The Bedlam in Goliath
THE MARS VOLTA
(Universal Motown)
A dynamic aural assault that incorporates funk, electronica and thrash — plus plenty of sci-fi sound effects, swirling strings and creepy voice-overs, The Bedlam in Goliath will surely satisfy enthusiasts of the Mars Volta's distinctive brand of prog-metal. The sonic attacks swell, switch meter and then dissipate into haunting silences. Guest guitarist John Frusciante offers meaty licks that occasionally ground the music, but even his precise solos eventually get lost in the maelstrom that, like on past Mars Volta albums, is often too busy for its own good.
And then there's the overall theme of The Bedlam in Goliath. Unless you're 15 years old or still play Dungeons & Dragons, it's hard to take a band seriously that claims its latest album was inspired by a nefarious Ouija board. That's the tale being told by Mars Volta guitarist and songwriter Omar Rodriguez-Lopez. If the backstory to the band's fourth full-length moves you, then disjointed lyrics steeped in violence, self-pity and Gothic imagery might too. "I have slept inside your fault to have you keep me here on this leash," sings Cedric Bixler-Zavala on the track "Goliath." "For the rest of your pets I will feed to this theft/ As we consummate the vows of defeat."
For those unfamiliar with the Volta, Bixler-Zavala's helium-sucking vocal delivery recalls the shrill singing of Rush's Geddy Lee. Combined with the juvenile nature of the lyrics, it's hard at times not to chuckle at the absurdity of it all — even in light of the expert musicianship. 3 stars —Wade Tatangelo
Lust Lust Lust
THE RAVEONETTES
(Vice)
Danish duo The Raveonettes' streamlined amalgam of garage-rock, indie-pop and extreme noise manages to soothe and surprise. Their latest release, Lust Lust Lust, is another intriguing blend of hypnotic rhythms and fuzzed-out guitar howls that seem to blow through when least expected. But for all their clever sonic flourishes, it's the close vocal harmonies of guitarist/songwriter Sune Rose Wagner and bassist Sharin Foo that prove most arresting. Refrained yet expressive, sensual and mysterious, their voices meld into a seamless, irresistible whole. Wagner's lyrics often get obscured in the layered washes of sound, but the lines that do bubble to the surface deftly juxtapose innocent confessions with cryptic observations. Fitting, considering the Raveonettes' ability to segue from a gloomy, reverb-drenched number like the album opener, "Aly, Walk With Me" to the Nuggets-style pop confection "You Want the Candy." 3.5 stars —WT
The Hilversum Session
ALBERT AYLER QUARTET
(ESP-Disk )
One of the true titans of the '60s jazz avant-garde, tenor saxophonist Albert Ayler was a marvel of instrumental brawn — just the mammoth sound of his horn can make the hairs on your neck stand up. He wrote sing-songy folk melodies, which gave way to untamed solos, which built into exhilarating free-form group improvisations. This radio recording from 1964 in the Netherlands finds Ayler, trumpeter Don Cherry, bassist Gary Peacock and drummer Sunny Murray in all their boisterous glory. The music is dissonant and certainly chaotic by conventional standards, but glows with a profound beauty and irrepressible joy. 5 stars —Eric Snider
Heavy Petting
THE TWO MAN GENTLEMEN BAND
(Serious Business)
With their third record, Andy Bean and Fuller Condon unleash their manic banjo and bass on new tunes about prohibition, unicycles and William Howard Taft. Anachronistic by nature, the duo's campy brand of Dixieland, ragtime and folk-blues takes a retro page from Squirrel Nut Zippers. They celebrate the lost art of chivalry on "A Gentleman Knows How to Love," but much of their rapport is steeped in playful innuendo, as with the title cut, "When Your Lips are Playing My Kazoo" and the sassy "Dippin' Sauce." It's largely one-note fun, but there's fine musicianship behind the shtick — the guys charm with their bawdy vaudevillian harmonies and rapid-fire strumming, not to mention that signature kazoo work. The Two Man Gentlemen Band performs Wed., Feb. 27 at Mother's Musical Bakery in Sarasota and Thurs., Feb. 28 at New World Brewery in Tampa. 3 stars —Amanda Schurr
This article appears in Feb 27 – Mar 4, 2008.