If - Mindless Self Indulgence

...out.

=== If ===
The fourth studio album by MSI was released on April 28, 2008, through The End Records, and are planning a small North American tour to promote the album.

The regular album has 15 tracks, but this is extended to 17 on the UK edition, plus 4 extra 'Never Wanted To Dance' remixes.
1) Never Wanted To Dance - 3:09
2 Evening Wear - 3:32
3) Lights Out - 2:37
4) Prescription ...
...forget that, it's important
If ya love me, like I love me
Everybody will be sorry

Well I don't need nothin' before the show
I don't need nothin', well that's not so
I need something before the show
Just a little something to make me GOOOOO

Get It Up:
I wanna make some babies
I wanna get it on
I wanna make you horny
But I can't get it up....... (I think I'll ... more

Mindless Self Indulgence (often referred to as MSI) are a New York based band, and have revolutionized the shock rock genre. The name comes from the CD 'Mindless Self Indulgence' ; a solo album by Jimmy Urine (the lead singer of the band), and it is a synonym for masturbation.

Combining a strange mix of rock, rap, and drum n bass, they started off a little slowly as they struggled to find acceptance, but they are now one of the hottest properties in the genre. They remain unsigned, as they prefer to own the rights to their music.

The band currently has four members - 'Jimmy Urine' on lead vocals, 'Steve, Righ?' on guitar, 'Lyn-Z' as bassist, and 'Kitty' on drums.

Band history

Mindless Self Indulgence was formed in 1999 when the band released the album 'Tight' , which was mixed on Atari equipment. In this album, it is clear that they have 1980's influences, using chiptune beeps and tones in their music.

They followed this with another in album in 200, strangely entitled 'Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy'. However, like with the previous album, this didn't really set the world alight, and only appealed to those few that liked this obscure type of music.

Finally, in 2005, the band achieved media attention when their third album 'You'll Rebel To Anything' hit fame, as the tracks 'Straight To Video' , and 'Shut Me Up' both reached #1 in the Billboard Hot Dance Singles sales charts. They were beginning to get the recognition they deserved.

As they grew in popularity, they got places opening for many mainstream acts, including System Of A Down, Korn, Staind, Sum 41, My Chemical Romance, Mushroomhead, Insane Clown Posse, and Rammstein. This helped them to achieve further popularity.

In 2008, they released the album 'If' and the hit single 'Never Wanted To Dance' has fast become their most popular song. Soon it will be them who are the main acts at the concerts, and when it is, they will be well worth a listen.

Band Members Info

Jimmy Urine - (has also been known as Little Jimmy Urine, born as James Euringer) was born on the 7th of September, 1969, does vocals and programming for Mindless Self Indulgence.

Combining the odd vocals of rap and rock styles in his voice, Jimmy brings a unique voice to the oddity that is MSI. He is also a crazy performer who holds nothing back - in an interview with Shoutweb he claims to have been arrested in Detroit for indecent exposure when he tried to set his pubic hair on fire on stage!

Steve, Righ? - Getting his name from a fan who said to him, "You're Steve, righ?" Steven Montano brings to MSI a brilliant guitar player, as well as a good songwriter (he co-writes with Jimmy)

Despite not showing off with heavy guitar riffs and solos, which would be out of place in the music of MSI, Steve adds some simple, yet effective, guitar playing which really boosts the songs in the right areas, which makes choruses more intense, and great for dancing to.

Lyn-Z - was born Lindsey Ann Ballato in Scotland, but moved to Connecticut when 5 due to her father joining the army. She always held a strong interest in punk, and prior to playing bass in MSI she played in a punk band that covered Dolly Parton songs. (!)

She, like the others, is an intense live performer, and can 'boast' a collapsed lung due to her on-stage antics, which hasn't stopped the intensity of her performances. She is married to My Chemical Romance singer Gerard Way, and is very much an asset to MSI.

Kitty - who is also known as Jennifer Dunn, is the drummer for MSI. After joining the band in 1997, she found that she loved the style, and her strong beats along with the great bass work of Lyn-Z give the dance aspect of MSI such a strong backbone.

She is also a talented promoter of the band, and designed the band website when the album 'Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy' came out.

If

The fourth studio album by MSI was released on April 28, 2008, through The End Records, and are planning a small North American tour to promote the album.

The regular album has 15 tracks, but this is extended to 17 on the UK edition, plus 4 extra 'Never Wanted To Dance' remixes.
1) Never Wanted To Dance - 3:09
2 Evening Wear - 3:32
3) Lights Out - 2:37
4) Prescription - 3:06
5) Issues - 3:05
6) Get It Up - 2:36
7) Revenge - 3:09
8) Animal - 2:44
9) Mastermind - 3:00
10) On It - 3:02
11) Pay For It - 3:34
12) Due - 2:10
13) Money - 2:53
14) Bomb This Track - 3:20
15) Mark David Chapman - 3:10
16) Uncle - 2:55
17) 3S - 2:27

It would be pointless for me to go through every track and pick out some memorable lyrics, but I will try and highlight some of the best bits in the album, because as with many dance artists, the lyrics are mere repetitions, and often meaningless and random. However, I will try to pick out some bits that were particularly memorable / funny.

Never Wanted To Dance:
There is nothing you can do that I have not already done to myself, Never wanted to dance with nobody, not you,
Never wanted to dance with nobody but you,
Never wanted to dance with nobody but you,
Wouldn't take 'no' for an answer, you f*cking b*tch!

Prescription:
I'm the doctor, I'm the patient
Don't forget that, it's important
If ya love me, like I love me
Everybody will be sorry

Well I don't need nothin' before the show
I don't need nothin', well that's not so
I need something before the show
Just a little something to make me GOOOOO

Get It Up:
I wanna make some babies
I wanna get it on
I wanna make you horny
But I can't get it up....... (I think I'll stop posting lyrics for this song now (!) )

My Conclusion

Mindless Self Indulgence are, in my opinion, brilliant. They will appeal to fans of rock, rap, drum n bass, and dance alike, as they contain aspects of these in all of their songs. No one has ever heard this style played so well, so I'll have to say.
Originality 10/10

The lyrics are not so inspirational; but neither are they designed to be. They are quite often, as in the band's name, 'Mindless' and have no 'deeper meaning' like we see in more mainstream pop and rock songs. They suit their purpose well, without being anything special.
Lyrics 6/10

After hearing 'Never Wanted To Dance' , I expected an album of similar, but poorer, tracks. Pleasingly, this was not the case. The tracks vary in style, whilst remaining great anthems to dance to on a Friday night. Every song on this album is very good to listen to, and in this way, they don't disappoint.
Quality and Consistency of Tracks 8/10

This is a much stronger album compared to any other releases by Mindless Self Indulgence, mainly because they became a bit more mainstream, although still keeping their unique style, to appeal to 'the masses.'
Comparison with artist's other releases 9/10

Seeing as their is no other band quite like Mindless Self Indulgence, I can safely say that.....
Rating alongside competition 10/10

The cover design is nice, if nothing special. It features the lower case word 'If' seemingly written on white paper, with blood, perhaps from a gunshot wound, at the bottom of the 'f'.
Cover design 6/10

'If' can be bought from www.amazon.co.uk at only £8.98, which considering you get 21 tracks in the UK version, is a quality price, as most other albums only have about 11 tracks. The consistency of these tracks is another way in which you would be getting a huge bargain.
Value for Money 9/10

The Final Word

Ok, so MSI will not be to everyone's tastes, that's fine. But for those who do like this sort of music, and have not heard of the band, this discovery could be one of the greatest finds you'll ever find. Check it out, and make your own decisions. 

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