Evil Cowards, Covered In Gas
Evil Cowards is a side project of Mr. Dick Valentine, singer/mastermind for Electric Six. Released in early 2008, it was better, funnier, and more engaging than the last couple Electric Six albums, and preceded their fine return to form on Zodiac by only about six months. Evil Cowards isn’t all that different from E6. More of a focus on electronic music and production, but the guitars are still there, and most importantly, the hilarious lyrics and deadpan delivery are still there. But several of these songs allow Valentine to get really weird in ways he doesn’t in his day job, and the results are fantastic. “Classon Ave. Robots” is one of my favorite songs from any project Valentine has ever been a part of, alongside “I’m Not Scared of Flying Saucers,” “You Really Like Me,” and “Love Pigs.” There’s allegedly a new Evil Cowards album coming soon, and I can’t wait.
Evil Cowards, “I’m Not Scared of Flying Saucers”
Many clips from this live show, in which they lip sync the album while doing ridiculous dance routines, are on youtube. You should watch them.
Tom Waits, Blue Valentine
Blue Valentine is something of a transitional record for Tom Waits. It comes a few years before the watershed of Swordfishtrombones, the moment when the old barfly spinning gin-soaked tales in smokey backrooms gave way to the mysterious, adventurous sage and soothsayer that is modern Waits. Tonally, Blue Valentine is more of a piece with his early material, but the intrumentation has changed, and Waits’ voice is well on its way from his old, more traditional way of singing to the unmistakable, love it or hate it voice we associate with him. The record kicks off with a singular take on West Side Story’s “Somewhere” before diving into a series of richly detailed, engrossing story songs from many points of view. Especially for a collection of songs clearly between paradigms, it’s remarkable that it’s a smooth, coherent listen, not awkward at all. Just a great record.
Tom Waits, “A Sweet Little Bullet From A Pretty Blue Gun”
Doogie, Yeahbrahcadabra
Somewhere in the West Bank of New Orleans, there lives a puppet named Doogie. He’s the creation of local rappers Ballzack & Odoms, voiced by Odoms. He starred in some successful internet videos and released an EP of music, but this was his debut album. It is steeped in New Orleans hip hop traditions, with the local bounce sound dominating the production (Which is sharper than ever for a Ballzack or Odoms production), giving Doogie a lively atmosphere over which to brag about his grades in school, brag about his rap skills, tell the ladies who they need to get with, and tell a story about body-switching with his Dad. you’d never expect a record by a puppet to be this entertaining.
Doogie, “Yeahbrahcadabra”
Faith No More, Introduce Yourself
Sometimes I wonder what it was like to be a Faith No More fan when Mike Patton came aboard. There’s no argument that Patton is a far more exciting and accomplished vocalist than the departing Chuck Mosley, but at the same time, he was what Faith No More vocals were supposed to sound like for two whole records. Like a lot of people, I guess, I’d heard “We Care A Lot” and thought it was funny, but didn’t really pay much attention to the band until “Epic.” But I bet there’s people out there that really resent the addition of Patton. Maybe swore off the band over it. And that’s hilarious. Nevertheless, Introduce Yourself is a pretty great record. Chuck Mosely doesn’t exactly have a a lot of range, but he’s an entertaining front man, and this, the 2nd Faith No More album (Mosley’s last) has the sound and production quality fully in place for the coming of the band’s more lasting legacy. A superior version of “We Care A Lot” is here, but there’s plenty of other songs that are worthy parts of the overall Faith No More legacy, too. I am a big fan of the title track.
Faith No More, “Introduce Yourself”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgAB7Gd0ENgThere you go.
--D
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