Search - Residents :: Meet the Residents

Really weird and really good

Michael Vanier | Pasadena, CA | 07/26/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was a fan of the Residents back in the day, and I recently picked up this album as a blast-from-the-past experience. It didn't disappoint. Despite what you may have heard, this really _is_ music (there are melodies and everything!) but it's really strange. It's a lot like what I imagine listening to normal music would be like when under the influence of powerful psychedelic drugs (not that I've ever done that). The Residents have no regard for normal concepts of song structure, harmony, or even intonation. Nevertheless, it's not just noise or weirdness; there is something oddly compelling about it. The music has its own inner logic, and if you're open-minded enough you'll be able to appreciate it. Certainly, anyone who can handle avant-garde jazz should be able to deal with this. In addition to the musical strangeness, there is a strong streak of satire that runs throughout the record (and indeed, through everything the Residents have ever done); the first song is a demented cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking", and there is also an equally weird cover of the Human Beinz' "Nobody But Me" (the Residents explored 60s covers much more thoroughly on their album "The Third Reich And Roll"). Personally, I prefer the original numbers such as "Skratz", "Smelly Tongues" and "Rest Aria", but there's nothing bad on the record.



Of all the Residents' records, I would say that this is the best. In fact, I'm not a fan of anything they did after "Duck Stab/Buster and Glen", but this and their other early work is well worth listening to. Just be sure that you're in the right mental state to handle it."