These came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got them. Here’s what I said about them back then (with some minor editing):
The brutish bunch of British bashers now known as Fifty Tons Of Black Terror were originally called Penthouse — until Bob (Mr. ‘Freedom Of Speech’) Guccione apparently took umbrage and called his lawyers.
Obviously, he didn’t listen to them first. Fifty Tons’ sleazy, throbbing brand of Gutter Erotica (this album’s original title) is right up his alley. With its unrelenting chaos and decadent intensity, it’s as if the Jesus Lizard invited the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion to play at their Birthday Party. That should be more than enough to rock your world — and leave you wanting more.
Unlike Fifty Tons, the quirky British emo-pop trio Hefner got to keep their men’s magazine-themed moniker. No surprise there — Hef has always been a classier act than the Gooch. On top of that, there’s not much ol’ Hugh could dislike here. His namesakes’ lightly twisted tunes politely saunter and contentedly drift by like a cross between Belle & Sebastian and Violent Femmes. Meanwhile, singer Darren Hayman’s high, breaking voice and preciously oddball lyrics (“I’d like to sing a hymn to the postal service”) suggest a young Ray Davies performing the Jonathan Richman songbook.
