On Rock Ridge Music

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Warning! No guitar solos.

Not since Green Jello (OK, Jelly) has there been some good comedy set to heavy music. After listening to "We Couldn't Think of a Title!" from Arizona pranksters Psychostick, we're still waiting for good comedy. But, this is definately good enough, and a breath of fresh air.

As fans of heavy metal we are often too serious...artificially so in many cases. Sometimes bands are so over the top serious, they come off funny, especially to people who aren't into the scene.

The guys in Psychostick proclaim themselves a "humor-core" band. There are plenty of ironic intentional or unintentional homages to the comedy gods (some gods who don't realize we laugh at them). Right out of the jewell case, the green CD (homage to Green Jello?) says "Do Not Eat." Thanks for the warning, dudes. The first tune rips a hard core earache with a song about severe ball-itch. "Can't endure this Epidermis. Scrotum itching, leaving me bitching..." Yeah, this is humor from a guy's point of view. When in doubt, go to the ball-itch jokes.

Come to think of it, there are plenty of easy-go joke subjects, like, let me see (and hey! They line up with the song titles from this album):

• My piece of shit car (Two Ton Paperweight)
• Fast Food (Death Burger)
• Diahrea (No Pun Intended)
• Chicks (Why, Oh, Why?
• Made up words that bodily functions (Pluh)
• Beer (Beer)
• Dudes who act depressed in order to get chicks (Prozak Milkshake)
• Chicks (Throw Down)
• Shit-stained Underwear (I Hate Doing Laundry)
• Eating Stuff You aren't Supposed to Eat (Largiloquent Dithramb)
• Chicks (Orgasm=Love)
• Hangovers (Good Morning)
• Chicks (In a Band to get Chicks)

Why, Oh, Why!, Prozak Milkshake, and Orgasm=Love are all pretty good send ups of sappy ballads made (popular) by Staind and bands who jumped on that gravy-train. The difference here is these songs are worth listening to because the lyrics are ridiculous...in a good way. Interspersed between most songs, or tagged on the front of back of each song are little bits of funny conversation between band members, mostly around the recurring theme of trying to come up with a name for the album.

In a moment of disrespect to the almighty Pantera one band member says he has the coolest name for their new album, "Vulgar Display of Power." The other guys scoff, "Who would think of a stupid name like that." OK fine, the album is like 20 years old and these guys are young. Kids these days! Sheesh.

There are a couple bonus tracks and a ten minute long hidden track, which is mostly out takes from the recording sessions, however long it took them. The bonus tracks are worthy of a listen. In ABCDeath school kids are treated to a lesson on the alphabet as delivered by a screaming, hardcore band. Pretty funny...the first time. The Jagermeister Love Song is another song about chicks and sex, from a guys point of view. The song could have been named The Roofies Song.

As a package, We Couldn't Think of a Title is not a bad shot at humor. It is something we need more of, a good poke in the ass from a bunch of guys who don't care if they ever get huge.

Get a good feel for Psychostick by watching their video for the track, Beer at this location.

If you like, then buy. Oh hell...buy this anyway. Guitar solos or not, this album is heavy and we need more metal humor. Encouraging these guys could be a good thing.

***1/2