the intro is cool. the album artwork is much better and a much darker look than Candyland. from my listens to Candyland, i had expected more of the same cheesiness, more of the odd lyrics, and more of the same type of riffs. for the most part... i was right.
this ep is actually mixed better than the album (i thought).
the first actual song is 'Plastic Jesus'. this song made a cool point. while i don't think Kandy literally meant that anybody with a plastic or ceramic Jesus is sinning... i do think he made a point that it is, in fact, not Jesus himself. it doesn't matter... but let's not get into that now.
the song overall is a good song... the effects cleaned up and got less goofy while being darker at the same time and sounding really cool. the vocals on this song are the worst i've heard kandy do. ever.
the odd voice at the times when he does the "that's the story that they told you when they tucked you in" almost makes me vomit. but it's a good idea... just not executed right. let's hope they do better on the album.
the second song is a remix of 'Love with a Fist' off of Candyland. the main things i noticed were that the music was more up front, there were more effects, and there was growling. good song... nothing special.
the third song is 'Kill Your Self'. while mistyped to be kill yourself on the cd... the song is actually: 'Kill Your Self'
this song just rocks. good music... good execution... cool growls, good lyrics, good electronics, good song.
the last actual song is 'xxx'. ok, if rackets and drapes made an entire cd that had the sound of 'xxx' and sold it for 30 bucks... i'd get it. this song is the coolest sound i've heard in a long time. the dark and bassy effects are awesome, the feel is the exact feel i always wish more bands had. that and the song is about sex and the selling of it. come on... this song is basically saying what we all want to say. this song is about the number one reason society is so dead.
kandy knows this. and kandy made this song about that.
credit card to shed my clothes, five bucks a minute and we all go
sex is the modern god. if you're a man, you're told to like it. if you're a woman, you're told to give it.
it's sick and it's wrong and rackets made a good song. (hey that rhymed... ouch that was bad.)
overall... this is the best album that rackets has put out... to the date of august 2000
oh, and the story time is cool first couple times. after that, the cd is only worth 4 tracks.
9/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #79Reviewed by Doug Van PeltThis band takes the tension felt in the shadows of our dysfunctional society and screams out in pain accompanied by guitars that convey the same feeling. The point gets across. The sick and twisted sounds of this band feel so good with lots of volume. This six-song EP (The Sick and the Beautiful) is a sneak preview at two songs from their upcoming Trick or Treat album ("Plastic Jesus" and "Kill…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by NecRoSarXBefore I launch into the review, let me get one thing off of my chest: RACKETS AND DRAPES ARE NOT A MARILYN MANSON RIP-OFF! There, now I can proceed. . . The Sick and the Beautiful is a limited-edition CD EP that the band released as a way to keep their ravenous fans at bay while they record their follow-up to Candyland. As an EP, this is waaaay cool. I don't know how they manage to freak me out…Similar sounding releases
1999KohllapseDistant Mind Alternative
2000Virgin BlackSombre Romantic
2002GrypGryp
2004The AwakeningDarker Than Silence
1996Colossal SpinV.2.1.7
1998Paradigm LostHuman
