SLEEPING IN TRAFFIC - PART TWO

The Bee Gee's never sounded better. Masterpiece! This was the first time I listened to Beardfish. I was a bit sceptical because of the references to Gentle Giant and Zappa, which are not on my All Time Fave list (Blasphemy! I know?). It was love at first listen with this album. The first thing to notice is the superb production: every single instrument perfectly distinguished and an overall rich, warm, almost raw sound coming out of my speakers. After a short and quiet intro we are blown into the night so to speak, and the bizarre journey begins? Into the Night sets the scene perfectly, and in hindsight it sounds almost restrained. The Hunter reminds me of Alan Parsons, but in a good way, the Project was my first "Favourite Band" back in the 80's. I laughed like crazy with South of the Border, the sound effect when the drag queens jump out of the cake (ta-da!) just cracks me out! Who said you should be depressed while listening to Prog? Now, Cashflow has become my 3 year old daughter's favourite song? Every time she jumps in the car she asks for the "funny" song! (In fact, I was quite proud last time I played the CD in the car with both my kids, my 6 year old son began singing right on cue along Into the Night!). The first part of the album plays so well, every time The Downward Spiral ends, I have a feeling of "Is that it? Are we on for the main course?"? And what a main course it is! Sleeping in Traffic could be seen as a "mini-album", and is by far, my favourite song here. The showcase of different time signatures at the beginning is great, it is amazing what you can do with a simple yet elegant 3/4 signature. The story has been criticised in other reviews, but I like the simplicity and almost cinematic effect of the vignettes described. The use of a pirate song can be seen as a cliché, but hey, didn't Zappa use more obvious and outrageous clichés too? And the whole disco parody is just excellent, as I said above, the Bee Gee's never sounded better. Just when you think the band has run out of ideas and start wrapping up the song, the ending is an amazing example of how to end an epic: bombastic, majestic and with quick references to the main themes played before. Last thought: Is Sunrise Again necessary? I think it plays the perfect finale, a return to the sober theme played right at the beginning, book ending one of the most accomplished records I own? This one is on the Top 10 in the Harkonnen list.