November 27, 2021

Photo courtesy of Ninja Sex Party's Twitter @ninjasexparty

In a time where life is a near, constant disarray and the news is always full of the next horrifying displays of humanity, sometimes you just need a dose of some light-hearted comedic music fun. Ninja Sex Party’s (NSP) newest album “Level Up” provides exactly that. It consists of ten songs that allow listeners to sit back, rock out and laugh for 35 minutes. 

Released on Oct. 22, the album consists of nine re-recordings of “classic” NSP songs and a new “Formal Introduction.” The original version of the songs were pulled from their first three albums “NSFW,” “Strawberries and Cream” and “Attitude City,” now with the original music and melody accompanied by TWRP’s synth and pop beats. 

For most songs the changes are subtle but effective. The new sound is crisp and clean, bringing new life into the popular NSP classics. 

“Formal Introduction” is exactly what the title suggests. It’s a showcase of musical talents and a good warm-up for the songs that follow. Admittedly upon first hearing it I kept waiting for the joke moment — some silly phrase or sound to break the illusion — but I was pleasantly surprised to find there was none, just a seamless transition.

“Attitude City” is my favorite of the album. It starts and finishes strong, and it is impossible to not tap your foot along to the rock beat. It is a quintessential NSP song and I’m so happy that it got re-recorded. 

It’s tough to find a song catchier than “Unicorn Wizard.” The hero we all need is back to punish the wicked then break into song, now without the talking bits that broke up the original version. Because of that, it leaves room to showcase the amazing talents of TWRP, who deserve an insane amount of credit for their performance.

Getting into a serious relationship can be nerve-racking; being tied down to one person forever is not for everyone. Enter “Road Trip,” a song that validates my fears of having emotional intimacy with another person. Running from one’s feelings has never been so catchy.

Honestly, “I Just Want to (Dance)” is not my favorite of the album. I get the joke and the ending gag is pretty funny but overall there’s not too much that sticks with me about this one. That being said, the more I listen to it, the more it grows on me.

We’ve all had the struggle of trying to impress a partner or friend. You want to say something that will make you stand out against all others. “Dragon Slayer” showcases how you absolutely should not go about doing so. Its beat is catchy, the lyrics and premise are funny and makes me glad that I’ve never been rejected in such an over the top and hilarious manner. 

The music throughout the whole album is something that deserves praise, but the ending riff in “Nsp Theme Song” makes me wish I played the bass. This song is a staple and good introduction to our band’s characters. 

There is no better depiction of a dream date than “Party of Three.” Who wouldn’t want to go to a nice dinner, a popping club and back to your date’s house all while accompanied by “psychotic ninja?” It has a great beat and makes you want to dance.  

“6969” has always been a standout amongst NSP songs. Both versions come out to around eight minutes, which had been their longest song until last year’s release of “The Mystic Crystal” which lasts for 12 minutes. It’s a ridiculous and action-packed time travel adventure that keeps you guessing until the end.

The most apparent change to a song is definitely “Dinosaur Laser Fight.” The ridiculous lyrics set newly to a slow and beautiful power ballad is an amazing choice and one that works surprisingly well. On Oct. 15 a music video was released with this song as well that added to the overall masterpiece that this song is.

“Level Up” is a short and sweet album that gets listeners tapping their feet and singing along in no time. In this stressful time it’s nice to have an album like this that allows you to forget about life and transports you into a rocking and ridiculous world. For people who are tired of basic pop songs and need a good laugh, this album is a must.
Edited by Elise Mulligan, emulligan@themaneater.com

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