Search - Tism :: Best of

Brilliance. Sheer brilliance. Utter B&*#@!(%.

05/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, as TISM themselves would say, if you write a review of them you've missed the point. In fact, I write this review with definite fear for both my life and sanity, if they ever find it.Iconoclasts. Icons. Ignoble. Many other words starting with I, but never ignorant. They were here before the Doug Anthony All Stars, before Eminem and those other posturing mock rebels of the 90's and 00's and certainly know a lot more about striking fear into the hearts of the mainstream. But they most likely don't care about that either.This Is Serious Mum have rocked alternative satire rock in Australia since their early university days (1983... can you believe it?) and are still worth catching in concert. Always in disguise with hoods. Never give interviews unless under the most weirdest circumstances (search under 'TISM History' for more details). They have moved from good rocking beats to good rocking beats with a nod to techno... which as they say themselves, 'you're only one drug away from liking'. This 'Best Of' collection holds a lot of songs which did hit the charts of stations like JJJ (independent radio in Australia) and during the 90's when they did seem to make an effort to capture the attention of mainstream, did actually make the registers of Top 100's here. They, naturally, later reputed everything that was said by mainstream press about them with venom at their concerts. Can't keep good iconoclasts down, and nor would you want to. The additional tracks reflect this attitude.... you have been warned.Read their website to get more of their offensive diatribe but don't forget their always beautifully arranged songs, which will have you chanting 'I'm on the drug that killed River Phoenix' and 'Defecate on my face' out of sheer hysteria. They may make you cry, but only in the best possible lack of taste. You haven't really lived unless you've seen and heard TISM. We will never know who they really are, but who gives?? Long live TISM - because if they ever really existed, we'd be &%#@*($."