Rictus Grin – “Beers For The Queers”
I believe music is best when it can elevate our spirits in a deeper appreciation of the spiritual aspects of our lives. When it can raise our consciousness into a deeper understanding of the joyous life The Creator has bestowed upon us. Where we can cast aside the daily drudgery of basic concerns and seek a higher plane of experience filled with love, awareness and a joyful acceptance of our place in God’s holy plan.
And that, my friend, is where I believe Rictus Grin leads us. With their intricate arrangements, virtuoso displays of musicianship; melodic, soulful melodies and heartfelt, meaningful lyrics.
There are eleven songs on this long player but I feel more like, these are eleven solemn psalms brought to me by eleven golden doves descending from the heavens to coo each song, gently, upon my ears.
Rictus Grin is beyond music, beyond existence, beyond my pen that helps bespeak these words, beyond the very fiber and fabric of our souls.
Three of their compositions first appeared on their “Over Produced Pogo Nonsense” which was reviewed here and released a scant three months ago. Compositions three, five and eight I’ve eliminated from this review as they have previously been discussed.
So let us now explore the delicate nuances these marvelous minstrels of wisdom and beauty have prepared for our waiting and eager ears.
“Rictus Grin” is their theme song. It explains all they believe in, I believe. I really like this song. I have no idea what it’s about.
“Voice Of Youth” goes for about half a minute where they smile nicely for the picture, put on a normal face, playing like they were ready to break into “I Wanna Be Sedated.” Then a hardcore burst detonate an explosion that rips the headphones off your ears and plunges your expectations into the gutter. This is screaming in your face, spittle on your glasses, emotions and guts stuffed in your ears (modesty prevents me from uttering what goes in the other orifices.) But you won’t find another song I review this year more passionate, more honest or more real.
“DIY AND DIE” comes crashing out swinging in the first seconds with double hits of guitar chords and vocals, erupting into and invading your comfort zone. This song embodies, early LA punk, riot grrl, my favorite early punk band The Avengers and current fave hardcore band Damn Broads. It takes your face and smashes it into a pavement filled with emotion, realness and joy! I have no idea what this song is about. I do know this song hits me hard and raw and true and rips my heart and brain apart and then pares them both together. And makes me write- this is my favorite song on the album.
“Fuck Trump” is a wonderful song that has just been picked up by Hillary Clinton as her ad campaign song. This is a delightfully, cheery tune that suggest to our possible next President- “Why don’t you go fuck your daughter?/ For a small loan of a million dollars.” And accuses him of being a “racist, ignorant, sexist motherfucker.” All of which is true and all of which, we can agree, are unfortunately, qualities that are American as apple pie. This song is a burning rocket ship of bile and venom, cocked and ready and shooting towards the asshole of corporate America. These aren’t song lyrics as much as current American history. Snapshots of the, hopefully, last gasps of dying ideas- the smell of a rotting, corporate, gay hating, gun totin’, military addicted regime decomposing.
“Fuck Stuff/ Break Shit! Urine Trouble” is a song that clearly shows the influence of early Genesis and the solo career of Sting. “Fuck stuff/ Break shit/ Break shit/ Fuck stuff.” This is a song that shows that when kids don’t take their medication… bad things can happen. This is also a song that shows that anger and pain and joy and passion equals fun! The second half of this medley veers towards a great, garage rockin’ groove before it again accelerates to a 100 m.p.h. Mercifully ending with the pure poetry of “Fuck/ Fuck/ Fuck/ Fuck/ It just took me ten minutes to pee.”
I feel I must now apologize for the beginning part of the review as many of my statements did not give a clear picture of what Rictus Grin is about. (Though the part about the eleven doves was totally rad!)
I believe I was more accurate in my first review when I described them as “fun and punk.” While they describe themselves as “Queer- Brat- Punx.”
But I will add that this band is full of all that makes punk great- fun, energy, wildness, humor, chaos and passion. And they are, in my estimation, one of the truest punk bands that we cover. I can’t wait to see them live and hope that happens Friday August 11 at Koto in Salem, MA. I think that’s what they call “a plug,” much like the butt-plug I wear in my carnal relations with my canary.
But this is little bit more than what you need to know- what you need to know is this is one great punk band.
And so what if they don’t “elevate our spirits in a deeper appreciation of the spiritual aspects of our lives.”
That’s what beer is for.
(Slimedog)
