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Pansy Division

The Essential Pansy Division [CD/DVD] (2006)
Alternative Tentacles Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Anchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on September 19th 2006

For those unfamiliar with Pansy Division, they have nothing to do with the 2006 Portuguese World Cup team. I know that if I wasn’t aware of them, that would have been my first thought. This foursome has nothing to do with soccer, however, and everything to do with an unapologetically homosexual lyrical approach to the kind of punk rock the Buzzcocks made prevalent some 30 years ago.

Formed in 1991, Pansy Division were one of the first musical acts to come right out and admit to being gay. Not that their lyrical content and song titles left much to the imagination, but 15 years ago, in a less tolerant era, it meant a lot to the gay community to have a band like this be so open, and so forthright with their sexuality. That’s not what got this band notoriety, though, at least not entirely. The fact of the matter is that they have always written some air-tight pop-punk songs.

The Essential Pansy Division is a CD/DVD combo that spans their entire career, with 30 tracks on the CD and half that on the DVD, enough PD content to last you quite a while I’d assume.

“Anthem” is the song that exemplifies this band better than I could myself, the lyrics put into perspective both their own career and the era they started in, all the while keeping everything in an extremely playful manner; "We’re the buttfuckers of rock ‘n’ roll, we wanna sock it to your hole / With loud guitars we’re gay and proud, we wanna get you with your pants down / Closeted rockers we’ve heard of a few, they won’t risk their careers to come out to you / We have no such deceptions no such ploys, we make it clear we wanna sleep with boys." Keeping with the fact that these guys were playing punk music, their content was brash and irreverent. Now, in 2006, most people have been so desensitized that none of this would be shocking at all, but for that time, having a song called “Dick of Death” or “James Bondage” was a sure way to become outcasted and ostracized. It seemed to only fuel Pansy Division, however, because as the years went on, a lot of their lyrics became even more out there and in your face, just adding identity not only to the songs themselves, but the band as a whole. Sure, “Boyfriend Wanted”'s bouncy groove is a great contrast to the balls to the wall approach of “Alpine Skiing,” but in the end, their way of vocal expression is what set them apart in the punk scene.

Let’s not forget the DVD that accompanies this CD however, as it has plenty to add to the package. The first portion of it is a collection of 8 music videos, from songs that spanned a good portion of their career. Though poorly made, the point was gotten across, and that point was blatant homosexuality. The images in these videos was certain to ruffle some feathers when first released, but behind all that, there was still great music. And in keeping with that theme are the two live segments included, each with four songs to share. The first was taken from a 1994 set in Chicago, where the band played a massive stage in front of thousands of people. The bouncy nature of the music could be seen in the crowd as well, as songs like “Fuck Buddy” and “Versatile” had seemingly the entire crowd jumping. The second set, filmed on a sound stage in Milan, was a much different performance both in scope and overall feel. Playing in front of no more than 30 people, the band downplayed the energy a good deal, but still, in typical Pansy Division fashion, brought their a game for all four songs.

Socially ahead of their time, Pansy Division still stand today as one of the more noteworthy, and unfortunately, oft-forgotten punk bands of the last 15 years. Let this collection serve as notice to all who’ve missed out; the time’s come to realize that this band was more than just funny songs about penises (penii?) and sex positions, they were the gay Ramones.

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lushj (September 21, 2006)

This record rocks- it covers everything from the funny poppy power pop punk like "Femme In A Black Leather Jacket" to the unisex rock tunes like "You're Gonna Need Your Friends" (which aren't dude-specific). Bad Boyfriend, Homo Christmas, He Whipped My Ass In Tennis (then I Fucked His Ass in Bed), almost all of their best tunes are here.

