Their first full length offeringĀ L.P.1. aka “14 Year Old High School PC-Fascist Hype Lords Rip Off Devo for the Sake of Extorting $$$ from Helpless Impressionable Midwestern Internet Peoplepunks L.P.”Ā title is not at all tongue in cheek. None of this is new material however. A compilation of their first two self-unreleased tapes, it is the first time it is easily available in a tangible format for those not “in the know.” For those already familiar with the songs, this is a great joy as their music is already nearly as classic as it sounds.
Perhaps the most sonically interesting bands currently creating noise for the plebs of our prison planet, all 15 tracks of this platter are essential. “Out of Conetrol” is a great introduction for the onslaught of sound you will invariably become addicted to. The production on these songs is absolutely perfect for it and would definitely suffer if disturbed in any way. This is due in fact to the singer/bassist MW1.
Not to mention theĀ simple yet subversive lyrics laden throughout these works. I love that two versions of the same songs, “Hack Hack Hack Variation 1” & “Hack Hack Hack Variation 2,” are included, and I have trouble deciding which one I like better. What’s more important is how catchy the bass/keyboard runs in the chorus are.
A great majority of the songs are less than two minutes, and be would likely hurt by any further duration. Included are interspersed covers of Talking Heads andĀ The Residents, Ā and a guest vocal appearance of Cal and the Calories on “I Used To Be a Cheesepuff.” Aptly used starts and stops make even the simplest riffs and parts of these songs catchy. Not enough can be said here about great songwriting.
As “Way Things Am” starts, I can’t help but feel the influence of Bob 1 flowing through the speakers. Through the hype and internet chatter both for against and the band mounts, it becomes apparent that it doesn’t really effect them ā and it shouldn’t. They are obviouslyĀ making music that is different and fresh in a world disenfranchised by originality, and for that I applaud them.
