| Big Electric Metal Bass Face | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|  | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 1, 1991[1][2] | |||
| Studio | Various 
 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 63:20 | |||
| Label | Atlantic/Fiction | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Die Warzau chronology | ||||
| 
 | ||||
| Singles from Big Electric Metal Bass Face | ||||
| 
 | ||||
Big Electric Metal Bass Face is the second studio album by Die Warzau, released on October 1, 1991 by Atlantic and Fiction Records.[3][4][5][6] The band introduced elements of funk music and the speeches of American politicians into their sample library to musically articulate topics concerning race relations such as "Funkopolis".[7] Percussionist Chris Vrenna, who had performed on Nine Inch Nails' 1989 debut Pretty Hate Machine, joined the band to collaborate on tour and to record in studio.[8]
Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating | 
| AllMusic |      [9] | 
Tim Griggs of AllMusic gave Big Electric Metal Bass Face a mostly negative review and called the songs "not as heavy as other industrial recordings; in fact, considering the name of the band and album title, some are wimpier than they should be."[9] Ben Thompson of The Wire was also critical of the album and said "the single 'Funkopolis' is something of a toe-tapper but much of the rest steers perilously close to the little-lamented early 80s college-educated tribal funk essays of Shriekback et al."[10]
A critic at Keyboard was more positive in their review, identifying the band's strength at rhythm arrangements and saying "their mixes are unusually bright: Samples punch, synth saxes honk, Moogish bass lines go yowp-yowp, drums thump, unidentified noises circle and take off, all of them clear and sharp."[11] Mondo 2000 praised the band for developing a jazzy and more quiet and kinetic energy, describing the album as "a dance – till – it – hurts mutant blend of industrial, rap, funk, and house."[12] Similarly, CMJ claimed that the album "not only avoids cliché but manages to evoke a fluid R&B feel throughout."[13]
In comparing the album to Disco Rigido, Tony Fletcher of Trouser Press called "stronger and smarter, a worthy blending of funky rock, chanted vocals, spoken-word samples and proto-electronica" and compared the band favorably to Red Hot Chili Peppers.[14]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Van Christie and Jim Marcus, except "Head" by James Woolley
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Crack Radio" | 4:42 | 
| 2. | "Funkopolis" | 3:59 | 
| 3. | "Never Again" | 4:30 | 
| 4. | "Shock Box" | 3:27 | 
| 5. | "Brand New Convertible Car" | 6:25 | 
| 6. | "Burning" | 4:34 | 
| 7. | "All Cut Up" | 3:37 | 
| 8. | "Coming Down" (live) | 4:33 | 
| 9. | "My Pretty Little Girlfriend" | 6:20 | 
| 10. | "Red All Over" | 4:55 | 
| 11. | "Pig City" | 4:19 | 
| 12. | "Dying in Paradise" | 5:31 | 
| 13. | "Suck It Up" | 2:52 | 
| 14. | "Head" | 3:34 | 
Personnel
Adapted from the Big Electric Metal Bass Face liner notes.[15]
Die Warzau
- Van Christie (as The Atomic Cowboy) – guitar, keyboards, sampler, programming, production, engineering, mixing
- Jim Marcus – lead vocals, drums, percussion, electronics, horns, production, mixing, design
Additional performers
- Dave Andrew (as The White Guy) – additional percussion
- Burle Avant (as DJ (Durpilicious)) – turntables, additional vocals, backing vocals
- Chris Bruce – bass guitar
- Jim Romano (as Cheese) – additional vocals
- Tom Stranich (as Wolverine) – additional vocals
- Tim Titsworth (as Happy Titsworth) – additional vocals
- Chris Vrenna (as Pooboy) – additional percussion
- Jennifer Wilcox (as Levi) – additional vocals
- James Woolley (as Bear) – percussion, additional keyboards, backing vocals
Production and design
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Steve Manno – mixing
- Mike Rogers – mixing
- Steve Spapperi – additional engineering
Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 1991 | Atlantic | CD, CS | 7 82295 | 
| Fiction | 82295 | |||
| Japan | 1992 | CD | POCP-1206 | 
References
- ↑ Barnhart, Becky (2000). "Schwann Spectrum". Schwann Spectrum. Stereophile, Incorporated. 7 (1): 39. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ "Die Warzau: Big Electric Metal Bass Face". R.E.D. MusicMaster ... Deletions. Retail Entertainment Data Publishing. 2001. ISBN 9781900105217. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ Huey, Steve. "Die Warzau > Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ Christian, Chris (July 15, 1995). "Interview With Die Warzau at Club Soda in Kalamazoo, MI". Sonic Boom. 3 (5). Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ Górnisiewicz, Katarzyna NINa (December 24, 2005). "Die Warzau – Interview". Fabryka Industrial Rock & Metal Encyclopedia. Fabryka Music Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ↑ Yücel, Ilker (May 1, 2012). "Jim Marcus InterView: Go, Going, Gone, Go Fight!". ReGen. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ "Other Current Hits". Bloomsbury Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World. Bloomsbury Academic. 11: 411. October 5, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (January 7, 2020). Raising Hell: Backstage Tales from the Lives of Metal Legends. Diversion Books. ISBN 9781635766486. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- 1 2 Griggs, Tim. "Die Warzau: Big Electric Metal Bass Face > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ Thompson, Ben (1994). "Die Warzau: Big Electric Metal Bass Face". CD Review Digest. Peri Press. 7 (4): 65. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ "Die Warzau: Big Electric Metal Bass Face". Keyboard. GPI Publications. 18 (1–6): 25. 1992. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ↑ "Die Warzau: Big Electric Metal Bass Face". Mondo 2000. Fun City MegaMedia (11–13): 115. 1993. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑ Glaser, Mark, ed. (11 October 1991). "Jackpot!" (PDF). CMJ New Music Report. Great Neck, NY: College Media, Inc. 28 (256): 10. ISSN 0890-0795. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ↑ Fletcher, Tony; Robbins, Ira (1991). "Die Warzau". Trouser Press. Collier Books: 191. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ↑  Big Electric Metal Bass Face (booklet). Die Warzau. New York City/Willesden, London: Atlantic/Fiction. 1991.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
External links
- Big Electric Metal Bass Face at Discogs (list of releases)