The Audacity Of Hype
Jello Biafra And The Guatanamo School Of Medicine
review by bbarratt
Jello Biafra And The Guatanamo School Of Medicine- “The Audacity Of Hype”
released October 20th, 2009 on Alternative Tentacles Records.
It’s been years since Lard broke up and years since Jello Biafra last collaborated with D.O.A, The Melvins, Mojo Nixon (The Toadliquors) and the No WTO Project (w/th Krist Novoselic). So, imagine my surprise when Jello decides to put together another band for yet more jello-isms and the fun usually associated with all things Jello. This time around, his band consists of Ralph Spight (Victims Family) on guitars/vocals, Billy Gould (Faith No More) on bass, Jon Weiss (Sharkbait) on drums and Kimo Ball (Freak Accident) on guitar. “Clean As A Thistle” has a sound reminiscent of a sped-up version of both the Dead Kennedys (the pacing of the song), Lard (the overall heaviness) and The Toadliquors (sounds like “Buy My Snake Oil” on steroids). If not for the errant f-bomb, it’d be perfect. Not to worry as the lyrics are as humorous as ever and show Jello’s knack for rhyming and political awareness. “New Feudalism” has it all for someone that’s longing for the glory days of the Dead Kennedys, complete with the catchy lyrics. “Electronic Plantation” makes good use of a strong time-signature that carries throughout the song until a break at 1:48 and then builds back up. I think this song displays their technical proficiency very well and Jello has a solid band backing him up here. In conclusion, without droning on too much, this album shows that Jello still has the magic touch in regards to lyrical prowess. It may be a different band this time around but if I heard this for the first time and I did not know who the band was, I’d swear it was a new Lard album! Marvelous. Play the living hell out of this!
FCC: 1,2,6,9
Recommended Tracks: 3, *5*, 8
RIYL: Lard, Dead Kennedys, Jello & The Melvins