Label: 5 Rue Christine
Released: Oct 11, 2005 |
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What happens when ex-hardcore dudes are done screaming and shouting? Usually, they get together and start “post-hardcore” bands that tend to be considerably mellower than their younger days of causing a ruckus. In the cases of Fugazi and Quicksand, they created something interesting and innovative that surpassed their salad days. However, other times when tattooed tough-guys get together, they talk about their “feelings” and “wounded emotions.” The results in this latter category are mixed, to say the least. Not wanting to fall into any kind of post-hardcore cliché, ex-Born Against members, Sam McPheeters and Neil Burke went out of their heads and found new ways to weird people out.
The 40 songs on The Best Of Men’s Recovery Project were culled from their proper albums, seven-inches, and various compilations. A slew of guests, including members of: Six Finger Satellite, Melvins, Le Tigre, and The Locust, among others, join McPheeters and Burke for the fun. Clearly, MRP's music doesn't really fit into any kind of category or genre. It's full of odd samples, silly keyboards, and bizarre lyrics. Songs like “Stubble On The Chin Of A Vicious Brute” and “Sexual Pervert” sound a bit like Devo’s four-track recordings. The strange synthesizers and narrative tales of “The Couch” and “Egyptian Assassin” bring The Residents to mind. “Normal Man” and “Why We Are Lazy” are full-throttle rockers that somewhat resemble Born Against. “Get The Fuck Out Of My Office” features a female-robot voice confronting a male-robot voice about snooping in her office. Supposedly, the bastard just needed to get some files.
I must say that The Best Of… is a great introduction to one of the strangest bands to have ever existed in the world of post-hardcore. They definitely aren’t for everyone, but you weirdos who like stuff like Need New Body and The Residents should check this out. Since other Men’s Recovery Project releases are pretty hard to come across, you also might want to head over to Vermiform (Sam McPheeters’ label) and purchase some of their stuff.
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