Black Snakes is a collaboration between the experimental rock band Red Krayola and the conceptual art group Art & Language.[5][6] It was released in 1983 by RecRec Music.[7] The album was adopted by Drag City and re-issued on CD in 1997.[8]

Black Snakes
Studio album by
Released1983
RecordedSunrise Studio, Switzerland
GenreExperimental rock
Length47:22
LabelRecRec (original release)
Drag City (reissue)[1]
The Red Krayola with Art & Language chronology
Kangaroo?
(1981)
Black Snakes
(1983)
Sighs Trapped by Liars
(2007)
The Red Krayola chronology
Kangaroo?
(1981)
Black Snakes
(1983)
Three Songs on a Trip to the United States
(1983)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Robert ChristgauB[2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[3]
Spin Alternative Record Guide6/10[4]

Critical reception

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Dave Thompson, in Alternative Rock, referred to the album as an "avant-garde theater [soundtrack] without the theater to explain what was happening."[9]

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Michael Baldwin, Mel Ramsden, and Mayo Thompson

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Black Snakes"4:41
2."Ratman, The Weightwatcher"2:52
3."The Sloths"6:42
4."The Jam"4:29
5."Hedges"3:48
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."Portrait of V. I. Lenin in the Style of Jackson Pollock, Part I"3:05
2."Future Pilots"4:17
3."A Portrait of You"4:49
4."Words of Love"4:49
5."Café Twenty-One"3:53
6."Gynaecology in Ancient Greece"3:55

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ "The Red Crayola with Art & Language – Black Snakes | Drag City". www.dragcity.com.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert. "Red Crayola with Art & Language: Black Snakes". Robert Christgau.com. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  3. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 806.
  4. ^ Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. 1995. p. 322.
  5. ^ "Thompson's twins". Dallas Observer. June 17, 1999.
  6. ^ Miller, Eric T. (June 2, 2006). "The Red Krayola: Outside The Lines".
  7. ^ Kenny, Glenn; Grant, Steven; Robbins, Ira (2007). "Red Crayola". Trouser Press. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  8. ^ "The Red Krayola: Black Snakes". Drag City. 2012. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  9. ^ Thompson, Dave (August 9, 2000). Alternative Rock. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780879306076 – via Google Books.
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