Spank Rock
Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a Fucking Liar
(Bad Blood Records)
I remember vividly how enthusiastic I was about Spank Rock’s debut album, YoYoYoYoYoYo, how fun (if not innovative) it sounded and how quotable some of his childish one-liners were. If memory (and nostalgia!) serves, YoYoYoYoYoYo came right at the time when house-infused party music hadn’t yet held mainstream rap hostage and soul destroying figures like Pitbull hadn’t yet burst onto the scene. Part of the appeal of Spank Rock’s debut was that it was flirting with straight-up fist pumping party fare but that XXXChange’s beats were smart and playful at the same time.
Now, five years later, mainstream rap is in a more deplorable state than ever, corporate dance-pop like LMFAO and Bruno Mars have strange and disconcerting ties to the hip hop scene and skinny-jeans bass-rap is not a fringe genre anymore. How does Spank Rock fare in this world, where his once irreverent style has been applied to much of the current dick-swinging-alpha-male Top 40 dance music? Not so well, it must be said, but there are still flashes of unapologetic balls-out bass-pumping fun on Everything Is Boring and Everyone Is a Fucking Liar.
Spank Rock’s social and sexual nihilism now feels a little tired, although his “shake it until my dick becomes racist” routine on Race Riot will probably warrant him applause in some circles. His strange reference to Cornel West in one song has really no place on an album where it’s all about money and bitches, where cynicism is prevalent and no clear or original worldview can be discerned. It is a shame then that the production is not on par with YoYoYoYoYoYo‘s. The album is fun, but Spank Rock struggles to carve out a niche for himself that sets him apart. His collaboration with Santigold on “Car Song” sounds slicker than it should and “Birfday” sounds muddled and lethargic – something that can be said of large chunks of the album.
But there is good ol’ awesomeness to be found too – thankfully. The wonderfully low-key “Ta Da” is goofy and restrained at the same time, letting Spank Rock do a laid-back routine that lets one forget the weak lyrics. And “Cool Shit” is the perfectly minimalistic club banger that Spank Rock how knows to do well. But the real gems are few and far between. Everything is Boring could have benefited from a little more enthusiasm by everyone involved. As it is, Spank Rock would have to include his own album in the Everything Is Boring category. And I’m sure it wasn’t intended that way.
