Locust Abortion Technician
Butthole Surfers · 1987
32 min · 11 tracks · alternative rock
A chaotic blend of noise rock and surreal imagery, creating an unsettling yet captivating auditory experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Sweat Loaf — This track opens the album with a blend of frenetic energy and absurdist lyrics, setting the tone for the chaotic exploration that follows.
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Human Cannonball — The song features a mixture of haunting vocals and dissonant instrumentation, illustrating the Butthole Surfers' unique ability to merge melody with unsettling soundscapes.
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U.S.S.A. — With its biting commentary on American culture wrapped in distortion and noise, this track exemplifies the band's knack for social critique through sonic experimentation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's chaotic structure and distinctive sound create a unique auditory experience, though its cohesion is uneven.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a distorted, heavy guitar riff in 'Sweat Loaf' that sets a chaotic tone for the record.
- Tracks often shift abruptly in tempo and style, such as the transition from the frenetic energy of 'Human Cannonball' to the more subdued 'U.S.S.A.'
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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9/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- short, intense listening bursts
- chaotic, unpredictable soundscapes
- provocative and surreal imagery
- dynamic emotional fluctuations
Where this album fits
- Themes
- American absurdity· chaotic soundscapes· surreal imagery
- Career context
- Released in 1987, Locust Abortion Technician marked the Butthole Surfers' third studio album and their first for Touch and Go Records. At this point in their career, they were solidifying their reputation as avant-garde provocateurs following their previous release, Psychic Powers, which had already garnered a cult following.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Sweat Loaf 6:09
- 2 Graveyard 2:27
- 3 Pittsburgh to Lebanon 2:29
- 4 Weber 0:35
- 5 Hay 1:50
- 6 Human Cannonball 3:51
- 7 U.S.S.A. 2:14
- 8 The O-Men 3:27
- 9 Kuntz 2:24
- 10 Graveyard 2:45
- 11 22 Going on 23 4:23
What to play next
Hairway to Steven
1988
Continues the chaotic energy with a more refined sound and experimental approach.
Rembrandt Pussyhorse
1986
Sets the stage with similar noise rock elements and surreal themes.
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Bullhead
Melvins
Shares chaotic noise textures and a similar sense of absurdity in lyrical themes.
Sister
Sonic Youth
Explores surreal imagery and dissonant soundscapes, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
Children of God
Swans
Combines experimental rock with intense emotional landscapes and provocative themes.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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