8 Convulsions

Although it was in every sense a testing ground for future works, Crisis' first album, 1994's 8 Convulsions, was already unique in its own ways -- most obviously because it prefaced all its song titles as "convulsions" 1-8. Aside from that, the New York quartet was already showing the same chaotic confluence of styles that would mark their ensuing triumphs; only on this first attempt, that complexity generally lacked the sort of musical direction, precision, and arranging sophistication to make them really work. Among the various examples: the near-miss "More Than Down" used a thumping bassline that was both an undeniable nod to short-lived funk metal and a direct cop-job of the Cult's gothic early hit "Resurrection Joe"; the album's low point "Rotten Anyway" was clumsy, turgid, simply unfinished, perhaps; while the likes of "Drilling Me" and "Keep Me From Falling" were just plain forgettable. As for the band's charismatic and unpredictable frontwoman, Karyn Crisis, she too was a work in progress: whether showing zero lyrical subtlety in the shocking, if righteously misogynist-bashing highlight "Sweething," or recklessly exposing her keening falsetto (possibly the weakest weapon in her admirable vocal arsenal) on one of the album's most distinctive, commercial, but still not quite fully formed moments, "Gemini." Finally, with all the above as evidence, it's down to the driving intensity of "Smash to Pieces" and the slow-creeping dread of "There Goes My Soul" to offer predictions of the creative and compositional maturity yet to come. For now, and in light of later-day accomplishments, Crisis was more curiosity than ubiquity, and 8 Convulsions is truly required listening only for serious fans. [After a number of years out of print, 8 Convulsions was reissued by the band to commemorate their tenth anniversary.] ~ Eduardo Rivadavia