you sick bastard

I have to disclose that when I heard Mickey from El Paso Hot Button wanted to give me a copy of his new split with Attractive and Popular to review I got more excited than I do about most offers to snag a review copy of an album. With each project he takes on EPHB is doing just what an artist should do. Each EPHB album has taken Mickey's familiar schtick and added a new layer of excitement to a formula that, let's face it, could get real tired real fast. The opening eponymous track could easily be a lost track from Tones On Tail and leads into Hot As Fuck, an instant EPHB classic. The frenetic pace we love from the live performances reaches a peak on Tampered With..., a heavy hitting,bare boned pounder that begs to be played at max volume. The EPHB passion continues on Meathunter full of screams, slides and (I swear I saw it) sweat pulsing out of your speakers.
As if the initial EPHB assault wasn't enough, Attractive and Popular step up with Sleep In, maintaining the high volume rythm attack begun on the flip and somehow trying to convince us that they are tired despite the almost barely controlled chaos of their opening track. The next track Dead Dear leaves me with nothing to say except, I think I love this band. On first listen, I found myself going back to this track over and over again. Attractive and Popular bring more sick and fever through the end of the album with the distorted vocal tracks of Hypochondriac Attack somehow luring you closer, just close enough to breathe in a little of the putrid air so you can taste the ill. This virus dies quick though, as we are left after only 24 minutes to collect our belongings and return to the swelter of our own life in hell and clean up the sick from our jungle fever. Jungle Fever/Live From Hell is easily my favorite EPHB album and may have earned a place as one of my top ten this year.
El Paso Hot Button and Attractive and Popular celebrate the release of this phenomenal album this Saturday at the Conservatory. Wearing camouflage will get you in for 5 dollars, otherwise you're looking at 7 bones. It'll be worth getting there early to see Sunshine Bear, John Bourke (Trash Yourself), and The Neighborhood.

mp3 shoebox
El Paso Hot Button~Hot As Fuck
Attractive and Popular~Dead Dear
The Neighborhood~Hot Water