Audio CD review:
Killing Joke - What's THIS For...!

Killing Joke - What's THIS For...!

Band: Killing Joke Title: What's THIS For...! Rating: Release Date: 31 August, 1990 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: The Fall Of Because 2: Tension 3: Unspeakable 4: Butcher 5: Follow The Leaders 6: Madness 7: Who Told You How? 8: Exit

Customer Reviews Early Killing Joke masterpiece. Killing Joke's followup to their debut album is in many ways a superior effort-- the sound worked on the first album is honed and refined for this one-- "what's THIS for. . !" FEELS like the followup to the debut, but there's a bit more consistency-- the material doesn't quite reach the peak of the first album but all of it is of a higher quality. Opening with a tribal tour-de-force, the first three songs-- "The Fall of Because", "Tension", and "Unspeakable" are one after another more and more compelling-- with Geordie's swirling punk guitars, Youth's funky bass lines, and Paul Ferguson anchoring everything on the drums, vocalist Jaz Coleman can paint his picture of the collapse of society. "Unspeakable" in particular, about a housewife commenting on the "color scheme" of a mushroom cloud, is totally brilliant and begins introducing variety in vocal styles-- the first shades of things to come. The record in general is actually a bit smoother than the followup, maintaining the tribal/dub/dance feel that was so well illustrated on the previous record but losing some of the sort of proto-industrial sounds. Admittedly, the album for me dips a bit after this, a couple of the songs are a bit overlong and drag (the otherwise superb "Butcher" and "Madness", which would have benefited from an outside producer pulling the plug 2-3 minutes earlier), but there's still the superb, tribally driven "Follow the Leaders" on the album, another Joke classic. Shortcomings aside, this album as a real gem, and one of the best the band ever put out. The only possible complaint is that it sorely needs remastering (Edit: There is now an imported remaster available with bonus tracks, and the sonic upgrade is well worth the extra few bucks investment), but the band was way ahead of their time, and like their debut album, this one could have been recorded yesterday. Maybe not as good a place to start as the debut record, but ultimately a more satisfying recording. I wonder who chose the color scheme... Their first album was the groundbreaker, Night Time is their most accessible, Revelations is their most ferocious, but this is Killing Joke's finest hour. It's very nice, indeed. This is angry, this is dark, this is visceral. . . this is the ravings of a madman genius backed by three twisted talented musicians that push you to explore parts of your psyche that you didn't know existed. This album makes me angry, it makes me dance, it makes me something that I'm not, but perhaps should have been. . . This is flat out the finest post punk album in existence. With this album, Geordie's guitar became far more searing and Jaz developed many of the vocal techniques that he would use to great effect on KJ's later albums. Big Paul Ferguson and his incredible tribal beats, accented with Youth's understated yet effective bass provided the foundation. Holy mother of crap, it doesn't get any better than this. I've seen these guys live several times, but I'd give ANYTHING to be able to go back in time and see the original line up of this band. This is as close as we can get, though. If you still have a turntable, it's worth the effort to track down these albums on their original UK vinyl. But if you don't, the CD will have to do. Don't go without - if you're an old fan and haven't heard this album in years or if for some horrible twist of fate you've never heard it, get it NOW. Its evolution baby "Whats THIS For. . !", the answer is playing over and over again. Killing Jokes second offering to the world see's them developing their sound. The guitars have shed their former sludgy sabbathesque, and adopted a stark industrial squall. If fact stark is perhaps the single world that best sums up WTF. The music invades the senses like a burning light as it conjures up apocalyptic visions. "The Fall Of Because" opens the album, with its clanging mechanical rhythm, and the album doesn't let up from there. There isn't a bad track on offer here, and the lyrical content is perhaps the best on ANY album I've ever heard. Jaz Coleman savages the world around him, in such a visceral manner the fainter hearted listener should beware of it. From "This Is Madness" which attacks the religious right to "Butcher"'s slamming of the world leaders with the rather prophetic line "crawling for oil they were bleeding for gold", "Whats THIS For. . !" simply confirms the fact that Killing Joke were then, and still are ahead of their time. If you desire music that confronts and challenges, you'll be hard pressed to find an album that surpasses this one. . You can see a complete list of all Killing Joke discography, or go back to the Killing Joke tabs