Puscifer – V is for Viagra: The Remixes Review



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Puscifer – V is for Viagra: The Remixes Review.
With 2007’s release of V is for Vagina , Maynard James Keenan, the enigmatic vocal force behind the popular prog-metal band Tool, gave listeners a taste of his subconscious via his new solo-project Puscifer. The result was a compilation of brooding, atmospheric, grooves that were better suited as background music than an involving listening experience. Fortunately, Puscifer’s latest, V is for Viagra , is a remix album that adds a breath of fresh air to the original release’s less-than-stellar repertoire.
Featuring remixes from a wide range of talents, most notably Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails (aka Renholder), Troy Van Lee of Queens of the Stone Age, Joey Jordison of Slipknot, Paul Barker of Ministry, and Dave Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy, the disc includes remixes of most of the tracks from V is for Vagina , as well as Puscifer’s interim single “C**try Boner.”
The album opens with a trance-like version of “Indigo Children” by Josh Eustis of Chicago-based electronic group Telfon Tel Aviv. Dubbed “Indigo Children (JLE Dub Mix)”, the track offers a nice alternative to the boisterous original, with a slow-creeping beat with a subtle, sweeping synth effect. While not exactly the commanding opener that you would expect for the first track it does accurately reflect the tone of the remainder of the album—more of the same, with some much needed refinement. The next track “Trekka (Desert Porn Mix)”, is a throwback to the first album and features a similar brooding build. Ambient electronic producer Lustmord offered his take on the desert porn mix and ultimately over saturates the track with such dark rhythms and effects that it is almost enough to stop listening to the remainder of the album.
Fortunately, the disc returns to the smooth enjoyable precedent set by Eustis on the opening salvo with “Momma Sed (Tandemonium Mix)” by Dave Ogilvie of Skinny Puppy. Similar to the aforementioned JLE Dub Mix this number opens with a trance-like effect and some nice vocal layering provided by Keenan. The song builds with echoing pianos and a beat similar to the original track until kicking into an electronic frenzy roughly three minutes in. The result is an almost hair-raising crescendo to one of the most audibly invigorating songs on the album.
The slow-creeping theme continues with “Sour Grapes (Late for Dinner Mix)” by Danny Lohner of Nine Inch Nails. The track trades the southern-infused biblical rant of the original track for a heavy hitting beat, infrequently striking distorted guitars, and low piano chords. Lohner retains the gospel-style vocals of the original version but offers his own vocal talents for the resounding and repeating lyric “It’s always going to be sour grapes with you, boy.”
The first of two remixes of the single “C**try Boner” fails miserably. Reworked as “C**try Boner (Dirty Robot Mix)” it is the product of Troy Van Leewen of Queens of the Stone Age. It offers a frantic and vocally indiscernible take on the single. The track pairs a high-tempo cymbal, bass drum, and snare beat with a persisting bass grove and over-processed guitar effects. “Drunk with Power (Hungover and Hostile in Hanover Mix)” features the stylings of rhythmic madman, Joey Jordison of Slipknot. Unlike his work in Slipknot, however, here his drumming is surprisingly restrained. Jordison remains true to the spirit of the original version with a southern-infused, almost industrial sounding groove with some intense, albeit slowly progressing, rhythms. The album continues with yet another unimpressive, overproduced version of “Trekka” by Aaron Turner of Isis, followed by an industrialized, almost robotic version of “Queen B” by Atlanta-based electronic producer Richard Devine.
Lustmord returns for the Guns for Hire Mix of the “Dozo,” wherein he trades the western-style electric guitar twang for deep, rumbling sweeps of bass. Michael Patterson, the producer behind Beck’s Midnite Vultures chimes in on the second remix of “Queen B,” the Narvoice Mix. The result is an even more danceable version than the original, complete with cooing female vocals and expansive, tremolo effects. Finally, the album concludes with the hilariously catchy Disco Viagra Mix of “C**try Boner.” This version adds cowbells, slithering guitar, and some bonus vocal goodies like the repeating lyric “get it up, get it up, gotta get it, get it, up” . Heck, there’s even some yodeling tossed into the mix. Ultimately this track serves as the perfect bipolar capper to an otherwise poignant collection of remixes.
Overall, the producers and musicians featured on V is for Viagra offer some new and much needed perspective on the tracks from V is for Vagina . The result is a far more diverse and invigorating experience for the listener that strays from the limitations of the original release. Some mixes obviously fare better than others, but they all feature their own unique and enjoyable qualities.
1. “Momma Sed (Tandemonium Mix)”
2. “Sour Grapes (Late for Dinner Mix)”
3. “C**try Boner (Disco Viagra Mix)”
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