My 2016 Album of the Year
The Beatloads - S/T
I can't believe it's here, but it finally is! Experimental music's very own Weird Al Yankovic (known around here as Frownland) has finally released his long anticipated (no, really!) Beatloads project alongside his friend/brother/boyfriend/Bradley Pate.
Now, as someone who really respects the way Frown manages to parody experimental music and demonstrate to us all just how ridiculous and over the top the genre can be, I couldn't wait to jump into this thing. I've had the date circled on my calendar for weeks now, and now that I'm back from my doctor's appointment it's time to give this thing a listen.
The first track kicks off with some beautiful lightly strummed guitar. A true step away from anything I've heard Frown do before, and the vocals are quite wonderful as well - oh... wait a minute. I forgot to pause the Nick Drake track I was listening to. Well... let's get on with this then.
Instead of beautiful guitar we get some light synths while you can clearly hear Frown chasing his dog through a music store, and clumsily bumping into just about every instrument he passes. If any of you underestimated the dog's elusiveness, just know that this song is over 11 minutes long! Things really pick a few minutes in when Frownland (high, obviously) decides he wants some KD. Of course he isn't just off some of that good kush, and the acid in his system leads to him stumbling over the pots and pans and struggling to pick them back up. This is like one of those slapstick comedy bits were the take goes on for so long you just can't stop laughing at it. Lovely bit here.
*for those who don't know what I mean*
With that, we're onto the second song. The track title "I'm A Bleeder" is a tongue in cheek reference to the vocal track of the song which is a recording of a Vietnamese drug addict who was found bleeding out in the streets of LA. Bradley unfortunately didn't find that joke as funny, as he spends the track banging his head off of his drum set over... and over... and over... again. If any of you have doubted Frown as a musician, I highly recommend not listening to this track because it will not change your opinion whatsoever. Oh wow, is that a Tom Waits feature at the end? Oh... never mind. There's just something in the Vietnamese man's throat. Darn.
The third track seems to be an accidental addition. Based on the sound I would assume Frown forgot to stop recording as he and his friend moved the instruments to a different room. Don't ask me why Frown feels the need to rub a knife up and down his guitar while he carries it, but for whatever reason he does.
Now we're onto the biggest track of the album, Siamese Twins and an Obese Lady. Lyrically the track tells the story of the weirdest sexual experience Frown has ever had, which obviously involves Siamese twins and an obese lady. In a hysterical state of laughter over the story being told, Bradley can't stop shaking and eventually falls into his drum kit. For the remainder of the song he rolls around on the floor, kicking and slapping the drums, while Frown doesn't back away from finishing his outrageous story.
Up next is Elephant Housing. I'm unsure as to how Frown got the rights to this, but he decided to record a mash up of an art house film, National Geographic documentary, and horror movie score all at the same time. Let me tell you one thing, if you're a fan of good music, please stay away.
Following that is a lovely rendition of the final band scene in Whiplash. Bradley's drum work would undoubtedly leave J.K. Simmons speechless, and as if that wasn't enough we also get a great audio clip of Frown topping off a trumpet behind the dumpster outside of a KFC.
We're nearing the end now as we get the 32 second interlude titled simply Delivery Man. The only issue I have with this track is it's about 31 seconds too long, give or take, but aside from that yet another great cut.
With that we move onto the album's closer. Much like the opener this one clocks in at over 11 minutes in length (as we know, Frown is all about length.) The great part about this is we finally get to see the conclusion of the chase scene between Frown and his dog that kicked off the album earlier.
I can't believe it's over already. I honestly wish I could erase that album from my mind, just so I could listen to it for the first time again! Once again Frownland perfectly embodies everything that is hilarious about experimental avant-garde whateverthe****thiswas. What are you waiting for, get to listening! My only advice would be to keep the volume below 1 at all times (it gets a little loud near the end.)
|