Fat Mike

Fat Mike: Rubber Bordello soundtrack (with Dustin Lanker)Rubber Bordello soundtrack (with Dustin Lanker) (2012)
Snakeoil Media

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: thepopeofchili-townthepopeofchili-town
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Published on March 27th 2012By now everyone knows the backstory of Fat Mike's latest venture, and how it's the soundtrack to a pornographic period piece set in the early 1900s by the name of Rubber Bordello, so let's not dwell on that, and get to what really matters; the music. Working with Dustin Lanker of Mad Caddies and Che.

By now everyone knows the backstory of Fat Mike's latest venture, and how it's the soundtrack to a pornographic period piece set in the early 1900s by the name of Rubber Bordello, so let's not dwell on that, and get to what really matters; the music. Working with Dustin Lanker of Mad Caddies and Cherry Poppin' Daddies fame, as well as members of Tom Waits' backing band, Mike has crafted an album that's about as far away musically from the brand of skate punk he is most commonly associated with, yet retains some of the melodic trademarks he's exhibited as a songwriter in his near 30-year musical career.

After commencing with "Shedonistic Society," featuring the smoky yet smooth vocals of one Hudsy Hawn, and lyrics that come off like a more depraved version of "We Put the 'Spring' in Springfield," the Rubber Bordello soundtrack is a nearly entirely instrumental affair. While ragtime is not a genre I have not spent much time listening to, and can't imagine devoting that much more time to it in the future, this record is much more than simply the novelty I expected it to be. There is some serious musicianship on display here.

While musically the Rubber Bordello soundtrack is 100 percent ragtime, Mike manages to slip in some classic punk rock references by way of song titles like "Fucking Machine Gun Etiquette" and "Oh Bondage, Up Whores." There is also a great deal more variety contained within the individual tracks than I had anticipated. "Fucking Machine Gun Etiquette" nearly doubles its original tempo by the end of its four-minute runtime, and the sad, haunting keys and horns of closer "Sleep Tight" are much more beautiful than they will probably get credit for when paired with the images they were written to accompany.

A record such as this may seem to come entirely out of left field for Fat Mike, but NOFX had flirted with ragtime music as far back as "Buggley Eyes" from 1992's White Trash, Two Heebs and a Bean. When listening to tracks from the Rubber Bordello soundtrack like "The Jerk Rag" and "Knotty Girls," it is not hard to tell that they are products of that same songwriter.

From The Decline, the 18-minute punk rock opera that came half a decade before Green Day turned the world upside down by doing the exact same thing, to the Punk Voter campaign, to his Cokie the Clown shenanigans at SXSW a couple years ago, Fat Mike has never been afraid to step outside his comfort zone and try new things. This record is another interesting move from a polarizing punk rock figure that perhaps doesn't always get the respect he deserves as a musician. While it may not be required listening, the Rubber Bordello soundtrack is a successful turn at trying something new, which is something not many musicians three decades into their career would be willing or able to do.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

JamieMcMann (April 3, 2012)

I highly recommend checking out this music/film! If fetish isn't your thing, no worries, we are releasing the soundtrack as its own album. I believe it's on iTunes now, and CD's can be purchased through interpunk and other online stores. The soundtrack will also be available on vinyl soon! Now, I AM BIASED, I recorded and mixed all of these songs, but I've gotta say, I love them (and no, I don't have "points" on this release). So, no matter how much it does or doesn't sell, I am not under contract to receive profits from sales. Fat Mike and Dustin Lanker did a great job and we all had a BLAST recording these songs! THIS IS A COOL RECORD, Perfect background music for classy parties or low key events. Very fun music. See for yourself with the iTunes preview feature. The soundtrack was also mastered for CD as well as for Vinyl as to preserve fidelity. I normally don't publicly push my own work, but this record is is just so much fun to listen to, I can't help myself!!!! Check it out for yourself,

-Jamie McMann
Producer/ Engineer/ Mixer

givemeamuseumandillfillit (April 1, 2012)

If you think this is a good record - it's simply because it's your first venture into this world.
This is very, very forgettable stuff. Makes sense as a soundtrack for a fetish movie - but not much more than that.

davebrave4 (April 1, 2012)

I haven't heard the album yet, but this review is very well-written. I'd also like to commend the guy a couple posts below me for recommending Maple Leaf Rag over The Entertainer (the ice cream truck song). I've played both on piano, and I enjoy most of Joplin's work, but that ice cream truck song gets old quick. Hmmm....Now I want to eat some ice cream....Or at least listen to Ice Cream by Raekwon...."French vanilla, butter pecan, chocolate deluxe. Even caramel sundaes is gettin' touched. Take a scoop in my ice cream truck, Wu tears it up."

McDaggett (March 28, 2012)

You'd think he would have involved Naz or Ed of the Chemical People for apparent reasons, but no...

Ianissuperrad (March 28, 2012)

If anyone is actually interested in listening to any more ragtime music, check out Scott Joplin. "Maple Leaf Rag" specifically.

puddboy (March 27, 2012)

I found this to be a very well written review. Too often it seems reviewers of punk CDs lack the liteary ability to pen a quality review, but not in this case.

Glad to see Fat Mike get some praise, he is an amazing muscian who in many ways is vastly underrated.

akmofo (March 27, 2012)

It's up on Spotify if anyone wants to take a listen.

skolarx (March 27, 2012)

I checked out a couple of tracks and was pretty much blown away by what I heard. Still need to track it down so I can listen to the whole thing

Papastar (March 27, 2012)

Good review! I'm gonn
a check this out!!!!