PIG GENUINE AMERICAN MONSTER ALBUM METROPOLIS RELEASE: OCTOBER 22, 2002 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 13, 2002

This is old news for the dedicated Pig fan. "Genuine Americans Monster" was released in Japan as early as 1999 and some of the material sounds correspondingly dated.
Raymond Watts back catalogue is dauntingly impressive, mentioning work with Psychic TV, Einstürzende Neubauten, Jim "Foetus" Thirlwell and KMFDM. This album shows him momentarily reaching up to cinematic Foetus standards, but more often delving down to the stale antics of KMFDM-patented, guitar driven industrial machismo. While it is disappointing to hear Watts seemingly content to record so much tedious angst-ridden techno trash, the genius of Pig is exposed on several tracks.
"Salambo" works wonders with energetic latin rhythms and the eerie ambience of the 14 minutes long "Inside" replaces the prevalent drab blackness with subtle shades of grey. The orchestral, jazz loving, inventive dirty little Pig is worth much more room to frolic in the pen, but this big, black swine (Schwein?) is forever bullying him, pushing him back into the corner.
The album swings wildly in style, neatly dividing into the songs you like and the ones you don't, depending on your disposition. A very uneven impression leaves me wondering about Watts ambitions for the next album, which is quietly underway. Rumours abound about a simpler, more straightforward sound, leaving the classic Pig style behind.

MATTIAS HUSS