Review Summary: A solid album that adds to the prime years of a fun band.
It's hard to believe that this review comes nearly 20 years after said album. Because of this I have a feeling I shouldn't have to delve too far into the bands history because chances are you already know who they are.
Buuuuut just incase you missed it. At this point Turbonegro was:
-Just coming back from a four year hiatus after their most successful album to date (Apocalypse Dudes).
-Enjoying newfound success in North America thanks to their popularity among musicians/celebrities.
-Still writing in the death punk style but adding more party rock layers to their sound.
Turbonegro at this point in their career were still a punk band. Make no mistake about it. The quickly strummed but still catchy riffs primarily made up of power chords, the very simple yet effective driving root note basslines, the bare bones drumming - it's all there.
The added layer to this album, however, is the extremely catching lead guitar, keyboards, and violins in the background. Although simple in theory, when adding them to the aforementioned punkishness (which I should mention, doesn't include the production. It is a very well produced album) it creates a surprising effect as far as making a pretty run of the mill punk album stand out far more.
If you haven't heard this band the best way to describe their sound on this album is - "imagine the catchy-riff driven power chords/d-beats of punk with high flying lead guitar of an 80's metal band finished with comical tongue in cheek lyrics sang by a vocalist who has evolved from a straight up punk holler to a surprisingly decent singing voice reminiscent of Iggy Pop".
Overall the album is certainly not bad but it's not particularly great either. Rather, this album should be defined in sections. The tracks that are on it that are worth listening to are still absolute bangers (*** the World, Ride With Us, Turbonegro Must be Destroyed), a few others are worth the occasional listen (Wipe It 'til It Bleeds, Sell Your Body (To The Night), Drenched In Blood. The rest are, unfortunately, not worth much unless you're feeling particularly nostalgic.
Pros - Songs that actually have staying power (*** the World, Ride With Us, D.I.B)
Cons - Songs that don't (The rest)
