Mindless Self Indulgence

Mindless Self Indulgence is:

• Jimmy – Vocals
• Steve – Guitar
• Kitty – Drums
• LynZ – Bass

Mindless Self Indulgence did a good job when they named themselves – it is as if they are under the impression they are the only ones who can hear what they are producing. Too many genres are mashed into this confused sound, making it difficult for the listener to grasp what is more important – the message, the noise, the overly-dramatic voice inflection or the image. This mix of neo-goth, techno, electronica, metal and emo is a seizure of activity that reveals only one thing – that no matter what genre these guys are going for, none of them is executed well.

The Songs and Messages

Some of the lyrics in these songs seem to be an effort at some sort of political or social statement. Take for example the song “Faggot.” All commentary is relayed in a style that is simply trying too hard to say something that should be difficult to hear, but instead comes off as trite, childish and angst-ridden. No doubt, it is tough being gay. It is tough being black, being a woman, being handicapped, being singled out for anything. Yelling, screaming and trying to cut down the opposition with rage and energy can and have been effective and if nothing else can offer a subculture a theme, a message to hang on, a way to remember to keep fighting. All that being said, no matter what Mindless Self Indulgence is trying to say or prove, all is lost in immature ramblings and novice ability.

The Mindless Self Indulgence Songs on MySpace

The songs currently listed on the MySpace free music page for Mindless Self Indulgence are:

• Faggot
• Mark David Chapman
• Shut Me Up
• Straight To Video

All of these songs have themes of sociopolitical awareness, “fighting the man,” trying to hold your own as a black sheep of some kind or another and the general paradoxical angry malaise that is the theme of any generation while it is young and unaware of itself -- nothing new in the history of MySpace.

The One Good Song on Mindless Self Indulgence's MySpace Page

While it is certainly not the best song ever or even the best song this year or even this week, the best Mindless Self Indulgence song available on MySpace right now is “Mark David Chapman.” The reason this song is an exception is that it displays the band members’ abilities to change beats rapidly, to mix genres (better than they do elsewhere, at least) and to mix styles of music that work well with the lyrics at hand.

The Women of Mindless Self Indulgence

Both LynZ and Kitty, on bass and drums respectively, do a pretty good job with their instruments and roles in the band. LynZ does a decent job of adding to Jimmy’s showmanship during live shows and Kitty can hold her own on her kit – that being said, none of these tracks call for outstanding talent or a level of skill that requires true, in-depth knowledge of either instrument.

Emo Is Not the First Emo

Many people, especially young people today, seem to think that Emo and other closely related genres such as those mixed and used by Mindless Self Indulgence are the first ever kinds of music to speak to the hearts and minds of those in the midst of a personal struggle. Almost every generation since the late 1950s has made the mistake of thinking that theirs was the “end-all-be-all” sound to embody rage, struggle, the feeling of going unheard and what it is like to be the underdog in love with the girl who does not care. Some other genres that preceded Emo which serve the same purpose for both artist and listener are:

• Folk
• Rap
• Crust
• Heavy Metal
• Alternative
• Funk

Above All Else: Talent and Vision

When a band comes from a true place and displays that they are more than amateurs on their respective instruments, it is time to listen regardless of the subculture or genre. Be it punk, country, hardcore or house, with a message and dedication, any band can expect to be respected by a community. Mindless Self Indulgence simply does not yet display these very necessary attributes for a political or socially minded sound.