Punk is dead. They say the last sun of punk rose and set during Green Day’s use of “American Idiot” as product endorsement.
Corporations absorbed the anti-establishment nuisance called “punk” and championed it as their next great marketing strategy. Now that Target carries pink and black striped clothing, punk music’s ideals of rebellion rest as faint memories.
It’s not to say there’s anything wrong with commercial exploitation, but if you’re looking for a shoulder to cry on at punk’s funeral, it won’t be Mclusky’s. Oddly enough, Mclusky borrows from the punk rock bag of tricks while refusing to lament its demise.
Mclusky’s sound is unadulterated havoc. Their short songs reek of distortion, power chords, fire and destruction. “Mcluskyism,” a collection of singles that spans the band’s career, is like squeezing raw meat into a jar. It’s messy, gratuitous, unnecessary and simultaneously beautiful.
“Joy” kicks the record off, appropriately casting the tone for the rest of “Mcluskyism.” “Joy” is bombastic waves of fried guitar distortion. Bassist-vocalist Andy “Falco” Falkous screams and yelps his lines; his two partners remain equally relentless. “Joy” is near overwhelming, though lasts just more than a minute; that’s plenty enough time for Mclusky to get their point across, odd as it may be.
“Follow me down as we chase single mothers,” Falkous blurts. “Joy” and earlier singles, such as “Rice is nice,” show signs of creative immaturity, intense and provocative as they may be. Mclusky needs time to flesh out its sound.
Mclusky matches its love for crude sound with brilliant witticisms later in its career. “Your heart’s gone the color of Coca-Cola,” and “I’m fearful, I’m fearful, I’m fearful of flying and flying is fearful of me,” are both worthy of mention, though there are countless others.
The influence of producer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Shellac, Big Black) and his love for dark, cryptic comedy is evident throughout “Mcluskyism.” Like the rest of Albini’s work, “Mcluskyism” uses dark humor and abrasive tones to both alienate and captivate the listener.
By the time Mclusky released “The Difference between you and me is that I’m not on fire” (2004), the initial spark had waned. Don’t get me wrong, the song titles were still great, “without MSG I am nothing,” “kkkitchens, what were you thinking,” and the lyrics are right on: “What drugs were all your salesmen taking? I tried to run but spent the weekend shaking.”
Somehow Mclusky traded raw power for pop pretension. All the hooks on their last full length completely fit together. Everything seems right, too right even. The abrasive tone of earlier Mclusky was challenging. Like punk rock in its baby stages, early Mclusky assumed disinterestedness of the audience. Similarly, there’s no challenge to “American Idiot.” When the formula becomes predictable, it ceases to be fun. Mclusky is guilty of no crime beside caring about its presentation.
“Mcsluskyism” is a great introduction to the notorious, gratuitous and insulting Welsh band called Mclusky. They didn’t stand for anything, and they sure didn’t have any concern for your well being. Mclusky just wanted to play angry rock music. Just forget I ever mentioned the word “punk.”
Cody Gaspard can be reached at [email protected].
