There is something about Evil Eddie Jacobson that is equally endearing and irritating. As the foul-mouthed, quick-witted frontman of genre-benders Butterfingers, he displayed examples of verbal juxtaposition, going from cocky larrikin to self-deprecating loser within the space of a song. With the band on ‘presumed hiatus’, Mr Eddie has taken it upon himself to do all the work.
But as it should be with any solo album, this isn’t just a Butterfingers album; Eddie has played all the instruments himself to affirm that it is indeed his work. Still, it’s unclear as to what direction he really wants to go in, with different elements being thrown all over this release, and it does become a little confusing.
There are indeed elements of the sound that made him famous. The title track De-Sex Your Ex is a humorous rock tune about making sure past spouses don’t reproduce, and there are enough stupid lyrics to keep this in your playlist for at least two months. It may be sung oddly instead of rapped, but lines like, “De-Sex your Ex / Instead of guessing who they get with next / Follow through with a voodoo hex / Do it for your self-respect” are up there with anything out of ‘Breakfast at Fatboys’ and ‘The Deeper you Dig…’
However, that is where the piss-take effectively ends. The next three tracks take a far more serious tone, with the occasional light-hearted jab inserted. Second track ‘In It for the Money’ may be talking about working in show business, but you wouldn’t know as the production pushes Eddie’s vocals into the background in place of aggressive nu-metal riffing. Jacobson also decides against his trademark Aussie hip-hop vibe for a slick reverbed melody, and the result is a very pleasing track.
The EP takes another right-turn with ‘Unsustainable Orbit’ an instrumental sampled hip-hop track with a funky surf vibe. While it doesn’t make much sense within the context of the previous two tracks, there is merit in this effort to expand horizons.
And with final (non-remixed) track ‘Fuck A War’ Jacobson channels his angry political side, with a flurry of Tom Morello-esque riffs and angry rapping lyrics. It sounds a little dated of course, but fans go to see Evil Eddie for a hit of nostalgia, making this all the more effective.
If ‘De-Sex your Ex’ has proven nothing else, it is that Jacobson has more dimensions to him than just Butterfingers, and it shows over four strong, if schizophrenic songs, and for that he needs credit. It’s hard to change a winning formula, and even harder to make it successful, but Evil Eddie does it again through hating war, going into orbit and genital mutilation.
Standout tracks: ‘De-Sex your Ex’, ‘In It for the Money’
Summary: A lot of different sounds and little in the way of content control, but there are a few laughs and some serious head banging on this solid EP. Fuck he’s good, just ask him!
