Premiering a single is a difficult task: how am I supposed to give a small peek behind the curtain of an album? What sliver of perspective prepares listeners for the harsh, often bizarre, experience of the complete work? But perhaps the chase, the slow completion of the puzzle, is half the fun, specially for those of us who prefer to listen to full albums in a sitting. The art of the single forces us to live in uncomfortable ambiguity until the EP or record or full-length is released.
“Disposable Income in the Hands of Teenagers,” the first single from Norwegian alt-metal/noise rock/musical dramatists Musth’s upcoming EP, Jollysad, encapsulates this challenge with near-perfect angst. Clocking in at just under three minutes, the track is the shortest of the bunch and is partially comprised of dialogue from the 1976 Norwegian film Lasse & Geir. It’s truly a glimpse at the madness behind the curtain of Jollysad, which wrangles the myriad tragedies and WTFs of adulthood into a lurching mania of angular grooves, howling vocals, folk and flamenco flourishes, all served with an unhealthy dose of theatrical flair. With “Disposable Income,” Musth have chosen to introduce the new EP with a deliberately jarring feel:
“‘Disposable Income in the Hands of Teenagers’ used to have the working title «MMA» because of the similarities to the form of the martial art matches: Intense and aggressive parts, and the contrasting «breaks» in between in the song. Right from the very beginning with the feedback and the rumbling drum rolls, you know that you’re in for a thrill ride.”
In that sense, “Disposable Income in the Hands of Teenagers” is the perfect first look at the new rendition of Musth, which last released an EP in 2022 and has since adopted a new bassist. Skittering from walls of abrasive sound that echo the bristling fury of death metal to movie samples, to homespun guitar interludes, back to noisy aggression again, "Disposable Income" is an uncomfortable whirlwind of sound, vibes, and emotions, never truly settling anywhere. It’s odd and intense, never fully one thing, or even one cohesive track, yet a full look at Jollysad.
FFO: Child, Raumordnung, adulthood angst.
Listen to “Disposable Income in the Hands of Teenagers” below and find Musth on Spotify or Apple Music. Jollysad will be released on May 22nd.