'Naked Pictures' in the Taco Bell

Too bad Jack White decided to guest on this album, thereby lowering his IQ by association. Electric Six's mixture of neo-hair-metal stupidity ala Andrew W.K., but somehow worse, is an exercise in blandness. You wouldn't think an album attempting to be chock full of adrenaline could be this vanilla, but with lyrics like "Fire in the disco/Fire in the Taco Bell/Fire in the disco/Fire in the gates of hell," and barely-developed attempts at keyboard coolness, Fire is all smoke. For crying out loud, the third track is called "Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother)." Discs like this, with meatheaded attitude, need to be tongue-in-cheek or at least mildly witty to be interesting. Instead, Electric Six is only mildly honest. Sure the lead singer calls for a"solo," but it'd be far more amusing if the solo was any good. White's backup vocals on "Danger! High Voltage" (the disc's single -- also the location of the bad lyrics) are the most interesting thing on the album. But even they are even dragged down by a mediocre attempt at disco-sounding guitar. Later attempts at surf guitar and hair-balladry are equally depressing.