Ass Cobra

Infobox Album
Name = Ass Cobra
Type = Album
Artist = Turbonegro


Released = 1996
Recorded = 1994-1995 at Nesodden, Musikverksted by Christian A. Calmeyer
Genre = Glam punk
Length = 35:56
Label = Amphetamine Reptile Records (Europe, May, 1996)
Boomba Records (Germany)
Sympathy for the Record Industry (USA, 1997)
Bitzcore Records(Re-press) (Germany)
Get Hip Records (Re-press) (USA)
Epitaph Records (USA, 2003)
Burning Heart Records (Sweden, 2003)
Producer =
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4z0qoataiijv link]
* Scene Point Blank (9.0/10) [http://www.scenepointblank.com/reviews/1934 link]
Last album = "Stinky Fingers"
(1995)
This album = "Ass Cobra"
(1996)
Next album = "Apocalypse Dudes"
(1998)

"Ass Cobra" is the Norwegian band Turbonegro's 1996 album, their third full-length one. It was first released on Amphetamine Reptile Records in Europe in early May, then on Boomba Records in Germany and in 1997 on Sympathy for the Record Industry in the USA. It was re-released in 1998 on Bitzcore Records (Germany) and on Get Hip Records (USA) and in 2003 on Epitaph Records (USA) and Burning Heart Records (Sweden).

The sound

"Ass Cobra" featured a move towards mid-70's punk & glam territory - in the spirit of proto punk pioneers á la The Dictators, The Ramones or late Iggy & The Stooges - plus a bit of New York Dolls' travesty thrown in. "Ass Cobra" paves the way harshly, with a sinister wash of cymbals, loud guitars and articulate riffs — think Poison Idea meets Alice Cooper. It is here, also, where Turbonegro developed their signature look: sailor caps, denim from head to toe, mustaches all around, and decidedly butch homoerotic accoutrements. Though Turbonegro did quite a bit of recording prior to this album, Ass Cobra set a new pace for the band, and enabled them to record what is by many fans considered to be their masterpiece, "Apocalypse Dudes".cite web|title = Allmusic - Ass Cobra Review|author=Kennedy, Patrick|publisher=Allmusic|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kifqxqrjld0e~T1|accessdate=2007-06-08] Moshable magazin remarked: "The very best in obnoxious drunk punk, already a classic buy-or-die thing!"

Track listing

# "Dazzling Display of Talent" – 2:01
# "The Midnight NAMBLA" – 1:36
# "Deathtime" – 2:20
# "Black Rabbit" – 1:21
# "Denim Demon" – 2:11
# "Bad Mongo" – 2:32
# "Mobile Home" – 2:05
# "I Got Erection" – 2:06
# "Just Flesh" – 3:09
# "Screwed And Tattooed" – 3:22 (bonus track on the SFTRI release only)
# "Hobbit Motherfuckers" – 1:22
# "Sailor Man" – 2:00
# "Turbonegro Hate the Kids" – 3:04
# "Imorgen Skal Eg Daue" – 2:32
# "Raggare Is a Bunch of Motherfuckers" – 3:01
# "Young Boys Feet" – 1:14 (bonus track on the SFTRI release only)

All songs composed and performed by TRBNGR except "Raggare Is a Bunch of Motherfuckers" (The Rude Kids), "Mobile Home" (The Lewd) and "Young Boys Feet" (The Dicks).

Line-up

*Hank Von Helvete (Hans Erik Dyvik Husby) - vocals
*Pål Pot Pamparius (Pål Bøttger Kjærnes) - Guitar
*Rune Rebellion (Rune Grønn) - Guitar
*Bingo (Bengt Calmeyer) - Bass
*Happy-Tom (Thomas Seltzer) - drums

Credits

*Morten Andersen - Photography
*Sean Bovine - Engineer
*Rich Burnette - Engineer
*Christian A. Calmeyer - Engineer
*Erik Hanisch - Engineer

Miscellanea

*"Just Flesh" begins with a prank phone call by Happy-Tom where he calls what is presumed to be Norway's Progress Records under the guise of being Steve Ignorant of Crass. Tom (as Steve) becomes hostile with the employee over royalties owed for his contributions to an Israelvis record, resulting in the classic line: "See I'm sitting here, contemplating a bit, and I wonder..."where's the fucking cash?"
*The album sleeve is a parody of The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" album cover. Charles Manson also employed this design after he recorded an hour's worth of music and improvisation from his cell for what would become 'Live at San Quentin'.
*The first European pressings had a sleeve misprint which listed "Screwed & Tattooed" as being one of the included tracks when in fact it was a bonus track for SFTRI's edition. Some say only about 250 escaped destruction. This edition came with 'Hank wrapped in a snake' poster.
*Sympathy for the Record Industry's edition tray card features an alternate image of a bloody prison cell instead of the cold nude man walking as seen on other versions.
*All Bitzcore Records colored vinyls have been pressed between 100 and 200 copies. Also came with 'Hank n' snake' poster.
*The Get Hip Records editions were almost always different in one way or another from its German counter-part. This strictly 'limited American only pressing' for Get Hip Records was on yellow/greenish wax.
*The 2003 Epitaph Records version contains mpeg videos from their performance in Kristiansand, Norway at Quart Festival '02.
*The 2003 Burning Heart Records version comes with Digipak and contains enhanced video clips of "Denim Demon" and an exclusive live-take of "The Midnight NAMBLA", shot at Quart festival '02.
*Polish black/death metal band Behemoth often plays a cover of "I Got Erection" live.

cite web|title = Turbojugend USA - Turbonegro Discography: Full Length|author=Heffington, Mike & Lucassen, Martin|publisher=Turbojugend USA|url=http://www.turbojugendusa.com/turbo_disc/disc_lp.html|accessdate=2008-07/16]

References