Mindless Self Indulgence

Mindless Self Indulgence have made their Masterpiece with IF. All of the classic MSI elements have been turned up to 666, and there's no turning back. IF is chock full of infectious electro, trip-punk that has no business being this catchy, but it is. Spastic riffs crescendo into cracked out keyboards, as Jimmy Urine's ADD ramblings shift from psychotic to shocking and then back again. This is music for a dance party in Hell, but MSI wouldn't have it any other way. MSI have gone against the grain since they hit the scene hard with Tight, and they haven't stopped kicking out the jams since. Lauded by everyone from KoRn to System of a Down, Mindless Self Indulgence is a rare musical enigma. They've always been just under the radar of massive pop success, but that could change on IF—"If" the mainstream is ready. Given the current resurgence of electronic music in the pop realm, this could be Mindless Self Indulgence's day to take over, and no one deserves it more.

Songs have never been a problem for Mindless. In fact, few people can write a hook like Jimmy Urine. The album kicks off with the ass shakin' crunch of "Never Wanted to Dance," and from there, the hits don't stop coming. "Get It Up" hilariously dissects impotency with the vocal schizophrenia that's an integral part of MSI's brilliance. "Lights Out" launches a funky bass line into a full-on cyber punk assault as Urine keeps swinging his fists and more. "Prescription" is an ode to chemicals complete with a soaring keyboard line and '80s-style sing-a-long. "Mastermind" breaks it down slowly, and then turns up the heat from whispers to screams. IF finds MSI focusing their signature musical ADD into the most cohesive songs that they've written. Also, Urine tackles deeper lyrical content more than just panty raids and hating on Jimmy Page. That darker subject matter includes Columbine and Mark David Chapman. He does it with complete aplomb, in a whacky manner that only he could. Check out the vocoder on "Mark David Chapman," T-Pain watch out.

Jimmy makes a "full-frontal" assault on emo, punk, hip hop, dance music and everyone else in his path with this record, and he succeeds. Now, "IF" the world would just wake up, MSI would be headlining Coachella next year.

—Rick Florino
04.28.08