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Class 6(66)
Suicidal Tendencies: Lights... camera... revolution!
19/01/11 || InquisitorGeneralis
Introduction
Covering Suicidal Tendencies’ recent compilation/rerecording “No Mercy Fool! / The Suicidal Family” here and again in December’s “Audio Autopsy” has motivated my punk ass to cover my favorite album by these long-running punk/thrash/metal stalwarts. It’s a fucken war crime that “Lights…camera…revolution” has not yet been covered here on Teh Domination. This is hands down my favorite Suicidal Tendencies record and (I think) will define Suicidal Tendencies for the rest of their career. Some point to this album’s predecessor “How Will I Laugh Tomorrow When I Can Even Smile Today?” as the band’s masterpiece. I disagree with a whole heart and hard cock. “Lights…” is the moment where Suicidal Tendencies were most metal and had the ability to put out a sound that was truly unique.
“Lights…Camera…Revolution” is the one record that has been able to perfectly combine thrash, punk, and groove metal. No other record by anyone sounds like this. I will admit, Suicidal Tendencies were not able to maintain this level of quality throughout the 90’s, but I am happy that they are still alive and kicking. Sadly, only Muir and Clark remain from this line-up so the sound and feel of “Lights… Erection… Ejaculation” will never be recreated.
Songwriting
9. “Lights…camera…penis!” features Suicidal Tendencies most creative and varied songs. From the epic, blistering opener to the more melodic “Give it revolution” this is definitely the band’s most diverse record. “Send me your money” is one of Suicidal’s catchiest tunes. “Lost again” is one of the heaviest. “Lights…. Camera…. Revolution!” is the band’s heaviest, most diverse record. You can listen to it from beginning to end and not lose interest. What more do you need to hear about songwriting, buddy? Not a damn thing.
Production
8.5. The br00tal side of me wishes that “Lights…” had a bit heavier guitar and drum sound. Still, it sounds damn good. I really don’t have much else to say other than I fucken like it and it is well (but not over) done. The 90’s was the time and place for good fucken production. Next!
Guitars
9. “You can’t bring me down” immediately keys you in to the fact that Mike Clark and Rock George are not fucking around here. It is shame that this duo is not together anymore. The first time I heard that song, I could not believe it was the same band that had done the simple, almost sophomoric “Institutionalized”. The great licks continue after the opener though like the main riff to “Give it, revolution”, and the almost death-esque frenetic lines in “Lost again”. This is undeniably the band’s strongest and most developed album in the guitar department.
Bass
8. Suicidal Tendencies punk/SoCal background definitely pushes the bass to be a larger presence in their music. Robert Trujillo (the crab walker from Metallica, in case you did not know) is a seriously talent player and gives a strong performance on here. I understand why he went to go play for the biggest metal band in the world, but I would much rather he still be a member of the Suicidal army.
Vocals
7.5. Even though Mike Muir’s vocals are not amazing on here, the fact that he actually tries to sing a bit instead of talk/rapping the whole time is one of the factors that makes this record a winner. There are many instances of his signature delivery on here like the awesome pissed-off-as-fuck rant during “You can’t bring me down”, and all of “Get whacked” and “Disco’s out, murder’s in”. However, his more melodic vocals add a different aspect to the band’s sound.
Drums
8. R.J. Herrera’s drumming is a big part of what set’s “Lights…” apart from other Suicidal Tendencies’ albums. On here, he definitely emphasizes heaviness and groove in favor of punk-flavored thrash and speed. Sure, there are plenty of fast, aggressive parts (this would not be Suicidal if there wasn’t!) but the little things like the select and quality use of the double bass really add to heaviness which makes the drum performance on “Lights… Gamera… Rodan” stand out. While Herrera certainly does not reinvent the gravity blast or challenge George Kolias for the title of fastest drummer kicker his effort and style is noticeable and pretty fucken solid.
Lyrics
8. Suicidal Tendencies keep their lyrical themes of rebelling against the system and challenging authority rolling on here. Their most caustic lyrics are found on the T.V. evangelist beat-down “Send me your money”…
Here comes another con hiding behind a collar
His only god is the almighty dollar
He aint no prophet, he aint no healer
He’s just a two bit goddamn money stealer
While ST don’t take the pain to Jeebus like Immolation or Incantation, it is nice to see them addressing social issues that go beyond not being allowed to skate n public sidewalks. “Lovely” and “Get whacked” are more punk oriented and silly, but the depression-themed “Alone” shows that there was definitely a hell of a lot more than just juvenile angst behind the band.
Cover
8. Uh oh, a bunch of dirty looking LA punks have taken over the movie theater! What will they show? “Bambi” or “SLC Punk”? What the hell am I even talking about here? Cool cover, I like it. End of story.
Logo
9. Razor sharp metallic letters will always earn big points with me. Always.
Booklet
N/A. I have no idea where I got my burned copy of this CD, the writing on it is definitely not mine. You think I have the booklet?
Overall and Ending Rant
When I reach for Suicidal Tendencies, I grab “Lights… Camera… Revolution” first. It is not a coincidence that this record came out at the start of a new decade. Suicidal Tendencies, along with other bands like Pantera, Fear Factory, Prong, and Primus, helped merge extreme with accessible and dethrone Hair Metal as being the most popular brand of heavy music. While hyper-extreme music seems to be tickling everyone’s dick these days, it is important to not forget the bands that paved the way for fast, heavy, and different to be cool. “Lights… Camera… Revolution” is unique and still holds strong twenty years later…classic for fucken sure.
- Information
- Released: 1990
- Label: Epic
- Website: www.suicidaltendencies.com
- Band
- Mike Muir: vocals
- Mike Clark: guitar
- Rock George: guitar
- Robert Trujillo: bass
- R.J Herrera: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. You Can’t Bring Me Down
- 02. Lost Again
- 03. Alone
- 04. Lovely
- 05. Give it Revolution
- 06. Get Whacked
- 07. Send Me Your Money
- 08. Emotion No. 13
- 09. Disco’s Out, Murder’s In
- 10. Go’n Breakdown
