Jimmy Pop – lyrical genius, sick bastard, and one who has a secret man-crush on David Gahan. As the front dude for Bloodhound Gang, Mr. Pop is really like no other; a man with a message that’s slathered with Brill Cream and K-Y, and for good measure, a nitrous balloon chaser. He’s loved by many, especially those with a twisted sense of humor, a penchant for dancing nude to Soul Train when no one’s looking, and who would laugh at a funeral if someone farted.
Since I first heard the poetic and philosophical line, “Life is long and hard like a body building elf,” on “Lift Your Head Up High (And Blow Your Brains Out)” from One Fierce Beer Coaster I was hooked. But then “I Wish I Was Queer So I Could Get Chicks,” “Kiss Me Where It Smells Funny,” and “Why’s Everybody Always Pickin’ On Me?” along with the “hit” single “Fire Water Burn” made me want to win the lottery so my friend Tisha and I could quit our jobs to become full-time, professional stalkers.
“The Inevitable Return Of The Great White Dope,” and “The Lapdance is So Much Better When the Stripper is Crying” from Hurray For Boobies definitely left their skid mark. And with Hefty Fine, Bloodhound Gang proves that once again that yes, life can really suck and people are stupid, so why not poke fun at everything you can with lyrical wit backed up with infectious hooks, samples from the Nintendo library, a hint of new wave club sensations, and a ton-o-rock. This is made possible through the other part of the Bloodhound posse – Evil Jared Hasselhoff the bench pressing crazy bass man, Lüpüs Thünder on guitar, DJ Q-Ball, and Willie the New Guy on drums.
On Hefty Fine Pop once again goes down the path of contemplation ala Deepak Chopra on “I’m the Least You could Do” with “If life were only as easy as you.” Then there’s the artistic 24 second interlude of “Diarrhea Runs in the Family.” Things get spooky and eerie on “Something Diabolical,” perfect for a slasher movie trailer, but it’s the angelic bridge that could easily be used for Titanic 2 if all the people didn’t die in the end and the words didn’t say “Heaven may be running on empty if the devil rides.” At least that’s what I think it says. Anyway…
With references to Cavaricci jeans, Zima, Screech, The Baldwin Brothers (not the good one but the others) and Tasmanian Devil tattoos, the inspiration to “Overheard in a Wawa Parking Lot” comes from all the things that make America a great country, and why we’re revered by other countries, especially France. But the strobe light comes out in full force, along with the Canoe Canoe cologne and glow sticks on “Pennsylvania” with classic, Bloodhound Gang electro. Then the party in your parent’s basement ends with the last, pseudo industrial track and a heart-felt, romantic punch in the stomach on “No Hard Feelings.”
It’s been five friggin’ years since their last release, Hurray For Boobies, but Hefty Fine is here to remind us that the Bloodhound Gang is back to save us from this mean, ugly world we all live in. And if they can’t, at least we’ll be laughing, dancing and drinking while the ship goes down.
