[Reprinted from Stereo Review]

Long-time readers of this magazine will doubtless recall that some years back I described Life in the Foodchain, the debut release by iconoclastic singer/songwriter Tonio K., as the greatest album ever recorded. Was I being ironic? Possibly, but I have since awarded that accolade to every subsequent Tonio set. In any case, Tonio no longer being quite the angry young man, it's nice to have Rodent Weekend, a collection of mostly funny/pissed-off early outtakes and vault plunderings. In its ahead-of-its-time punk/metal fusion, it feels like the Foodchain sequel he never made. Several legendary songs finally see the light of day, including the long-rumored "Everything, Including You, Disgusts Me" as well as "I'm Supposed to Have Sex with You" (recorded—don't ask why—for the soundtrack to the Carl Reiner flick Summer School) and the first CD appearance of the classic "Mars Needs Women," still the coolest putdown song of the millennium. And don't miss the liner-note list of songs left off the album, including "What's So Terrible About Heroin?" and "F--k the Whales." Ah, those were the days. Did I mention that this is the greatest album ever recorded?

**** (out of 5)

÷Steve Simels