What a unsettling image to think of, a whole planet filled with diarrhea.
But the name suits the six piece band from Tennessee, with their lighthearted personalities and laid back charm- somehow they made it work. But in case you were wondering, the band claims in a SXSW interview in 2015 with Austin Underground that they picked the name by throwing a William S Burroughs novel against the wall and pointed to the first few words they saw. So there you have it – the birth story of Diarrhea Planet.
Currently, Diarrhea Planet is touring major festivals all the way through the month of September, promoting their newest album titled Turn to Gold. The album is playful and its easy to pick up on the band’s connection to adolescence. One song in particular, “Bob Dylan’s Grandma” describes what its like to be as a young child in sixth grade discovering their love for music and becoming a musician themselves. The song definitely renders a type of innocence that only childhood possesses. The band also has made it interesting for fans by giving away a golden ticket hidden in ten vinyl copies of the album. This much can be said, their childish charisma may indicate why their dynamic and music lacks edge.
A more grown up song, “Lie Down,” relates to deeper emotions and perhaps even heartbreak, a phenomenon all too common in adult experiences. The track is a hidden gem that is very beautifully constructed. The song itself is very aesthetically pleasing to the ears containing echoing melodies that may even help align the chakras. A perfect soundtrack to that moment in time where it is too difficult to move. Just lying there and listening is all anyone can do when there are floating emotions. Some may say its cheesy but Diarrhea Planet has many songs that fall into that category.
The most cheesiest song is “Ain’t a Sin to Win.” It may be their hardest rock song on the album, and it begins with the sound of motorcycle engine revving up; an all too familiar connection to Motley Crue’s “Girls, Girls, Girls,” – happy, fun and upbeat. In fact they played the single on the their television debut performance on the Seth Myers Show, stealing the show. The host said “The Tonight Show had President Barack Obama but we’ve got Diarrhea Planet.” Sorry boys its hard to beat out the president but it is safe to say that Diarrhea Planet is moving up in the world.