Sexplosion!

Sexplosion! is the third studio album by industrial disco band My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. It was originally released in 1991 on Wax Trax! Records. Described by lead vocalist Groovie Mann as their "sexy" album, Sexplosion! is one of the band's biggest commercial and critical successes.

Sexplosion!
Studio album by
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
Released1991
RecordedDecember 1990 – January 1991
(Chicago, Illinois)
GenreIndustrial dance
LabelWax Trax!
Interscope/Atlantic
ProducerBuzz McCoy
My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult chronology
Confessions of a Knife...
(1990)		 Sexplosion!
(1991)		 13 Above the Night
(1993)

Background

Vocalist Groovie Mann called Sexplosion! the group's "sexy" album in 1995, adding that it was "total disco". He said it was intended as an open-ended fantasy for listeners and that it was genderless in its suggestions.[1]

Release

Sexplosion! was released in 1991 on Wax Trax! Records and became one of the most successful releases in the label's history, selling more than 61,000 copies within six weeks of the album's June 1 release.[2] The title track peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs on October 26, 1991.[3][4] The song "Sex on Wheelz" peaked at No. 15 on the same chart on July 27, 1991,[3][5] as well as reaching No. 23 on the Modern Rock Tracks Chart.[6] "Sex on Wheelz" appeared on the latter chart again, with its Cool World soundtrack[7] remix, when it peaked at No. 17 on August 15, 1992.[8][9]

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[10]
Chicago Tribune[11]

Sexplosion! was well received by critics. Ned Raggett of Allmusic said it was the band's best album, calling it a clever blend of pop music sensibilities and trashiness. He went on to say the album mostly concerned itself with "who is doing whom and whether or not there will be enough spangles, muscle boys, and cocktails available." He noted with approval its lounge music vibe in places, as well as its sampling of theme songs from James Bond movies including Thunderball. He particularly praised the album's hit single "Sex on Wheelz" for its "nutty stomp and leer" and called it "as compressed and propulsive a celebration of fornication and driving as anything else America has ever come up with."[10] Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune was similarly enthusiastic, and began his review by saying, "This record has absolutely no redeeming social value whatsoever, and it's wonderful."[11] He went on to call the album a blend of "sleaze ... camp ... and neon stylishness", and said it is all about having adult fun.[11]

Touring

The band toured in support of the album in July 1991. Eric Brace of The Washington Post said the live show was quite strong considering how devoted to camp the band is.[12] He noted Groovie Mann's vocals and the excessive use of smoke machines as the show's primary weak points, while praising the performances of the instrumentalists in the group.[12]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Buzz McCoy and Groovie Mann

Original Wax Trax! release (1991)
No.TitleLength
1."The International Sin Set"5:48
2."Leathersex"6:10
3."A Martini Built for Two"5:48
4."Dream Baby"5:47
5."Mood No. 6"2:25
6."Sexplosion!"5:52
7."Princess of the Queens (The Lost Generation)"4:31
8."Sex on Wheelz"4:59
9."A Continental Touch"6:11
10."Mystery Babylon"7:13
11."Dream Baby" (Nocturnal Mix)7:04
12."Sex on Wheelz" (Radio Mix)3:58
Interscope re-release (1992)
No.TitleLength
1."The International Sin Set"5:48
2."Leathersex"6:10
3."A Martini Built for Two"5:48
4."Dream Baby"5:47
5."Mood No. 6"2:25
6."Sexplosion!"5:52
7."Princess of the Queens (The Lost Generation)"4:31
8."Sex on Wheelz"4:59
9."A Continental Touch"6:11
10."Mystery Babylon"7:13
11."Sex on Wheelz" (Motor City Remix)4:40

Personnel

References
  1. Smith, Richard (1995). Seduced and Abandoned: Essays on Gay Men and Popular Music. Cassell. p. 84. ISBN 978-0304333431.
  2. Reed, S. Alexander (2013). Assimilate: A Critical History of Industrial Music. Oxford University Press. p. 263. ISBN 9780199832583.
  3. "My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult: Dance/Club Play Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  4. "Hot Dance Music: Club Play". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 43. October 26, 1991.
  5. "Hot Dance Music: Club Play". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 30. July 27, 1991.
  6. https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-08-17.pdf
  7. Kim, Jae-Ha (September 18, 1992). "Weekend Jam". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  8. "My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  9. "Modern Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 104, no. 33. August 15, 1992.
  10. Raggett, Ned. "Sexplosion! Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  11. Kot, Greg (August 15, 1991). "My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult Sexplosion". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  12. Brace, Eric (July 18, 1991). "Thrill Kill Kult's Righteous Riffs". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
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