Zodiac Mindwarp TATTOOED BEAT MESSIAH

Too knowing to be a genuine guilty pleasure, there is nonetheless much to recommend Tattooed Beat Messiah, the only full-length release by Zodiac Mindwarp & the Love Reaction. Fronted by Mark Manning, a British music magazine art director, and produced by Bill Drummond, soon to be of the KLF, Tattooed Beat Messiah is a credible attempt to outdo the hard rock sounds and out-there lyrics of the Cult's Electric. Zodiac Mindwarp takes lyricism to outer space, claiming to have fallen out of heaven, as well as being a "sex fuhrer," "Christ in shades," and a "funky alligator," all in just the first song, "Prime Mover." (And honestly, he's just getting started.) Before flagging near the end of the second side with a requisite power ballad, the album is full of great guitar riffs, ridiculous and ridiculously catchy lyrics, and dumb fun. ~ Kurt Edwards

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop