HAS THE ’90s NU-METAL REVIVAL BEGUN? JUST ASK CRAZYTOWN.

Thursday, January 8th, 2009 at 12:02pm by

shifty shellshock crazytownThe time is nigh, my friends. VH1 declared ’90s nostalgia relevant way before its time, but now it’s almost 2010… and ’90s nu-metal nostalgia is starting to creep into mainstream culture on a more organic level. Aside from shitstains like Hollywood Undead seemingly arriving via time-warp and stalwarts like (hed)p.e. completely neglecting the passage of an entire decade (punk, dude!), the generally on-point Sergeant D of Metal Inquisition posted a retroview of Crazytown’s entire discography over the holidays. This is the man who consistently pays non-ironic tributes to Nitro, and anyone who loves Nitro non-ironically is A-ok in our book.

But yo son, for realz: Crazytown?

Crazytown were the epitome of major-label, big-budget bandwaggon-hopping during the late ’90s rap-rock explosion. Their biggest hit was based around a Red Hot Chili Peppers sample for chrissakes. Shifty Shellshock was shown smoking crack in an alleyway on VH1′s Celebrity Rehab just one year ago. Crazytown was the worst of the worst. And here we have a respectable blogger singing their praises in a completely non-ironic way:

I have come to terms with the fact that I seriously like Crazytown. At first I thought it would be funny to listen to them as a post-ironic bit, like “Hay guyz I like the absolute worst band on the planet, look at me!” And it is pretty funny in that context. But like I said earlier, I turned the corner, and I honestly like their music. I seriously think their first album is really catchy and fun and I am kind of mad that I never saw them live.

I guess it just goes to prove the old saying: all you need is one big hit to have a career for a lifetime. Stick around long enough and trends are sure to shift back in your favor; just ask Poison, Rick Astley or Vanilla Ice. Ok, maybe not Vanilla Ice. But if we’re talking about a ’90s nu-metal/rap-rock revival, the very first place I’ll look is to Crazytown; surely there’s an army of suburban midwestern dude-bros with tribal tats that just can’t WAIT to bust out those old warm-up pants and Adidas sneakers from their closet. It might not be time just yet, but you wait…

-VN

  • http://www.myspace.com/orchids Daisy May Tinklepants

    Oh. My. Starry eyed surprise

  • Doug

    …and the civilization of man ebbs yet again.

  • groverXIII

    I remember seeing these assclowns at Ozzfest (yes, during the heyday of nu metal… I’ve grown out of it.) Even then, the crowd booed them off the stage. I’m fairly certain they cut their set short, and I believe they insulted us and flipped us off. They were fucking terrible.

  • metalfan

    Shifty Shellshock is still the worst name I’ve heard of besides Coby Dick of Papa Roach. Saw Shifty on that Vh1 rehab show with Dr. Drew, guy is really messed up.

  • http://www.thrashhits.com HughDoVoodoo

    Shhh! I hear if you say “nu-metal” three times with your eyes shut, Five Finger Death Punch will turn up to play some recycled riffs at you.

  • Selaphiel

    Ahahahaha! I had no idea what band did that song, but I’ve always thought it sucked.

    …And I like it…

    I should go download a CD…

  • CarlosRamirez

    The singer from 5 Finger Death Punch actually looks like Shifty….haha!

  • http://www.hibernum.net hibernum

    The time is fast approaching. How many people in their late teens/early 20s are now in their late 20s/early thirties and getting nostalgic about the good old days of parties and the dot com boom and listening to Crazy Town while drinking 40s? In about 2 years that demographic will hit critical mass nostalgia, and the tours will start to churn out.

    It will start with somesort of big package tour. Perhaps a Korn reunion with Limp Biscuit thrown in. Call it the “Family reunion” tour, and have bands like Spineshank, Il Nino, and Coal Chamber open up. Oh, and Orgy also. I almost forgot. Soon it will be a festival, and Crazy Town will pull Shifty out of Celebrity Rehab seaon 4 and all will be well. Can’t you imagine a 32 year old guy with a beer guy and tribal tattoos, looking craggy and weathered, sporting running pants and a wife beater and a beanie hat. Can’t you see it?

  • Johnny

    …woo?

  • Hot Carl

    There never be Crazy Town reunion. the other rapper guy is dead.

  • Retin

    Their one big hit by the way is completely ripped off of “Pretty Little Ditty” by The Red Hot Chili Peppers and those guys only did it with 3 band members (not a slipknot-esque 9 or whatever they had).

    ….for SHAME!!

  • Gordon Shumway

    Wikipedia says it may already be too late…

    “In 2007 Crazy Town announced they had reformed and were working on a new album, Crazy Town Is Back, which would be released sometime in 2008.[5] It has yet to be released.”

    Black Metallers burn down churches, etc… and this shit goes unpunished?! For shaaaame!

  • Retin

    Goddamn I hate Wikipedia, always speaking of the present and reality.

    Yea I’m in total agreement though, burn those mothas down, its about time America had a few bonfires in teh name o metal.

    oh, and FOR SHAME!!!!!!!!

  • Retin

    Oh, and anyone know exactly where the Church Of Crazytown(COC) is exactly? Something tells me longbeach or another similar place where Sublime is played on end.

  • vonclausen

    Hey Look!! We all fuckin hate crazy town, But do you have to desecrate Ivan moodys masterpiece.all you black and death metal sissies need to get a clue.Metal is metal no matter how you fuckin categorize it, and you cant put crazytown and (HED)P.E on the same page,jared would smoke crazytown….

  • mike

    “The time is fast approaching. How many people in their late teens/early 20s are now in their late 20s/early thirties and getting nostalgic about the good old days of parties and the dot com boom and listening to Crazy Town while drinking 40s?”

    That’s fantastic. I am 29 and I clearly remember sitting in my dorm room, slamming 40s with my roommate and hallmates, and jammin out to Chamber Music, and eating nacho cheese chalupas…college ruled…

  • rob-209

    youre telling me crazytown isnt five finger death punch?

  • http://www.makaveli.ru/ баг исправили уже)

    Классный у вас сайт, удачи в развитии! ;)

  • Kris

    I remember Crazy Town,even Nu Metal fans hated them.

  • Mike

    Just say when, I’m ready to bust out my shell toes and warm ups! At least we might be saving some sperm from the testicle-constrictin’est trend that’s been around the past few years! Plus I feel old and wanna be cool again! Lol

  • Thevoiceofrock

    Nu metal was only mildy popular with 11 yr olds and had a shelf life of approximately 5 months. Every real musician laughed at it, girls hated it , its dead and gone. Like grunge there will be no resurgance