Puscifer - V Is for Vagina
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Free Music Notes for V Is for Vagina
Free Music Review: Very interesting, very original, and very very Maynard.
Hit: 5 Stars
Naturally there are two types of whining about this album. The first is from the Tool and APC fans who expected this to sound similar. To those people I say, open up your mind a little bit. Don't get me wrong...I'm the most die-hard Tool fan you will find. I've bought multiple copies of all their albums, DVD's, etc., and I've spent hundreds of dollars seeing them in concert. I've even drummed for a Tool cover band. But I've also been following the development of Puscifer and I can take it for what it is...a comedy project that Maynard made to mess with everyone's head, while simultaneously making political/religious statements and drawing more people into Tool like he did with APC (that's all APC was... a way for Maynard to introduce people to Tool, whether you want to admit it or not).
The second kind of whining is from those people who say "this album sucks, and none of you would like it if Maynard hadn't made it." Guess what? You're right. If anyone else had made this, it would have sucked. But because of Maynard's musical history, his history with fans, and his weird sense of humor, it's actually a great and entertaining album. But I'd also like to point out that nobody else would ever have thought to make an album like this. Nobody is as ballsy as Maynard when it comes to lyrics and music, so the complaint about people liking Puscifer because of Maynard is completely irrelevant, because no one but Maynard would have ever tried something this crazy.
As far as the music goes, it's just really chill and really fun to listen to. It doesn't have the world class technical brillance of Tool, nor the power of APC. I'd say it's right in between the two in an odd and twisted sort of way. You don't have to think or care when listening to it. You can just listen. Maynard's aggressive and pull-no-punches approach to music is still there, but in a different sense. I would say buy this album if you are a fan of Maynard, and not necessarily of Tool or APC. That's what this album is...it's essentially Maynard's personality and sense of humor recorded onto a CD. I happen to really like it, but be warned it is extremely different from anything you have ever heard, no exceptions.
Free Music Review: Better than recent Tool and Perfect Circle
Hit: 5 Stars
This is what we've all been waiting for from Maynard, et al. These tracks are a different style entirely, the formula that Tool drove into the ground on 10,000 Days is gone. It's also much more interesting than A Perfect Circle.
This is an album you can put on and just go with. I think without the pressures of having to live up to expectations with Tool or to fit in with A Perfect Circle, Maynard is free to just go with his gut. The end result is an album full of mellow yet driving hooks, subtle vocals, and it all flows seamlessly without any hard edges.
It's kind of like the groovier sides of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, especially their Filthiest Show in Town album. But there's something more in there I can't quite describe... even a country-like twang on some songs.
Maynard describes it as a "playground for the various voices in my head." I think that pretty much sums it up, along with his warning to "CHECK YOUR OVER INFLATED EXPECTATIONS AT THE DOOR."
I think he's right. Ignorant Tool fanboys will not like this, but for the rest of us who are open to Maynard being more than just the voice behind Undertow and AEnima we can all appreciate and love his new forum for misfit ideas.
Queen B, DoZo, Momma Sed, Trekka, Rev 22 20 Dry Martini... all stand out tracks. You can preview the album on his MySpace page, until they put up the usual track-listing preview thing here.
Danny Lohner, Eddie McClintlock, Trey Gunn, and a whole slew of back-up artists on this one, too. It really is impressive.
Free Music Review: Grade-A "Vagina"
Hit: 5 Stars
"V Is For Vagina" is not a Tool album. It certainly isn't A Perfect Circle. If you're a teenage, effeminate hitler-combover-wearing emo, you're probably gonna hate this album. If your soul reason for being a fan of MJK is his voice...you're probably gonna hate this album. I actually kinda like "Vagina". It shows us yet another side of Maynard that certainly would have clashed with his previous endeavors. It's not delicate like APC or calculated and heavy like Tool. It's an entirely independent entity that's deep and soulful at some parts, eerie and enigmatic at others...and Maynard's inspiring brand of humour is what ties it all together. Because of that, this album is certainly not for people who read too much into...well...anything. There are no subliminal messages, no morse-codes in the guitar riffs, no philosophical underpinnings...and if there are, who really cares? This album is meant to be absorbed with little or no concern for convention or comprehension. Any effort to fight it could lead to severe brain hemorrhaging or simply the realization that the open mind you thought you had really isn't that...well...open. My advice is, listen to it all the way through on Puscifer.com and then make your own decisions before exposing yourself to these nattering nabobs of negativiy.
PS - My only criticism for this album is the cheaply-made packaging. I kinda expected a jewel case, but I guess it's hard to find anyone willing to distribute an album called "V Is For Vagina" for cheap...
Free Music Review: Not for people looking for a Tool release
Hit: 5 Stars
After having my loyalty tested by Tools latest release, this cd restores my faith in Maynard's musicianship. Although i have always loved Tool, i think they started repeating themselves in the last release. And this is much much different. If anything this album is kind of like an extension of the track Lost Keys on 10 000 days; although that can be the only real comparison drawn between the two music-wise.
This is not music designed to rouse people into aggressive head banging or jumping around. It is darker, brooding lounge music. It seems like the type of thing an ancient Mayan civilisation would chant around a campfire in the middle of the night.
It was developed similarly to Peeping Tom's release, with the artist recruiting different producers for each track to give it sort of a pop quality. But it gives off a more atmospheric sense and not a single laden album like Peeping Tom.
I love how the title has parted the audience and tested public censorship. It pushes away the people who like bands based on face value. While also being an intentional thorn in the music industry's side. Names, labels etc is inconsequential to the music itself - which in this case is incredibly original and dark with a definitely playful chilling groove. It is brilliant and my second favourite release of the year. Behind Anonymous by Tomahawk.
Free Music Review: In the Vein of RevCo; Homage to Industrial Influences
Hit: 5 Stars
If you like Revolting Cocks (Ministry Side project that's a joke band) and want to blend that in with tweaker and a bit of Thrill Kill Kult, I think you'll have a deeper appreciation for what Maynard was wanting to do on this project. From reading the other reviews, I think people make the critical mistake of missing that the man is making a joke, (See myspace pictures) and thank you Maynard for being light. The last two albums he'd made, 10,000 days, and emotive, were very heavy albums in light of the issues they were tackling, most notably his mother's death and in opposing the war.
Musically speaking, I like it very much. I can hear all three of those named bands in this, and if you like those (and not alot of people can stand TKK) I totally recommend it.
If you're not a fan of OLD industrial (ca 1989-1993) though, and just like math rock or Goth rock I doubt very much you'll like it. If you like movie-soundtrack like music, stuff that just creates moods, this again is a very good album.
Most importantly though, I can't name anything modern that this thing sounds like. Go to the band's myspace, check out those songs.
As for all the haters, they can revisit Tool's song "Hooker with a [...]," emphasizing the last 7 words of the chorus.