Genitallica

Genitallica

¿Picas o Platicas? (Epic)

Did Tommy come with a libretto? It didn't really need one. You could understand Roger and Pete just fine. Keith Moon, even ("Uncle Ernie"). Man, but what I wouldn't give for a lyric sheet (and maybe a translation) on Genitallica's comic rock opera, ¿Picas o Platicas? Is the suds-imbibing salamanoid who gets splatted by the handicapped punk rocker merely a prologue to the rest of the sci-fi comic booklet doubling as Picas' CD insert? He doesn't somehow become "Captain Peligro" does he? "Genitalandia es un estado de inconciencia donde se pierde la verguenza" is the only intro given to Monterrey, Mexico's breakout band Genitallica and their high-concept adventure. Loosely translated, that's, "Genital land is a state of unconsciousness where you lose your inhibitions." Then the disclaimer: "Lo demas es puero cuento" -- the rest is just a story. And a pointed adventure in the landia of sex-o, drugs, y rocanroll it is if my Spanish serves me well. "Captain Peligro" and his amigo "El Vato," after a few suds no doubt, find themselves in Genitaland where big, purple "Supermal" and his sleek girlfriend "Zorra" go up against "Supergenital," his hero's profile, buddy "Mi Amigo," and object of lust, "Chiquitita." Ms. "Quiero Paz" (Want Peace) intercedes and has them team up against the forces of goody two-shoes who are defeated sans condom. I think. More obvious is the actual music, a post-Green Day/Rage Against the Machine/Beastie Boys hard metal funk that at times recalls Extreme before "More Than Words" ruined them. Like that band's overlooked quasi-concept III Sides to Every Story LP, Genitallica's debut makes more fun than sense, and like the good blowout this young quintet obviously aspires to, gets better as it goes. "Zorra," more than a dash of Red Hot Chili Pepper, "(. )( .)" (uh oh … trend city), and the de facto title track "Supergenital" stomp about merrily, and although ¿Picas or Platicas? could use a few more samples like the one from which the album draws its title ("Do you bite or talk?"), a few times through the story and its soundtrack is enough bring you back. A quaffing ode to those aforementioned suds (cerveza) and bonus track "Mi Marijuana" have fiesta written all over them, and you can bet this band is a riot live. A riot en Español. It's the same in any language. (Wednesday, March 14, Metro, 10pm)