Psychic… Powerless… Another Man’s Sac

Psychic... Powerless... Another Man's Sac is the first full-length studio album by American noise rock band Butthole Surfers, released in December 1984 by Touch and Go Records and Fundamental Records. All songs were written and produced by the Butthole Surfers. This was the Surfers' first album on Touch and Go, and was originally released on clear vinyl. It was reissued on Latino Buggerveil in 1999. The album's back cover and label photos were produced by artist Michael Macioce.
The band embarked on a decidedly more psychedelic direction with their first LP. However, while the album's first half, and in particular "Cherub," have definite psychedelic qualities, elements of traditional punk ("Butthole Surfer"), blues ("Lady Sniff"), surf rock ("Mexican Caravan"), and country rock ("Gary Floyd") are also on display. Dum Dum is also notable for being another song in the Butthole Surfers' catalogue to be based around parts of a Black Sabbath song whilst the lyrics revolve around an entirely different concept from the original. The drums are lifted in this instance, from Children of the Grave, from the Master of Reality album. Many of Psychic...'s tracks were enhanced with extensive tape editing and, in some cases, the addition of non-traditional instrumentation, including the barrage of bizarre sounds (spitting, vomiting, Spanish radio station, etc.) heard in "Lady Sniff." Lead vocalist Gibby Haynes debuted a new vocal technique by singing through a bullhorn for some songs, and played saxophone on "Negro Observer" and "Cowboy Bob." This was the first Surfers studio album to feature double drummers King Coffey and Teresa Nervosa, and the last with bass player Bill Jolly, who had also performed on the band's first two releases.
Approximately half the songs on this album, including "Negro Observer," "Lady Sniff," "Cherub," "Mexican Caravan," "Cowboy Bob," and "Gary Floyd," are staples of the Surfers' live shows.