Sexplosion!

Sexplosion!
Studio album by My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
Released 1991
Recorded December 1990 – January 1991
(Chicago, Illinois)
Genre Industrial dance
Label Wax Trax!, Interscope
Producer Buzz McCoy
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult chronology

Confessions of a Knife... Sexplosion! 13 Above the Night

Sexplosion! is the third studio album by industrial disco band My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. It was originally released in 1991 on Wax Trax! Records. Described by lead vocalist Groovie Mann as their "sexy" album, Sexplosion! is one of the band's biggest commercial and critical successes.

Background

Vocalist Groovie Mann called Sexplosion! the group's "sexy" album in 1995, adding that it was "total disco". He said it was intended as an open-ended fantasy for listeners and that it was genderless in its suggestions.[1]

Release

Sexplosion! was released in 1991 on Wax Trax! Records. The title track peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs on October 26, 1991.[2][3] The song "Sex on Wheelz" peaked at No. 15 on the same chart on July 27, 1991.[2][4] After appearing on the Cool World soundtrack in 1992,[5] "Sex on Wheelz" charted again, this time on the Alternative Songs Chart, where it peaked on No. 17 on August 15, 1992.[6][7]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [8]
Chicago Tribune [9]

Sexplosion! was well received by critics. Ned Raggett of Allmusic said it was the band's best album, calling it a clever blend of pop music sensibilities and trashiness. He went on to say the album mostly concerned itself with "who is doing whom and whether or not there will be enough spangles, muscle boys, and cocktails available." He noted with approval its lounge music vibe in places, as well as its sampling of theme songs from James Bond movies including Thunderball. He particularly praised the album's hit single "Sex on Wheelz" for its "nutty stomp and leer" and called it "as compressed and propulsive a celebration of fornication and driving as anything else America has ever come up with."[8] Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune was similarly enthusiastic, and began his review by saying, "This record has absolutely no redeeming social value whatsoever, and it's wonderful."[9] He went on to call the album a blend of "sleaze ... camp ... and neon stylishness", and said it is all about having adult fun.[9]

Touring

The band toured in support of the album in July 1991. Eric Brace of The Washington Post said the live show was quite strong considering how devoted to camp the band is.[10] He noted Groovie Mann's vocals and the excessive use of smoke machines as the show's primary weak points, while praising the performances of the instrumentalists in the group.[10]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Buzz McCoy and Groovie Mann. 

Original Wax Trax! release (1991)
No. Title Length
1. "The International Sin Set"   5:48
2. "Leathersex"   6:10
3. "A Martini Built for Two"   5:48
4. "Dream Baby"   5:47
5. "Mood No. 6"   2:25
6. "Sexplosion!"   5:52
7. "Princess of the Queens (The Lost Generation)"   4:31
8. "Sex on Wheelz"   4:59
9. "A Continental Touch"   6:11
10. "Mystery Babylon"   7:13
11. "Dream Baby" (Nocturnal Mix) 7:04
12. "Sex on Wheelz" (Radio Mix) 3:58

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Smith, Richard (1995). Seduced and Abandoned: Essays on Gay Men and Popular Music. Cassell. p. 84. ISBN 978-0304333431.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult: Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Hot Dance Music: Club Play". Billboard 103 (43). October 26, 1991.
  4. ↑ "Hot Dance Music: Club Play". Billboard 103 (30). July 27, 1991.
  5. ↑ Kim, Jae-Ha (September 18, 1992). "Weekend Jam". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 4, 2013. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)
  6. ↑ "My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard 104 (33). August 15, 1992.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Raggett, Ned. "Sexploision! Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Kot, Greg (August 15, 1991). "My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult Sexplosion". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Brace, Eric (July 18, 1991). "Thrill Kill Kult's Righteous Riffs". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 4, 2013. – via HighBeam Research (subscription required)

External links