Today we’re bringing U a full album stream of PunkSexy – Las Vegas Punk Rock Tribute To Prince. The album is the first ever vinyl compilation released by locals SquidHat Records and features tracks recorded at Camel Hump Studios, as chronicled by Anthony Constantine in an earlier feature.
His Royal Badness might not seem like the most obvious choice for a Vegas punk comp, with local acts like Wayne Newton and Celine Dion ripe for the covering (be honest – who wouldn’t want to hear “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” at 190 bpm?). But as a lifelong Prince fan, there was no other artist in SquidHat Records founder Allan Carter’s mind:
“I’ve been a Prince fan for a long time, ever since Controversy came out in 1981. The guy is a ‘musician’s musician.’ He can do anything, play anything, and his output of great music is unmatched. Even his not so great stuff is better than almost everything else. Hell, I have a Prince tattoo! The fact that he is also eccentric, is instantly recognizable and has never, in the 20 or so times I’ve seen him live, ever put on a bad show makes him the perfect icon for a tribute. He’s a once in a lifetime performer.”
The comp gives local talent the chance to flex their creative muscles, making these songs appeal to a crowd that is a little less “Purple Rain” and a whole lot more “Reign in Blood.” But the sampler also acts as a showcase for the Purple One himself, showing that at the core, The Artist Presently Known As Prince is just a fantastic songwriter, as Carter explains:
“The whole point of the comp was to show that a great song is a great song no matter what. The fact that so many different bands with unique styles interpreted his songs … and made them awesome … is a testament to the quality of the source material. I know country, punk and die hard metal guys who all love Prince.”
PunkSexy is being released in conjunction with Record Store Day, which means you’ll be able to pick up a copy locally at Zia or 11th Street Records this Saturday, April 16. It will be available in limited edition colored vinyl, and I’m sure you can guess what color it will be. 11th Street will also play host to a mini-release show for the comp on April 16 at 1 p.m.
For fans not in Vegas or unable to get down to their favorite record store – don’t fret! You can also purchase a copy online.
And while you’re waiting for your copy to arrive, here’s that Animaniacs Prince Joke you’ve come to expect from the internet:
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