Link: Dope
The Inside Pulse:
Welcome to 2005, where angst lives on and is front and center with Dope’s latest offering American Apathy. And honestly, there’s absolutely no mistaking this angst for anything but; song titles like “No Way Out,” “Fuck the World,” and “Fuck tha Police” leave little to the imagination. Layers upon layers of guitars and processed vocals sell the sound even further, creating an entire cloud of hatred and anger. Oh yeah, and some sex, too, as “Sex Machine” and “Let’s Fuck” will gladly flush away any fog which may have clouded the messages within. It’s safe to say that Edsel Dope and his crew have no sense of subtlety. Wait! I forgot, politics are present prominently here as well. To no shock or surprise, Dope isn’t fond of President Bush, with a few vocal samples sprinkled throughout the disc and cries for revolution, as well as electing Edsel Dope into office. Hmmm, a leader who has sex with all his female constituents and flips off his own police force? The vote to cast is all yours.
Positives:
I can’t help but give props to the band for being able to write some very strongly ear-catching riffs. After only a couple of listens, tracks like “Always” and “Dream” are more than memorable. Throughout the disc, the music itself is quite strong for the style played. Also, interesting choice in covers with Depeche Mode’s “People Are People”; considering the hatred and venom spewed throughout the other lyrics on the disc, it’s nearly comical to hear this anthem of tolerance and peace.
Negatives:
The lyrics are just plain hilariously silly, angry, and childish. Sure, pissed off teenagers are going to bite into this like crazy, but give them a few years and they’ll grow out of it. And when they do, who will listen to this album? It’s just impossible to take seriously.
Cross-breed:
Marilyn Manson’s incredibly cheesy lyrics as of late mixed with Rob Zombie’s music.
Reason to buy:
You hate the world, your soul is full of maggots, and you hate the President.
