2000 Great Songs #1396: Punk Rock Girl
The Dead Milkmen 's 1985 debut Big Lizard In My Backyard was something we played relentlessly at the college radio station (well, at least the half of the album we were allowed to play without risking FCC intervention); it's something I still enjoy taking out for the occasional spin, despite (or because of) its almost comically problematic lyrical content. But I didn't stick around much beyond that one. Still, "Punk Rock Girl" (off their fourth proper LP, 1988's Beelzebubba ) was a bit of a commercial breakthrough for them, ending up in constant MTV rotation for a moment or two. And, yeah, it's a silly novelty track, far better with the video than without it; but the joyous exuberance, the Mojo Nixon name-check, and the mangled Beach Boys/Mamas & The Papas confusion all make it wonderful fun. Beavis & Butthead appearance: Live in the studio 2013: Streetlight Manifesto cover: See the entire Top 2000 to date in a sortable database !
