Psychotica - Psychotica (1996)

[Editor's note: I think a demon possessed my body and mind while I was writing this. Or I blacked out. Why, of all the albums in the world, over 3,000 of which I have posted here, is this the album to which I would devote a legitimate write-up? Upon completing this post a little over a month ago, I immediately decided to shelve it out of sheer embarrassment. But shit, it's Halloween season, and I don't have anything else to post today. Enjoy.]

Psychotica were an NYC band whose brush with success can largely be attributed to scoring a spot in Lollapalooza '96, at which vocalist Pat Briggs presented himself as a glammed-up Marilyn Manson in silver spandex and poached a bunch of their mall-dwelling fans, myself included. (It's worth noting that Marilyn Manson had yet to go glam at this point, and I've always wondered if Psychotica had something to do with that eventuality. It's also worth noting that Marilyn Manson is a piece of shit.)

Musically, it's a fusion of alt, glam, goth, and hard rock that's bolstered by some pretty fucking weird choices. In addition to including a cellist, there's a second vocalist named Reeka who, despite being Swedish, delivers her demonic, hyper-rhythmic verses in a vaguely Jamaican accent. Meanwhile, Briggs spends most of the record delivering an actually pretty powerful, Bowie-aping performance; and a series of brief interludes gesture towards chamber music and 90s electronica.

It's weird, messy, and memorable, but make no mistake: it is not "good." My enjoyment of this record probably represents a lapse in taste on my part, and my posting of it doesn't mean that I think you're gonna like it. There are some very unfortunate moments. Like when he starts off "Stop" by snarling "Sex and drugs and rock and roll are not enough to feed my soul" over a bargain-bin rawk riff -- in fact, "Stop" flat-out sucks an entire ass -- or when Reeka appears to rap on "What Is God". The lyrics aren't great. "The Future" is a baffling vignette built around a generic techno beat and the sound of an old-school dial-up modem. And generally, they seem overly eager to say "fuck" a lot, like a bunch of edgy 13-year-olds.

But none of this has stopped me from coming back again and again over the years. The DEVO cover? Love it. A dejected power ballad based on The Little Prince? Love it more. That deranged reggae breakdown in "Starfucker Love"? Fucking love it even more. And "Ice Planet Hell" fully slaps. It's hard to imagine anyone discovering and enjoying this record in the year of our lord 2021, but I've been listening to a bunch of early adolescent favorites, I have spare time, and I have a music blog, so this is what you get. What's next, Hagfish? Trip 66? I listened to a lot of questionable shit back in the day! 

Postscript: In working on this post, I discovered this ancient, Tripod.com Psychotica fan page, last updated in August 1998, preserved on the web like a mosquito full of dino-DNA in amber. Too bad the guestbook isn't viewable, I bet there was some real gold in there.

Track listing:

1. Ice Planet Hell

2. The Worship

3. Starfucker Love

4. Little Prince

5. Stop

6. The Call

7. Freedom of Choice

8. 180°

9. The Sleep

10. Flesh & Bone

11. Blue Fear

12. What Is God

13. La Chocha

14. Barcelona

15. The Future

16. Cybernation

17. New Man

18. The Awakening

Jesus kissed me on my thigh

And Jesus loves me all the time

More 9th-grade favorites:

GWAR - America Must Be Destroyed (1991)

Machines of Loving Grace - Gilt (1995)

Mick Ronson - Slaughter on 10th Avenue (1974)

In keeping with my tradition of posting stuff a day late, here's Slaughter on 10th Avenu, the solo debut of the late, great Mick Ronson, who left us 25 years ago yesterday. It's not just one of best glam rock albums in existence -- it's a showcase for his production and arrangement skills that brings his role in the formation of Bowie's glam-era sound into sharper focus. So put this on and pour one out for Mr. Ronson, one of rock's greatest unsung heroes.

Track listing:
1. Love Me Tender
2. Growing Up and I'm Fine
3. Only After Dark
4. Music Is Lethal
5. I'm the One
6. Pleasure Man / Hey Ma Get Papa
7. Slaughter on 10th Avenue

My friend myself, boredom's hero, prince of the alleys
Stumble falling to a winsome table, in search of wine

If you like this, check out:

Jobriath -
Creatures of the Street (1974)

T-Rex -
Futuristic Dragon (1976)

T. Rex - Futuristic Dragon (1976)

Possibly my favorite T. Rex outside of the classic era. Marc Bolan has soundtracked some of the best moments of my life, and there's a reason for that: at its best, it's some of the greatest, most joyful music in existence.

Track listing:
1. Futuristic Dragon (Introduction)
2. Jupiter Liar
3. Chrome Sitar
4. All Alone
5. New York City
6. My Little Baby
7. Calling All Destroyers
8. Theme for a Dragon
9. Sensation Boulevard
10. Ride My Wheels
11. Dreamy Lady
12. Dawn Storm
13. Casual Agent

Did you ever see a woman
Coming out of New York City
With a frog in her hand?

You might also wanna hear:

Babe Ruth -
First Base (1972)

Wizzard -
Wizzard Brew (1973)

Jobriath - Creatures of the Street (1974)

A weird genius, lost to the ages. Theatrical, piano-driven glam that's somewhere between Bowie and Big Star. Until a few months ago, I had never even fucking heard of Jobriath or this record, and it's so far up my alley it's probably gonna get stuck up there. I'm pissed. ONE OF YOU IS FIRED.

Track listing:
1. Heartbeat
2. Dietrich/Fondyke (A Brief History of Movie Music)
3. Street Corner Love
4. Ooh La La
5. Scumbag
6. Ecubyan
7. Good Times
8. Sister Sue
9. What a Pretty
10. Liten Up
11. Gone Tomorrow
12. Ooh La La (Reprise and Exit Music)

A star shot across the sky and smiled

If you like this, try:

Wizzard -
Wizzard Brew (1973)

Dwight Twilley -
Twilley (1979)

Wizzard - Wizzard Brew (1973)

Warped, psychedelic, art-damaged early glam from a group founded by Roy Wood (of ELO and the lesser-known but also great The Move.) By the time a raw, bleating sax solo closes out "You Can Dance the Rock 'n' Roll", you're either 100% sold, or you have poor taste in music.

Track listing:
1. You Can Dance the Rock 'n' Roll
2. Meet Me at the Jailhouse
3. Jolly Cup of Tea
4. Buffalo Station - Get on Down to Memphis
5. Gotta Crush (About You)
6. Wear a Fast Gun

Got me runnin'

More stuff you'll like:

Night Shadow -
The Square Root of Two (1968)

Råg I Ryggen -
Råg I Ryggen (1975)

Japan - Adolescent Sex (1978)

Japan's first album combines the strut of glam and the nervous energy of post-punk, then runs it through a smooth sheen of new wave and funk. Apparently the band disowned this record, but I'm definitely not alone in thinking it's their best.

EDIT: Re-upping the link in 2020, I feel like I have to mention that I no longer think this is their best record. I still love it, but this versus Tin Drum? Gimme a break.

Track listing:
1. Transmission
2. The Unconventional
3. Wish You Were Black
4. Performance
5. Lovers on Main Street
6. Don't Rain on My Parade
7. Suburban Love
8. Adolescent Sex
9. Communist China
10. Television

Your mouth is open wide but your body's too soft