During the near decade the group spent in Dog Fashion Disco, Smith and his merry band of misfits would amass a loyal underground following of fans (dubbed the “mushroom cult”) through countless tours with the likes of Slayer, Mindless Self Indulgence, Nothingface and Lacuna Coil. Although Dog Fashion Disco never achieved commercial success, their musical legacy gained the respect of musical contemporaries like Serj Tankian of System of a Down (who made a guest appearance on Anarchists of Good Taste), Mushroomhead and American Head Charge, while the group's music lives on through the internet and continues to create new members of the “mushroom cult” long after the band's demise.
While Smith and company may have become sick of living the vagabond lifestyle that a touring metal band requires, the thought of giving up music entirely never even crossed their minds. Within mere months of their former outfits demise the group had created a new group, Polkadot Cadaver to unleash their schizophrenic musical madness.
“Jasan and I decided to start a studio band and Polkadot Cadaver started as shells of songs on Jasan’s computer. After we fleshed out the songs we pitched it Rotten Records, because we loved how they handled the last Dog Fashion Disco album,” says Smith about the formation of the group. “They immediately got behind us and as soon as received a recording budget we went to Wrightway Studios to work and complete the record. Polkadot Cadaver is very similar to Dog Fashion Disco stylistically. The songs are still very quirky and different from each other.” Recorded in the bowels of Baltimore with producer Steven Wright (Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, SR-71), Polkadot Cadaver’s debut album picks up right where Dog Fashion Disco left off. The brilliance of the band’s musical output lies within their ability to sonically shape shift like a musical chameleon that can adapt to any music style. “What’s The Worst Thing” blisters with thrashing Slayer like riffage and then spills into the soothing folk-pop melodies of "Chloroform Girl". The album’s lyrical insanity the delivers homicidal blow to Polkadot Cadaver’s musical homicide, covering gamut of topics ranging from plane crashes, narcissistic models, Christ, the devil and good old Baltimore, MD.
After fulfilling their contractual duties with Rotten Records, The guys decides that they'd had enough of working for the man. Smith and Stepp have since started their own record label, called Razor To Wrist Records, and now record and release albums, all on their own. Every project they now have will be releasing albums under Razor To Wrist [Polkadot Cadaver, El-Creepo! (Todd's Solo Project), Knives Out! (Super Group), and Deimos (Jasan's Solo Project)]. For more info on Polkadot Cadaver and the rest of their happenings, be sure to check out RazorToWrist.com.
Purgatory Dance Party
Polkadot Cadaver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the DJ is hung up and crucified
And there you are in all your innocence
With your back against the wall
Breaking hearts like commandments
I don't mind waiting for you
There's blood on the dancefloor
I don't mind lying for you
About the bodies in the backyard
Oh now what are you gonna do?
Satan, go put on your blue dress honey, and let's do the tango
Jesus, go put on some Elvis, baby, and let's do the chacha
Satan, let's toast to the Armaggedon, you know that is all you
Gandhi, go pour a couple of whiskeys, you know you my nigga!
I think I've seen you on TV
Where you're selling the end of the world
You seem harmless enough to me
As my eyes glaze over into medicated sleep
Thank you doctor, for these wonderful pills
I'm feeling so much different now
All suicidal thoughts are gone
And my new middle name is now optimistic
Just as the night fades into day, mourning becomes you
As your worst nightmares come true
What will you do now that no one wants you
And your wildest dreams are all dying on your birthday?
I want a front row seat to your technicolor funeral
I can't stop smiling as they're lowering your body into the ground
The song "Purgatory Dance Party" by Polkadot Cadaver is a dark, twisted tale that explores themes of innocence, sin, and death. The first verse sets the stage with flashing strobe lights and a DJ who has been hung up and crucified. The singer is described as innocent, with their back against the wall, breaking hearts like commandments. This could be interpreted as someone who is both vulnerable and dangerous; someone who is capable of causing harm despite their apparent innocence. The chorus is a defiant statement of loyalty, as the singer declares that they are willing to wait and lie for someone, even if there are bodies buried in the backyard. The tone is equal parts menacing and seductive, creating a sense of unease for the listener.
The second verse takes a surreal turn, with the singer addressing Satan, Jesus, and Gandhi as if they are all in the room. The references to dancing and toasting to the apocalypse create an atmosphere of hedonistic abandon. The line "Gandhi, go pour a couple of whiskeys, you know you my nigga!" is particularly jarring, as it juxtaposes the peaceful image of Gandhi with a racial slur. This could be interpreted as a commentary on how even the most revered figures can be reduced to caricatures in our collective consciousness. The third verse is a hallucinatory sequence, with the singer thanking a doctor for pills that have made them feel optimistic. The line "Just as the night fades into day, mourning becomes you" is a poetic way of describing the inevitability of death. The song ends with the singer expressing a desire to witness a colorful funeral, suggesting a fascination with death and the macabre.
Line by Line Meaning
The strobe lights your eyes
The bright flashing lights distract you
As the DJ is hung up and crucified
As the party's DJ is publicly shamed and humiliated
And there you are in all your innocence
You appear innocent and unsuspecting
With your back against the wall
You're in a vulnerable position
Breaking hearts like commandments
You're ruining lives with ease
I don't mind waiting for you
I'm willing to be patient for you
There's blood on the dancefloor
There's been violence here
Oh now what are you gonna do?
What action will you take now?
I don't mind lying for you
I'm willing to deceive for you
About the bodies in the backyard
Regarding the corpses hidden in the property
Satan, go put on your blue dress honey, and let's do the tango
Let's engage in a dark and diabolical dance together
Jesus, go put on some Elvis, baby, and let's do the chacha
Let's mix religious figures and pop culture to celebrate
Satan, let's toast to the Armaggedon, you know that is all you
Let's drink to the end of the world, which is your domain
Gandhi, go pour a couple of whiskeys, you know you my nigga!
Even figures of peace and nonviolence can indulge in alcohol and slang
I think I've seen you on TV
I believe I've witnessed your manipulation on the media
Where you're selling the end of the world
You're promoting doom, gloom, and despair
You seem harmless enough to me
You appear nonthreatening and harmless
As my eyes glaze over into medicated sleep
As I drift into a drowsy, artificial state of calm
Thank you doctor, for these wonderful pills
I appreciate the drugs you prescribed me
I'm feeling so much different now
I'm undergoing a drastic change in mood
All suicidal thoughts are gone
I no longer consider taking my own life
And my new middle name is now optimistic
I've embraced positivity to the point of renaming myself
Just as the night fades into day, mourning becomes you
As a new dawn emerges, you're still grieving
As your worst nightmares come true
As your deepest fears materialize
What will you do now that no one wants you
You're left with no support or affection
And your wildest dreams are all dying on your birthday?
All your aspirations and ambitions remain unfulfilled
I want a front row seat to your technicolor funeral
I want to witness your death in a spectacular and vivid way
I can't stop smiling as they're lowering your body into the ground
I find joy in your ultimate downfall and demise
Contributed by Carson V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.