I’ve been patiently waiting 2 years for this 30 year milestone come about so I could have an excuse to write about a record that has always been a huge part of my musical landscape. It’s also fantastic news that Lords of Acid is starting a nation-wide tour starting in April, with a date in Indianapolis. We’ll talk about that later.
I was with my best friend at the time, when hanging out at my favorite place in the world as a teenager, Karma Records on W. 86th St. in Indianapolis, Indiana. I discovered so many iconic albums in that place, “Voodoo-U” by Lords of Acid being one of them.
Here I’d like to go over a couple tidbits about my musical interests thus far as a young adolescent shopping Karma Records in 1995. At this point I had gone to my first concert, Nine Inch Nails at the Pepsi Coliseum earlier that year. Marilyn Manson’s “Portrait of an American Family” was my all time favorite record, and would remain one for many years. The other teenager I was with had introduced me to KMFDM, Bile, and Ministry. I was a huge White Zombie fan due to the mainstream popularity they had at that point. So of course seeing the cover for the Voodoo-U album was going to imeaditatly catch my attention, like I’m sure it did so many others. “What is that?” I asked my buddy. He told me it’s “techno”. He ended up buying the CD. Come to find out, it was a lot more than that.
We got home to check out the CD. It’s safe to say, this would be my first time hearing techno, hardcore break beats, or anything of the sort. I was glad my buddy purchased it, even though I was good at hiding stuff from my parents; there was no way I was going to risk my poor mother finding this in my bedroom. Of course, we dubbed the album on cassette so I could have a copy. The CD I currently own, which is pictured above, is my 2nd or 3rd official copy of the record I’ve acquired in my lifetime. I purchased this copy, along with a Marquis De Sade paperback, at a used bookstore a few years back.
Let us talk about that cover art for a sec. Coop is known for his distinctive and provocative style. His signature “Devil Woman” were a perfect match for the bold and explicit nature of this album. The imagery definitely adds an extra layer to the debauchery of the album and leaves an impression on fans as much as the music itself. Coop has also worked with bands such as White Zombie, Green Day, Nirvana, and Soundgarden, just to name a few.
Not only did I hear all the genres of electronic music I mentioned above upon listening to this album, but what separates this record from Lords of Acid’s debut LP “Lust” (which I would puchase later that year) is the heavy guitar riffs that give this album a more industrial feel, which is always mentioned by people. That’s really what makes “Voodoo-U” my favorite Lords of Acid record. From the opening track to closing, not one is a skip.
Of course, you can’t mention this album without mentioning that it has a song about crabs. Part educational, part kink, “The Crablouse” can be characterized by its aggressive beats and over-the-top subject matter. The only other song I know of that deals with crabs is ICP’s “Bugz on my Nutz” from their 1994 release, Ringmaster.
One favorite track of mine off Voodoo-U is “Out Comes The Evil”, with it’s haunting intro, nursery rhyme wordplay, and intense heavy breakbeats.
“Marijuana In Your Brain” another talked about favorite by anyone who brings up this record. Using a bit of reggae flavor on the verse, fun catchy hook, it’s always a crowd favorite. It’s playful imagery, juxtaposing intoxication with seduction, feeds into what people love about this album.
“Mr. Machoman” is a fucking great one! A true tale of sexual subversion, this track follows the persona of “Mr. Machoman” who exudes magnetism and dominance, only to find out how the tables have turned when he meets the one who can dominate him. “Rock your body to the left and the right, rock your body, make you struggle and fight,” as that wonderfully hypnotic hook goes. Exploring themes of power dynamics, seduction, and uninhibited desire in such an explicit way was not really a thing in mainstream culture at the time. You could give some credit to Madonna, but she was not this extreme. Today, you have figures like Lady Gaga, Megan Thee Stallion, or Cardi B who exude sexual dominance in their artistic output, reaching a wide audience. However, we have women like Jade 4U to thank for paving the way.
The provocative nature of “Voodoo-U” is emblematic of Lords of Acid’s unabashed approach to exploring sexuality and taboo subjects in their music. To an extreme, this album is proof that they were ahead of their time and stands far beyond just having an underground cult following in rave and kink communities at the time.
To more deeply recap what I only glossed over earlier: the album blends elements of industrial, techno, breakbeats, and other sounds from what was popular in electronic music at the time, creating a dynamically dark, catchy, and pulsating soundscape. The driving rhythm, gnarly synths, and sultry vocals contribute to the record’s energetic and hedonistic subject matter. The combination of electronic instrumentation, aggressively edgy beats, and sexually explicit lyrics shows the band’s penchant for pushing boundaries and creating music that is unapologetically bold, kinky, and in your face! Personally, I feel that hedonism and rebelling against social norms are the essence of electronic music, at least they were in the early days. I feel these things should be celebrated. Lords of Acid and “Voodoo-U” exemplify this in the best ways possible, delivering a high-octane blend of provocative lyrics and infectious rhythms that invite listeners to explore their primal instincts and revel in their sensual desires.
Another notable thing about “Voodoo-U” worth mentioning is that a couple of tracks made their way to major motion picture soundtracks, with “Drink My Honey” being featured in 1995’s Strange Days and “Young Boys” being in the film Virtuosity that same year. “The Crablouse” was featured in the teaser trailer for 2011’s Sucker Punch. “Voodoo-U” was also support by Lords of Acid’s first world-wide tour, featuring a full live back-up band.
Speaking of tours, like talk about 2024! Make Acid Great Again Tour starts in Pamona, CA on April 26th, making it’s way around the country with a few dates in Canada. The tour will go till June, ending with more California dates.
Lords of Acid will be in Indianapolis on May 22nd! Performing live at The Vogue, I’m sure this will be a performance for the books. I’ve only heard amazing things from people everytime they have been here. You can get tickets by clicking here.
Lords of Acid keeps a strong social media presence these days, including Facebook, X, formaly known as Twitter, and Instagram. They appear to be very engaged with their fans and keep an outspoken voice in the underground. I’ve caught them at times, speaking out against those on the religious right who continue to want to take away our personal freedoms. Which, if you’d have asked me in the 90’s if these things would of still been an issue, I’d of told you, you’re out of your mind.