|
|
|
Pailhead -- Trait EP Wax Trax
Ministry -- Land Of Rape And Honey Sire The way I see it, Al Jourgensen's got a lock on the future of music. Not only has he assimilated all the the latest musical trends to perfection, but in his imitation collages he points perfectly towards tomorrow with his hollow thieving finger. Once known for the lighter disco of a late Cab. Voltaire sort, he now engages in hard-rock Eurodisco guaranteed to not only crossover, but to split into a thousand directions, leading all roads to his wallet. With Pailhead, one gets a more IO roots" approach with Ian from Minor Threat adding guitar and whatnot to balance out Al,'s more sterilized gestures. Not that it "works" in any sort of artistic manner, but as an exercise in style, it can't be faulted. "Don't Stand In Line." is the genius track on this EP, a thumping disco/metal/rap piece that can infiltrate a million markets at once. It's empty, loud, and with a big enough stereo, could move mountains. The rest of the disc has Al and Ian jerking off with eyes towards neither art nor the market. Big Al loses some genius points here, but fortunately he makes them up with Land Of Rape And Honey. Big Black may have it done it first, but it's Ministry who'll be remembered for bringing it to the man on the street. This, fellow record-loving swine, is the future. Minimalistic, repetitive, loud, and without substance, these pieces aren't so much "songs" as they are exercises in production. Not that any of this really matters, of course. All that's left for one to realize that since this music doesn't inspire to any originality in the first place, it's useless to fling aesthetic concerns at it. The subversion has begun, and the time has come for you to empty your head and get this before your little sister sells her Depeche Mode albums and does the same. Beside, it "rocks" and I'm sure you could care less what Gerard Cosloy thinks of you anyway ... -J. Marlowe |