems to be a high-pitched voice speaking gibberish. This is the speech from the beginning of "22 Going on 23," including the repeated words.
• "22 Going on 23" brought the band to wider UK attention when it was voted number 44 in John Peel's [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/johnpeel/festive50s/1980s/1987/ 1987 Festive Fifty].
• "The O-Men" is a spoof on the speed metal band Omen, inspired by and lifting its chorus from their song "Termination". The vocal style and name of the song are also a reference to the Seattle post-punk band The U-Men, whom the band befriended when The U-Men were on tour and got stuck in Texas for a month.

Locust Abortion Technician's front cover illustration of two clowns playing with a dog, entitled "Fido and the Clowns," was painted by Arthur Sarnoff.{{cite news |title=Die skurrilsten Cover der Rockwelt: Butthole Surfers mit Locust Abortion Technician |trans-title= The most bizarre covers in the rock world: Butthole Surfers with Locust Abortion Technician|url=https://classicrock.net/die-skurrilsten-cover-der-rockwelt-butthole-surfers-mit-locust-abortion-technician/ |language=German |work=Classic Rock|access-date=12 April 2022}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/locust-abortion-technician-mw0000652061|title=Locust Abortion Technician – Butthole Surfers|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=March 17, 2010|last=Huey|first=Steve}}

|rev2 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev2score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |last=Larkin |first=Colin |author-link=Colin Larkin (writer) |publisher=Omnibus Press |edition=5th concise |year=2011 |isbn=978-0-85712-595-8}}

| rev3 = The Great Rock Discography

| rev3score = 8/10{{cite book|title=The Great Rock Discography|author=Martin C. Strong|author-link=Martin C. Strong|edition=1st|year=1998|isbn=978-0-86241-827-4|publisher=Canongate Books|url=http://www.folklib.net/book/index/book_strong_rock.shtml#TMntmn|access-date=March 15, 2020}}

| rev5 = MusicHound

| rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book|title=MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide|editor=Gary Graff|editor-link=Gary Graff|edition=1st|year=1996|location=London|isbn=978-0-7876-1037-1|publisher=Visible Ink Press}}

| rev6 = OndaRock

| rev6score = 8/10{{Cite web|url=https://www.ondarock.it/rockedintorni/buttholesurfers.htm|title = Butthole Surfers - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto}}

|rev7 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite book|last=Young|first=Charles M.|chapter=Butthole Surfers|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|editor1-last=Brackett|editor1-first=Nathan|editor2-last=Hoard|editor2-first=Christian|publisher=Simon & Schuster|edition=4th|year=2004|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/123 123–24]|isbn=0-7432-0169-8}}

|rev8 = Spin Alternative Record Guide

|rev8Score = 8/10{{cite book|title=Spin Alternative Record Guide|editor1-last=Weisbard|editor1-first=Eric|editor2-last=Marks|editor2-first=Craig|publisher=Vintage Books|year=1995|isbn=0-679-75574-8}}

|rev10 = Uncut

|rev10score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite journal|title=Butthole Surfers: Locust Abortion Technician|journal=Uncut|page=84|quote=[P]robably the Buttholes' finest work....They're best remembered as purveyors of the best sort of '70s excess.}}

}}

The album received critical acclaim upon initial release, appearing in the year-end lists of noteworthy publications such as Melody Maker,{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mmpage.html#1987|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223143925/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/mmpage.html#1987|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 23, 2012|title=Melody Maker|website=Rocklist|access-date=July 5, 2020}} NME{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nmeindex.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907194846/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nmeindex.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 7, 2012|title=NME|website=Rocklist|access-date=July 5, 2020}} and OOR.{{cite web|url=https://www.muzieklijstjes.nl/Oorlijsten.htm|title=OOR|website=Muzieklijstjes|access-date=July 5, 2020}} It would go on to feature in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die{{cite book|author1=Robert Dimery|author2=Michael Lydon|title=1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition|date=February 7, 2006|publisher=Universe|isbn=0-7893-1371-5}} and Terrorizer magazine's "The 100 Most Important Albums of the 80s",{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/terroris.htm#The%20Eighties|archive-url=https://archive.today/20080524005712/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/terroris.htm#The%20Eighties|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 24, 2008|title=Terrorizer|website=Rocklist|access-date=July 5, 2020}} while Alternative Press ranked it at #28 on their list of the "Top 99 Albums of '85 to '95".{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/apress.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909153325/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/apress.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 9, 2012|title=Altpress|website=Rocklist|access-date=July 5, 2020}}

In his retrospective review of the album, Steve Huey, writing for AllMusic, said, “The aural equivalent of a nightmarish acid trip and arguably the band's best album (or worst, depending on your point of view), Locust Abortion Technician tops the psychedelic, artsy sonic experimentation of Rembrandt Pussyhorse while keeping one foot planted firmly in the gutter. The record veers from heavy Sabbath sludge (even parodying that band on "Sweat Loaf") to grungy noise rock to progressive guitar and tape effects to almost folky numbers in one big, gloriously schizophrenic mess.”

