classic albums atsonic park edition # 9: brainiac - hissing prigs in static couture

atsonicpark · 09.18.2007, 04:33 PM

BRAINIAC "HISSING PRIGS IN STATIC COUTURE"
1996, Touch and Go

Choosing between "Bonsai Superstar" and "Hissing Prigs in Static Couture" is like choosing between kids or something... or choosing whether I prefer chicks in glasses or chicks in knee high socks... or choosing whether I prefer Argento or Fulci...

Well, for the record, if I could only have one, I'd choose 1) the kid who didn't annoy the shit out of me, 2) chicks with glasses, and 3) Fulci. Argento has more style, but... hmm.. I dunno, Fulci is just badass. New York Ripper!... Anyway, I chose "Hissing Prigs"... I think it's a better album, though all my favorite songs are on "Bonsai".

Anyway, if anyone's really aware of the kind of music I do (no one) and the kind of music Brainiac does (a few more than no one), they'll probably realize that Brainiac has inspired me more than any other band. What Brainiac does is so effortless, playing some kind of evil indie rock with technological drive and innovation to spare. A singer who can alternate between actual singing and ridiculous screams (using pitch shifter pedals, lots of delay/reverb, flanger, and various other effects), bizarre tunings that no one has bothered to decipher, minimalist keyboard bleeps, studio fuckery... a ridiculously talented and tight band.

What's odd about Brainiac is just how noisey they could be without losing their composure. All the songs, as fucked up as they are, just seem to make sense.. they never go into random noise breakdowns or boring jamming. Another odd thing about Brainiac is that they specialized in a-bit-faster-than-midtempo music, but their slower songs ("Strung", "Beekeeper's Maxim") were probably their best.

Highlights on this record include "Nothing Ever Changes" (recorded in Albini's basement, and you can tell!), "Hot Seat Can't Sit Down", "This Little Piggy" (featuring a dueling robot voice!) "70kg Man" (with a very off-kilter and well-placed brief noise break in the middle that is beyond perfect), and the amazing "Vincent Come on Down" (sounds like if the Jesus Lizard replaced David Yow with an even more deranged guy who also owned a moog). Just a truely brilliant, brilliant band who made not a single bad song or wasted a single note with a totally off-kilter classic album that has inspired me endlessly.. and probably will inspire you, too.

Also, before anyone says anything, I don't think Enon's very good. But some similiar bands who ARE good include the Causey Way, (((microwaves))), Six Finger Satellite, Trans Am, Servotron, Polysics, Spoozys, Devo, and the Sump Pumps. Yay.

Sheriff Rhys Chatham · 09.18.2007, 04:37 PM

neverheard. I'll check em out.

atsonicpark · 09.18.2007, 04:46 PM

you'll like!

it's uh.. well, i liked my term.. it's EVIL INDIE ROCK.

Sheriff Rhys Chatham · 09.18.2007, 04:48 PM

nice.
I tend to like whatevers on touch and go.

atsonicpark · 09.18.2007, 04:50 PM

Me too, except in the later years.. I mean, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are one thing, but didn't !!! release something through them? Ehhhhhhhhh...

Sheriff Rhys Chatham · 09.18.2007, 04:52 PM

yeah.
I think they've got a couple things on there. That's how I heard of them actually.

Everyneurotic · 09.18.2007, 08:09 PM

to tell you the truth, i like smack bunny baby.

having said that, i haven't heard bonsai superstar.

hissing prigs is really good but...i don't know, too nirvana-esque in places.

nicfit · 09.19.2007, 04:01 AM

I love this band.

Brainiac - To The Baby-Counter live 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CziMzrqYGQ8

Brainiac - Sexual Frustration live 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbkdrmAaL-E
Brainiac - hot metal dobermans live 1994
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0xUpQblLiY

Brainiac - Vincent Come on Down
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlynAfC39BM

Brainiac - draag
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HilonkoBhpA

nicfit · 09.19.2007, 04:18 AM

http://www.myspace.com/brainiacfanpage

http://www.touchandgorecords.com/bands/band.php?id=37

atsonicpark · 09.19.2007, 06:37 AM

HOLY SHIT nicfit, thanks for the brainiac youtube links, I've looked up brainiac a few times on youtube and.. the show brainiac comes up.

everyneurotic, you should check out bonsai superstar. It's like smack bunny baby but really noisey. Honestly, MAYBE better than this album, I dunno, as I said they're pretty close.

nicfit · 09.19.2007, 07:44 AM

yeah! it took a while to find them a few months ago, all bookmarked... the drag is amazing live.

musefreek · 09.19.2007, 08:42 AM

apparently there's an unreleased album in the vaults somewhere. not sure why they won't release it.

more people should listen to brainiac!

nicfit · 09.19.2007, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by musefreek

apparently there's an unreleased album in the vaults somewhere. not sure why they won't release it.

more people should listen to brainiac!

guess the death of timmy kinda put an end to the band and they don't want to be the new nirvana marketing-wise

atsonicpark · 06.09.2010, 01:12 PM

You know, I think I like Bonsai better now.

This band represents everything that was good about 90's indie rock, before it all went to shit.

