Psychostick, The Bloodhound Gang and Humorcore
Houston has introduced me to Psychostick, The Bloodhound Gang, and humorcore, a genre of music hitherto unknown to me but apparently coined by Psychostick (readers: correct me if wrong, this is 1 minute of Google research talking). The Urinal Mints, The Assholes, Insane Clown Posse and others turn up on a search for “humorcore” as well. I’d add The Bloodhound Gang, which I also heard first here in Houston.
Humorcore has, to me, a sharp ironic edge (exemplified in Psychostick’s “Beer!!!” and The Bloodhound Gang’s “New Vagina”) that I hope is not lost upon its 12 year old listeners, but likely is, and totally. Still, who cares. Mistakes are still for each of us to make, only later to appreciate the ironic art that depicts the same imbecilic behaviours.
I love discovering new music in new places. Larry Wall commented today how, growing up in the grid of Los Angeles, all of his childhood memories are paired with the cardinal direction he was facing at the moment, north, south, east or west. This reminded me of my geotagged musical memories.
Update: an alternative to “humorcore” is “tardcore”, which appears in the title of a Bloodhound Gang song. I believe this rather better captures the spirit of the genre.
Branden: from what I can tell, Psychostick is just harder edge speed metallic, although their “Orgasm = Love” is actually a ballad, which can only be described as having a haunting beauty. Check it out!!
on June 26th, 2007 at 10:55 am
The Bloodhound Gang is amazing. The singles “Fire Water Burn” and “Bad Touch” are great, but there’s so much more to them than that.
I’ve not heard Psychostick, The Urinal Mints, or The Assholes before (so you’ve got me curious), but I have listened to enough ICP to know that 1) I don’t think that they’re at all like BHG, and 2) I don’t think I like them much at all. Although I’ve seen a young Jugalette or two before that has caught my eye.
on July 6th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Interestingly, the BHG song featuring the phrase “I need to find a / new vagina” in the chorus is actually called “3.14″ - Pi - or Pie - which equals vagina.
Nerdcore indeed.
on January 25th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I just heard Psychostick’s stuffs and i can’t beleive how great they are. “Beer!” for instance, great music and really funny lyrics. It got me laughing and headbanging at the same time, which is.. weird. Anyway, this is something new for me and cool too. I’m pretty much enjoying it right now. Two Ton Paperweight!! HAHA!!