gay for johnny depp - politics of cruelty

The line-up, consisting of some fantastically pseudo-named band members (namely like Sid Jagger and F. Cokboi), make no bone(r)s about sexually debasing punk. Heavy guitar phallicisms can also be found, like those on opening track ‘Cumpassion’ – a track which puns and pretties itself for action by splaying a wave of melodic mutilation over the high camp homoeroticism of The Blood Brothers. Even the gloriously titled ‘You Have A Theory, I Have a Gun’ instigates the sort of hardcore atrocities that’d make hardened Black Flag fans cry into their Sugar Puffs. There’s little doubt that there’s madness in their method. Somwhere. I’m fucked if I know where though. As you may expect for a debut it does at times fall short with wasted tracks like ‘Noise’ adding little to their fleeting assault. But as fans of their 2005 EP ‘Blood: the Natural Lubricant’ will testify, GFJD are tough to nail down for any long duration of time. Closing the LP by dragging out the corpse of punk-prog on ‘I Hate our Freedom (Fuck You Gladys, I’m on Vacation)’ they prove that they have it in them to be epic. Even if it is in that “faux-path to destruction” sort of way. But there’s plenty here to keep every arm shot with dirty punk fury and even the most inequitable of hardcore fraternities will welcome Gay For Johnny Depp, whose illicit pleasures and peculiarities will inevitably bring you to a sticky end. These guys will make you feel cheaper than low class crystal meth - and make you wish you’d been born a believer.