The Cramps’ ‘Gravest Gravy’ Unearths Long-Lost Sessions From One of Rock’s Most Brilliantly Deranged Bands: Album Review

By Jem Aswad

Jem Aswad

Executive Editor, Music

Latest

• The Cramps’ ‘Gravest Gravy’ Unearths Long-Lost Sessions From One of Rock’s Most Brilliantly Deranged Bands: Album Review 1 hour ago
• Shakira, Global Citizen, Live Nation and CAF Commit $1.25 Million to Rebuild Schools in Colombia Following Earthquake 3 days ago
• Music Industry Moves: Wolf Alice Signs With UTA for North America 3 days ago

The Cramps were one of the greatest and strangest bands to emerge from the punk-rock generation — which is truly saying something. By fusing rockabilly with humor and imagery inspired by vintage horror movies, they helped to pioneer the sound sometimes called psychobilly — a gloriously twisted take on rockabilly’s trademark twang and groove with deranged vocals, in their case arguably best captured in the 1980 video for their song “Garbage Man.” They released a series of steamy albums throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s — arguably peaking with the early “Gravest Hits” EP and “Songs the Lord Taught Us” and “Psychedelic Jungle” albums — and staged some of the most ecstatically unhinged concerts rock fans could ever hope to experience.

Related Stories

'Star Wars: Starfighter' Footage: Ryan Gosling Races Through the Galaxy With Young Sidekick