Sieg Howdy! - Jello Biafra with The Melvins > Reviews > Scary Times Are Never Dull

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Great Satirical Punk Rock
Disadvantages:	A bit heavy for a lot of peoples tastes

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Way back in 2004 when punk rock legend and former Dead Kennedys lead vocalist Jello Biafra teemed up with godfathers of grunge the Melvins to release the superb lp "Never Breathe What You Cannot See", there was talk of being enough material left over to do another EP. The album was superb and enough to wet my palette for a second helping, when news broke in 2005 that the material was finally to be released as an album with new versions and remixes of some of the better tracks on the "Never breathe what you cannot see" lp I was positively salivating at the prospect…..

The union between the Melvins and Jello was forged in part by a love of Alice Cooper, so it is appropriate that this album opens with a cover of Alice's "Halo of Flies". Like all good cover versions they have stamped their own identity onto it, producing an incredibly sinister, dark and heavy version of the song. Jello's trademark vocal sneer suits the lyrics perfectly, and would be appreciated by any Alice Cooper Fan. Though as a starter it is a bit frustrating on the first listen as you want to get straight down into Jello's wonderfully twisted satirical lyrics…….

This we are given on The Lighter Side of Global Terrorism (Extended space melt version), which is an extended space rock version of the song of the same name that appeared on the previous album. Lyrically it tells a tale of the perverted antics of a voyeuristic customs man, who has found joy in the increased security measures, which were implemented as a direct result of the so called war on terror. Musically it is a punk grunge hybrid with a healthy chunk of space rock effects thrown in. this was due to Jello's love of space rock pioneers Hawkwind, and it works fantastically.

A blast of goode olde fashioned punk rock is what is needed after this and here you are given a double salvo of it. Starting with "Lessons in What Not To Become", a song about how you should not just learn from your own mistakes but those of others, so that the mistakes of a previous generation are not repeated, quite possibly a sly dig at George Jr even though surprisingly there are no direct references to him here. Jello has splattered the song with references to himself, maybe Jello is realizing that it was unwise to try and counter sue his former bandmates, to prevent them grabbing up the rights of their old material. The next salvo of punk rock deals with this, "Those Dumb Punk Kids (Will buy Anything)" is a blatant attack of the other 3 members of the Dead Kennedys who have reformed with a succession of 2 scab singers, and as a result have become the greatest karaoke band in the world. Behind Jello's lyrical rage is some of the best surf punk rock that I have heard since the heyday of the Dead Kennedys so it is good to see that at least one member of the band still has the balls to make new music.

A seismic baseline drives Wholly Bun-Bull which covers what a little creative photoshoping can do to the truth and perceptions of the truth, and in reality it is just a filler track, the bass line is stonking but both Jello and the Melvins can do better. Likewise "Voted Off The Island" provides us with nothing new even though it is a fantastic bit of angry punk rock that for any other band would be sublime, here it is just filler.

They do however return to form in an updated live version of Kali-fornia Uber Alles (21st Century), which takes the old Dead Kennedys classic to a new century of the same old crap. This time the target is Arnold Schwarzenegger, and you really can't have much sympathy a man who executed a wheelchair bound blind man now can you. The line "Steroids For the Master Race" is fantastic. Musically it stays true to the original surf punk majesty of the original but with more distortion and heaviness, and Buzz Osborne's backing vocals are superb in their gravellyness.

The final three tracks are remixes of songs that appeared on the previous album "Never Breathe What You Cannot See". Starting with "Dawn of The Locusts (march of the dead verse by Dalek) which takes the song on to an eerie heavy industrial soundscape. The spookiness meter here is onto overload and the backing vocals are positively deranged. The line "Sacred company logos are the new swastikas" never fails to send a chill though my spine. Next up is one of my favorite songs from the previous album "Enchanted Thoughtfist (enchanted al remix)" which was remixed by Al Jorgensen of Ministry. It is a big surprise as it has not been completely legitimized by Al instead he has kept much of the original feel of the song but added extra guitar effects to it, which I am actually thankful for, as it provides a break from the noise of its predecessor. The collection is caped off with "Caped Crusader (Subway Gas / Hello Kitty mix)" which maintains the feel of the original but with added special effects making it darker and more eerie.

This album like its predecessor split fans of Jello Biafra and The Melvins into camps of loving it and hating it. There was no middle ground which reflects the times we live in, me I am definitely in the love it camp. It is great to see that one of the most humorous and insightful lyricists to come out of Punk still has it in him to do this kind of satire after 25 years of ranting. His best work always comes out when the world is at its scariest and during the last few years it has been bloody scary.