Guttermouth
Gorgeous (Nitro)
by Scott Hefflon
To be charitable for a moment (don’t worry, it’ll pass), Guttermouth always takes me a few spins to get into. Ya know when you like a band and their new album just ain’t up to par? Yeah, it happens. Every new Vandals, Guttermouth, and NOFX record that comes out, I instantly think, “This is shit. They lost their humor, their anger sounds forced, they’re repeating the same lyrical themes, and the songs sound like sequels to the good ones from the last record.” And while the new record sooner or later grows on me, there’s always that initial hate. Gorgeous is the same. Truthfully, I gotta say, nothing can top ’94’s Friendly People, just like Vandals can’t top ’95’s Live Fast Diarrhea and NOFX still haven’t hit it like ’94’s Punk in Drublic. See the theme here? Sure, each band has had many a good moment on each record, but there’s a little something called consistency that’s been lacking ever since. You’re welcome to disagree with me cuz it doesn’t bother me if you’re wrong.
Gorgeous has the same manic energy, but the rhythms sound familiar and the lyrics just aren’t as funny as they useta be. There’re still pissed ditties that skate poor taste: making fun of religion, an anti-kid song, and a song about getting lice while sailing. Some songs are just goofy: “Diamond Studded Bumble Bee” is, I guess, about a broach. At least I think that’s what they’re called. Mark does his preacher voice on the opener, “Hit Machine,” and “Viva America” ends with the expected scream of “You Stupid Fuck” after the music’s stopped – they did that on Friendly People‘s “Jamie’s Petting Zoo” ending with “Fuck you, you fucking pig-shit licker. Fuck!” – and “A Date with Destiny” is evidently a love song to a cow about to be slaughtered. “I Have a Dream” details killing the cast of Friends, the guy from Sugar Ray dying of cancer, pissing on Courtney Love, and discovering oil beneath their house. Um, OK…
But there are a few soon-to-be classics that make it all worthwhile, songs that I’ll put on mixed tapes and blast in my car (if I ever get the fucker on the road). “A Nice Place to Visit…” is a classic, under-two-minute rant (with intro and solo) of Mark spouting off about how he’s been to 38 of the 50 states and only 3 or 4 are worth keeping. And while it’s “Feed Doritos to the bears” instead of “Go fuck a monkey in the zoo” from Friendly People‘s “Asshole,” it’s the same thing. “Food Storage” is a kinda twisted tale of drinking all day, not taking your “medication,” picking up a girl and “accidentally” burning her house down, but it’s got a great, jumpy, Green Day feel and a catchy chorus of “Burn it up, burn it up.”
Perhaps the most impressive song is their Irish punk parody “High Balls,” which could be the elongated version of Denis Leary’s “Irish Drinking Song” from No Cure for Cancer (please tell me that didn’t come out in ’94-’95…). C’mon, you know the song, “We drink and we sing and we drink and we sing (Hey!)/ We drink and we drive and we puke and we drink (Hey!).” “High Balls” has an authentic snotty punk accent and asserts their right to fight for their right to party, and all that. Unlike most of Guttermouth’s fast-paced repertoire, this ‘uns a locked-arm sway, raise yer pint to the ceiling and slosh beer on all yer mates. But the best song of the lot is the 1:30 ripper called “BBB.” It’s fast, it’s pissed, and it oughtta be the next punk anthem. To wit (in its entirety): “Hatred is okay/ Disobey, disobey/ I’m fuckin’ pissed/ Break something today/ Always look pissed/ Don’t dress nice/ Don’t be fuckin’ helpful/ Carry a knife/ Never think positive/ Get fuckin’ wasted/ Harm yourself/ Quit fuckin’ school/ Harm yourself/ Steal a fuckin’ car/ Harm Yourself/ Ignore your family/ Harm yourself/ Sleep all day/ Worship dead junkies in shitty bands/ Worship dead junkies in shitty bands/ Worship dead junkies in shitty bands/ Kill your fuckin’ self/ Boots, Bondage, and basic reading skills.” What’s not to like?
(7151 Warner Ave. F-736 Huntington Beach, CA 92647)
