Miss TK And The Revenge

The Ocean Likes To Party Too

Remember Zero Zero, the ill-conceived but endearing electro-punk band fronted by Lifetime vocalist Ari Katz and his wife, Tannis Kristjanson? The band’s sole album, 2001’s AM Gold, though perkyand fun, was baffling to Lifetime fans because it had so little in common with the legendary punk outfit. But Katz’s trademark mumbly vocals, mixed with smooth beats and crisp, pop melodies and Kristjanson’s sweet coo made for a soothing and novel album despite its faults—not quite a dance record, but certainly the sort of album that gets heads bobbing and toes tapping.

Fast forward to 2004. Katz and Kristjansonswitch things up, with Katz moving to the drums and Kristjansonstepping to the forefront as primary vocalist in a new group, Miss TK And The Revenge, backed by a full band and the beats of Dalek's Oktopus.This time around, things were decidedly less punk—thoroughly un-punk is more like it.  The band’s debut, XOXO, made two things clear: this was Kristjanson’s band, and Miss TK, as she was now known, likes to dance and party.

That’s as deep as the concept goes. The Ocean Likes To Party Too, the band’s sophomore atrocity,makes no pretense otherwise. “Shimmy Sha”comes off like a cheap facsimile of Kelis’ lust-imbued “Milkshake” while album opener “Beach Master” kicks off the joint with one of the most laughable choruses in recent memory: “Beach master/Don't wanna ask ya/To be my master/Beach Master/Beach master/Can you go faster?/And make it last-a/Beach master.”

When the beats and lyrics aren’t (unintentionally?) silly, they’re horribly cliché. Sing along if you know the words to “Body Bounce Back”: “Yeah, It’s gonna turn you on/The beat is gonna get you ‘till the break of dawn.”

And so it goes for nearly 40 minutes. Tired rhythms brush up against played-out hooks and lyrics that are virtually indistinguishable from those on most of the top 40 club drivel that is systematically turning young people into mindless consumers of vapid garbage culture. The Ocean Likes To Party Too is not an album most independent-minded listeners will find engaging or even diverting. Miss TK, her band and, God forgive us, Ari Katz now belong not to dingy rock clubs full of kids looking for something new and interesting, but to the charade of the dancefloor—or an aisle in Best Buy, take your pick. Both have about the same amount of street cred. 

Ernest Jenning http://www.ernestjenning.com

“Shimmy Sha”