Review
Gay for Johnny Depp
Blood: The Natural Lubricant

Captain of Industry (2005) Neil

Gay for Johnny Depp – Blood: The Natural Lubricant cover artwork
Gay for Johnny Depp – Blood: The Natural Lubricant — Captain of Industry, 2005

In theory alone, I should love this album. Gay for Johnny Depp is a homosexual band. Great, I love homosexuals in bands. They sing about filthy gay sex. Great, I love filthy gay sex. They play cum rocking screamo hardcore. Great, I love screamo and hardcore. They love Johnny Depp. Great, I think Johnny Depp is an okay actor.

Theory is just that, purely theory. Reality eventually creeps the fuck up in you like a ridiculously large-sized black penis you find attached to a man named Leroy in your local park's darkest bushes. In theory, it's going to be fun and something to brag about later. In reality though, having your anus stretched beyond the width of your average toilet seat is not so appealing.

Gay for Johnny Depp essentially has one trick and they ride it pretty hard over the course of this 14-minute EP. Part dirty full-steam-ahead rock, part spastic screamo, it owes a great debt to the San Diego scene, particularly Swing Kids and Antioch Arrows. The more fashion concise members of The Blood Brothers fanbase would undoubtedly gain erections over this if their tight fitting jeans didn't prevent the necessary blood flow.

Gay for Johnny Depp makes a reasonable showing of it though. Their rhythms are frantic, the tunes are catchy, certain parts will make you shake that pointy finger, and sure, some of their lyrics are pretty filthy. But, it just so happens I've heard bands that beat Gay for Johnny Depp at each of these things. Maybe I expected too much? Perhaps, but how can you not have unreasonably high expectations for a band that calls their record Blood: The Natural Lubricant (An Apocalyptic Adventure Beyond Sodom and Gomorrah)?!

One thing I feel obligated to say is that Gay for Johnny Depp are not the first ever 'homocore' band. Christ, Cargo, do some research. If anyone is at all interested in this band, but perhaps wants something with sweatier, dirtier, lower slung balls, then might I recommend you hunt down the Limp Wrist discography. God, those fags could rock.

5.7 / 10Neil • October 16, 2005

Gay for Johnny Depp – Blood: The Natural Lubricant cover artwork
Gay for Johnny Depp – Blood: The Natural Lubricant — Captain of Industry, 2005

Recently-posted album reviews

Miller Lowlifes

Pinch Hitters
ADD Records (2025)

The debut album from Florida punk band Miller Lowlifes features a vintage baseball theme, best enjoyed with a can of cheap domestic beer in hand. The metaphor fits, as Pinch Hitters focuses on the American dream -- and where it stands in 2025. The vintage educational TV audio clips add to this past-meets-present theme. It's an album that's equally about … Read more

Art Brut

Sorry, That It Doesn't Sound Like It's Planned! Battling Satan, 2009 - 2020
Edsel Records (2025)

I’ve never reviewed a box set before but Art Brut released my favourite sprechgesang anti-art-punk album of the early aughts so I figured I’d give it a go. 2005’s Bang Bang Rock & Roll placed Art Brut among the “Art Wave” scene but was more post-punk revival than “Indie Sleaze”. Argos has cited Jonathan Richman and Axl Rose as his … Read more

The Slow Death

No Light To See
Don’t Sing Records (2025)

Few bands have as fitting a name as The Slow Death. They play forlorn, self-deprecating punk that’s heavily influenced by lonesome country. The music itself is more driving and punchy, but many of the lyrics would fit just well in a somber old-timey country ballad. It’s forceful music that punches inward instead of at The Man. The first song is … Read more