L Dopa is an awesome rock tune but it sits with some uselessly sadistic tunes attempting to be about the dark side of people.

Big Black's journalistic approach to the sicko inside us was all said and done by the time Atomizer was listened to for the seven thousandth time.  BB had in my humble opinion backed themselves into a creative corner.  Sure darkness is good material but other bands like the Birthday Party or the Swans in their crazy unique way found an escape route by having a soulful ness to their messed up sins.

Big Black didn't completely need an escape route as they had captured what was great about punk energy and anger which was getting your brain out of the fake pop culture fake world.  Really good punk and post punk really frees your brain like its been tied up in a brace.

I like L Dopa and Kitty Empire on this disc cause they really burn with energy but also have that great liberating feeling you just don't get from normal social conventions AND they showed a new direction by just talking about crazy people or crazy messed up dieseases.  Almost as good as Birthday Party in that way.

But to get to the point there are too many songs on this disc about just hurting or hating people for no reason (particulraly women) and the title reference to animalistic sex is even ruined by songs about kicking peoples heads in which is a no boner.

Still some great rock/punk/post punk/post rock but uselessly hateful and violent.  No wonder they broke up.  Shellac is musch better .
L Dopa is an awesome rock tune but it sits with some uselessly sadistic tunes attempting to be about the dark side of people. Big Black's journalistic approach to the sicko inside us was all said and done by the time Atomizer was listened to for the seven thousandth time. BB had in my humble opinion backed themselves into a creative corner. Sure darkness is good material but other bands like the Birthday Party or the Swans in their crazy unique way found an escape route by having a soulful ness to their messed up sins. Big Black didn't completely need an escape route as they had captured what was great about punk energy and anger which was getting your brain out of the fake pop culture fake world. Really good punk and post punk really frees your brain like its been tied up in a brace. I like L Dopa and Kitty Empire on this disc cause they really burn with energy but also have that great liberating feeling you just don't get from normal social conventions AND they showed a new direction by just talking about crazy people or crazy messed up dieseases. Almost as good as Birthday Party in that way. But to get to the point there are too many songs on this disc about just hurting or hating people for no reason (particulraly women) and the title reference to animalistic sex is even ruined by songs about kicking peoples heads in which is a no boner. Still some great rock/punk/post punk/post rock but uselessly hateful and violent. No wonder they broke up. Shellac is musch better.