{"id":76074,"date":"2022-06-19T15:58:25","date_gmt":"2022-06-19T13:58:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=76074"},"modified":"2022-06-20T17:30:11","modified_gmt":"2022-06-20T15:30:11","slug":"blank-tape-tax-plastic-vapid-sexual-cool-album-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2022\/06\/blank-tape-tax-plastic-vapid-sexual-cool-album-review\/","title":{"rendered":"SPOOLS OUT – Blank Tape Tax Revive The Spirit Of Hardcore On ‘Plastic Vapid Sexual Cool’"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’re into the loud-quiet-loud dynamic of bands like Nirvana, Sugar<\/strong> and the Pixies, <\/strong>Plastic Vapid Sexual Cool<\/em> should be right up your alley.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Released under the moniker of <\/strong>Blank Tape Tax, it’s essentially a vehicle for Detroit-based multi-instrumentalist and writer Ben Yost<\/strong>.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Strongly influenced by Yost’s struggles with mental illness – specifically Bipolar 1 – it marries intense, often provocative lyrics, with hardcore melodic punk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tour de force opener Hospital <\/em><\/strong>sets the agenda, as Yost gives full force to his pain, anger and frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I’m gonna bring my gun to school\/Murder the President\/Make love to the Pope,”<\/em> Yost yelps, venting his nihilism in a dizzying head rush of cod-offensive bile<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heady stuff indeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hayley
Frenetic splenetic – Hayley McNichol and Ben Yost<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Starting with an acoustic strum, it explodes into life when Yost and co-conspirator Hayley McNichol <\/strong>jump on their guitar pedals and the singer rips into a blood-curdling scream worthy of Frank Black<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most fully formed of any of the 10 tracks on the album, its declamatory chorus – from which the album’s title is culled – recalls Nirvana’s ‘A Mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido<\/em>‘ from Smells Like Teen Spirit<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed Yost’s voice is as much of an instrument as his lead guitar and drums, switching from croaking vulnerability to anguished roar depending on the emotional needs of his songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s honesty and urgency to his poetry, which on tracks like John Brannon <\/em><\/strong>– an ode to the leader of US hardcore outfit Negative Approach<\/em><\/strong> – requires considerable verbal dexterity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there’s a lot of anger here, there’s an abundance of wit and positivity too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You get a real sense that both Yost and bassist McNichol – of Bombastic Dream Pussy<\/a><\/strong> – are having a ball making this record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tracks like Let’s All Make Sure We’re All Alright <\/em><\/strong>and <\/em>Bet<\/em><\/strong> show Yost has a way with a singalong chorus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Plastic Vapid Sexual Cool – cover art<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile less aggressive offerings like Flowers <\/em><\/strong>and Michigan Beach Front Property Scam<\/em><\/strong> sound like The Replacements<\/strong> or The Lemonheads<\/strong> on speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there’s one minor quibble it’s that this album, released on Yost’s own Kickpop<\/strong> label, is a little too one-paced – even if that is a hair-raising 100 miles-an-hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But hey, people probably said that about Bleach<\/em><\/strong> and look at the leap Nirvana made between that record and Nevermind<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All in all a pretty impressive effort that more than affirms the band’s mantra that ‘you can overcome adversity’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Definitely one to watch. John Brannon would surely be proud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n