If you’re taking an art class at school, then there’s pretty high chances you’ll have a ridiculous, obnoxious retard in that class as well. You know, the freakishly short one in the glasses. The one that manages to wear a different
Beatles shirt everyday and carelessly yells lame jokes across the class while his own table ignores the poor bastard. As much as I enjoy jokes, and rude ones for that matter, I have recently witnessed a hilarious event of pure carelessness. While the joke wasn’t funny, I sure had my laugh.
While hearing this sorry douchebag talking about feminism, quite loud as always, he came across a joke he told his concentrated (he was making a sweet 3D giraffe) friend of his. I, overhearing this rude joke, over-ridden with the lame cliché male-humor, told him to back up a little bit and not to repeat it if he wanted to keep his nads. (cue lisp) “What do you mean back up? I can tell this to anyone I want dude!” The poor lil’ critter was lookin’ for a challenge. “If you’re so big, go down there and tell ol’ Mr. Zagami your joke", I obstructed. Stupidity struck.
Now, if you’re taking an art class, and you’re lucky, you’ll also have an awesome Italian dude for a teacher, who in this case, was very fond of women (Italians seem to love their mothers above all). “Hey Mistuh Z! (derr) What do you say to a woman with two black eyes? Nothing, you’ve already told her twice!” Old Mr. Zagami paused and tried to believe this kid had a brain in that oval-shaped skull of his. Long-story short, I hope that kid’s wrists give out.
Don’t tell sexist jokes in art class, kiddies. Also, always listen to Rudd, and you’ll win without a doubt.
…Which brings me to the actual subject of the matter. I have recently realized that as music developed in America, women played a role. The earliest form of American music, I at least have ever heard most likely consists of the swing jazz era of the 30’s and 40’s. The women fronted the stage with such marvel, leading a full band of close to 25 people. This, over the years, has stretched out to many, unnoticed acts by female artists. It was a while before a woman was the front of a rock band though. With this came a lot of acts in the 70’s and 80’s like
The Germs and
X. There’s no denying, this was a supernatural force of music waiting to happen. But my deal with that is this. A female singer taking the front of a band is touchy territory. It can either turn out great, or simply fail horribly. Great example. The most successful female singer to date has been Madonna. Great looks (even in the present), great talent, great success. Great, now just throw on black rags, fishnets, a mild-mannered state of mind, and the sweetest stand-up bass this side the strange, yet now seductive genre that is psychobilly.
Screams! Thrills! Oh god, I can see right through those nets. The Horrorpops are made up of
Nekromantix’ front-man Kim Nekroman, his wife Patricia Day,
Tiger Army veteran Geoff Kresge, and the unsuspecting Niedermeir on the set. Not much of a super-group in most people’s eyes. But the band also happens to be one of the weirdest twists in music since all you kids’ “cores” were created. Psychobilly faintly suggest the mix of 70’s punk with rocksteady and rockabilly. The outcome is nifty, and was incorporated by bands like
The Quakes and
The Meteors. This is without a doubt the first act in psychobilly fronted by a female singer, and you’d have to simply listen in for yourself to find out what this review will all be about.
On rare occasions will vocals make me feel..well, special. Patricia Day takes control of the material off the album that will make the further journey into your head. Her vocals are ridiculously attractive, and it strikes as a very high priority if you’re the one listening. Not only does she take care of you with her delicate vocals, but she plays a kooky bass too? It’s just unheard of! The rhythm on the bass in this genre usually consists of licks produced off scale outlets that fit vocals perfectly with a sense of direction. In this case, she does both. It’s different forms of lyrics she throws out as well. She speaks of constant womanizing, monsters under her bed, zombies, all that good stuff. In a sense, she is the band, and in the attention span of the listener, she will constantly be taking center-stage. Regardless if she’s physically attractive, she’ll give off the very direct idea that she was born to sound compelling, seductive, and very (audibly) hot.
Tiger Army and Nekromantix might very well be the two leading band in the genre, and two bassists-turned-guitarists serve us on
Hell Yeah! at the hands of the vocals and provide. The case for this is a dual-attack-like effect that they use (Where They Wander), or at times Nekroman will break off into solos that bunch Patricia’s vocals into a quick 15 seconds of, I’d clearly have to say ownage (Miss Stake, Julia). His riffs also often collide with Patricia’s basslines at different warmth and approach the center the mood and hook you in (Drama Queen). This effect works, and is what creates every infectious hook there is to offer on the album. Kim’s most interesting work on the album has to be the deliciously haunted
Horrorbeach, in which he leads the quartet into an instrumental containing surf-rock elements, mixed with the basics of the more compelling and darker riffs scattered throughout the album. It’s excellent, and one not to be missed.
This leaves our weird little friend Neidermeir on drums. While at this point there was barely anything to fill the gaps between the excellent musicianship, he fills those gaps very nicely. His approach to each track always fits the same. He’s not the best musicianship on-board, but it may be his back-up vocals that echo back and remind us that there IS someone playing that set. Nothing much else to say, except he has an awesome do.
The single
Julia pretty much summarizes the over-all sound of the band, and is what people should look forward to if they want to start. The hooks come strong, and so does the musicianship.The delightful, more rushed sounds of
Kool Flattop lashes out a solid rockabilly atmosphere while pounding strong bass rhythm. As said before, the geniously-composed
Horrorbeach instrumental echoes at the end of the album and is another gem. The band are supposed to be something out of this world live, and with two lovely female dancers, who could resist…really. The kooky, catchy fun doesn’t end here. This was the bands first album, and it is easily one of the best albums I have ever purchased. Take in this information wisely, and go at it.
Horrorpops-
Patricia Day- Vocals, Up-right Bass
Kim Nekroman- Guitar, Vocals
Geoff Kresge- Guitar, Vocals
Neidermeir- Drums, Vocals
Kamilla & Naomi- Go-go Dancers
Stand Out Tracks:
Julia
Drama Queen
Miss Stake
Kool Flattop
Horrorbeach
Pretty Sweet.
4.5/5
