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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A deranged masterpiece, August 6, 2001
My first introduction to Brainiac was the "Electroshock for President" EP. I really didn't know what to make of them--their music was unlike anything I'd ever heard. Ok, they had a little bit of this and a little bit of that as obvious influences, but as a cohesive whole, their songs were jaw-droppingly original. But "Hissing Prigs in Static Couture" was the album that got me hooked on Brainiac. This album is a tremendous piece of work--they really get their groove on and shake some booty with the classics "Pussyfootin", "Vincent Come on Down", "This Little Piggy", "Kiss Me You Jacked Up Jerk", "70 KG Man" and "Nothing Ever Changes". There is, of course, the weird experimentation, but it fits in so well and is so intriguing to listen to. Eli Janney (of Girls Against Boys) does a great job of creating their strange sonic universe. Brainiac were one of the most original bands to come out of the 1990's, and their influence is already starting to show in bands like The Dismemberment Plan. Timmy Taylor's death was a true loss, and it's sad that he is no longer with us to create more amazing music with his band. Thankfully, we have Enon to carry on the tradition.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
startlingly original stuff from the "post-grunge" trenches, January 8, 2005
Brainiac was one of the most fascinating bands of the nineties, a band that, sooner or later, will experience some popularity due to some serious name-dropping, of course, tragically, there won't ever be another record like "Hissing Prigs" or any of the other Brainiac albums, due to Tim Taylor's tragic end, but at least we have Enon to continue flying the flag.
"Hissing Prigs" is a masterpiece, and it was with this record that Brainiac's influences became less and less apparent and the sound just hit the listener in the jaw with its originality. Sure, there are touches of some Pixies here, a little Devo there, some Sonic Youth here, etc., but Brainiac had one of the most original sounds of any group of that time. The way the guitars were approached on this album were awesome--it'd take a rocket scientist to figure out all the oddly tuned riffs at work here. The heavy grooves of songs like "Vincent Come On Dowm" and the rush of "Nothing Ever Changes" make for great rockin'-out music, but this album is great for any occasion. Highly recommended.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hot Seat Can't Sit Down, June 19, 2004
By A Customer
I saw Brainiac open for The Jesus Lizard, at The Middle East, on one of Brainiac's last tours, I think, sometime in the mid-ninties. The experience was akin to having a lightning bolt driven through your head. And here, many years later, that feeling still remains. This record is an encapsulation of the Brainiac live show experience, and that, I have to say, is a pretty amazing thing. The energy conveyed on this album is unabashed and ass-kicking. Timmy Taylor was an amalgamation of all kinds of past rock archetypes and the future rolled in to one. And combined with the players on this record, and the guitar playing in particular, this record is one great force.
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