Friday, October 30, 2009

Comedy strikes back

So what are you to do when nothing new comes out? Or worse, when everything new that comes out...well...sucks?

Fall back on old reliable is what!

I have found myself listening to The Beatles, The Cult, They Might Be Giants and Iron Maiden quite a bit recently. Not that I don't always listen to the Beatles and Iron Maiden anyway, but my point here is actually to ask what is going on with music?

I got the new Wolfmother album a while ago and after a couple times through, I was done with it. There was only one memorable song on the album, and to be honest it was only memorable because it reminded me of Peter Frampton. To paraphrase Christian Slater in 'Pump up the Volume': What happened to all the grand themes? Have they all been used up and turned into theme parks?

The Disney farm keeps churning out these overprocessed, talentless fembots for the entertainment of the bovine masses. The bar has been set so low in metal right now that I could probably start a band. Indie/alternative is annoying and angst-y. (But isn't it always?)

Sadly, novelty/comedy records are the best thing coming out right now. The most exciting new music I've heard recently are from two comedy duos: Flight of The Conchords and The Mighty Boosh.

The Conchords are lighthearted and entertaining for the most part. Lately they seem to be sinking to the Lowest Common Denominator with an excess of dick jokes and crude humor. Even with those though, the show and the music are very enjoyable. What's more important is that on their new album "I Told You I Was Freaky" they included my favorite song from their first season - 'Pencils in the Wind.' I remember in the show, this song was done in a huge Meatloaf-ian production. It was AWESOME!

The Mighty Boosh, while similar in concept is so surreal that it staggers the imagination. The music is glorious. If you can find a copy, I highly reccommend buying at watching it over and over and over again. I can't wait for an album from them. My favorite episodes include: Tundra, Eels, The Legend of Old Gregg, and The Hitcher.

Check them out. You won't be disappointed.