- Mojo Nixon (aka Neill Kirby McMillan, Jr.) -- vocals, guitar

- Skip Roper (aka Richard Banke) -- guitar, backing vocals,

  harmonica, percussion

- Skip Roper (solo efforts)

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Frenzy

Company: Restless

Catalog: ST-72127

Year: 1986

Country/State: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $8.00

Okay, okay Mojo Nixon and sidekick Skip Roper aren't for everyone.  Being a guy and having a sophomoric sense of humor probably help, but anyone with a semblance of class will probably find these guys pretty appalling.  Since I have a certain fondness for these goofballs, I guess that's a reflection on my background and upbringing ...

Produced by Ron Goudie, 1986's "Frenzy" was probably the place for a casual fan or someone simply curious to get a taste for Mojo Nixon and sidekick Skip Roper's unique worldviews. Admittedly much of Nixon's repertoire was pretty sophomoric, but anyone with a goofball sense of humor should have been able to at least smirk at their mix of smutty humor, blue-collar moves, and surprisingly on target social and political commentary ('I Hate Banks').  Not everything here worked ('Gonna Put My face On a Nuclear Bomb') and the pair frequently sounded like they were drunk off their asses, but there were plenty of highlights included his infamous love ditty to MTV's Martha Quinn ('Stuffin' Martha's Muffin'), the killer Dylan parody 'Feeling Existential', 'Where' the Hell's My Money' (leave it to Nixon to spell out the truth about rock and roll), and a hysterical all-too-brief cover of the classic 'In a Gadda Da Vida'.    

"Bo Day Shush !!!" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) The Amazing Bigfoot Diet

2.) Stuffin' Martha's Muffin

3.) I Hate Banks

4.) Feeling Existential

5.) Be My Lover

6.) Where' the Hell's My Money

(side 2)
1.) Gonna Put My Face On a Nuclear Bomb

2.) Ain't Got No Boss

3.) I'm Living with a Three Foot Anti-Christ

4.) Gonna Eat Them Words

5.) Twilight's Last Gleaming

6.) 23 Mile Ride

7.) In a Gadda Da Vida

8.) The Ballad of Wendell Scott

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Bo Day Shush !!!

Company: Enigma

Catalog: ST-73272

Year: 1987

Country/State: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: original inner sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $8.00

Produced by Ron Goudie, 1987's "Bo Day Shush"  is the album that generated considerable media attention for these guys.  Complete with MTV exposure (funny given Nixon's first 'hit' was his loving tribute to MTV VJ Martha Quinn ('Stuffin' Martha's Muffin'), their 'breakthrough' song was the hysterical 'Elvis Is Everywhere'.  While 'Elvis' generated most of the attention there were actually a couple of other songs that were even better.  On the pure entertainment level 'We Gotta Have More Soul!' deserved credit for name checking Arthur Conley.  In the political/social realm 'I Ain't Gonna Piss In No Jar' was probably the standout tune. Certainly not for everyone, but then you know what you're getting into if you're reading this review.

Here's a YouTube clip of 'Elvis Is Everywhere' to give you a taste (or warn you) as to what to expect:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gopc3fgnXDw

"Bo Day Shush !!!" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Elvis Is Everywhere   (Mojo Nixon) - 4:48

2.) We Gotta Have More Soul!   (Mojo Nixon) - 3:53

3.) I Ain't Gonna Piss In No Jar   (Mojo Nixon) - 3:56

4.) The Polka Polka   (Skip Roper) - 2:14

5.) I'm Gonna Dig Up Howlin' Wolf   (Mojo Nixon) - 2:31

(side 2)
1.) Gin Guzzlin' Frenzy   (Mojo Nixon) - 3:12

2.) B.B.Q. U.S.A   (Mojo Nixon). - 2:54

3.) Positively Bodies Parking Lot   (Mojo Nixon) - 5:43

4.) Wash No Dishes No More   (Mojo Nixon) - 3:;43

5.) Lincoln Logs   (Skip Roper) - 2:48

6.) Wide Open   (Mojo Nixon) - 4:39