El Pus is a self-proclaimed fusion of rap and punk from Atlanta, whose lyrics embody none of the raw passion associated with those genres of music. Instead, their lyrics come across as commercialized, calculated, and oftentimes confusing.
Their debut album, "Hoodlum Rock," alternates in style. It runs the gamut from jock rock to solemn ruminations on street life. But with a lack of focus and unwillingness to take chances, the album falls in with a slew of weak music derived from rap and punk.
Some of their more ridiculous lyrics come from their redundantly titled feel-good track "Thing Thing."
"Wear that miniskirt fat girl do you/ you're kinda sexy with your thighs out/ who knew?"
The band has the noble intent of making their listeners feel comfortable with themselves, but this awkward and asinine lyricism undermines their message.
They perform with a live band as backup, like The Roots. Unfortunately, El Pus lacks any form of tact in exploiting such a unique element. The guitars churn out processed sounds that would sound at home in any pop song. The lyrics are an exercise in banality, and constantly straddle the line between stupidity and mediocrity.
One of the worst songs, "Days Of The BK," makes the listener question whether the group bothered to think of lyrics beyond their rhyming potential. Lines like "Rock rock y'all to the beat y'all/ elephants got big dirty feet y'all," will leave one dumbfounded at the sheer lack of direction.
The one brief highlight, "Monday Morning" is a tailor-made party song, which could be the soundtrack to a mindless get-together.
"Hoodlum Rock" can be summed up as a collection of mediocre punk anthems and insipid rhymes. El Pus may be a fusion of different musical styles, but their output is pure garbage.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