You can find a ton of the out-of-print Lookout PD stuff as well as the 2 AT cds here:
http://www.alternativetentacles.com/search.php?search_arti st_id=302&search_type=artist&sd=

Anonymous (September 21, 2006)

Diving was endemic throughtout the world cup. Sure, you can single out a single team and that's fair enough. However, the widespread trend of diving is absolutely ruining the beautiful game. There needs to be a collective blame/responsibility.

Anchors (September 21, 2006)

I probably know a lot less about soccer than the average European sports fan, but I did watch the World Cup extensively, and Portugal had far and away worse instances of diving than any other team.

Cristiano Ronaldo would fling himself into the air any time a foot came within a 3 foot radius of him, it was absolutely fucking ridiculous.

LMChc (September 21, 2006)

"every team has divers, these pansies played awesome football, especially tactically. I don't know, maybe you judge football by other standards than we in europe."

You mean by the standard where simulation (orflopping or diving in the vernacular) is deemed illegal and a punishable by a yellow card by FIFA?

I must say though that Portugal's keeper was tremendous and is excluded from all this talk of simulation.

socrates (September 20, 2006)

every team has divers, these pansies played awesome football, especially tactically. I don't know, maybe you judge football by other standards than we in europe.

Anchors (September 20, 2006)

The US World Cup team were not pansies at all, they were just a bad team, there's a difference. Portugal, on the other hand, has some of the best dive artists I've ever seen in my life.

Ahem.. Ronaldo.

LMChc (September 20, 2006)

"I think you could have referred to the 2006 United States World Cup squad (with the exceptions of McBride and Reyna)"

Reyna wasn't much anything either. McBride, Conrad and Dempsey were the only ones who impressed even slightly.

MrStylson (September 20, 2006)

This just reminds me of the days when Lookout! Records was the shit. Those were the days, my friends...

Also, this probably isn't the best album to blare in a college dorm room. Turns out my roommate was a homophobe...

BrendanKelly (September 19, 2006)

fucking amazing

Anonymous (September 19, 2006)

This band paved the way for other bands to come out of the closet. Aiden, Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, All-American Rejects, plus many more wouldnt be as accepted for their sexuality if it wasnt for this band. GO GAYS!

cantsitstill (September 19, 2006)

the Pansy Division's album (especiall 7") covers made me afraid to flip through the record store bins as a kid. who knows when you'd see some big ol' cock right in between that crustcore comp and that Spoke/Radon split.

Godfather (September 19, 2006)

hey, it didn't post my score for the new falcon album!

Godfather (September 19, 2006)

who woulda thought the pansy division could be the 2nd gayest new review?....congratulations to a new found glory for beating out the real fags!

score is for the new falcon

VeniceBeachxc (September 19, 2006)

He whooped my ass in tennis, then I fucked his ass in bed > victory records

skolarx (September 19, 2006)

so strangely i decided to wear my leather jacket for the first time in a while today and i found 2 comp tickets from a pansy division show back in 2002 in the pocket. i know i've worn the jacket since then so i have no idea why i would have the tickets still in there... maybe its a sign i should buy this cd

feeeding5000 (September 19, 2006)

Some of their stuff is great, really funny, catchy pop-punk. Other songs are either too faux-metal, or too serious, especially the later ones. Overall a very good best-of, and I HATE best-ofs.

kissingchaos (September 19, 2006)

'Breaking the Law' was a staple on my radio show years ago...awesome song that always got a reaction from listeners.

TheBouncingSoul (September 19, 2006)

Remember back when Green Day was cool, they took these guys on tour?

Anonymous (September 19, 2006)

mukilteo fairies are way better. oh, and they are gay also but who fucking cares. no lord shall live behead the prophet.

Cos (September 19, 2006)

If there was a cover of "I Wanna Be A Homosexual" on here, I'd buy it in a second.

Cos (September 19, 2006)

I think you could have referred to the 2006 United States World Cup squad (with the exceptions of McBride and Reyna)

Anonymous (September 19, 2006)

"The fact of the matter is that they have always written some air-tight pop-punk songs."

that made me giggle.