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The wildly experimental band I Set My Friends On Fire was a mainstay in my life in middle school and throughout high school. ISMFOF made waves back in the MySpace days of the internet with a remix of Crank Dat (Soulja Boy), as well as collaborating with popular YouTube channel Smosh. Two more staples of 2000s Internet. The Internet was much simpler back then. A solid MySpace page and social media marketing strategy could make all the difference. The band found further success with meme-worthy bop “Things That Rhyme With Orange.” The autotune vocals, down-tuned guitars and pleasantly unsettling screams stood out. The ice cream truck jingle introduction still gives me instant nostalgia of skinny jeans and obnoxious neon band shirts. WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!
The experimental album You Can’t Spell Slaughter Without Laughter is a certified classic, but my sentimental favorite ISMFOF release is 2011’s Astral Rejection. I have long preferred this album over Laughter. One of my most notorious musical hot takes. The songs take on a progressive approach, while the lyrics are even more surreal and eccentric than before, representing Matt Mehana’s elaborate vocabulary and cerebral metaphors.
This love of ISMFOF was reignited when I discovered “Poison Oak,” their 2024 collaboration with Los Angeles based producer Eliminate. “Poison Oak” is the 11th track on Eliminate’s appropriately named 2024 album, Get Off The Internet. The title alone harkens back to the glory days of 2000s Internet Taking on a similar tone to songs found in Laughter wrapped in a warm, cozy EDM blanket. Eliminate’s production really captures the spirit of this time period in his aesthetic.
“Poison Oak” kicks off with echoing samples, gorgeous keyboards , and glitchy dubstep whooshing. A familiar ice cream truck jingle emerges. Along with crispy drum breakbeats and autotuned vocals. Directly building off of the nostalgic sounds of ISMFOF. Eliminate interweaves this style with gorgeous keyboards and crisp electronic drumbeats.
“I don’t want to be displaced. The heart that cannot be replaced. So what if I just erased? Go ahead I’m already a waste.”
A sharp guitar riff and heavy drums switch the vibe to rock. Complimented by Matt’s iconic screams and vocals. The jingle remains in the background, melodically dancing with the track’s heavier elements. This metalcore influenced pre-build keeps the listener in suspense.
“In the morning, I can’t wake up (go ahead, I’m already a waste.) It’s fucking boring, it’s way too much (Go ahead, I’m already a waste.)”
“Poison Oak” then lands in a vibrant land with its first drop. A melodic groove with a consistent hum of bass under the surface. Eliminate’s production builds off of the ISMFOF vibe, while adding his own personal twist. Eliminate knows how to bring out the melody of Matt’s voice. In addition, Eliminate can build off the heavy screams of ISMFOF.
The first drop is followed by a drum-heavy bridge into the next verse. Accented by echoing vocals and spiraling guitar riffs. Matt’s singing voice takes center stage, backed by the jingle and MORE RIFFS! Eliminate is able to effortlessly switch between EDM and rock/metalcore. Capitalizing on the experimental nature of ISMFOF and his skill set.
“I found a stone, were you keeping it from me? Your intelligence isn’t your strong suit I see.”
This line brings out the absurdity that I adore about ISMFOF. Matt’s deadpan lyrical delivery always gets a chuckle out of me. This track section is WILD and swaps between the artists’ vibes MULTIPLE times. Quickly moving into the next chorus and drop. “Poision Oak” takes a sharp turn afterwards. Featuring a glitchy computer crash that leads into a HEAVY breakdown. This breakdown is initially EDM free, before a velvet synth layer accents the song’s final seconds WOW!!
“Poison Oak” is an amazing discovery that I missed before. It helped rekindle my love of ISMFOF, as well as encouraging me to look into Eliminate’s music. In the time since its release, A companion music video for “Poison Oak” has been made, as well as a more EDM heavy redux album. The album is titled 404: Get Off The Internet [Redux] and features a HEAVY retrain of “Poison Oak” titled “I’m Already A Waste” “Poison Oak” also showcases Eliminate’s incredible production skills. Heswaps between styles effortlessly, while adding intricate transitions, without compromising the song’s structural integrity. ISMFOF is a niche band and Eliminate can roll with their experimental nature perfectly, demonstrating some adaptive skills of his own.
Connect with Eliminate: Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify | SoundCloud
Connect with I Set My Friends On Fire: Facebook | Instagram | X | Spotify | SoundCloud
