VIAGRA BOYS- “VIAGR ABOYS” REVIEW
Written by Beau Croxton
ALBUM OF THE MONTH: APRIL
Viagra Boys are as unhinged and hilarious as ever on their new (sort of) self-titled LP Viagr Aboys; they extend their success from 2022's highly acclaimed Cave World.
The Viagra Boys’ 2022 album, Cave World, was one hell of a record; it scored a huge peak in popularity for the Swedish band. Certainly, many folks were thinking that record would be a very tough act to follow. The band definitely had a political edge throughout that album and they used their humor to slam alt-right, gun toting, conspiracy-theory-addled nutcases. With their new album, singer Sebastian Murphy mentioned that the band was not as interested in fixating on that as much. Instead, we find the band doing a bit of a return to form by reveling in a different brand of satirical dark humor. Murphy looks inward to focus on his silliest fixations and most peculiar social commentary that led their earliest releases. Despite the pivot in subject matter, the excitement of Viagr Aboys doesn’t deviate much from the infectious rip-roaring peak of Cave World. While covering some new ground, this great record manages to remind listeners why they fell in love with Viagra Boys in the first place on their first two albums Streets Worms and Welfare Jazz. The band could have easily played it safe riding the recent wave of popularity with more accessible material, but instead on their 4th LP, the band lets their freak-flag fly even higher with an extremely weird, fun and hilarious ripper.
About 6 seconds into his first verse on “Man Made of Meat”, singer Sebastian Murphy lets out an epic mid-sentence belch that serves as a loud “f*ck you” to any uninitiated listener to Viagra Boys playing in their headphones. “Man Made of Meat” charges in with Murphy’s blunt reflections on an over-consuming, obese and capitalistic society. From the start, he gives a strong taste of the sharply funny and crude satire he exhibits throughout the record. The track totally bangs and it carries the kind of immediate rock-appeal you can find in songs like Blur’s “Song 2”. This opener is a highlight that has heavily anthemic choruses which will surely be chanted extra loudly at their live shows.
“The Bog Body” is highly energetic and humorous. Unsurprisingly, it is a totally ridiculous concept. It depicts a fictional situation where the singer's girlfriend is jealous of his fascination with a bog woman who has been preserved under ice in “pristine shape!”. Humor has always been prevalent in punk rock, but in the day and age of the meme, this anthem about a preserved corpse is like a giant post-punk meme in itself. The track erupts frequently with haywire guitar and saxophone blasts. “Uno II” is highlighted by flute and shimmering chords to take V boys into a completely new vibe. The track is from the perspective of Murphy’s weiner dog named Uno II. If you know anything about Viagra boys, you know they love shrimp, and they love…weiner dogs. Some very Alison Mosshart-esque vocals from Klara Keller join Murphy on the final verse to bring “Uno ll” somewhere between Beck and The Kills. Since this song doesn’t really have a hook or a chorus, at first it might seem like a solid but somewhat unmemorable track. Then, somewhere in between your second to seventh listen, you’ll surely be singing about a “crouton underneath a futon” and dancing to Uno II like it's the biggest bop in existence.
On “Pyramid of Health” Sebastian’s classic faux-country accent kicks into gear here as he enters this track sounding like a drunken cowboy. A laid back hip-hop beat kicks into fuzzy bass, pulsating sax and guitar harmonics. His vocal delivery from songs like “Worms” and “Punk Rock Loser” are filtered through some Beck “Odelay” and “Guero”-style influences in a brilliant way; it’s the freshest new sound on the record and a personal favorite. It doesn’t take long for the trademark quotables to pop up as Murphy encourages you to “get real high with the shrimp up in the sky”. The song spends a good amount of time poking fun at crystal-clutching, misinformed wellness-gurus. This fantastic highlight feels like a natural sonic progression from some Cave World standouts like “Punk Rock Loser” and “Big Boy”. “Dirty Boyz” brings back the classic sleazy dance-punk V boys sound a la Street Worms and leans into some pretty grimey subject matter. According to Murphy, being a “dirty boy” equates to (More or less) turning into a bike stealing, meth smoking, jobless derelict. Yep, that checks out for a Viagra Boys classic alright.
