Search - Was Not Was :: Hello Dad I'm in Jail

Representative (Not Representative)

Steve Baumgartner | All Over the Place | 06/11/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This band has always been a personal favorite, so the mediocre grade hurts. But this CD largely avoids the adventurousness and grit that distinguish Was (Not Was). Their lyrically-twisted, unpredictable blending of soul and its offshoots (disco, doo-wop, sweet R&B, smokin' funk) with pop melodies - plus the occasional rock or lounge touch - isn't easy to nail down. This collection, particularly at the start, seems content to instead cast the band as a slick dance machine. Perhaps taking a cue from the popular breakthrough of "What Up, Dog" (but ignoring the commercial backsliding of the more tricked-up "Are You Okay"), "Jail" favors big, shiny productions; the emphasis is clear both in both which old cuts are included as well as in the new remixes and demos. (For better and for worse, fans should be aware that only half the material are the same versions as on previous albums. This might more of a treat if the original versions were available, but if you're looking for lost favorites like "Tell Me That I'm Dreaming" or "How the Heart Behaves," you'll have to settle for remixes and demos.)So instead of leaping from style to style, the album's glossily-produced first half comes off strangely homogenized. Some tunes are overwhelmed by a pop whoosh, some are drained of passion with spare club beats. It's not *bad*, but it's somewhat faceless - like music in movie party scenes where the filmmakers want atmosphere, but nothing that's going to steal a viewer's attention. The second half of "Jail" is more varied, but it's too little, too late. Moreover, the sequencing doesn't connect the songs' diverse tempos and moods terribly well; this time out, the variety seems awkward.Still, while much of "Jail" sounds more professional than heartfelt, all but the most labored cuts have a melodic or rhythmic hooks that stick. The lyrics - alternately poignant, silly, and warped - are still choice. And I have to mention the great vocals: David Was's leering recitals, Sir Harry Bowens's liquid class, and Sweet Pea Atkinson's gruff passion. (By the way, there's also a hidden cut. Fans should skip ahead if they don't want to know: It's track six from their second album.) In conclusion, this CD has its strengths, but won't completely satisfy either fans or newcomers. It's a shame that the band's more exceptional recordings are even harder to find than this import. "Jail" is more for completists than the curious ... although who knows where another Ozzy Osbourne/Kim Basinger duet (really!) will ever be found?"