Lust Control - "Tiny Little Dots"

Lust Control - Tiny Little Dots
2013, Rotweiller

1. Finger
2. Bully
3. Sheepeater
4. Dear John (Butch)
5. When Dan Was In the Band
6. Make Money and Die
7. As I Lay Crying
8. Faith Don't Fail Me Now
9. Fire Ants
10. There Go I
11. Meat
12. Tiny Little Dots (Oh Baby)
13. G.D.P.

While I have always been a big fan of Lust Control, their previous output could probably best be described as "an awful racket." I never in a million years thought they would put out another album, but after a successful Kickstarter they're back with Tiny Little Dots. This album is a big change for them as it is actual music (remember, I'm a fan!). Specifically, the guys have injected a lot more punk attitude a la Crashdog. Gene's vocals are a lot more gruff and raw, not unlike Spike Nard's - especially in songs like "Make Money and Die" and "There Go I." The album is a lot heavier with thicker guitars and beautiful, clean, full production. This is amazing to me seeing as the Kickstarter was a mere three grand! Oh, and I should probably mention that this is, by leaps and bounds, the best material the band has ever recorded. Like... it's even good when stacked against other bands. "Sheepeater" has a cool groove and some gang vocals. "Make Money and Die" is a monster punk tune with a killer hook. Likewise, "Fire Ants" is another pure punk ditty with a great sing-along chorus. "Finger" and "G.D.P." are downright metal. This album is so good you might not believe it was the same band. I hope this is the start of something new with these guys and not just a one-off because I would love to hear more!

I think it might be cool to hear some of the old school songs with this kind of sound and production. "Madolyn Murry O'Hair" in particular would be awesome reworked in the new style.

Useless Fact: "G.D.P." stands for "Grandpa's Dangerous Prayer" and is a song about Gene's grandfather and his ministry. The concept behind the album title and cover art is that when one is looking at pornography you're not really seeing a person. You're seeing an illusion created by millions of tiny little dots.

Lust Control - "We Are Not Ashamed"

Lust Control - We Are Not Ashamed

1992, Enclave

1. Grace

2. Leave Amy Alone

3. You Make Me Puke

4. Return To Vomit

5. Planned Parenthood

6. The Big "M"

7. Deliverance

8. If You Fail

9. Virginity Disease

10. The Secret

11. Real Men Cry

12. Pray For the City

13. Mad at the Girls

14. Speaking in Tongues

15. Get Married

16. Operation Rescue

17. Victim of a Revolution/Grace Reprise

What's that old saying about polishing a turd? Lust Control's second studio album is a lot more polished in the production area than Fun, Fun Feeling but the amateur musicianship remains. As I said with the last one, you either love them or you don't. "The Big 'M'" is a song about masturbation and is hilarious. They're probably the only band in Christian music that made a song about that topic! I remember when I first got this I was at Kingdom Bound and played this disc for my pastor. He was a pretty cool guy, but I think he was still put off a little. Who wouldn't be? Lust Control said whatever the felt they had to. I always respected them for that. Anyway, Lust Control is Lust Control... you just have to take them or leave them.

Useless Fact: I'm pretty sure this album was reissued by Retroactive (the best record company ever!) with some other demo stuff. They also made a small EP after this one called Feminazi which I've only recently heard about. The rumor mill says was a lot heavier stuff.

Lust Control - "Fun, Fun Feeling"

Lust Control - Fun, Fun Feeling
1991, Blonde Vinyl

1. Rebuke
2. Big Bang!
3. Fun, Fun Feeling
4. Jesus Washed Judas Feet
5. Dancing Naked
6. John Styll
7. That Groove Thang
8. Say It Like a Rock Star
9. Swimsuit Edition Wallpaper
10. You Too
11. Circumcised, Baptized, & Moon Pies
12. Living in the New Age
13. Witch Hunt
14. What About Your Wife?
15. What's Goin' On?
16. Madolyn Murry O'Hair
17. Apocalyptic Nightmare
18. Rude Awakening
19. I Want To Die
20. Wretched
21. There is a Fountain
22. Madolyn Murry O'Hair (Cornerstone Live Version)
23. Dancing Naked (Cornerstone Live Version)

Lust Control is a band that you either get (and love them) or don't get (and hate them). I happen to love them. I guess you could call this record punk... it's certainly raw enough. Vocalist, Gene (actually Doug Van Pelt, editor of HM Magazine and Heaven's Metal), sounds like he's singing his parts from another room. The songs are short for the most part and preach pretty hard for abstinence and sexual purity but they're not without a sense of humor. Like I said, the music is pretty rough but there are occasional flashes of brilliance and talent with a guitar riff here and there. Then there's the really off-the-wall "Circumcised, Baptized, & Moon Pies" which is a spoken word track where Doug... er... I mean Gene lapses into this faux-British accent. When it gets right down to it though, you just have to check them out. If they make you laugh - welcome to the club! If not, well... there's plenty of good real punk bands out there!

Useless Fact: I want to say that this album is made up of demo material but I only heard that somewhere and can't confirm it. Also, I think Paul Q-Pek (One Bad Pig) plays on this one.