Articles & Reviews
MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL - Interview with Electric Love Muffin - July 1986
Free TNT Zine - My Month in a Van with the Muffin
Philly Zine #1 (1987) - Interview with Electric Love Muffin
Book
George Hurchalla, Going Underground: American Punk 1979-1989. PM Press, 2016. Click to purchase.
“One of the best bands in the mid-‘80s Philadelphia scene was Electric Love Muffin, worthy of sharing a bill and standing their own against any of the out-of-town headliners. They were exploring lightly treaded ground in their first few years of existence, playing hyper-speed rock and roll with great songwriting and fantastic melodies. Their first album, Playdoh Meathook, is a stellar effort, though the songs “Tomorrow’s Regrets” and “Look For Me” aren’t as intense as they were live or on one of their early demos. They had a great five-song demo circulating around the Philly scene for a couple of years before they got Buy Our Records to put out Playdoh Meathook, and I still prefer the rawer versions of these songs.
[...]
While I first saw them play around 1984, the band started getting out of Philly in 1986 and took their first tour that year. Kaufmann recalls:
“We bought a Ford box van that had carted washing machines for Sears in its previous life. We put in a platform to sleep on, and tuck our gear under. That van lasted us through four tours....”
(page 289)
MAXIMUM ROCKNROLL Reviews
Playdoh Meathook LP
A generally energetic pop band, though not all the songs here are really revved up. At times it’s like the REPLACEMENTS meet DOA, meaning lots of bounce and guitar/rhythm crunch. Lyrically romantic, and with an unusual cover of the BEATLES’ “Norwegian Wood”. Recorded in 1985!
REVIEWER: TIM YOHANNAN
LABEL: BUY OUR RECORDS
ISSUE: MRR #54 • NOVEMBER 1987
That Was Then… This is Now! EP
Four bands offer one song each on this nifty sampler. We get an intense, original HC offering from RUIN (with great lyrics); hook-filled pop punk by ELECTRIC LOVE MUFFIN; SCRAM performs an okay reggae-tinged number; and F.O.D. go completely crazy on their trashed out live track. Cool record; buy it.
REVIEWER: STEVE SPINALI
LABEL: PLUS
ISSUE: MRR #41 • OCTOBER 1986
Trouser Press
Electric Love Muffin - link to review
Given the name and jokey trappings, it’s no small surprise that this Philadelphia quartet can really play. If the songs on Playdoh Meathook — a clear self-produced rip of punk-pop guitars, strong melodies and easily understood vocals — were a couple of notches cleverer, this would be an impressive debut. (A goofy version of “Norwegian Wood” also falls just short.)
Produced with Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo (known for his work with Schoolly-D), Rassafranna all but eliminates ELM’s punk element in favor of a loud, tight rock sound that meanders between the Replacements and charged jangle-pop, with excursions into not-exactly-soul, loopy cow-punk and Meat Puppets territory, instrumentally (“Club Car”) and songwise (“Down Easy”). Overall, the material is strong: “Diamonds & Glass” is the kind of song that would sound great on acoustic guitar, while “Drunk & Horny” is funny for all the right reasons.
Rejoining its original label, the Muffin (again with Nicolo) made Second Third Time Around, a fine, if slightly dispirited, seven-song return visit to the Midwest, Southwest and Motown styles explored on Rassafranna. In what is becoming the band’s formula, the record includes singer/guitarist Rich Kaufmann originals, an instrumental (“Mr. Softy’s Wild Ride”) and a cover (the Temptations’ “Get Ready”).[Ira Robbins]
Threatening Society Zine
THE DEAD MILKMEN / FLAG OF DEMOCRACY / RUIN / ELECTRIC LOVE MUFFIN
Sunday, March 1, 1987, The Trocadero (Philly) by Tony
[Originally published: Issue #1, circa 1987]
The Troc's first hardcore show and hopefully not the last. Despite the weighty $8 door price and no ins-and-outs, the place is a big venue with great lighting and sound system. But the no stage diving "rule" has got to go! These established Philly bands are all gaining recognition across the nation, but they still take the time to play shows for their "first" audience.
ELECTRIC LOVE MUFFIN came up first and even though they were slower than I expected, they were good. They were very rhythmic and enjoyable. They did new songs like "Drunk and Horny" and covers like "Venus" (that speed-metal classic?). E.L.M. proves that hardcore doesn't have to be out-and-out mayhem to be good.
Next up was RUIN. Vosco and co. took the stage in their usual white attire and started things off with "You" and "By the By". They played most of their new songs and a couple old ones. Vosco's stage presence and the light show was an added attraction. As RUIN did 'Proof' for their first encore, I forgot all about the hour and a half I had to wait in line to get in. RUIN is one of the best and most creative bands I've ever heard.
FLAG OF DEMOCRACY came on and delivered their lightning-fast hardcore blitz. They were good and a lot tighter than the last time I saw them. F.O.D. is sheer power - not for the timid.
I didn't stay for much of the DEAD MILKMEN because I really hate their new songs. Some of their old stuff (the "Big Lizard..." days) were cool and funny, but the mainstream stuff from "Eat Your Paisley" is boring.