Not in Kansas Anymore is the second album of Basehead, a group that, on its first album,
Play with Toys, consisted of singer Michael Ivey and whoever happened to pop into his house with an instrument in 1991. Here, Ivey is backed by a a consistent band line-up for the first time. Lyrically, things are a bit different, though not enough to turn off fans of Ivey's debut. The main subject of the album is sex - title track doesn't tiptoe around the subject - things don't get more clearer than "No matter where you go, you can't escape from reality" and "Sex, sex, sex, damn these kids are having it". Several cuts focus on interaction between Basehead and female fans in concert settings - like "Hoes on Tour" and "Do You Wanna *** (Or What?)" - more often, the focus is trying to acquire sex rather than actually getting it.
The beer aspect is toned down, as noted by a fictional interaction between Ivey and a fan who asks to hear Ivey's latest. After hearing the song, which is about racism, the fan responsds: "Well, I like the beer song." Pot smoking is still discussed - an entire song is called "I Need a Joint", though the main subject of this album is sex. Still present is the humor and social commentary of Basehead's debut - one skit features ten seconds of guitar distortion announced as "a song about the problems that the white male has to face in America today".
Sound-wise,
Not in Kansas Anymore is similar to
Play with Toys. The live band aspect is even more apparent, and even better with a more consistent line-up of musicians - Ivey's touring band, giving the music a tighter feel than
Play with Toys, and retaining the group's trademark psychedelic funk/hip hop sound. Samples, once again, are rare. Turntablist Clarence "Citizen Cope" Greenwood is little more than another instrument, rather than a creator of music. If you enjoyed Basehead's debut, pick up
Not in Kansas Anymore as well.
