Customer Reviews

Hissing Prigs in Static Couture [Vinyl]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
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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.

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.

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.

brainiac changed my life. well, maybe not exactly, but I piucked up this cd a few years back used, and, I couldnt stop listening to it. it's very well put together, and it turned me on to brainiac. I eventually got the rest of their albums, but, I would say ifg youre interested in brainiac either start with this or 'bonsai superstar.'

It is hard to explain the appeal of this record but it is brilliantly ferocious, a glorious assault that has rarely been equalled in my experience.... what many aspire to but almost none achieve. Like being knifed and loving every stab...And who can resist the name? I mean, "Hissing Prigs in Static Couture"? This is the real deal.

what can i say this album is amazing, up there with Doolittle. I got into Brainiac a good 6 years after Timmy died so i never saw them live, so i can only imagine how great it was. Anyway, H1551N9 PR195 1N 5TAT1C C0UTUR3 is 3RA1N1AC's finest record, their deranged swan song. It features such greats as vincent come on down, 70 KG man, pussyfootin' and my personal favorite Nothing ever changes. The latter belongs in the song hall of fame (if there such a thing) and is definately in the Top 5 on my list. It has one of the best choruses and synthesizer lines ever. Another great moment is Strung. Its amazing how something so ugly can sound so beautiful. its hard to describe, maybe its something like you would hear on a B horror movie soundtrack blood curdling screams and all. You got to hear it for yourself. For those established Brainiac fans you should pick up Six finger satellite's master work: Severe Exposure. They have a similar sound to Brainiac but they are much more abrasive. I cannot stress enough the importance of Hissing prigs... if more kids had been listening to this during the 90's our American music scene would not be in such a bourgeios state

The best band of the 90's for sure. You must buy all of their records! You will not be disappointed. On top of "Hissing Prigs" I also suggest "Electro-Shock for President"!

I can't describe it and that's what makes this band and this album so special. We are so quick so catagorise these days, call it math-rock, geek rock with a hint of indie and this and that...I call it Brainiac. At their best.

A friend got me into this band a while ago and I was cynical, ordered this CD anyways, it fell onto my doorstep 11 days later and hasn't been out of my CD player or my mind, heart and mouth ever since.

I first heard Pussyfootin' and thought my heart was going to explode, then I listened to Vincent Come On Down and while furiously headbanging wondered how such an amazing band could be so unheard of or un-noticed when pap like blink 182 and sum 41 are on the radio waves these days.
I then heard Strung...ok...not to sound lame...but I had a lump in my throat and a feeling of whattheF*CK sprang to mind. That song totally un-nerves me, it must be the digital screaming in the back ground like an animal being slaughtered and the soft dreamy, slightly calm yet schitzophrenic singing over the top just makes me want to tear off my face skin. I have never had that feeling...while I have been on these tablets. So the song must be good!

What can I say...stop being a tightwad! buy this album because it will change the way that you look at all music, decide for youself, but it is more than worth a try.

I cannot overstate the importance of this album to me. I truly believe it would have been more vital to the world had it not been their last. To me, this is the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" if the world were on the verge of a global math-rock hug, only to be thwarted when Paul McCartney drives his car off the road and out of our collective lives.

Rock has never sounded this fun, and if Brainiac had stayed around, they would have kicked a hole in the wall dividing Scratch Acid and Rapeman from Nirvana and the Pixies when the age-old discussion concerning the evolution of rock rears its beautifully ugly head. There isn't a bad song on this record. It's danceable ("Pussyfootin'"), thoughtful ("Strung"), and downright creepy ("I Am a Cracked Machine"), all the while maintaining a giddiness unparalleled since Thinking Fellers Union's "Strangers from the Universe." "Nothing Ever Changes" is easily one of the most righteous tunes ever commited to tape. While many Brainiac purists believe "Bonsai Superstar" to be their best offering, I offer only this: Had I not been lucky enough to have "Bonsai" take my hand and lead me into the house of Brainiac already, hearing "Hissing Prigs" would've twisted my arm around my back until I screamed uncle. This is why "Hissing Prigs" is so iconic to me. After all, few go from "Please Please Me" to "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" in their careers without easing the listener through "In My Life." It's all in the evolution, you see. The follow-up to this album could have been their "Zen Arcade," their "Double Nickels on the Dime." 'Nuff said.

Anything else I can say is a pure stroking of their genius, and I'm fully aware at how that word is carelessly thrown around these days. Please, please pick up a copy and open your ears. They only passed this way once. A blip on the screen.

Think of them as indie Devo, or for the more knowledgable, call them Polysics-lite. Though little about this band or its music can be described as 'lite' these guys possess a sound very similar to the Japanese 'New Wave/noise' outfit Polysics, but is actually less abrasive. Capturing the dorky angular guitars, and raging synths of early Devo, while throwing away their sing songy vocals and message. The vocals are replaced by screeching cacaphony that is both jarring and brilliant at the same time.

Gone also is the cold calculating nature of Devo, and enter the looser aspect of indie music. Like the Pixies or Nirvana the 90's 'sloppier' musical ways are brought to the foreground here that give it a near improvised feel here. Where as Devo was purposley emotionless and sarcastic, Brainiac shows some emotion.

Its tough to listen to at first, but after repeated listens you'll find out why artier rock needs to stop being depressing or angry and back to just plain nerdy, like the Feelies, Talking Heads, and of course Devo, after all people are still nervous right?