Misfits - Famous Monsters (Roadrunner)

I’m about to commit a cardinal sin…….. you ready? I enjoy Michale Graves every bit as much as I like Glenn Danzig fronted Misfits. Sure, I may not agree with his politics (he’s a devout Republican) but politics and entertainment make for strange bedfellows anyhow. Now, I can just imagine all you whiny purists out there shitting the bed after this admission. I suppose I can relate to the shock. It’s exactly how I felt when the Dead Kennedys opted for reforming without Jello, in favor of that stupid kid from The Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Notwithstanding, Famous Monsters (and to a lesser degree American Psycho) is another milestone in the lifespan of this hardcore juggernaught known as the Misfits. As we all know, new members sometimes bring with them a new sound; to which end the Misfits have all but forsaken any semblance with their former sound. Long gone are the days of thin, underproduced sing along anthems, upgraded in favor of thick skinned, well produced slabs of speed and aggression – making it something more akin to Earth A.D. than Static Age. Content and lyrical approach remain largely untouched and hold up very well to the classic tracks. Hell, the 'Fits even take a dip in the genre pool and give birth to monstrous bastards like the nouveau doo-wop Saturday Night and the enigmatic, twisted stalker/love song Helena. All that said, these songs are catchy as hell and stick to your brain like peanut butter. One cannot but sing along whilst banging their head. A true masterpiece!!!


- C. Kolakowski