Al Jourgenson Calls it Quits

I've got a new review of Ministry and Co-Conpsirator's Cover Up over at PopMatters. This is the final album in the Ministy canon and they've chosen to take down classic rock with them.

In Last Rites of Ministry, with whom I share a long history, here are the 8 best Ministry-related covers that didn't make it to onto Cover Up.

1. The Revolting Cocks- Do Ya Think I'm Sexy? (Rod Stewart)


It's hard to tell which cock is more revolting, the one who originally sang it or Chris Connelly, who here truly embodies sleaze to the fullest extent that law allows. Covers are odd beasts that rarely improve on the original. In this case, the original wasn't even any good, so it's perhaps more of a marvel that the Ministry/ Revco crew amped and fuzzed it up and transformed it into a stupendous late night orgy. The chug-a-lug guitars go directly against he grain of the glitzy funk wah and the result is a pre-intoxicated jaunt into the seediest of the subterreneans.


2. Lard- They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha Haa! (Napoleon XIV)


Known in some circles as the ultimate novelty song, Napoleon XIV's loopy and dated POV shot of mental illness at the time seemed a bit too Dr. Demento for Biafra and the Ministry boys, particularly on a song laden with songs about drug raids and anarchists who got off on blowing up trains. In suite with the alarmingly fierce set of temporal dictums that make up the 15 minute "I Am Your Clock", this song provides a deliriously exhaustive and hallucinogenic parade through a Magic Kingdom as imagined by Bosch. Like a version "Everybody Has a Laughing Face" that refuses to end.

3. Ministry- The Light Pours Out of Me (Magazine)


Perhaps the only good salvagable scrap off of Animositisomina. Ministry play it straight, which is exactly how the song sounds best.

4. Nine Inch Nails- Get Down Make Love (Queen)

Jourgenson rarely produced anything of significant merit outside of his own worth, save for this collaboration. At the time, this must have been like the merging of two gods. A match made in synth-filth heaven.

5. Ministry- Friend of the Devil (live) (The Grateful Dead)


Another surprisingly straight cover that departs from anything the band has ever done. A high quality rendition recorded for Neil Young's Bridge benefit.

6. The Revolting Cocks- Let's Get Physical (Olivia Newton-John)

A throbbing industrial rendition that serves as the pre-cursor for "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and just about any ironic industrial cover for that matter.

7. Ministry- Smothered Hope (Skinny Puppy)


Appearing as a B-Side of the Burning Inside single, this one ups the ante from the original. Not that that was too hard to do.


8. The Revolting Cocks- Public Image (Public Image Limited)

Sadly never recorded in any official form, you can find this track on several bootlegs. Or, better still, for free through any of your friendly local file sharing services.