Pansy Division is still here, still queer, so by now you're probably used to their uniquely effeminate take on punk rock. After a six-year hiatus, their eighth studio album,
That's So Gay, finds the staples of queercore in their comfort zone, blatantly exploring topics like closet homosexuality by way of bathroom grafitti ("Obsessed with Me"), highschool quarterback lust ("Pat Me on the Ass"), and the moral dilemmas of dating a male prostitute ("It's Just a Job.") For those starting to tire of their endless double entendres and two favorite points of reference -- explicitly spun tales of sex, and plights of homophobia -- there are some departures, if only slight departures from their usual bag. "Some of My Best Friends" is the first original
Pansy Division song with lyrics written by a heterosexual (this time dealing with the hatred of homophobic behavior from a straight guy's perspective), iconic punker and
Dead Kennedy Jello Biafra takes a turn singing vocals on "Average Man" (a slam on the blue collar-types who bestow prejudice), and they take a long, hard look at their illustrious career with "20 Years of Cock" reminiscing fondly, "Well yeah I'm aging but I'm still raging/I'm getting grayer but feeling gayer." ~ Jason Lymangrover