Search - Pain Teens :: Born in Blood

More Pleasure Than Pain

Kathy Fennessy | 10/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Houston's Pain Teens combined elements of goth rock and industrial noise into a melodic melange likely to appeal even to those who might not normally consider themselves fans of those genres. The Teens had a firm grasp on song structure and Bliss Blood's vocals are always pleasing (if somewhat remote)--no matter what dark topic she may be singing about. There are a few exceptions: the psychedelic frenzy of "Pleasures of the Flesh," where she practically spits out the lyrics, and the driving, quasi-metallic "Lady of Flame." If there's a breakout track, it's surely "The Way Love Used to Be," a haunting ode to romance featuring Middle Eastern strings and tape loops (as do many of the songs). "Desu Evol Yaw," is essentially a backward version of the same obscure Kinks number; the music surges forward while the lyrics unravel back. The overall effect is akin to latter-period Swans, in which Jarboe's smooth vocals added a helping of sugar to that band's otherwise strong medicine. And just as Swans covered Brit-rock perennials like Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home," the Teens offer up an elegiac version of David Bowie's "She Shook Me Cold.""