To commemorate their 15th year together as a band,
queercore
rockers
Pansy Division
issued their eighth full-length album,
The Essential Pansy Division
. As with any greatest-hits type of compilation, there will no doubt be some fan debate as to which songs should or should not have been included. Though with 30 audio tracks (and 15 additional video and live clips included on an accompanying DVD), the band has put together a rather representative look of its career onto one disc. Drawing pretty equally from all of their albums, though not as much from the B-sides- and singles-oriented
Pile Up
and
More Lovin' from Our Oven
,
showcase exactly what they're good at -- playing tight, catchy
pop-punk
songs with clever lyrics that ooze with upfront and hilarious sexual references. Straightforward songs like
"I'm Gonna Be a Slut,"
"Fem in a Black Leather Jacket,"
"Groovy Underwear,"
"Anthem,"
"Negative Queen"
showcase the band's humor, while
"I Really Wanted You,"
"Deep Water,"
"Sweet Insecurity"
delve deeper into the more serious side of the band's persona. Covers are noticeably missing (along with some great songs like the entertaining
"Fluffy City"
), but all in all,
is a nice recap for longtime fans who still want to add to their collection, but more so as the starter kit for those just discovering these witty and energetic punks. ~ Corey Apar