Polkadot Cadver frontman Todd Smith, formerly of Dog Fashion Disco, has discussed his group's recently released debut album, “Purgatory Dance Party” and given the following track-by-track analysis of the album:
1. “Haunted Holiday” – This song was a last minute add to the record which I thought would be a good intro to everything. I had been working on material for a solo record I've been thinking of doing and this was one of the first songs I had written. The lyrics are open for interpretation. I find them to be about just running away from everyday turmoil, hopping a train like a hobo with a bottle of liquor a and dozen cans of sardines just to get away.
2. “Wolf in Jesus Skin” – This was the first piece of music we started working on for this record. Jasan showed me the piano intro and I suggested the polka verse that I had been playing on guitar and whole the song started writing itself. The lyrics are basically my contempt for organized religion and how the storyline for star wars is more realistic than the bible.
3. “Purgatory Dance Party” – I like the mood and vibe of this song in particular. it builds nicely in my opinion. I imagined a party with Satan Gandhi and Jesus in purgatory where we are drinking, dancing and getting to know each other a bit.
4. “Deathwish” – This song is the fun song of them all to play live. It's just fucking energy from beginning to end. The lyrics are about a real self-destructive person who is amusing in her apathetic attitude for her own well being. Like a car crash that happens right before your eyes and you wouldn't even think to look away.
5. “Phantom Limb” – This would be the epic song on the record in my opinion. The lyrics remind me of a true story told by the survivor of some war perhaps. While he is hiding from the enemy he reflects on his life and his only true love of the woman who never gave up on him. I like the pre-chorus which is almost like an old irish drinking song. Where a bunch of gully drunks are swinging there steins full of beer and singing “we'll drink to the dead as we gulp down the blood.
6. “Long Strange Trip to Paradise” – This is my alchemy of say Queens of the Stone Age and Devo. This song was a nice straight fun rock tune with a catchy chorus that was a nice bridge between the 2 halves of the record. The lyrics are about rich valley girls, spoiled brats, being young and reckless and not giving a fuck about the consequences. The line in the chorus “by the ticket take the ride” is taken from a Hunter S. Thompson quote. In my opinion it means take life for all its worth and really try to live everyday to the fullest. No one ever does but it's a nice thought anyway.
7. “Bring Me the Head of Andy Warhol” – This is a standout track because it really doesn't feel like anything we have ever tried stylistically. If prince and Dillinger Escape Plan had a one night stand 9 months later this song would come out of Greg Puciato's butt!
8. “Chloroform Girl” – This song has elicited more reaction than any song I've ever written. This song hits people heavily, not to sound like James Hetfield or Lars or something but people really feel the lyrics because they are a bit twisted and sadistic. Everyone has a dark side they just don't want to admit it. It feels good to be naughty though and this is a naughty serial killer ode to his captive sex slave.
9. “Whats the Worst Thing That Could Happen?” – This track would have fit well on “Adultery” but it fits well here too. I love ripping off Slayer riffs and making them my own. I mean really what's the worst thing that could happen, Tom Araya sues us and gets my Garbage Pale Kids collection? Bring it evil man!
10. “Brainwash” – Let's just say Jasan and I were enjoying some Justin Timberlake and decided we needed to put our spin on a poppy hip hop jam! This song was fun and the lyrics just flowed right out of me like bad Chinese food.
11. “Pure Bedlam for Half Breeds” – Mix Mindless Self Indulgence, System of a Down, and the Sex Pistols and you get this one. This is a fun and energetic song to play live and is relentless in its changes and mood swings. I always wanted to have a chorus consist of a line from Scarface say, “Hello to my lil fren!”
12. “Sole Survivor” – The guilt one man feels after being the only survivor of a plane crash. He remembers some of the people he was on the plane with and wonders why his life was spared.
Polkadot Cadaver is the new project from ex-Dog Fashion Disco membersTodd Smith, Jasan Stepp and John Ensminger. The group's debut album, “Purgatory Dance Party” was recorded in the bowels of Baltimore with producer Steven Wright (Jimmie's Chicken Shack, SR-71) and released on Rotten Records. Polkadot Cadaver picks up right where Dog Fashion Disco left off; schizophrenic, ambitious and completely insane.
The group has currently uploaded four songs from their forthcoming debut album at the following location www.myspace.com/polkadotcadaver
www.MySpace.com/PolkadotCadaver
www.RottenRecords.com