luckyPRICK

Ear Medicine (Review)

Ear Medicine, 2002
By Chad Bosworth
Transcribed by Ear Medicine Online

Somewhere in the bargain bin of your local (second hand?) music store, lies a forgotten album from 1995 called Prick. It's behind all the excess Soundgarden CD's. Just a few in front of Vitro's one and only album Distort (which we'll get into another time). With a somewhat strange drawing of a masked clown on the cover - it may be easy to glide past; but like so many other unappreciated debuts; this could just become a diamond in your music collection.

Kevin McMahon is pretty much the one man band sharing titles with this album, and rode in on the early Industrial mainstream movement with help from musical developer and long time friend Trent Reznor (yes, That Trent Reznor).

Having been signed to Nothing/Interscope under the same wing that brought Marilyn Manson's persona to the world - the expectation was there that this album would make a big impact. It didn't. After falling flat on its face, Prick went into hiding and seemed to vanish off the face of the planet.

Then, somehow, people started getting interested. Expectations aside, the album began to develop a reputation for it's unique use of Industrial Rock, melancholy lyrics, punchy delivery and omelette of emotions. Not that it will be everyone's cup of tea - naturally it would have earned McMahon a wall hanging if it was; but the appeal was (and still is) there.

Some tracks utilise wailing guitars and angry spat-out vocals, while others carry a haunting voice over heavily distorted bass. However, it's this apparent dabbling that gives the album its character - diversity in a style that struggles to separate tracks.

I defy any Industrial fan to not feel at least a small stir during "Animal", and if this isn't your thing, try "Communiqui" (the only lifted single), "Other People" or "I Got It Bad" or all.

McMahon did re-emerge for long enough to drop a second album (2002's independent album The Wreckard), which is only really worth exploring if the debut tickled you in places you won't let your friends touch.

If you see Prick and have any interest in Industrial Metal, or even Heavy Rock, do yourself a favour and have a listen, or just pick it up as that oddity in your collection. It's just about guaranteed to be unlike anything else you own.