Search - Ed Hall :: La La Land

Don't miss this one!

voisc | Carrboro, NC United States | 01/02/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was surprised that this hadn't received a review, since this was the magnificent culmination of Ed Hall's efforts before going on to other things in life. Like a reviewer of Gloryhole, I wish they could get back together if only for live shows. I don't guess that they were having much fun around the time they made this, but some humor glows grimly under the fog of doom...La La Land is more like Love (is) (S)poke(n) Here (or however the color changes should synesthetically translate to parens) than say, Gloryhole or Motherscratcher (I absolutely love Motherscratcher, though -- I listen to it in the Fall while driving). La La and Love are both maniacal and bizarrely melodic and expressive. The wild lead plays over a low-tuned but clear and sexy bass and perfectly suited but varied, tribal inspired drums. How did Lyman do it?The foreboding tone that pervades the whole album seems to have grown out of Can's "Mushroom", as you can hear direct references to it (and Eskaton, btw) in the second to last, best, and trippiest of all their songs, "1970-7-11".We hear the usual Ed Hall topics, including blunt-n-witty liberal minded assaults on big American corporations, right wing politics and media foci. It all seems especially relevant now given the impending war on Iraq and the release of Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine." Also, there are three angsty songs about women and the role of pot is acknowledged (thinly disguised here and there as couch or green couch, and pictured in the hysterical cover art) for its palliative role against some of the ills of the world. Thanks Gary, Larry and Lyman - y'all did real good."