Kevin Blechdom

Bitches Without Britches (Chicks On Speed Records)

By Amber Drea
Published: November 21st, 2003 | 10:58am

Kevin Blechdom’s debut full-length on the German-based label Chicks On Speed Records, founded by the band of the same name, is the funniest, most lyrically and musically daring record of the year.

Blechdom's surprising concoction of cartoonish compositions, in which she juxtaposes and layers extremely contrasting styles from house to electro-country, is like Solex, Beck, and Ween all rolled up in one sexually frustrated American ex-patriot with a computer and a banjo.

According to her bio, Kevy B. (nee Kristin Erickson) thinks "it’s a good idea to have a bad idea," and Bitches Without Britches proves this theory perfectly. Upon first listen, the album sounds as if the tuner knob on your radio dial is spinning out of control. Her yelping, sometimes out-of-tune voice is less than pleasant and seems on the verge of cracking while the songs beat you over the head with obnoxious noises and frequent changes. However, the bumpy tracks begin to smooth out and flow together as you recognize the hilarious beauty of her lyrics, the genius of which lies in her comedic originality combined with truthful social commentary.

Almost embarrassingly, she bravely sings things no one has ever thought — much less sung — before. The songs’ pop sensibilities make them stick in your head, but if you went about town singing the lyrics of "Binaca," you would get more than a few strange stares. Actually, you might even get your ass kicked. Not very many people react favorably to statements like "Ever since I got my tubes tied / I don’t have to get abortions no more / … Because I’m free! / Free from hygienic responsibilty."

On "Boob-A-Q," she exclaims "There’s a boob-a-q in here! / My tits are on fire!" and explains the uses of a dickrowave, which turns male genitalia into glowsticks for raving. "Mr. Miguel" describes her discovery of multiple orgasms: "And it’s only getting better / Cuz my pussy’s getting wetter / … From: / Penile inflation causing vaginal penetration that keeps rocking the nation / Between my thighs / Makes me realize / That the feelings I have right here in my heart / I feel the same way in my private part." And her cover of Tina Turner’s "Private Dancer" is a synthed-out gem.

Her colorful drawings on the CD cover incorporate the lyrics and graphically depict the scenarios created in her songs: images of naked women and men secreting or covered in bodily fluids, a penis shaped like a rooster head, an egg-filled bird nest nestled between spread-eagle legs to replace a vagina.

Blechdom’s breakbeat-ridden album is a humorous musical masterpiece of computer programming and brings dance music to a whole new level.