Degenerate Jim – “Horrorween Vol. 1”
I’m not big on holidays, not even Halloween. Though, I know a bunch of my young punk friends are big on it. (M. Ryann).
I spent a good part of my twenties at the punk club The Rat, where it seemed every night was dress up for lotsa folks so Halloween was not a big difference there.
Now, Groundhog’s Day? That’s another story. I love it as it is by far, the most absurd “holiday” there is.
But now, the tale I have to tell is of Degenerate Jim. And please! Don’t keep asking me this… Yes, my given name is Slimedog and my nickname is Jim and most certainly, I am a degenerate.
But this recording is by Jimmy West Jr. So please stop pestering me with how to obtain my t-shirts.
Though I do sell my used underwear on my Only Ones page- feel free to PM me.
And though, not big on holidays, I am big on Degenerate Jim, as he produced “one of the best recordings I’ve heard this year.”
He wrote to me that this release was made more for shits and giggles.
But do you see me laughing?
Well, you might be laughing if you could see me now, in my orchid leotard and silver tiara. Lounging in a relaxing chair that extends with a foot rest. While I’m popping chocolate covered cherries into my mouth along with an assortment of anxiety reducing pills.
But as a great man once said, “You took the words right out of my mouth. It must of been while I was kissing you.”
Well, let me dislodge these pills and unloosen the belt from my windpipe as I hear that erotic asphyxiation is so passe’ nowadays. Gone out of style like the hula hoop, moon rocks and Nehru jackets. Along with civil, logical discourse in national politics.
But let’s now check out some scarily, great tunes:
“The Dead Rise Again” starts with an energetic, propulsive beat that, I’m pretty sure, is machine generated. But Hey! So are the words you are reading right now because, actually I’m a Russian bot. There’s a great, soaring
guitar lick swooping down upon our ears like a hawk descending upon a frantically, scurrying mouse. But unlike imminent death, this leads us to a song that conjures up everyone from The Damned, Billy Idol, Sisters Of Mercy and especially, The Misfits.
Once I assured myself that this song in no way advocates Jerry Garcia resurrecting as a zombie to reunite The Grateful Dead in their truly, horrifying music. I was placated, able to sip my chamomile tea with a blanky spread across my knees in my rocking chair. But putting all these terrifying notions aside. This song rocks and rules, glowing in its’ goth/punk brilliance.
With a catchy guitar lick worthy of The Buzzcocks, “Monster Squad,” opens with an energy bubbling up below and a crooning, melodic vocal that suggests metal, punk and goth all at once. The chorus has a female vocal that is met by an theatrical, almost operatic male vocal that suggests the vocal styling of David Bowie. This song is energetic, emotive, expressive and excellent.
“Night Of The Cenobites” begins with a fast, charging beat with melodic, female vocals entering. They are soon met with male vocals that are a bit more dissonant. This song zooms along like a Jaguar car on an eight lane open highway filled with treacherous, melodic curves along with smooth straightaways.
There’s some squealing guitar or could it really be just gears and wheels screeching?
BTW a cenobite is a member of a monastic community, referring to monks or others living under religious views.
I do believe in punk in an almost religious way. And I wouldn’t describe this song as sacred but I would describe it as something great that I believe in, just as I do with this whole release.
I’m not big on holidays or Halloween, though, I figure you might’ve already sensed this.
I’m also not big on The Misfits. Don’t like them really, though I do like some of their songs. I do love their song “Skull” when I hear it played by anybody but themselves.
I’m also not big on most “things” in life to tell you the truth.
All the “things” that most people get all riled up about- I could give two shits or two giggles about.
But the few “things” I do like, such as the arts, I become obsessed about.
And though this “thing” was made for shits and giggles and is not held as in high esteem by me as the previous release under this name. It sure beats the hell out of most “things” I’ve listened to, or a hell of a lot “things” we’ve lived through this year.
A feel the few gems of life make it all worth living. Like how we stumble upon a few moments of relief during a regular week that is full of suffering and boredom, that maybe makes up ninety-five percent of our time.
I’m thinking this release, that I stumble upon, is part of my five percent this week. This is it right here.
This is one of those moments that make it all worthwhile.
(Slimedog)
