Peaches is peddled as an electro pop, “self-made,” and notably self-produced queen of the dance floor punk edge style, and her third album proves that some of these statements are truer than others. What can undeniably be said for Peaches, and her new disc “Impeach My Bush,” is that she does reign over vulgarity, and that line she straddles (pardon the very intentional pun) is a fine one that makes the disc enjoyable but questionably worthwhile.
The disc starts off with the quick, dance-punk political “Fuck or Kill,” explaining how “we all want tush” and if Peaches happens to be wrong “impeach my bush… impeach… bush.” The track is a double-entendre epitomizing Peaches’ over sexualized vulgarity and attempt to be political without saying much of any statement, other than her choice for sex over death. The track evokes the spirit of Le Tigre, and this musical power and spirit makes it the highlight of the disc.
The disc continues on Peaches’ slippery slope into sexual damnation as she sings a tribute to the size of the “Tent in Your Pants” and the self explanatory “Hit It Hard,” both of which maintain the attractive electro-pop music with the fairly uninteresting yet somehow catchy lyrics. “Boys Wanna Be Her” and “Downtown” continue the record with some more unmemorable lyrical sexual celebration, but some of the best electronic dance tracks on the disc that will rile up any crowd. Ideally the tracks would be played so loud that you can’t make out Peaches’ painfully absurd words but still get the worthwhile pop sound out of them.
Peaches’ then tries to flip the misogynist, oversexed masculine radio hits on their heads with “Two Guys (For Every Girl),” which reminds me of the notion that you’ll never dismantle the master’s house with the master’s tools. “Rock the Shocker” and “You Love It” dive into a bit of a rockier edge, with the latter being near painful to listen to, making it clear that Peaches’ only chance at queen-dom of any kind is by sticking to electronic sounds.
“Slippery Dick” embodies the paradox of the disc, with perhaps the worst lyrics on the album (and arguably in recording history) yet an amazing musical track that has electronic intricacy and is near as classic as something that Fischerspooner would produce. “Give’er” and “Do Ya” are more attempts at punk-rock tracks with Peaches’ whines painful to hear, while “Get It” brings us back to the disc’s electronic sound as the record wraps up with “Stick It To The Pimp,” another track touted as a reaction to the masculine pop culture by a role reversal.
This disc is typically Peaches, and the electro-pop music on it is catchy and enjoyable. At first listen, the absurd lyrics make it painful, but once the initial reaction has worn off the catchy pop sounds make it something you’ll go back to again and again. Peaches doesn’t push buttons, and her vulgar lyrics, while hyped as “take back the night” feminism, are little more than misogynist words sung by a woman. That foolishness is what will stop this from being a disc with longevity – but as a pop act the disc provides short-lived fun ear candy, and maybe that is really all Peaches’ wants. |