Greetings from the Gutter
From Handbook of the Union Universe
Contents |
[edit] Item History
Greetings from the Gutter is the debut album from The Last Word. It was recorded during the latter part of 2007 and released on November 30. All songs are written by Dee Dee Diablo. The album is performed and produced by The Last Word with guest performances by Suzi White-Mitchell (credited as Suzi White) and Nene McAllister.
[edit] The Album
The album design and artwork were created by Rhino Designs ((User:Rhino)).
[edit] Tracklist
[edit] 1.Intravenus Redux
A distorted, thunderous bassline starts this track and doesn’t abate until the last word is sung. Intravenous Redux is a boneshaking, heartstring tearing account of desperation and dependence. Equal parts self-awareness and loathing, this is a cry for help from the pits of despair.
“The doctor says you’re killing me
But he don’t understand how you’re thrilling me
Getting more of you is how I spend every waking day
Only a fool can’t see the scars of needing you
Every breath that wants to be breathing you
But you’re the only thing that takes the pain away.”
[edit] 2. Slip of the Tongue
The Last Word’s trash thrash anthem and usual show opener. Frenetic rollercoaster of relentless bass, infectious guitar riffs and driving bass. The song tells the story of a one night stand who wanted to be something more in The Last Word’s unique poetry of the gutter style.
“What we did was fun
Won’t say it was wrong
But you and me, honey
Was a slip of the tongue”.
[edit] 3. Chemical Burn
A wall of noise harking back to the birth of punk. A song about the highs and lows of excess and the nihilistic bravado of a band of young people on the verge of either a breakthrough or a train wreck.
[edit] 4. Mother’s Ruin
Dee Dee Diablo’s autobiographical meandering on abandonment and wasted lives. Her fears that her own talent could be squandered by inheriting her mother’s “alcoholic disease” are at the heart of this song. The opening verses are backed by simple acoustic guitar and haunting piano symbolising the singer’s vulnerability, until The Last Word sound machine kicks into overdrive in perhaps the album’s defining moment.
[edit] 5. Turmoil
Schizophrenic two hander by The Last Word’s vocalists. A song about a girl at a crossroads between her self-destructive lifestyle and having the courage to give herself up to the hope of change. Reflective moments are intercut with the band at their hardest and loudest.
[edit] 6. Other Side of the Street
Released as a charity single earlier in the year, the band made no concessions and are at their trashiest best. Another confessional from Diablo affirming her as this generation’s poet of the disenfranchised, or “the other side of the street”.
[edit] 7. Crucifixion Anxiety
A more polished production showing the band coming together as a unit, but this track still pounds like a sledgehammer with lyrics that cut like a prison shank. From the spoken opening:
“It’s crucifixion week on Channel 69
Now a word from our sponsors
F*ck you!”
To the heartfelt backlash against the band’s critics:
“Once bitten, shame on you
Twice bitten, fuck you too
Latest victim of your persecution
Here I am, this week’s crucifixion
Roll up, come on, come and see the show.
A two faced, broken girl, a silent rodeo
Here’s the subject of this week’s new inquiry
Tie your words in knots, but you’ll never bind me.
The truth hurts, but hell’s for you
Don’t ya know, the devil always gets her due.
Dear lord here I am, it’s my darkest hour
Would you forgive me, if it was in your power
A prayer from a fallen angel in the world of men.
But f*cker you dealt this hand - and I’d do it all again.”
[edit] 8. Mrs. Loverboy
One of the album’s lighter moments, this track rides the rails between punk and pop like a runaway train. The sounds of sex bleed into the rock riffs, as the track follows a dirty rhythm as old as time.
“You say that you love me
But your mom knows how to touch me
In places you can’t even find
Could show you how to f*ck me
Three minutes that won’t come back to me
You’re in my bed, she’s on my mind
You showed me what it means when they say love hurts
Only thing we have in common is f*cking things in skirts
You gave me STDs, she gave me joy
So ‘til you can be a better man, she’ll be my loverboy”
[edit] 9. Gimme Hell
All out balls to the wall rock as The Last Word answer anyone who doubts their punk credentials.
[edit] 10. The Place Where You Are
The Last Word bring the album to a close with a track that veers towards indulgence but has become a firm fan favourite. Machine gun drumming, earthshaking bass and staccato guitar end the album on a speaker shattering high.
[edit] Credits
[edit] The Band
- Dee Dee Diablo - Bass guitar/vocals on all tracks, acoustic guitar on Mother’s Ruin
- Lady C - Vocals
- Alice Springs - Drums
- Nathalie Brissaud - Keyboards
- Sylvia - Guitar
[edit] Guest Artists
- Suzi White - Vocals/guitar on Mother’s Ruin and The Place Where You Are
- Nene McAllister - Additional vocal effects with Dee Dee Diablo on Mrs. Loverboy
[edit] Thanks
The album is dedicated to the memory of Abbie Rhodes.
Among the people thanked are the band’s manager Jay Reynolds, Ron Rhodes and the staff and patrons of the Comet Club, Nene McAllister “For helping me find my way”, Slut Angel “For showing us that too much is never enough!”, the talented f*ckers at Rhino Designs for the kickass artwork, and to “Everyone who had faith in us. The rest of you can f*ck off”.
