Mindless Self Indulgence - You'll Rebel To Anything

ALBUM REVIEW

MSI's music is an acquired taste. It answers the question of "What would the jittery sugar-high punk rock of a kid off his meds sounds like"?

They are abrasive, and vulgar. Let's get that straight up front. If you're easily offended, then stick to James Taylor.

If you'd like to just try a taste of Atari-fueled madness, then come on in.

The album starts off typically enough with a healthy dose of self loathing in "Shut Me Up". It deflates any haters up front by letting you know that they're waiting for you to hate their music. Runner-up for best use of a whip crack in a song or composition.

"1989" is a manic rant that speaks of a simpler time, in a really loud and obnoxious voice. I like about half the songs on this album, and this isn't one of them.

I don't know if the parody is purposeful, or not, but "Straight To Video" showcases a really excellent Marilyn Manson delivery. Just latch on to the wonderful simile in the chorus about giving up, and going "like a bad girl, straight to video". Nice.

What can I say about "Tom Sawyer"? I'm a passing fan of Rush as a band, but a big fan of their music. What it basically boils down to is that I can't see the forest for the Lee. This cover crunches and speeds up the song itself, so the one thing I like is already gone. I'm not sure why MSI chose to cover this song, when I'm sure their humor and talents could have been put to better use twisting up something else.

The title track has some of the best lyrics I've seen the band produce. It strikes a chord with me. I'm so tired of all these bands making music about how messed up their parents treated them, and how awful life is. There are a crop of at least 30 or 40 of these pop punk bitches out right now that think if they smear enough mascara on, they can be Robert Smith while they play the X-Games and do a Mountain Dew commercial. Here's a sample of the chorus to give you an idea of what I mean: "Boo fuckin hoo you're not the only one whose life's a piece of shit
And yet miraculously somehow we all seem to deal with it". Great delivery, some nice start/stop touches make this sound more like what I'm used to from these guys. My favorite track of the album.

A little organ in the background on "What Do They Know?" makes the medicine go down. It's a little too "pretty" for my tastes, but not without merit.

Ahh, yes. We're back to lowest common denominator vulgarity. I bet you can't guess what the m & f stand for in "Stupid MF"? This track sounds like you're riding in an ambulance with the sirens wailing on it's way to Mercury. Lightning fast delivery, and a pause for refreshment right in the middle of the word "fucker" for the chorus. This may not suit my mood on a daily basis, but it brings a smile to my face when it does.

The hyperspace freakout that is "2 Hookers and an 8-Ball" will make your head spin. This track was actually performed live on their last record "Alienating Our Audience" too.

With "Prom", I've finally found the band that should have been playing for Carey White's little pig-blood party. I don't know if there's electronic horror camp as a defined genre yet, but I'm always ready for new things.

"Bullshit" is another one of my favorites from the album. Not only does it sound like it's a missing song from their first album, but Mindless Self Indulgence comes really close to a regular song at the beginning of this one. There's a really nice little guitar melody going before they put the spurs to her.

If the titles of the tracks, and my description of things haven't clued you in, this is not your average musical experience. This is pretty far out there in left field. The thing is, when they do it right, MSI can create some really fun and wonderfully loud decadence.

This album as a whole just sounded too produced. I prefer the gritty and smashed sound of their first studio LP "Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy" (how's that for a unique title?). That record focused songs into vignettes that allowed for more impact, and furthered the feeling of ADD that epitomizes their style.

I'm all for getting better at the craft of producing, and getting better equipment, and things like that. I just hope that the next time around they realize that throwback isn't an evil word, and they can still make new with the old, and keep crazy folks like me smiling.

Rating = * * 1/2 out of 5 stars