KCUF - Modern Primitive Punk Review
Posted by Brandon Ratliff on 02.21.2006
Punkin' up your bathroom since 2005.
KCUF - Modern Primitive Punk
Release Date: February 21, 2006
Label: Corporate Punishment Records/313 Recordings
KCUF is:
Crazy White Sean, Jeff "T-Shirt" Myers, John Fahnestock
Additional Performers:
Shavo Odajian (System Of A Down), James Shaffer (Korn), DJ Starscream (Slipknot)
Not often these days will you run into a band like KCUF. Helmed by former Gwar roadie Crazy White Sean, the band is one that takes an very dated overall sound and makes it work on a record released in 2006. Think of all of your old favorite punk bands from the 1970's, and then mix in the crazy, but fun rock and roll antics of Gwar, and what's the outcome? If you couldn't figure it out, it's KCUF. Very little information is out there on the internet (and that's considering that I work closely with their label), so most of the genesis of the band is a bit of a mystery as of yet. With their debut album launching on February 21, 2006 that's bound to change however, so only time will tell.
First and foremost, it should be pointed out that the primary point of this band (if you even want to call it that; project may be more like it) is simply to have fun and rock out. Not that the band isn't focused in its writing (which is more elaborate than the first listen will indicate), but it almost seems such a parody of itself that someone could walk up to the members and say that they are the worst band ever, and it really wouldn't surprise me if Sean were to simply pull a Donnie Walberg and agree. Not to say this is a bad thing. Oh no, in the world of artists who will cut their wrists just because their girlfriend/boyfriend/dog/deadly-virus-in-a-jar died today, hearing a band go out there and say "fuck you, we are just having fun" is extremely revitalizing. "As a singer, I feel singing is overrated. So there will be no singing on this song. So make up your own words...fuckers." How does this attitude make it onto a professionally produced record?
It needs to be there. Is it a way of saying fuck the haters, do your thing? Perhaps, and if so, it's the best damn way to say it possible.
Of course, with such a feeling can sometimes come at the cost of a lack of clear and concise direction. Sometimes it's metal, other times it's punk (which is most of the time), and at other times it is just indescribable. Sometimes though, it is a little of everything, such as the extremely odd death metal/Black Flag-esque punk hybrid "Dredful." I'm honestly not even sure what to think of the track. In one part, there's a death metal growl over a punk riff, and in another there are punk wails over death metal riffing. What the fuck is that?
I guess it goes back to what I initially said...it's just fun rock & roll. Is there such a problem with that? Hell no there's not.
From the twisted version of the famous chicken joint logo to the take no prisoners but leave no one behind approach, KCUF is a project that clearly defies classification or a real genre. Good thing or bad thing? Decide for yourself. Back and forth the band goes over the twenty-two tracks on their debut, with some parts being death metal, and some parts being punk, but never will you find them being serious about what they are doing. Where's the fun in that anyways?
The 411: Even if the music isn't really your thing (and seeing how much it spans, it'd be hard to not find something you like, you won't be able to help but to at least get some laughs out of the at times completely ridiculous lyrics and antics. But I can guarantee you that if all the band does is make you laugh a bit, the members would feel like they'd done their job. For what it is, Modern Primitive Punk is a flat out entertaining record from start to finish, which was all it was really meant to be to begin with.
