Top 40 Before 40 Rock Artists - #36 - Bloodhound Gang
Now this is where I want to take a quick turn into weirdness with one of my favorite bands of all time, Bloodhound Gang.
This is a pick that I just COULD NOT leave out of the top 40. I honestly thought they would rank higher on my list, but again, I had to be very honest about my favorites and how and why they are where they are.
For those of you who are just joining this list at this point, let me give a quick summary below:
- In my almost 40 years on this planet, I have had the great pleasure of listening to a lot of music that doesn't make it to the airwaves, and a lot of these bands are some of my absolute favorites.
- You WILL see some Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame bands on the list too, but for the most part, you are likely going to disagree with this list almost entirely.
- I am sharing this ranking so that you get some insight into some great bands you may have never heard before AND for a little bit of a personal challenge to myself to rank these bands.
With that said, let's get to #36 on my Top 40 List Before 40:
Photo by Craig M. Groshek - originally uploaded to en.wikipedia by author on 29. September 2005, Public Domain
#36 - Bloodhound Gang
A lot of “rock purists” would not classify Bloodhound Gang as a rock band, but I think you would have to be crazy to say such a thing. They play all the instruments of a rock band, but the lead singer just happens to be one of the most fluent and unique rap vocalists of all time.
I remember first hearing “Fire Water Burn” late night on an episode of 120 Minutes (hosted by Matt Pinfield back then), and I thought to myself, “This is some of the funniest shit I have ever heard.”
Every single song I heard from Bloodhound Gang from there on seemed to either get more ridiculous with the lyrics or more technical with how well the songs were formulated.
If I could describe this band in two words it would be “extremely clever.”
Jimmy Pop (real name James Moyer Franks) is potentially one of the best rappers alive or even compared to dead rappers, but his lyrics were almost always comical and usually incredibly offensive to suburban white parents.
If Pop didn’t make it as a rapper, I felt he probably had a good shot at being a stand up comedian. His observations of the world around us are incredibly insightful and in your face.
Combine that with a bit of speed punk or melodic metal riffs and you have yourself one of the most unique and enjoyable rock bands in the history of the world.
Famously, they are know for their hit single “The Bad Touch” (you know, “You and me baby ain’t nothing but mammals…”). But if you think that is even registering on the scale of how hilarious or offensive this band can get, then you are sadly mistaken.
Even on that same album (titled Hooray For Boobies) there is a song called “Hell Yeah” that skewers Christianity and “A Lap Dance Is So Much Better When the Stripper Is Crying” is a spoken-word song about a lonely truck driver having sexual relations with prostitutes that will have you shedding a tear on first listen.
Bloodhound Gang managed to be relevant, quirky and never settle for just making songs easy. With their constant pop culture references, you will find a song in their catalog that has you cracking up. For fans of the TV show “The Simpsons”, I recommend “Ralph Wiggum” for obvious reasons.
Similar Artists That I Recommend That Didn't Make The Top 40:
Tenacious D, Flight of the Conchords
<-- Check out #37 on this list or Check out #35 on this list --> (Available December 22nd, 2020)
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