Disturbing but beautiful
Pieter | Johannesburg | 01/08/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This obscure musician has made some unforgettable albums, like Case History and this sprawling masterpiece. His themes are often very dark (fellow Brit Nick Drake's "Black Eyed Dog" comes to mind when I listen to Coyne) and deals with stuff like insanity, despair, abuse and all manner of deviancies. He's also a sharp satirist, as demonstrated by Dog Latin, This Is Spain and Good Boy, in which he respectively sends up organised religion, holidays in Spain and the public school system. Eastbourne Ladies also falls into this category. Everybody Says is a beautiul acoustic ballad and Mummy is a sweeping wall-of-sound rocker. His voice is not unlike Van Morrison's in its scope and expressive range, but while Van's is likely to be affected by spiritual ecstacy, Coyne's can be twisted with rage or anguish, as on the title track. Marlene is a catchy number with gorgeous organ and guitar, a galoping beat and a sinister undertone. Talking To No One and House On The Hill are anguished but moving ballads about alienation and insanity. Lonesome Valley is more of the same, but over an uptempo beat and complex vocal arrangement where his voice really shines. Other great tracks include I Want My Crown, Nasty and Chairman's Ball. With his chosen subject matter, it's no surprise that Coyne has remained obscure. Still, I think that fans of Leonard Cohen, Richard Thompson, Marianne Faithfull, Nick Drake, Nico, Lydia Lunch and especially Swans, will find much here to appreciate."
A masterpiece
Pieter | 03/23/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Marjorie Razorblade is one of rare underrated masterpieces of classic rock, compatible with Kevin Ayers Shooting at the moon and Syd Barretts The Madcap Laughs. It deals with madness and delirium, as does Coynes Case History, and includes an all time classic House on the Hill. Coynes hard strumming gutar playing and eccentric singing style, chanting, screaming or plain acting make MJ a unique experience. Originally a low budget double Lp it is somewhat lacking in sound quality, as are Barretts masterpieces. Any admiror of Barrett, Ayers or Robert Wyatt not missout on Marjorie Razorblade."
Mad, daft and inspirational
Harold Walton | Toronto, Canada | 02/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Late Great Kevin Coyne. Poor Kevin Coyne, always seems to get lumped together with other sorely neglected artists like Robert Wyatt and Ivor Cutler, all conveniently grouped in that overused and quite meaningless "wilful British eccentric" catagory. This certainly doesn't do any any justice at all to their respective talents, dooming them as "cult" artists who tragically do not receive the exposure to a larger audience that their unique talents deserve. What they really bring is a listening experience which is actually very good for you, bringing about the same feeling of well being as the perfectly poured pint of Guinness or a blissfully lazy doze after a good long walk!!! Marjory Razor Blade is a wonderfully varied double album containing the classic comic trio of songs "Is This Spain ?","Karate King" and "Good Boy" along with the brilliant "House on the Hill" and the truly Beefheartian title track. I have one complaint about Kevin's back catalogue and that is the non-appearance of "Beautiful Extremes", an album of Virgin outakes from the 1970's which included four of his very best songs "Something Gone Wrong", "Walking by the River", "Mona Where's Me Trousers?" and "Roses In Your Room", all wonderful songs showing Kevin's always illuminating take on the joys and sorrows of living in a very real and somewhat scary world. Anyways Marjory Razor Blade is a great place to start if this is your first visit to Coyne's world."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1