What makes Up on the Sun by Meat Puppets notable?

Up on the Sun is significant for its innovative fusion of genres and for influencing the alternative rock movement of the late '80s and early '90s. The album received positive reviews from major publications like Rolling Stone, highlighting its experimental approach and lyrical depth, paving the way for the band's eventual mainstream breakthrough. Released in 1985, Up on the Sun marked the Meat Puppets' third studio album, following their critically acclaimed second album, II. At this point, the band was navigating their unique sound, which was beginning to attract broader attention as they defined their place in the burgeoning alternative rock scene.

Who is Up on the Sun for?

Up on the Sun works well if you're into kaleidoscopic sound explorations, wave-like pacing with peaks and short bursts of energy.

How many songs are on Up on the Sun?

Up on the Sun has 17 tracks, running approximately 57 minutes.

Up on the Sun

Meat Puppets · 1985

57 min · 17 tracks · alternative rock

A vibrant blend of psychedelic rock and alternative country, steeped in surreal imagery and eclectic instrumentation.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Up on the Sun — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its intricate guitar work and vivid storytelling, showcasing the band's psychedelic influences.
→
Maiden’s Milk — This track features a playful and surreal narrative that exemplifies the Meat Puppets' distinct ability to blend whimsy with deeper themes.
→
Animal Kingdom — At just over a minute long, this short piece serves as a sonic interlude that emphasizes the album's eclecticism while introducing themes of nature and existence.
→
Swimming Ground — With its haunting melody and introspective lyrics, this song demonstrates the band's capacity for emotional depth amidst their playful sound.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

59 /100

Treeline

Higher than 57% of albums we've rated

The album showcases innovative genre fusion and distinct songwriting, though its cohesion suffers from the number of tracks.

What we noticed

Several tracks feature abrupt tempo changes, such as 'Animal Kingdom' which shifts from a slow groove to a faster pace mid-song.
The use of unconventional song structures is evident, with tracks like 'Enchanted Porkfist' lacking traditional verse-chorus forms.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

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

kaleidoscopic sound explorations
wave-like pacing with peaks
short bursts of energy
adventurous listening for curious minds
for late-night introspection

Maybe skip if you

prefer straightforward song structures
seek consistent tempo throughout

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album helped the band gain wider recognition in the alternative rock scene.
Career context: Released in 1985, Up on the Sun marked the Meat Puppets' third studio album, following their critically acclaimed second album, II. At this point, the band was navigating their unique sound, which was beginning to attract broader attention as they defined their place in the burgeoning alternative rock scene.
Stylistic neighbors: Pixies· Sonic Youth· They Might Be Giants