NOTHING SHOW

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The 'Nothing' Show...not a show about nothing

I had the pleasure of seeing this band live several times, the core of which later became "Sleepytime Gorilla Museum". Whether you enjoyed their music or not, one could not help but be entertained by the stage show. Much time was spent designing crazy, elaborate customs with huge heads and hands, giving them a sinister cartoonish appearance as they played.

'The Nothing Show' is the only CD I ended up with from these fellows. The musical core was drums, guitar and bass. But all of the members had an additional piece of percussion. And the bass and guitar was played in anything but a conventional manner. Most of the bass was played on a bizarre contraption not copmpletely unlike an acoustic upright, except it sat on a platform and had a quite unique sound. One of the guitars was played with drumsticks. Yes, this was the essence of Rock in Opposition. Aggressive and frequently dissonent, the music never lacks complexity.

The first 5 songs flow together and were originally part of an EP cassette. Ever percussive and interesting, the standout portion is 'Invisible' which sounds like somebody mugged 'We will rock you' and left it for dead in a dark alley (something I would love to do). 'Mouth' is an almost Vaudevillian number. 'Meat' is a staccatto dissonent number. 'Loveride', a heavy metal ode to domestic violence starts with a very eerie Eartha Kitt like rendition of 'Amazing Grace'. 'Black Sand' is hard to describe. Its um...good. 'Blue Head' is perhaps their most traditionally prog sounding song, huge vocal harmony chorus with abrupt stops and changes. "Submit! To the cavernous yield of the Blue Head!"

4.2 stars, highly recommended if you can find it.

Continuing my idiotic journey, I arrived to the land of show that shows basically nothing (as title suggests). Their habit of possessing funny sounding instrument is present here too, it is again freak show, but its potential isn't as great as I would like it to be.

First few songs are disappointment, they don't show much and when they do, it's boring and too repetitive. Where "Fancy" was innovative, "Nothing Show" is lazy and greedy to offer something interesting. There is even rapping featured, I'm not sure if it's intended to shock, or it's just there because they felt it's a good thing. I don't like it so I'll pass.

Boring to be honest, even "Fancy" shows repetitive elements too, it uses them more cleverly, in a way it is good to listen.

Second part (roughly, starting after blank Mouth is far better and gives much needed variety, crazy element (not stoned repeating that is supposed to be fun, but it isn't - I'm all for repeating, when it's done in a right way). Weird factor is graduating.

But overall simply isn't as attractive as their last album which I see as their best.

3(+), not as good as their last album, but for some it may be interesting for some.