I suppose I should have done this album in the run-up to the Sub Pop 25th mania of recent weeks, but it's still their 25th anniversary summer, right? Billy Childish's Thee Headcoats might be the band that started the librarian-antagonizing trend of starting band names with an archaic objective personal pronoun rather than a definite article (I think this is filed under H, but you'll note it doesn't even have the giant alphabetizing sticker usually found on these records, which would tell us with a "THEE" or "HEAD" where to file it), but I won't hold that against them for all the good they and the bands they spawned have brought this world."This is a better LP than the last one - great songs, style, energy, tempo changes, suavedom - it's got it all. Even a guitar solo or 2. Check out 1-1, 1-2, 1-5, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3 esp. the acapella 2-4. This album is progress enough from the last to keep my interest, and certainly worth some time in H. Love cover [art by the brilliant Daniel Clowes] too. M." "I hate to be a party pooper, but I didn't like this at all - not a single track. The sound is rawer than on the last LP (if you can imagine that), but there is a noticeable lack of enthusiasm. Reading the above comment makes me wonder if we listened to the same record. Their enthusiasm is as catchy as the music and when the energy level drops, their appeal does too. Listening to this makes me want to hear 'My 7th Girl Eve' or 'Cowboys Are Square' or 'Meet Jacqueline' or 'Monkey's Paw' or 'Davy Crockett' - all classics. Sadly, none of these tracks touch their past stuff. Sorry." "I like it!" "Poor Todd R_____. Will he ever be happy? Tune in and see." |
Howe Gelb is a goddamn institution. Over the past three decades he has released 25 albums with the mercurial outfit Giant Sand (originally known as Giant Sandworm, most lately known as Giant Giant Sand), and almost as many albums under his own name (#20, Dust Bowl, is available right now). His care…
