Psychostick – We Couldn't Think of a Title Review


Website: Psychostick

There’s an art to making a comedy record. Is it fun to make silly songs? Sure. But not everything works. There’s timing, there’s the element of surprise, there’s avoiding the just plain stupid. The best advice could be taken from a band like Bloodhound Gang, where the most ridiculous are lyrics are sung as if they’re no different from what every other band does. Because if you have to point out that you’re funny, you cease to be funny.

We Couldn’t Think of a Title succeeds in this regard to various degrees, although it’s imperfect. Peppered with completely stupid skits, the album is brought down a notch. But when the band is on, they’re on. Metal in no particular style other than “loud” and “obnoxious”, Psychostick has magic in their vocalist, Rob Kersey. Singing about a crappy car, itchy balls, unfaithful girls, beer, kinky sex acts, Satan, rock stardom, and the snooze button, this guy pulls it off in cool deadpan. A major highlight is “Prozak Milkshake”, a wonderful taunt to emo kids everywhere that they might not even realize is trashing them if they’re not paying attention. Throughout the disc, the band mixes up their styles and subject matter, leaving not a moment to become stale. The pinnacle hits with “ABCDeath”: “Alright motherf*ckers, it’s time to go oldschool, so put on your thinking caps and get ready to f*ck shit up!”… and then they sing the alphabet song. Metal.

It’s not all brilliance. Elements of supreme dumbness sprout from time to time with songs like “Pluh”, and the potential for killer satire in “Largiloquent Dithyramb” is completely lost with a worthless finale. And again, the idiotic skits really need to go. But given all the high points (plus the rather adorable liner notes and album art), We Couldn’t Think of a Title is a stupidly fun album. Accent on “stupid”, but fun just the same.