Unlike last month, July started off with a really strong release. Psalm 69 marks the first time that Heavy Metal & Industrial music connected, and in the process created something special. But now we comes to the mid 2000s, and Ministry never let up their releases, despite their frontman going through some tough times. However, with the arrival of George W Bush and his administration, and Uncle Al got some pep back in his step, not to mention something to focus on for new material. Today’s review is the 2nd in their trilogy of Bush-Bashing albums...and it’s the one that made me a Ministry fan for life. So sit back, get pissed at Republicans & Conservatives, and enjoy my review for Ministry’s Rio Grande Blood. Let’s begin.
Background
Taken from Wikipedia:
“The album is the 2nd part of the band's anti-George W. Bush trilogy, preceded by 2004's Houses of the Molé and followed by 2007's The Last Sucker.
The title of the album is a parody of the 1972 ZZ Top album Rio Grande Mud.
Just like Houses of the Molé, Rio Grande Blood contains very political lyrics, making frequent allusions to the George W. Bush administration. The second track makes an explicit reference to Bush as Señor Peligro, which translates to "Mr. Danger" in Spanish. Some of the issues raised include the then-current Iraq War, U.S. immigration policy and U.S. military policy (particularly the US Marine Corps in the song "Gangreen"). The Halliburton corporation is also quoted and linked to the Bush administration.
The album also contains allegations of the Bush administration complicity in the 9/11 attacks in the track "Lieslieslies," which contains audio samples from the conspiracy documentary Loose Change. The song received a nomination for Best Metal Performance at the 49th annual Grammy Awards.
A remix of the song "The Great Satan" from Rantology appears on this album. Along with "LiesLiesLies", "The Great Satan" was also nominated for a Grammy.
Samples of genuine Bush soundbites are cut-and-pasted together at various points to satirical effect: for example, the title track begins with Bush stating "I have adopted sophisticated terrorist tactics and I'm a dangerous, dangerous man with dangerous, dangerous weapons."
The album was re-released in remixed form as Rio Grande Dub on July 10, 2007.
Jourgensen ranks Rio Grande Blood as his second most favorite Ministry album saying that not only he liked the songs but he had a good time working with Paul Raven and Tommy Victor. He was also proud that some of the songs were used in the 2008 Academy Award winning film The Hurt Locker.”
Basic Description
Oh boy.....where to begin.
Look, I’m gonna be blunt with you......I can’t find fault with anything about this album. Outside of one song (More on that below), Rio Grande Blood is a perfect album in my mind. Yes, I’m saying that mainly because of it’s connection to my Uncle Randy’s death nearly 12 years ago. Putting that aside, the album really is that good. The instrumentation is fantastic, the effects used are great, and Al Jourgenson’s vocal work is pretty damn good. What’s just as good about this record is how well Ministry uses the subject matter of Bush’s presidency. From the collaboration with various crooked companies, the flawed immigration policy, the U.S.’s presence in Iraq, nothing seemed to be left untouched. This would be carried over to the concluding Bush-bashing release, and to 12 years afterwards....but we’ll get to that in a week.
Best Track
Lies...Lies...Lies. The moment I hear these 3 words spoken together, the memories of that day in 2006 comes rushing back. The start of the track comes in with an intense wave of guitarwork & drums, while an eerie mini-speech is spoken to the crowd like it’s a segment from a T.V. show (Makes sense, considering the music video takes place in a 1950s style home). From there we get Uncle Al’s singing, which comes across like a manifesto of sorts. This happens throughout the tune...but then we get to the chorus, and those few lyrics that make me feel misty-eyed.
“Don’t listen to me, listen to your pain/Don’t listen to it each & every day”
Lies Lies Lies
Worst Track
Like I said in the Ministry overview, Yellow Cake is Rio Grande Blood’s only bad song, but if I’m being honest.....it’s not completely bad. The instrumentation is fine, and Uncle Al’s vocal work is still great....but it’s this one sound effect that they use that makes this track a complete turn off. It’s used in about 75 to 80 percent, and it’s this grating keyboard-like whining. Take it out, or at the very least heavily reduce it, and the song is far more bearable. If you can make it though this whole tune, then you’re much stronger than me.
Yellow Cake
Other
If you’re curious about listening to this album, then click on the link below:
Rio Grande Blood
Overall Impression & Rating
Rio Grande Blood is definitely a strong second act. With Houses Of The Molé being a gimmicky but nice opening, and The Last Sucker is the closing bit, the middle album really has some nice meat on it’s bones. Even over a decade since it’s release, it’s amazing at how much staying power it really has, and it’s horrific at how relevant most of the political commentary can still connect with people. This really is one of the great protest albums out there, and if you can find it, I highly recommend that you get it.
Rio Grande Blood gets a 10 out of 10 due to emotional connections for me, but a 9 out of 10 for more practical reasons. One song can really take away a perfect score after all!
So that was my review for Rio Grande Blood. The album that made me an eternal fan of Ministry, and one that carried me though a very dark period of my life. Some of the subject matter might have stayed in the past, but it’s equal parts depressing & impressive at how relevant everything else is. Well, part 2 of Industrial Metal Insanity is almost over with, so I saved the most controversial.....and the most recent album for last. See you next week!
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