From: watson@hg.uleth.ca (The terror that flaps in the night)
Newsgroups: rec.music.folk
Subject: Review: The Rheostatics, _Whale Music_
Date: 9 Sep 92 21:11:30 GMT
Reply-To: watson@hg.uleth.ca
Organization: University of Lethbridge


Intelligent, witty and versatile... that's how I would describe the Canadian
group, the Rheostatics, after having listened to _Whale Music_, their release
on Intrepid Records.  You certainly get your money's worth in music with a ton
of imaginative tracks and the longest J-sheet I've seen yet. Here is a track
listing:

Self Serve Gas Station
California Dreamline
Rain, Rain, Rain
Queer
King of The Past
RDA (Rock Death America)
The Headless One
Legal Age Life at a Variety Store
What's Going on Around Here?
Shaved Head
Palomar
Guns
Sickening Song
Soul Glue
Beerbash
Who?
Dope Fiends and Boozehounds

This album could have been the result of the following imaginary scenario: take
Peter Hammill and Phish, put them up in a cabin in the Rocky Mountains with a
shitload of beer and a sack of hemp and say, "OK dudes, go for it, man...".
What you get is a pile of songs with intelligent artsy arrangements and fun
lyrics spread out over a wide variety of musical styles which include:

Art Rock: "California Dreamline", "Rain, Rain, Rain", "Who?", "Dope Fiends..."
  and an ambient flavored "Shaved Head"

Country Lament: "Self Serve Gas Station" about an attendant who figures his
  job is so inconsequential that he might as well be dead...

Latino ala Santana: parts of "Rain, Rain, Rain" and "Queer"

Folk Rock: "King of the Past" with it's fiddling, "Legal Age Life..." with it's
  vocal harmonies, "Palomar", the obligatory dog song, and "Beerbash" which is
  like Queen doing a folk tune.

Punk/Thrash: "RDA" about their horror at being told that they sound like the
  Replacements and how that will likely mean an untimely musical death...
  complete with samplings of power tools  :)

Metal: the last portion of "Dope Fiends..."

Pop: "Headless One", a personal favorite with some jazz flavored guitar and
  horns and "Soul Glue" which also features some jazzy guitar

Political: "Guns", a talking song featuring Neil Peart of Rush on drums.

Waltz: "Sickening Song", another personal favorite featuring some way cool
  accordian and horns.

The lyrics are worth noting as both thought provoking and humorous.  Some
snippets:

"Mom and dad are selfless.... they don't do nothing worthless, they just work
all day and worry about their son: What went wrong with Martin? Is he dumb?"
  - from Self Serve Gas Station

"All the naked ladies.... covered up by nothing... 
Californication
spooning in the dry sand.
The sand that gets in everything.
Women are pum-pumping iron.
Pum-pum-pum-pumping Aaron.
Sitting on the big fault."
  - from California Dreamline

"I wish you were there to see it when I scored a hat-trick
 on the team that called you a fucking queer."
  - from Queer

"Someone said we sounded like the Replacements 
but we'd never be the Beatles or Byrds.
Someone said we shoulda stayed in the basement
instead of littering our noise on the Earth."
  - from RDA

"Try wearing my head over yours -- see if it fits, then wear it.
Try taking my mind for a spin - I'm Dr. Hyde while your Tim,
No need to be scared of an accident. I put the safety lock on.
I'll hang out at home for the day while you lead my head astray."
  - from Headless One

"I can't stop writing punk rock, because I am stuck... in a ghetto of folkies.
If something as dumb comes along, please give me some, 'cause this isn't the
60's"
  - from Sickening Song

"Where the dope fiends laugh and say that it's too soon.
Then they all go home and listen to The Dark Side of The Moon."
 - from Dope Fiends and Boozeheads

The Rheostatics are innovative yet traditonal.  Not only do they switch styles
with each song, they often switch styles in the middle of the song.  The cast
of players are talented with the vocalist and guitar player standing out in
particular.  This release is highly recommend to any fans of Peter Hammill and
other art-rock or folk music fans who have a sense of humor and anyone else who
loves the playful style of bands like Phish.

On the Make Me Wet Review Scale:  Drenched.

- Carol
Newsgroups: rec.music.folk,soc.culture.celtic