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A life worth selling your soul

The word alternative has become misleading and common. Nowadays, if you want to be alternative, your choices are limited between becoming a farmer, a Christian fundamentalist or staying a virgin. If we could go back, to '69 or '76, before the word was coined - and perhaps even further, to a time, when rock 'n' roll came without sex and drugs, and paused at the second Chuck Berry discovered electricity, we would know why we're here. Yesterday's conservative society shouldn't have warned us about the devil, but of boredom instead.
A life worth selling your soul

Enter my/epic/vice. The 21st century's latest alt-pop spawn. No doubt, the Johannesburg/Pretoria-based four-piece is talented and their effort on this self-released debut; A Life Worth Livin' In The VIP shines through. The first two tracks feature an appearance by rock and business wizard Kahn Morbee, and the initial impressions suggest Subways and Dirty Skirts (specifically tracks from "Daddy Don't Disco"), but soon give way to City Bowl Mizers funk.

Memories of Vernon Koekemoer

The title track, The V.I.P, digs up the memory of wannabe celebrity, and PT shorts iron man, Vernon Koekemoer (remember him?), only because he featured in Evolver's video of Pretty Thing, which sounds extremely similar. However, a closer listen reveals a George van der Spuy, from Taxi Violence, vocal quality. And their low-key faux emo-attire aside, they could very easily go hard core, if the rare screaming bits were pushed with faster guitars.

But all of that accumulates to nothing when it's used to clone songs you've already heard, either much worse or much better. Right smack in the middle of 5FM road. But the privilege is the fact. We forget about that. m/e/v should celebrate, you made an album guys - another privilege pending doom. And it makes me happy knowing the kids are still making rock. Having listened to it, I sincerely wish they resign from this alt-pop nonsense, and go speak to the devil about the real deal.

myepicvice.co.za

About Johann Smith

Johann M Smith is a music journalist turned content hacker. Known as the IDM MAG launch designer, Johann specialises in entertainment, travel and social commentary. Or as he puts it: "I speak as and for companies through social and design."
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