Chicks on Speed - The Re-Releases of the Un-Releases
(K)
This record presents a bit of a dilemma. You see, I am a strong
believer in music (and art) being good when it can exist without context and
still appeal to people. This means getting to their hearts somehow without
them knowing where it came from, the kind of effort the artist put into it, or
even the artist's intention when creating the piece. The problem here is that
without the context, this Chicks on Speed record pretty much sucks.
So I am presented with European hipster goddesses the Chicks on Speed,
in all of there decadent glory. More an art project than a band, these cute
ladies put together cute costumes, "deconstruct" dance music, and carry around
quite a bit of attitude... and have convinced people to like them.
Granted, this record is not necessarily representative of their entire
output; it is, after all, The Unreleases and with good reason. Most of the music
here is basically the three ladies of Chicks on Speed fucking around in the studio, on
the radio, or wherever else they hang out. Cute songs by Eurotrash girls
making fun of Eurotrash girls while basically sticking their middle finger
wherever they can.
The problem with artists who decide they can "do" music is that
usually their desire is to "you know, ask the question 'is this music?' and
like, fuck with people's expectations." Create a completely empty statement
that serves nothing other than to either impress a specific set of those in the know
or upset everybody else.
Am I ranting? Sorry. Its just that this record has about as much
value as, say, the Sounds of an Airport Bathroom 7". And I mean that
literally. A fun, interesting listen of little or no lasting musical value.
I am told their "real" albums will be reissued shortly in the states.
Perhaps I will then understand where the true genius of the Chicks on Speed
sits. Perhaps if I were snorting coke in the back of a gallery in Berlin I
would better appreciate this. For now, do me a favor and go listen to
something else.
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