They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. If that's true, fans of punk front-man Xavier Dphrepaulezz should be ecstatic about his latest release entitled The Dead Dumb Happy Life. It's been seven years since the Oakland, CA, singer-songwriter has graced the music scene with new material. Dphrepaulezz recorded the latest installment in Los Angeles under his label, Blackball Universe Records, at the peak of his touring success with the band formerly known as 'Blood Sugar.' Dancing through upbeat ska and cowpunk tracks, raw, heavy rock, and over-the-top hip hop beats, The Dead Dumb Happy Life is a roller coaster tour through 20th century American music. This album features the exceptional talents of guitarist Masa Kohama, drummer Keenan Ephraim, and Slimkid3 (Tre Hardson) and Fatlip (Derrick Stewart), both founding members of The Pharcyde, who join Blood Sugar X on "I'm Sorry." Songwriter, singer, and producer Xavier pays homage to his hometown with "Everybody Smokes Weed In Oakland," the fragility of life itself with "Jesus Help Me Now," and the roots of gospel with "Use a Fucking Condom."
As Afropunk.com reviewer Nathan Leigh puts it, "...the revamped Blood Sugar X really kills...On the jubilant lead single 'Stupid Expectations,' Xavier puts his thesis forward. The song about a friend's failure and criticism at the hands of the desperate-to-pigeonhole entertainment industry breaks down with the bridge “you should be / who you want to be,” sung frantically over a distorted upstroke. The Dead Dumb Happy Life – Volume 1 is Xavier doing just that. The songs flip wildly between tongue and cheek 'Have I Said Too Much' and the earnest 'Pray' without a nod or wink. But rather than a watered down, sanitized vision of what Blood Sugar X should be, this is who they are."
Track listing and credits:
1. Problems In My Head
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Keenan Ephriam (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass), Oliver Brown (percussion), Masa Kohama (guitar)
2. A Big Ass Rat
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar), Keenan Ephriam (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass)
3. Have I Said Too Much?
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz - (vocals & keyboard), Masa Kohama (guitar), Keenan Ephriam (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass), Oliver Brown (percussion)
4. Pray
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals, drums & keyboard), Masa Kohama (guitar), Cornelius Mims (bass)
5. I Can See You
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals & keyboard), Masa Kohama (guitar), Jamie Gamble (drums), Ethan Farmer (bass)
6. Stupid Expectations
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar), Jamie Gamble (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass), Brandon Coleman (keyboard)
7. Use A Fucking Condom
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar), Keenan Ephriam (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass), Brandon Coleman (keyboard)
8. Attack Mode
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar), Jamie Gamble (drums), Ethan Farmer (bass)
9. Sleeping Disorder
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz and Masa Kohma
Performed by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar), Jamie Gamble (drums), Ethan Farmer (bass), Timothy Liu (cello)
10. Innocence
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performances by Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar), Jamie Gamble (drums), Ethan Farmer (bass)
11. I'm Sorry
Written by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz, Tre Hardson (Slimkid3), Derrick Stewart (Fatlip)
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals, synthesizer, bass, drums), Fatlip (vocals), Slimkid3 (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar)
12. Freaky Tales
Written by: Todd Shaw (Too $hort), Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals, piano, keybord), Masa Kohama (guitar), Keenan Ephriam (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass)
13. Line for the Confused
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals, keyboard), Ethan Farmer (bass), Jamie Gamble (drums), Masa Kohama (guitar)
14. Jesus Help Me Now
Written by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals, keyboard, guitar), Masa Kohama (guitar), Jamie Gamble (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass)
15. Everybody Smokes Weed In Oakland
Written by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz, Diamond (Enigma)
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar), Jamie Gamble (drums), Cornelius Mims (bass), Enigma (vocals)
16. Honey Child
Written by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals, organ), Tuesday Gregory (drums), Yogi Musgrove (bass)
17. Lights Out
Written by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals, keyboard, bass, drums), Masa Kohama (guitar)
18. People Call Me Crazy
Written by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Performances by: Xavier Dphrepaulezz (vocals), Masa Kohama (guitar)
Produced by Xavier Dphrepaulezz
Audio Engineering by James Saez, Roy Alfred and Jared Schmidt
Mastered by Theresa Rife
Album artwork: "Circus of Blasphemy" and "Oh, Snap" courtesy of Norm Maxwell (artist)
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