Posted on 07/19/2005

 

The problem with novelty shit is that it only makes one round in my CD player. Satirical MC Hot Karl exercises some skill, but wastes it on trivial, novel nonsense ("Nothing sounds gayer than songs by John Mayer") that will never, ever get a second spin in my living room. I can appreciate what he's going for and all that, and he makes it clear in skits like "Ready for the Booth" when he laughs in the face of an A&R guy who suggests that Karl will gain "cars, money and bitches" with the release of this record. Minutes later, in "Kerk Gybson," an R&B-laced romp about the 80s, he speaks casually about "bitches" having "crimped hair" and what-have-yous, while rattling off a lengthy list of cancelled TV shows, video games and ludicrous fashion statements. After four minutes of looking for a punchline in this retro roll call, Karl mentions his "loving memory" of a few people that passed away, and with indefensible idiotic disregard for the deceased, he rattles off Falco, Ravishing Rick Rude, Jam Master Jay and John Candy.

His overindulgence in kitsch comes to a screeching halt when he lumps together a murdered pioneer of DJ-ing and hip hop as well as a sorely missed comedic genius with Ravishing Rick Rude. I'm not sure what Karl was aiming for here.

After I listened, I just leaned back in my swivel chair and began to question just how the christ people get record deals in America. Then I wondered how conservative bible-thumping bigots manage to leak details that threaten national security and probably get away with it. Then I wondered how Hot Karl might have talked MC Serch into a guest spot on his record. Then I wondered about what record I would listen to next, because I was certainly through with The Great Escape, now and forever.