In 2004 Rykodisc reissued and remastered
My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult's first three releases, adding bonus tracks and doing some minor remixing. The Kooler Than Jesus EP gets the biggest facelift, with a number of tracks added and a title change to just the band's name. Now the EP that collected early 12"s is the CD that collects far more. It's great for the hardcore, but it weakens the EP's impact, turning Kooler's stimulating one-night stand into a lackluster commitment. Both sides of the Cuz It's Hot single are included, with the A-side being edited into a tighter mix. Two tracks from the Showgirls soundtrack are tacked on to the end but they were recorded five years after anything else here, and their big sound is jarring. The Kooler Than Jesus tracks still stand-up because of the sleazy, campy lyrics and some creative structure (dig those crazy lutes on "Resisting the Spirit"). Program the CD with the EP, the A-side of the single, and maybe "Leathersex"'s dated remix, and you'll avoid the limp epilogue. Seasoned fans will appreciate having all these rare tracks in one place but newcomers should try one of the band's true full-lengths. ~ David Jeffries