Whaààt...this fine New York based SynthPunk quartet has been around for over 15 years, and this is the first time I heard of 'em? Well now, high time we got acquainted!
This band, which took its name from a solo EP written by frontman Jimmy Urine (real family name Euringer) in 1995, was formed in 1997, when the latter (whom besides taking charge of lead vocals is also responsible for all synth playing and programming) was joined by guitarist Steve Righ? (actual family name unknown), second guitarist Markus Euringer (also bassist and brother of Jimmy), and drummer Kitty (family name unknown). In 1998 Markus was replaced with bassist Vanessa Y.T. (again, no family name known), and in this line-up the band recorded both of its first full-length albums, 1999's Tight (which was only preceded by a limited edition DJ-only radio promo maxi-single, entitled Bring The Pain/ Tornado) and 2000's Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy. Their label at the time refusing to distribute releases with controversial song lyrics, Urine (alongside one James Galus) created the Uppity Cracker label to distribute numerous promos to further promote the band's music. A first important release through the independent label was the Oct. 2002 released live album Alienation Our Audiences, which was followed that same month by the tour-only 6-track EP Despierta Los Niños. Those releases already featured current bassist Lyn-Z (again, no family name known), whom replaced Vanessa Y.T. In 2001.
The following album took some time coming, but the April 2005 released You'll Rebel To Anything was released in several versions at the same time : a regular 10-track version, a “Clean Radio Edition” (with exclusive track “Mic Commander” & bonus video), a vinyl edition (with a bonus cover of Slick Rick's “La-Di Da-Di”). Additional editions of the album (each time with different cover artwork, mind you) came with the Nov. 2007 “Expanded & Remastered” version (including the exclusive songs from the previous CD and vinyl releases, plus brand-new track “Make Me Cum” and a live recording of favourite “Wack!”) and the March 2008 Japanese Edition of same (as per usual, it had bonus material for a total of 20 tracks, and also had a revised track-list). During 2006, the band kept up a campaign of interest through the release of 3 maxi-singles (March's Straight To Video had 15 remixes plus an instrumental and a capella version; September's Shut Me Up had 8 tracks, including 2 b-side songs; and December's Another Mindless Rip Off was exclusive to Hot Topic magazine, featuring 5 new songs and 5 remixes of “What Do They Know?”). 2007 was interesting in that it was the year that the band released its first (and so far only) DVD Our Pain Your Gain.
Next up came 4th studio album If, released in 7 different versions depending on the market target.. The International Edition (for the European market), released March 28, contained bonus tracks “Uncle” and 3S, as well as 4 bonus remixes of “Never Want To Dance” (for a total of 21 tracks). March 29 then, was the release of 4 more versions of the album, the “regular” version containing 15 songs. The Deluxe Edition of same had exclusive artwork by Jhonen Vasquez, lyrics, and a bonus DVD...the “Clean Radio Edition” was meant for distribution through Walmart and featured bonus track “Uncle”...and the Vinyl Edition was a gatefold double album with alternate track-listing and cover artwork again by Vasquez. The Japanese Edition was released March 25, 2009 included a bonus disc with previously released remixes, as well as 2 new b-sides and a new version of the band's song “Written In Cold Blood” (a total of 32 songs!). The last ersion of the album, the Digital Deluxe Edition meant for the Australia and New Zealand markets, was released on April Fools Day 2010 (but, oh boy, with a track-list of 32 songs – the Bomb This track demo was also included – I'm sure nobody felt fooled!). 2008 also saw the band's biggest activity on release front so far, with no less than 9 singles and maxi-singles issued! No wonder people (also outside the US) started noticing the band, and from now n there's also alternate info.
In January 2009 the band headlined the Kerrang! Relentless Energy Drink tour. In February the band released the digital-only EP <3, collecting 8 If-era b-sides and rarities, and in December of the same year the guys and dolls (does that sound somewhat British to you?) released the comic Adventures Into Mindless Self Indulgence featuring various tour stories and important moments in the band's career. On April 26, 2011, the band released a remastered version of their debut full-length under the title Tighter. The CD/DVD package not only contained the 15 original tracks, but also 11 bonus tracks from the Tight era and over 20 live performances recorded in the band's first 2 years of existence. On top, all lyrics were included, as well as track-by-track liner notes. The band preformed month-long tour of North America in March-April 2012, and follawed that up with a European tour (including dates in the UK and Russia) from October 25 to November 10. An Australian tour for Soundwave 2013 was concluded in late February – early March 2013.
Some statistics in between. During its career, MSI has had the opportunity to open for such well-known acts as Linkin Park, System Of A Down, Korn, Sum 41, Insane Clown Posse, and Rammstein. Notable acts which have opened for them include The Red Paintings, The Dresden Dolls, Rasputina, Mc Chris, The Birthday Massacre, Tub Ring, Death Spells, and Dog Fashion Disco. The band was featured in the Top 5 of Billboard's “Dance” charts 7 times (4 times getting to #1!). The album If made #27 on the Billboard Top 200 album charts. In Urine's own words, “We invented our own sound 15 years ago and stuck with it and persevered like the Cramps or The Ramones...”!
Meanwhile, on October 25, 2012, MSI started a Kickstarter campaign to finance this, the band's 5th studio album, and surpassed their goal with 50 % only two months later, on Dec. 24 (as such, they are the second-highest Kickstarter to date)! Following the release of some demos through YouTube, recordings for the album (with Urine producing and Rhys Fulber mixing and doing some extra producing – he also co-wrote to the song “You're No Fun Anymore Mark Trezona”) started. Cover art and track-listing were revealed on March 12, 2013, but only to people whom had contributed the campaign. Digital downloads were released on the day after. The title being a reference to the movie Dr. Strangelove (How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb), the album released through Metropolis Records includes a freaky bonus in the form of a cover of Supertramp's “Logical Song”. Well...actually it's not too much freaked-up, as Urine is a confessed fan of the original.
I'm kind of a fan of what they made of that song...and of all 13 other songs on the album. The band has a nice hybrid of electronics and Punk-flavoured Rock going on, which in very occasional instances remind of of French duo Bérurier Noir (and I mean that as a compliment, really – no matter how yoù look at that statement!). Occasionally the band ventures in Industrial Hip Hop territory (like for the song “Stalkers (Slit My Wrist)”) Urine's lyrics have a way of punching you in the teeth, but in a way that you actually like it. Urine is also the main songwriter, with contribution in songwriting only coming from the aforementioned Rhys Fulber, and from one Chantal Claret, whom co-wrote to the poignant album opening “Witness”, and is featured as female guest singer on 5 other songs on the album (you gotta lóve what she does on “Ass Backwards” - or be a square motherfucker...excuse my French, as they say!!!)!
Okay, and now here's where things get truly interesting for you all, music lovers, because all you've gotta do to listen to àny of this band's releases, is to click on the album cover in the “Music” section of the band's own (www.) mindlessselfindulgence, and you get a player with all songs on it! Enjoy a very lengthy session indeed! Oh, perhaps you'll also wanna see the band in live conditions once you've gone through their music catalogue, and of course by the time you'll be reading this the band will have completed their North-American tour (which started march 3 and ended May 5) in promotion of the album. European dates follow later in the year however, and between Nov. 14 and Dec. 8 the band will be bringing its energetic live show in Germany, France, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and the UK (for more details, again consult the band's own website). Meanwhile, this is another one for the “Best Album Of 2013” nominations lists!