Album Review

Gay For Johnny Depp – What Doen’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You

• 16th Feb 2011

There are many words that could be used to describe Gay For Johnny Depp’s latest effort, “What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You”, but not one of them could do it justice. Frantic, deranged, perhaps even completely insane, this record is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Interestingly-named opener “Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny and Artistic Integrity” grabs the listener by the scruff of the neck and the band don’t let go for the next 22 minutes, each track more urgent than the next in an album that’s about as far from easy listening as you can possibly get.

This album is the musical equivalent of marmite; for a lot of listeners, GFJD can be easily dismissed as nothing but noise. However, if you like your music loud and shouty, you’re not going to be disappointed by it. Despite the aggression, the distortion and the screaming, each song still retains a good amount of melody, and there are hooks aplenty for those who want to find them.

“What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You” is the sound of five absolutely mental young men making the type of music that kicks you in the face and pleasures you simultaneously. GFJD have created a rip-roaring cacophony of brilliance, and if I had to describe it in one word, it would simply be “wow”.