Bikini Red album cover
Bikini Red

The Screaming Blue Messiahs

1987
WEA Records Ltd.

The second Screaming Blue Messiahs album is louder, faster, and punchier than its predecessor; Kenny Harris’s drums are like being slapped in the head with a ping-pong paddle, Chris Thompson’s bass seizes every bit of sonic space available, and frontman Bill Carter’s guitar is a face-searing wall of fire. His manic lyrical imagery (lots of engines, lie detectors, and throbbing muscles, plus Superman and the Flintstones) is as entertaining as ever, and he reveals a soft side on the ballad “Waltz” and the title track, an almost Beach Boys-esque poem about a woman who may or may not be an alien.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by
Who also suggested

If you select your preferred streamer here, we will save your preference and link to that platform if possible. This can always be changed in the Settings menu.

Apple Music

If you’d like to prioritize Bandcamp if available, tap the Bandcamp logo.

Since some albums are only available on one service, you’ll still see logos for other services if the album is only available on that service.

Next