
With Rick Warren and Proposition 8 making recent headlines, many probably thought, "Pansy Division, we need you!!" Worry not, friends: they're back with That's So Gay, their first new album in six years. Featuring a newish lineup bolstered by former Mr. T Experience bassist (and token hetero) Joel Reader on lead guitar, they've given their Undertones / Buzzcocks-inspired pop punk / power pop a few fresh twists.
While so many bands choose monotony over variety, That's So Gay is an all-you-can-eat rock buffet: take your pick from garage to punk, power pop to glam, and of course, balls-out rock. The humor and in-your-face queer content that put Pansy Division on the radar are in abundance, but songs about relationships, Bible-thumpers, and closeted politicians cruising airport bathrooms round out the album. In the interest of equal representation, Reader contributes a song about being a straight guy in a gay band ("Some of My Best Friends") and on "Average Men," about trying to avoid getting beaten up by rednecks, Jello Biafra contributes as co-lead vocalist. A series of webisode videos based on some songs will materialize on YouTube and the band's website around the release date.