CD reviews: Insane Clown Posse, Michael Koppy, A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac

Insane Clown Posse

The Mighty Death Pop!/Psychopathic

Every so often, I hear a musical act that is seemingly popular, but that I just don’t enjoy.

The first album by Sleigh Bells a couple of years ago is a prime example. I just didn’t dig it, and I was obviously in the minority on that one.

Even more rarely, though, I come across a musical act that makes me wonder if its fans simply hate music.

Insane Clown Posse is just such a band.

For the last 20 years, the band has been delivering its brand of carnival-themed hip-hop to its legion of fans, which are affectionately called “Juggalos.”

More often than not, the lyrics of the Posse explore dark themes such as murder and mayhem, but that’s not the reason I dislike the act.

Bands should be able to sing or rap about whatever they want.

No, the reason I loathe ICP is because even after 20 years, the act sounds like something your kid cooked up in his bedroom using a cassette recorder and a list of the filthiest words you can imagine.

Sadly, the latest ICP release, “The Mighty Death Pop!” does nothing to improve ICP’s standing.

With songs such as “Night of the Chainsaw,” “Hate Her to Death” and “Skreeem!” it’s readily evident that minimal thought went into writing and recording these tracks.

There’s even an ode to ICP’s favorite brand of soda, Faygo, called “Juggalo Juice.”

How these clowns have lasted two decades is beyond me, but “The Mighty Death Pop!” is simply more of the same brain-numbing material that really doesn’t even deserve to be called music.

Key Tracks: Nothing happening here, folks. Move along!

Michael Koppy

Ashmore’s Store/Good Track

Singer-songwriter Michael Koppy may not be a household name, at least not yet, but you have to give the guy credit for releasing an album that stands out from most others.

“Ashmore’s Store” has a CD case that is bound like a book because it actually contains a 112-page book that not only lists the lyrics to the new collection of songs but the story and photos of Koppy’s upbringing here in the South.

Ashmore’s Store was an actual place, a general store in Tallahassee, Fla., and during his youth, Koppy worked there. The store serves as the album’s centerpiece, and Koppy seems to be having a ball reminiscing about his youth in Florida.

His booming baritone voice works well on songs such as “One Great Mornin‘ (The South’s Gonna Rise Again),” “A Filled-Out Shirt” and “ ’Til Hell’s Dang Done Froze Over.”

But the album’s piece de resistance is “All in the Timing: A Hollywood Romance in Seven Chapters,” which clocks in at just under half an hour. But it actually works despite that epic length. It’s really more stream of consciousness poetry than a song, but both it and the rest of “Ashmore’s Store” make for some interesting and amusing listening.

Key Tracks: “A Filled-Out Shirt,” “ ’Til Hell’s Dang Done Froze Over,” “All in the Timing: A Hollywood Romance in Seven Chapters”

Various Artists

Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute To Fleetwood Mac/Hear Music

When guitarist Lindsay Buckingham performed at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center a couple of weeks ago, he verified to the audience that Fleetwood Mac would be touring next year.

For the Fleetwood Mac fans who can’t wait for that long-rumored tour in 2013, you now have the option of hearing the group’s songs interpreted by an eclectic list of bands on “Just Tell Me That You Want Me.”

This is not the first time Fleetwood Mac’s music has received the tribute treatment. But unlike the 1998 release “Legacy,” which had acts such as Jewel and Elton John covering songs from the band’s best known album, “Rumours,” this new tribute branches out beyond that classic album.

While the band lineup is exciting, the resulting music has mixed results.

Some of the better moments come with tracks like Best Coast’s cover of “Rhiannon,” Lykke Li’s dreamy take on “Silver Springs” and Haim’s fairly straightforward rendition of “Hold Me.”

Elsewhere, there are “missed it by that much” moments, such as The Kills’ try at “Dreams,” which never quite gets started, as well as Gardens & Villa’s simplistic fail of “Gypsy.”

Ultimately, though, the good stuff outweighs the bad, and the band lineup, which also includes The New Pornographers, Marianne Faithfull, Bonnie “Prince” Billy and MGMT, is great.

Key Tracks: “Rhiannon,” “Silver Springs,” “Hold Me”

By Devin Grant