Search - Michael Hurley, Peter Stampfel, Jeffrey Frederick :: Have Moicy! [CD on Demand]

An Absurdly Neglected American Musical Classic

Robert Moore | Chicago, IL USA | 08/16/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first learned of this album by reading through Robert Christgau's collection of seventies record reviews for VILLAGE VOICE. He not only praised this album to the heavens, but named it his number one record of 1975.Over the years, I have recommended this album to one person after another, and it has been heartbreaking to learn how very, very few people know of its existence. Occasionally you will hear one of the songs that first appeared on this album performed by other artists. I recently went to a Yo La Tenga/Eleventh Dream Day double bill, and Yo La Tenga performed "Griselda." The widespread neglect of this album is utterly unmerited by the quality of the music. These songs are witty, funny, silly, absurd, beautiful, and whimsical.None of the tracks on the album are weak, and several stand out. "Midnight in Paris" is one of the funniest songs I know, with some really, really strange lyrics ("Life in a garret/Is fun if you share it" or "I'll use your bidet/And you'll wear my beret"). "Griselda" and "Sweet Lucy" are marvelously sweet tunes. "What Made My Hamburger Disappear" is . . . well, weird. This is a flat out special album. I heartily recommend anyone who loves great folk music to give this one a shot. It won't be quite like anything else you have ever heard."

Buy This Now.

Robert Moore | 11/10/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's like an Appalachian Cubist painting. The goofy, yelping Stampfel, the smooth, sardonic Frederick (the heart of the album, and its most underrated performer), and the sheer American Dadaist genius of Michael Hurley: each can easily be called the highlight of the record."Griselda" could have been written by Stephen Foster, "Driving Wheel" by Robert Johnson, "Slurf Song" by Tristan Tzara.After years of mulling over "best" albums and "most influential" and other nonsense parlor games, I'll say this for the record: This is the best American rock album ever made. "Oh I see the dishes over there, they fill me with despair.""

It's Art

Roy W. Doolittle | Cambridge, MA | 02/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first found this record as a college radio DJ on the only country radio show in Boston in the dark ages. I loved it immediately. Somebody stole my vinyl 10 years ago and haven't been able to find a new one 'til now. My kids sing, "I was cleaning my jackknife when you did appear, had to fight with you I cut off your ear," whenever they feel pressured. The album sounds like an enlightened Cletus the Slackjawed Yokel. It led me to check out Michael Hurley, The Holy Modal Rounders, Jeffery Fredericks, and Ed Sanders. All of them are trendsetters in the style of Britney Spears, The Beatles, Vivaldi, Mozart, Madonna. Julio Iglesias, Clapton, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Jay-Z, Li'l Wayne, The Killers, and Siouxsie Sioux."