“Medicine For Horses” is a melancholy portrait of someone who’s addicted to self-destruction. Seb sings “Life is hard, and it's harder when you like it hard”. There is an emotional depth here that was apparent in songs like “Just Like You” “Worms” or “Creatures” from their earlier records. It's refreshing to hear this side of the band be reinvigorated, brought back some years later and expanded on.
Viagr boys album artwork by Leo Park, out now on Shrimptech Enterprises
Like a few other tunes on the record, “Waterboy” has some refined and perhaps more commercial polish in the production. Yeah I know….. Most punks might scoff at hearing that “refined” part, but none of the band’s trademarks are compromised on this album whatsoever. Their trademark distortion, fuzzy bass, wacky synths, Iggy-pop-style exorcisms and absolutely profane lyrics are still here….all as one big happy family. Perhaps the family photo is just slighter more HD on tracks like “Waterboy.”
“Smoking crypto is bad for your health!” Singer Seb enters “Store Policy” with some of the most unhinged, hilarious and quotable lines on the record. This tune repurposes the manically delivered vocals of their earliest work in a brand new sound. The production on the track is wacky; you have ambulance siren-saxophone and spitting flute that darts through the channels with a monstrous fuzzy bass in the right channel. “I stole a shrimp from the local zoo/ I’m up all night gooning to a picture of YOU!” Thanks, Sebastian, I nearly spat out my drink. It’s truly bizarre with wild production and priceless lyrics. “You N33D Me” takes a tip from their track “Slow Learner”, with its classic dance-punk beat, wonky synths, and distorted bass in a weird time signature. “I can bring a type of vibe to the party that no one likes and I make everybody sad,” says Murphy with dark humor. This track’s character seems to hide a whole lot of desperation behind beer cans and bravado, getting slightly more pathetic as the track rolls on.
The band’s “Best in Show” series of tracks has been a bit of a fan favorite in their albums, but “Best In Show Part IV” resembles more of a sequel to “Creepy Crawlers” from 2022’s Cave World. Those hoping for more “weiner dog” content that's usually in the “Best in Show” bits should probably stick to “Uno II”. This track portrays some sort of religious psycho who believes in their own conspiracy theories as passionately as their own deranged health misinformation. You know, not too dissimilar to that well known brain worm guy. Technically, it’s not necessarily a political statement to take a dig at arrogant people who tout health misinformation like its gospel. “I need access to heaven!” he yelps. This kind of material can only come from the psyche of someone like Murphy- a mad man with a scathing sense of humor. No one is safe. The instrumental here is creatively stacked with busy hand claps, ethereal keys, squealing saxophone, congas, and wah guitar… It's a massive, sonic wig-out to propel Murphy’s potent ramblings.
Surprisingly, heartfelt sincerity calms the chaos when the stripped-down ballad “River King” closes the album. This track explores the admiration of the simple things in a relationship; like the joy of grabbing some kinda mid Chinese food together on a monday night, or how suddenly easy life can be when gazing at your loved one. It’s a surprisingly touching moment that sticks the landing incredibly well, despite being very bare. Murphy’s longing for the simple life and small moments of easy love is strongly moving. Murphy completely defies any expectations with this track; the son-of-a-gun whips out an Uno (ll) reverse card. It recalls the placement of a song like “Worms” on their debut album - a song which also strikes an emotional chord at the end of a record that is mostly full of mayhem.
Having four great records in a row is no easy feat, and it is often a very solid unit to measure a truly great band. Viagra Boys did it…But honestly? The band has brought their great formula forward since album 1. The formula has been fail-proof, even when they slightly alter it and their discography reinforces that notion. While the album might be just short of an explosive peak like their past hits “Sports” or “Ain’t No Thief”, it’s clear that the band distributed a similar quality evenly to every song for what is one of their most consistent LPs. There isn't any glaring low-points and it doesn't let up. On their 4th album, Viagra Boys might have turned inwards to revel in the silly and stupid, but often they just end up being clever and hilarious while serving nothing but bangers. The band didn't really need to top 2022’s Cave World with their new record, they just needed to come somewhat close and keep up the good work. They absolutely delivered- Viagr Aboys is a very refreshing, hysterical blast of energy and a hell of a good time.
Occult Highlights: Pyramid of Health, Man Made Of Meat, Store Policy, Dirty Boyz, Uno II, The Bog Body
(.....But we suggest you play the album front to back while you “get real high with the shrimp in the sky” …)