In 2018, Pitchfork included the album on their list of "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s", adding, “From the John Wayne Gacy-indebted cover art to the turbid sounds within, the group's third LP took a chainsaw to hardcore, psychedelic rock, country blues, Black Sabbath, and, on closer “22 Going on 23,” the sound of mooing cows and the agonizing confession of a sexual assault victim. Butchering every notion of good taste in their path, the Butthole Surfers revelled in the most cartoonish and nightmarish aspects of reality without regret.”{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-1980s/|title=The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s|website=Pitchfork|date=September 10, 2018 }}

Kurt Cobain listed the album in his top 50 albums of all time along with the Butthole Surfers’ first record.{{cite web|title=Top 50 by Nirvana [MIXTAPE] |url=http://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/journal/top-50-by-nirvana/ |access-date=May 8, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018034220/http://www.joyfulnoiserecordings.com/journal/top-50-by-nirvana/ |archive-date=October 18, 2014 }}{{cite book |title=Nirvana: The Complete Illustrated History |last=Cross, Gaar, Gendron, Martens, Yarm |year= 2013 |isbn= 978-0-7603-4521-4 |page= 145|publisher=Voyageur Press }} Doug Martsch included the album among the 10 records that shaped the music of his band Built to Spill.{{cite web|url=https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/the-10-records-that-shaped-built-to-spill/|title=The 10 Records That Shaped Built To Spill|quote=This record taught me that anything can be considered music.|author=Lucy Dayman|date=May 26, 2015|access-date=July 5, 2020|website=Tone Deaf}}

• "Sweat Loaf" is referenced in Red Hot Chili Peppers' song "Deep Kick" from their album One Hot Minute.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/one-hot-minute-194277/|title=One Hot Minute|last=Darzin|first=Daina|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=October 5, 1995|access-date=July 6, 2020}}
• The opening of "Sweat Loaf" was sampled by Orbital on their track "Satan".{{cite web|url=https://thequietus.com/articles/22036-butthole-surfers-locust-abortion-technician-paul-leary-interview|title=The Day Of The Locust: Paul Leary Of The Butthole Surfers Interviewed|last=Graham|first=Ben|website=The Quietus|date=March 20, 2017|access-date=July 6, 2020}}
• "Sweat Loaf" was sampled by Kid Rock on his track "Pancake Breakfast" from the album The Polyfuze Method.{{cite web|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/all-grown-up-2/|title=All Grown Up|website=Texas Monthly|last=Jeff|first=McCord|date=October 2001|access-date=July 6, 2020}}
• Melvins covered the track "Graveyard" on their 2018 album Pinkus Abortion Technician, whose title is itself a reference to both this album and bassist Jeff Pinkus (who plays on both).{{cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-melvins-insane-james-gangbutthole-surfers-medley-stop-moving-florida|title=HEAR MELVINS' INSANE JAMES GANG/BUTTHOLE SURFERS MEDLEY "STOP MOVING TO FLORIDA"|website=Revolver|last=Camp|first=Zoe|date=February 20, 2018|access-date=July 6, 2020}}

All songs written and produced by Butthole Surfers, except where noted.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Sweat Loaf

| length1 = 6:09

| title2 = Graveyard

| length2 = 2:27

| title3 = Pittsburgh to Lebanon

| length3 = 2:29

| title4 = Weber

| length4 = 0:35

| title5 = HAY

| length5 = 1:50

| title6 = Human Cannonball

| length6 = 3:51

}}

{{Track listing

| title7 = U.S.S.A.

| length7 = 2:14

| title8 = The O-Men

| length8 = 3:27

| title9 = Kuntz

| note9 = effects-processed version of "The Fear (กลัวดวง)", written by Kong Katkamngae, performed by Phloen Phromdaen [uncredited]

| length9 = 2:24

| title10 = Graveyard

| length10 = 2:45

| title11 = 22 Going on 23

| length11 = 4:23

}}

• Gibby Haynes – lead vocals
• Paul Leary – guitar
• Jeff Pinkus – bass
• King Coffey – drums
• Teresa Nervosa – drums

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/TG9jdXN0IEFib3J0aW9uIFRlY2huaWNpYW4=/Locust%20Abortion%20Technician Locust Abortion Technician] (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)

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Category:1987 albums

Category:Butthole Surfers albums

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Category:Songs about sexual assault