''Suicide Invoice'' is the second studio

album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track cartridge, 8-track or Cassette tape, cassette), or digital distribution, dig ...

by the

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wale ...

band

Hot Snakes Hot Snakes were an American rock band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1999 in San Diego, California. Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, after which Reis found international succe ...

, released in 2002 by

Swami Records Swami Records is a San Diego–based independent record label specializing in punk rock and rock music. The label was founded in 2000 by John Reis, who also has his own radio show, ''Swami Sound System'', on station 94.9FM KBZT KBZT (94.9 F ...

. It was recorded in a similar manner to the band's previous album '' Automatic Midnight'', with guitarist John Reis taking time off from his main band

Rocket from the Crypt Rocket from the Crypt is an American punk rock band from San Diego, California, originally active from 1990 to 2005, then active during 2011 and again from 2013 to the present. The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record ...

. As a visual artist and illustrator singer/guitarist

Rick Froberg Eric Gerald Farr (né Froberg; January 19, 1968 – June 30, 2023) was an American musician and visual artist. In his musical career he was the singer and guitarist for the San Diego-area bands Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu, and Hot Snakes, perform ...

provided the album's artwork, while Reis released the album through his Swami Records label.

Style

In comparison to the band's previous album ''Automatic Midnight'', ''Suicide Invoice'' is slightly slower paced and more experimental, incorporating

organ Organ and organs may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a group of tissues organized to serve a common function * Organ system, a collection of organs that function together to carry out specific functions within the body. Musical instruments ...

s and

melodica The melodica is a handheld free-reed instrument similar to a pump organ or harmonica. It features a musical keyboard on top, and is played by blowing air through a mouthpiece that fits into a hole in the side of the instrument. The keyboard usu ...

s which the band had not used before. It is also less aggressive and primal than their subsequent album ''

Audit in Progress ''Audit in Progress'' is the third studio album by the San Diego, California, rock band Hot Snakes, released in 2004 by Swami Records. It was recorded in a similar manner to the band's previous two albums, with guitarist John Reis taking time off ...

''.

Promotion

As with ''Automatic Midnight'', touring in support of ''Suicide Invoice'' was limited due to the band members residing on opposite sides of the country, though they were able to tour the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The following year drummer Jason Kourkounis departed the band and Reis resumed full-time work with Rocket from the Crypt. The band would reunite in 2004 for another album and more extensive touring, replacing Kourkounis with Rocket from the Crypt drummer

Mario Rubalcaba Mario Rubalcaba (also known by the pseudonym Ruby Mars) is an American drummer from San Diego, notable as a member of numerous rock bands including Clikatat Ikatowi, Thingy, Rocket from the Crypt, Hot Snakes, Earthless, the Sultans, and Off! ...

Reception

The album was quite favorably received. Emma Johnston writes that the album "takes its foot off the pedal a little, and in the process showcases Hot Snakes’ wonderfully snarky side (any album that starts with a song called I Hate The Kids is alright by us) .. Joseph Larkin calls it "arguably he band'sbest effort ..The mostly mid-tempo album is more experimental than its predecessor, incorporating organ, melodica and seriously clever offbeat lyrics (as in "Ben Gurion," "Paid in Cigarettes" and "Gar Forgets His Insulin")." "The only tropes these guys know are 'kicking ass' and 'taking names,'" writes Eric Carr, "and the rest can go to hell, because ''Suicide Invoice'' is nothing but rock viscera in its most elegant simplicity. And sometimes, that's all you need." Daphne Carr was more mixed in her assessment, criticizing the ironic and emotionally distant tone of most of the album ("the album is another study in rock in jokes ..Froberg's vocals go from raged to sincere, and on "Why Does It Hurt" he almost sheds the rock persona to identify with his listeners—almost.") She concludes by writing "With this album, Hot Snakes only build their repertoire of rock to satisfy the indie kids looking for something as angry as

nu-metal Nu metal (sometimes stylized as nü-metal, with a metal umlaut) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop, funk, industrial, and grunge. Nu metal rarely features guita ...

with a tinge more self-awareness."

Accolades

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' ranked it the 35th best album of the year.

Track listing

Personnel

–

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

, lead vocals *

John Reis John Reis, also known by the pseudonyms Speedo, Slasher, and the Swami is an American musician, singer, guitarist, record label owner, and disc jockey. He is best known as the singer and guitarist for the rock band Rocket from the Crypt, which ...

– guitar,

, backing vocals *Gar Wood –

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

, Magi 44 organ *Jason Kourkounis (credited as Jsinclair) –

drum kit A drum kit or drum set (also known as a trap set, or simply drums in popular music and jazz contexts) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and sometimes other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one p ...

*Frankie Stains – organ on finale of "Paid in Cigarettes"

Album information

*Record label:

*Recorded 2002 at Drag Racist studios by John Reis, Gar Wood and Ben Moore *Mixed at Big Fish Recorders in

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

by John Reis, Gar Wood and Ben Moore *Artwork by Rick Froberg

References

{{Authority control 2002 albums Swami Records albums Hot Snakes albums