FOETUS

“Slung”

There was a brief period of time where, after roughly twenty years of hard work, it looked like Thirlwell would be ‘The Next Big Thing’ in a post NINE INCH NAILS world. Sony threw a bunch of money at him.

What did he do with that cash?

Why, during the heyday of the swing revival he, he recorded his full-band swing song “Slung”.

“That doesn’t sound unusual!” you may be asking yourself.

And the first three minutes are not. But “Slung” is almost 12 minutes long, and the bulk of it lacks vocals, so make of that what you will. Thirlwell loves to push boundaries and he loves to compose. He knew he’d never get another chance at this so he went for broke, and — at least for me — it paid off.

“Why am I so paralyzed by the majesty of thighs?!”

While I loved FOETUS’s prior works, “Slung” made me a lifelong member. It’s so crazed but also expertly handled, while also being filthy in the only way that Thirlwell can be. It’s an absolutely singular piece that I can’t help but return to every few months.

It’s an epic work, well-worth every dollar they wrung from Thirlwell — because if you know how studios work, you have to pay that shit back. It’s a fucking deal with the devil.

I’ll note: the album photo? That’s real. I don’t know how he pulled off that very expensive bit, but props to him and Sony. It’s not easy to show projected pseudo-wartime tits in Times Square, much less get a wide-release displaying all of it, plus under the title of FOETUS and your album being named “GASH” but I think we’re in a better world for it.

“I INSIST I STAY ALIVE!”

“Cirrhosis Of The Heart (Amon Tobin mix)”

Normally, Thirlwell is a pretty self-possessed individual; one who remixes but doesn’t allow remixes of his own works.

I’m thankful he allowed for BLOW to exist because the results are amazing, especially this Amon Tobin remix of “Cirrhosis Of The Heart”.

Enjoy.

“ANYTHING (VIVA!)”

This is an endless array of brilliant spoken words posited against an unrelenting series of industrial noises, escalating into an amazingly hooky guitar riff that matches perfectly with Thirlwell’s gruff voice, pausing only temporarily for a strange synth interlude.

“Fee. Fi. Fo. Fum. It takes two to tangle; it takes one to cum.”

“A pound of protection beats an ounce of lead.”

As with prior FOETUS songs, I prefer the MALE live version because of its more languid and refined pacing (until it escalates), but the studio version is still brilliant:

“Change your mind and mind your change!”

“I’ll Meet You in Poland Baby”

Ostensibly, this is a musical historical re-enactment.

Except, it really isn’t. At least, not the way I hear it.

When I hear it, it’s nakedly about a romance spectacularly self-destructing.

“I’ll Meet You in Poland Baby” is quintessential FOETUS: all mannered orchestrations and programming and subversive authoritarian groundwork and a lot of emotions.

Similarly with the upcoming “Someone Drowned in My Pool”, I prefer the live MALE version, but really, every version is brilliant and worth listening to.

“TODAY IS FIRST OF SEPTEMBER! SEE YOU AT YOUR FUNERAL, BABY!”

“The Only Good Christian is a Dead Christian”

Don’t take this title at face value; it’s more complex than it reads. It’s all about alcoholism and hiding your bullshit, a facet that Jim Thirlwell has struggled with for years and, obviously, hasn’t been shy about.

A friend of mine interviewed him way back in the 90s and stated: “I’ve never seen someone drink so much Jagermeister.” Given the time period, that’s saying something.

Obviously, Thirlwell is still alive, so he’s doing — if not well, then surviving — but it’s an evocative song.