"Censor" is a song by Canadian electro-industrial band Skinny Puppy, taken from its 1988 album VIVIsectVI and released as a single in the same year. "Censor's" original title was "Dogshit", which was changed for this release's marketability.

"Censor (Dogshit)"
Single by Skinny Puppy
from the album VIVIsectVI
Released1988
Recordedmid-1988
GenreElectro-industrial
Length22:35
LabelNettwerk
Songwriter(s)Skinny Puppy
Producer(s)
Skinny Puppy singles chronology
"Addiction"
(1987)
"Censor (Dogshit)"
(1988)
"Testure"
(1989)
Audio sample
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Content

edit

The song

edit

"Censor" was originally released with the title "Dogshit" as the introductory song off of Skinny Puppy's 1988 album VIVIsectVI.[2][3] Nettwerk, Skinny Puppy's record label at the time, suggested the change for the single's marketability.[4] The decision to rename the song was ultimately the band's,[5] and the title "Dogshit" still appears on the 12-inch's spine.[6]

Two main versions of "Censor" exist: the four-minute album mix and the ten-minute extended mix, both of which are featured on the single.[7] Musically, the song begins with an extended intro with distorted, looped, and cut up samples. It then transitions into a multilayered blend of programmed industrial beats, fretless bass, and synthesizer sounds all overlaid with Nivek Ogre's enigmatic and intentionally grating vocals. The last third of the song introduces electric guitar and more electronic noise. The extended mix is deliberately sparser than the original version, and it features a number of new sounds and samples. Ogre's vocals do not enter the track until two and a half minutes in.

The single

edit

Two additional songs originally from the CD versions of VIVIsectVI appear on the "Censor" single.[8] Cofounding member cEvin Key thought of these tracks, "Punk in Park Zoo's" and "Yes He Ran", as a cross between the style of Skinny Puppy the style of some of his side projects, like Doubting Thomas.[9] "Punk in Park Zoo's" is a short and aggressive song that features a different, more abrupt ending than that which appears on the VIVIsectVI compact disc.[6] It is heavily distorted and noisy and was created during a jam when the band took a break from recording "Dogshit".[10] "Yes He Ran" repeatedly employs a sample of Jim Morrison saying "everywhere".[11]

Track listing

edit
No.TitleLength
1."Censor" (Extended Mix)9:42
2."Punk in Park Zoo's"2:28
3."Yes He Ran"6:28
4."Censor"3:57
Total length:22:35

Personnel

edit

All credits adapted from liner notes.[7]

Skinny Puppy

Additional personnel

References

edit
  1. ^ "Skinny Puppy – Censor". AllMusic. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  2. ^ Kern, Jay (January 2014). Skinny Puppy – Synthesis. Mythos Press. p. 82.
  3. ^ Wolanski, Coreen. "Skinny Puppy: Every Dog Has Its Day". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  4. ^ Key, cEvin; Goettel, Dwayne. "City Limits Interviews Skinny Puppy". City Limits (Interview). Toronto: MuchMusic. Archived from the original on 2018-11-10. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
  5. ^ Spainhower, Mark (1988). "Skinny Puppy Interview". Vinyl Propaganda. 1 (8). Retrieved 19 May 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Brap...The Skinny Puppy Discography". Prongs. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Censor" (CD liner notes). Skinny Puppy. Nettwerk. 1988. W2-3021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ VIVIsectVI (CD liner notes). Skinny Puppy. Nettwerk. 1988. NET 021 CD. Retrieved May 10, 2018.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Key, cEvin; Goettel, Dwayne (October 31, 1990). "An Interview with Skinny Puppy" (Interview). Interviewed by Peter Day. Milwaukee: WMXM 88.9. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  10. ^ Key, cEvin. "Topic: ViViSectVi last 5 tracks". Litany.net. Retrieved May 17, 2018.
  11. ^ Cigéhn, Peter. "The Top Sampling Groups List: Skinny Puppy". Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on October 30, 2004. Retrieved 19 July 2016.