Lunch Boxes & Choklit Cows by Spooky Kids (The) (CD, May-2004, SPG Music)

This is a fabulous item for music geeks like me who seek the rare and unusual. In this case, it's the marvelous cover art by one Brian Warner (aka Marilyn – though if you’re reading this, you all ready know that) which was pulled from the product after a legal dispute. In the CD sleeve are more great examples of early promo posters and photographs; take your time and check out the great detail. There are 12 perfectly reproduced posters in miniature that serve up every offensive cliché and take them to the extreme with artistry and ingenuity. Some are included in the biography of Marilyn Manson, but very few. I don’t know if the later edition of Lunch Boxes & Choklit Cows provides this or not. With its song list was provided not only the length of the track, but a thoughtful inclusion of month/year of recording and what demo each accompanied. The music is timeless, with use of vocal distortion, perfectly placed guitar licks, and a touch of unconventional drumming with a slightly tribal feel. Later offerings are superior, of course, but all provide tremendous listening pleasure. “Red (In My) Head” is first and earliest, a bit too much megaphone use yet filled with the attitude I know and love. Next we have “Dune Buggy” with a sound bite cleverly inserted right out of the gate. Listen closely to the words; you’ll be very glad you did. The sound is sharper on this one. “Insect Pins” has a nice downbeat feel and psychedelic overtones. There is more reliance upon music than words. Sometimes that’s okay, too, though I prefer more storytelling. In “Learning to Swim” you all ready know this is the same vocalist as on the latest masterpiece, Eat Me, Drink Me. It does lose me a little. They can’t all be favorites. “Negative Three” is sophisticated and droll. Back to 1990, “Meat for a Queen” takes you for a ride. Buckle up; I’ll get back to you when I understand what exactly he’s saying. Nice lyrical imagery from what I’ve caught so far. Much the same can be said for “White Knuckles,” another of the earliest. “Scaredy Cat” is slick, obviously more polished, and I love the line “I am the maggot in the apple of your eye.” I like that he’s already taking a jab at imitators with “Thingmaker” (recorded live). Nice ‘tude. “Thrift” is also live. It's like smooth, bitter chocolate. Production value is top of the line with better balance than I expected. Scott Putesky ("Daisy Berkowitz") produced it and, despite creative and legal differences, included one particular special thanks that was classy, very prominent, and a pleasant surprise. Along with the music CD is a DVD of live performances. The amateurish nature takes nothing away for the purist; you can feel the energy. It made me regret my yuppie phase of the period even more than I did to start. I would have liked to see more in the photo archives. Another small gripe I have is you cannot "play all" but rather have to scroll down from the first video each time. It's definitely worth the effort. Sound is also not the greatest. No surprise there, but there also seems to exist some issues with synchronization. Hey, it was old technology, so don't sweat it. I won't give away detail but I loved their use of an icon of eighties’ childhood; the crude effect is creative and offensive; utterly brilliant. Apparently the camera operator liked it; must've been male to have taken focus off the guys! No topic is taboo and nothing is sacred. Thank you, gentlemen; I wish I had been there. Do buy this.