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Sexcrement: Sloppy Seconds

When I was in High School, there was a Los Angeles-based punk band called The Dickies that had a few songs I enjoyed. At one point, I even saw them in concert. Their music had all the right punk moves--the speed, the attitude, the failure to conform--that I identified with punk in those days. Some California bands, unlike their East coast contemporaries, injected some juvenile, often sexual, humor into their lyrics and performances, an appeal, I suppose, to the adolescent boys in the audience. The Dickies weren't great, but they have not gone away without being thought of as kind of classic band of its kind. For those of you who remember The Dickies, I'm sure that songs like "Gigantor" and "Manny, Moe, and Jack" will bring back memories. One of their songs was even featured in part of the film Kick-Ass. There's a place for this kind of stuff, sometimes, even though it really never rises to the high levels of musical greatness.

I shouldn't go on so much about a band that I'm not reviewing right now, but I think it's important to establish that there are bands that capture attention in part for their music and in part for their sexual humor. As I listened to Sexrement's Sloppy Seconds I found myself missing those days when I thought that The Dickies 's sense of humor may or may not be funny. The problem with Sexcrement is that they go directly to establishing their brand as a form of abjection. Sexcrement, in name alone, has classic psychological associations between sex and disgust that persons other than me need to sort out. I refer the reader to the works of Julia Kristeva, particularly Powers of Horror: A Study in Abjection. To be clear, Sexcrement is intentionally taking listeners to the borders of taste, but I can't help but wonder if they aren't unconsciously reinforcing conventionality. I mean, how can anyone listen to a songs like this and not wish for something slightly more every day? In this sense, Secrement's music may serve just as much to re-establish norms as it does to transgress them. I'm sure the band markets itself in terms of violating taboos, but the fact that they associate taboos with disgust only serves to reinforce them. That's a cool trick, but one that isn't really necessary.

As for the music, this is pretty much a straightforward extreme metal album. Some of the guitar riffs are pretty cool. The vocals are more of the same growling that we've heard so much of lately. To me, there is nothing to distinguish this band from anybody else--oh, wait. I've seen the light! The unusual name, the provocative song titles, the shocking stage show; there's the secret to recognition and success. If you can't beat them, shock them.

Track Listing:
1. Heard it Through the Rape Vine
2. Chemical Handcuffs
3. Well Hungover
4. Heels Up
5. Trucker Bombed
6. Assisted Living Lapdance
7. Obestiality

Added: May 26th 2012
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 2073
Language: english

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