The original line-up consisted of lead singer Shannon Selberg, who later took up the bugle, guitarist Thor Eisentrager, bass guitarist Kevin Rutmanis, and drummer Sandris Rutmanis (soon to be replaced by Norm Rogers). The band had a hardcore sound characterized by blurred guitars, however the Cows took the formula a step further, creating a unique and unconventional style.
Stripping away anything that remotely resembled pop - including melody and catchy hooks and riffs - the Cows offered punk rock in its crudest form. John Dougan in All Music Guide described the group's distorted sound as "a feral racket that sounded as is if the guitars were being played with metal files". Lyrically, their songs dealt with just about anything, from losers in life to sex and bodily fluids. And Selberg's shrieking vocal style and general lunacy on stage provided the Cows with a bizarre, yet often engaging focus.
In 1987, the Cows released their debut album, Taint Pluribus, Taint Unum, landing a record deal with Amphetamine Reptile for the release of their second LP, Daddy Has A Tail. And by the time Cunning Stunts arrived in 1992, critics began to cite improvements.
However, while the Cows exhibited a more solid playing technique and greater songwriting focus, they stayed true to their punk roots and anti-commercial stance. "We play music that we like", said Eisentrager once. "We know how the world works. We're not trying to make music for mass consumption. Sometimes you get frustrated, but it's all about music. Episodically you get pissed off, but we've had a fair shake with the band, and we've had good tours. Basically we wish more people could get their hands on the records, but we know what we're doing and like what we do. It's not like somebody is trying ... to ignore us. It's just the nature of the beast".
After the release of Orphan's Tragedy in 1994, Roger decided to leave the Cows, fuelling rumors of a breakup. The rumors were silenced, however, with the release of Whorn in 1996. The album featured a new drummer, Freddy Votel.
In the wake of Whorn, talk of a band breakup emerged a second time when Selberg relocated from Minneapolis to New York City. But a new album again served as notice that the Cows were a healthy unit. Released in 1998, the eclectic Sorry In Pig Minor also saw the Cows, for the first time, exploring new ground. Although evidence of the old Cows remained, Sorry In Pig Minor was more varied in scope and texture. The opener, Cabin Man, was vintage Cows, yet tunes like the Latin-flavored El Shiksa and the jazzy Felon Of Troy proved that the group could handle more than punk.
After more than a decade of noise rock, the Cows disbanded in 1998.
They have a star on Minneapolis' First Avenue. Their singer, Shannon Selberg, has gone on with music, fronting the noise rock band The Heroine Sheiks.
Pickled Garbage Soup
Cows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You tried to see what your place was
Heard them talk, watched them watch
Found that you weren't related
You were tracked, you were found
You were fooled and you were baited
But you had to go, you had to look
You always stay, you're always stuck
You never see the equation
You're one of these, you're one of them
You're one of those kind of strangers
The lyrics of Cows's song Pickled Garbage Soup seem to talk about someone who is trying to find their place in the world. The lines "you thought it out, you looked it up, you tried to see what your place was" suggest that the person has been doing some introspection and research to figure out where they belong. However, despite their efforts, they still feel like an outsider; "found that you weren't related."
The following lines describe the person's experience of being deceived and manipulated by others; "you were tracked, you were found, you were fooled and you were baited." This could be interpreted as a commentary on the darker side of human behavior, where people take advantage of others for their own gain. The person, despite being mistreated, still feels a strong desire to understand the motivations of those around them; "you had to go, you had to look, you had to ask what their name was."
The chorus of the song talks about the person being trapped in their own circumstances; "you always stay, you're always stuck, you never see the equation." They feel like they are one of the "strangers" in the world, who are always on the outside looking in. Overall, the song seems to be a reflection on the struggle to find one's place and understand human behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
You thought it out, you looked it up
You spent time thinking and researching
You tried to see what your place was
You attempted to discover where you fit in
Heard them talk, watched them watch
You listened to them converse and observed their reactions
Found that you weren't related
You realized that you did not belong with them
You were tracked, you were found
They followed you and discovered you
You were fooled and you were baited
They deceived and lured you
But you had to go, you had to look
However, you felt the need to explore and investigate further
You had to ask what their name was
You required to know their identity
You always stay, you're always stuck
You remain static and fail to move forward
You never see the equation
You do not understand the situation's basics
You're one of these, you're one of them
You are part of a specific group
You're one of those kind of strangers
You are a stranger of a particular kind
Contributed by William N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.