09.18.2007, 04:33 PM	#1
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	BRAINIAC "HISSING PRIGS IN STATIC COUTURE" 1996, Touch and Go Choosing between "Bonsai Superstar" and "Hissing Prigs in Static Couture" is like choosing between kids or something... or choosing whether I prefer chicks in glasses or chicks in knee high socks... or choosing whether I prefer Argento or Fulci... Well, for the record, if I could only have one, I'd choose 1) the kid who didn't annoy the shit out of me, 2) chicks with glasses, and 3) Fulci. Argento has more style, but... hmm.. I dunno, Fulci is just badass. New York Ripper!... Anyway, I chose "Hissing Prigs"... I think it's a better album, though all my favorite songs are on "Bonsai". Anyway, if anyone's really aware of the kind of music I do (no one) and the kind of music Brainiac does (a few more than no one), they'll probably realize that Brainiac has inspired me more than any other band. What Brainiac does is so effortless, playing some kind of evil indie rock with technological drive and innovation to spare. A singer who can alternate between actual singing and ridiculous screams (using pitch shifter pedals, lots of delay/reverb, flanger, and various other effects), bizarre tunings that no one has bothered to decipher, minimalist keyboard bleeps, studio fuckery... a ridiculously talented and tight band. What's odd about Brainiac is just how noisey they could be without losing their composure. All the songs, as fucked up as they are, just seem to make sense.. they never go into random noise breakdowns or boring jamming. Another odd thing about Brainiac is that they specialized in a-bit-faster-than-midtempo music, but their slower songs ("Strung", "Beekeeper's Maxim") were probably their best. Highlights on this record include "Nothing Ever Changes" (recorded in Albini's basement, and you can tell!), "Hot Seat Can't Sit Down", "This Little Piggy" (featuring a dueling robot voice!) "70kg Man" (with a very off-kilter and well-placed brief noise break in the middle that is beyond perfect), and the amazing "Vincent Come on Down" (sounds like if the Jesus Lizard replaced David Yow with an even more deranged guy who also owned a moog). Just a truely brilliant, brilliant band who made not a single bad song or wasted a single note with a totally off-kilter classic album that has inspired me endlessly.. and probably will inspire you, too. Also, before anyone says anything, I don't think Enon's very good. But some similiar bands who ARE good include the Causey Way, (((microwaves))), Six Finger Satellite, Trans Am, Servotron, Polysics, Spoozys, Devo, and the Sump Pumps. Yay. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.18.2007, 04:37 PM	#2
Sheriff Rhys Chatham invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England. Posts: 4,027	neverheard. I'll check em out. __________________ My Music(grunge rock) A part of this blue shit since June 24th, 2004
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09.18.2007, 04:46 PM	#3
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	you'll like! it's uh.. well, i liked my term.. it's EVIL INDIE ROCK. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.18.2007, 04:48 PM	#4
Sheriff Rhys Chatham invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England. Posts: 4,027	nice. I tend to like whatevers on touch and go. __________________ My Music(grunge rock) A part of this blue shit since June 24th, 2004
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.18.2007, 04:50 PM	#5
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	Me too, except in the later years.. I mean, Yeah Yeah Yeahs are one thing, but didn't !!! release something through them? Ehhhhhhhhh... __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.18.2007, 04:52 PM	#6
Sheriff Rhys Chatham invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New England. Posts: 4,027	yeah. I think they've got a couple things on there. That's how I heard of them actually. __________________ My Music(grunge rock) A part of this blue shit since June 24th, 2004
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.18.2007, 08:09 PM	#7
Everyneurotic invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mexico Posts: 15,713	to tell you the truth, i like smack bunny baby. having said that, i haven't heard bonsai superstar. hissing prigs is really good but...i don't know, too nirvana-esque in places. __________________ Richard Clayderman found alive and still bland! Repo Man has all night! Photographic evidence of Monosodic's existance! New Kiddieriot shit after all! Never too late to share fave rex from the year before! David Keenan is a douchebag! Ron Asheton missed!
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.19.2007, 04:01 AM	#8
nicfit invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: banana boat Posts: 15,570	I love this band. Brainiac - To The Baby-Counter live 1994 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CziMzrqYGQ8 Brainiac - Sexual Frustration live 1994 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbkdrmAaL-E Brainiac - hot metal dobermans live 1994 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0xUpQblLiY Brainiac - Vincent Come on Down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlynAfC39BM Brainiac - draag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HilonkoBhpA __________________ 11:11 11-11-11 I Ascended.
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09.19.2007, 04:18 AM	#9
nicfit invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: banana boat Posts: 15,570	http://www.myspace.com/brainiacfanpage http://www.touchandgorecords.com/bands/band.php?id=37 __________________ 11:11 11-11-11 I Ascended.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.19.2007, 06:37 AM	#10
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	HOLY SHIT nicfit, thanks for the brainiac youtube links, I've looked up brainiac a few times on youtube and.. the show brainiac comes up. everyneurotic, you should check out bonsai superstar. It's like smack bunny baby but really noisey. Honestly, MAYBE better than this album, I dunno, as I said they're pretty close. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.19.2007, 07:44 AM	#11
nicfit invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: banana boat Posts: 15,570	yeah! it took a while to find them a few months ago, all bookmarked... the drag is amazing live. __________________ 11:11 11-11-11 I Ascended.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

09.19.2007, 08:42 AM	#12
musefreek bad moon rising Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 160	apparently there's an unreleased album in the vaults somewhere. not sure why they won't release it. more people should listen to brainiac!
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

06.09.2010, 01:12 PM	#14
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	You know, I think I like Bonsai better now. This band represents everything that was good about 90's indie rock, before it all went to shit. __________________
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|