A Drug Problem That Never Existed
A Drug Problem That Never Existed rightfully takes its place amongst the sickest rock records of this, or any other hangover — a one of a kind testament to what REALLY dwells in the malfunctioning heart, chemically horsewhipped mind and overly stimulated loin of everyone with balls and enough leftover brain cells to admit it. Trip on the seam, dance with the devil, and make sure to heed the call of this seductive voice of evil, Mondo Generator.
Mondo Generator was formed in 1997 by Queens of the Stone Age bassist/singer Nick Oliveri. Initially intended as a solo/side project, the classic Cocaine Rodeo album was recorded that same year, but shelved until the Southern Lord label released it and its unique brand of criminal insanity to widespread acclaim and horror in the summer of 2000. This new recording, A Drug Problem That Never Existed, reunites Nick with former associates Brant Bjork (drums: Kyuss, Fu Manchu, Brant Bjork and the Operators) and Dave Catching (guitar: QOTSA, earthlings?, Texorcist) who, with sexpot Molly Maguire (bass: earthlings?, Yellow #5) make up the band.
The joint Ipecac Recordings/Rekords Rekords release runs the entire nauseating, yet exhilarating spectrum of Oliveri-and-company's knee-to-the-groin arsenal. A Drug Problem that Never Existed runs the gamut from bare-assed naked in public and forced to beg acoustic guitar & voice (“Day I Die”), to teen-punk anthems delivered with bad-ass intensity (“Do The Headright,” “Here We Come,” “Jr. High Love”), to thrown-in-just-for-the-fuck-of-it singalongs that are impossible to shake (“So High So Low,” “Me and You”), and epics of monolithic proportion (“4 Corners”). Produced by Nick Oliveri with Brad Cook (R.L. Burnside, Vandals, Foo Fighters) and infamous singer/carnival barker/pain-in-the-ass, Blag Dhalia of the Dwarves.
Enjoy yourselves, kids. I did. — Mark Lanegan
