moimoi's W I D E world of Oceanic music
Mar 30, 2018 14:37:47 GMT -5
monodrone, ganews, and 2 more like this
Post by moimoi on Mar 30, 2018 14:37:47 GMT -5
Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
Background: Flight of the Conchords are a New Zealand-based comedy duo composed of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. The duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an American television series that aired for two seasons on HBO. Flight of the Conchords is their debut full-length studio recorded album, released in 2008 by Sub Pop. All of the tracks, with the exception of track 15, were featured in an episode of the TV series. The album debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 52,000 copies in its first week. In their home country, the album debuted at number two, beaten to the top spot by Beautiful Machine by Shihad. The following week it jumped to the number one spot. The album was certified 2x Platinum in New Zealand in 2009.
Existing prejudices: I came across Flight of the Conchords through the show, like most people. Before I got HBO, it looked like just my kind of silliness, so I bought the DVD and watched it nonstop while getting settled in yet another new apartment (post-dorm/foreign study, I moved six times during my twenties). As a result, I know these songs like the back of my hand. Later, I had the pleasure of meeting the band after their gig at DAR Constitution Hall in DC. My housemate's then-girlfriend-now-wife is a close school chum of Kristen Schaal, who opened on FOTC's tour. She is lovely and I have most fond memories of chatting with Jemaine while preparing tea with honey backstage. He asked me about DC (and told me which hotel they were staying in, though I thankfully resisted the urge to become a groupie) and about my job with the government. I asked him about different places he's visited in the U.S. and which he liked best. Naturally, I put in my bid for Chicago as best city in America.
Track by Track Impressions
1. Fou du Fafa - This is a song will randomly get stuck in my head when I'm getting ready in the morning or doing groceries. The whimsy is just infectious. I like the keyboard and electric mandolin effects on this version, though the show version is more authentic to the Serge Gainsbourg "Colour Café" vibe.
2. Inner City Pressure - I love Pet Shop Boys, so I understand what would compel FOTC to parody them. Brett McKenzie's quasi-Bowie voice sounds particularly good here. This isn't their funniest or sharpest satire, though.
3. Hiphopopatamus vs. Rhymenocerous - This is ridiculousness on top of ridiculousness. It works because it's not white foreigners deriding rap; you can tell they actually listen to hip hop because of the bit of Silk the Shocker Bret throws in toward the end.
4. Ladies of the World - Parodies of sexism can be risky, but this deftly balances a smooth, infectious groove with mounting absurdity. I like the little Tame Impala-style coda at the end of this version.
5. Think About It - This is an appropriately silly parody of socially conscious music like "What's Going On". I like the 'breakdown' better in the show version of this track. Favorite line: "killing each other with knives and forks and calling each other names like dork."
6. Mutha'uckers - Worth it for the nonsensical last verse, but kind of inessential otherwise.
7. Prince of Parties - I think I spoke of my affection for this track in my previous thread's discussion of Donovan. I mean, it takes a true music fan to even think about parodying someone like Donovan. I dare say Weird Al couldn't pull this off because he's already too ridiculous. I wish this had a second verse, though.
8. Leggy Blond - Cringe comedy in song. It works because they play it completely straight until that little thong song breakdown at the end.
9. Robots - In the show, this is a bit of a throwaway, but in concert it's the jam. Favorite line: "We used poisonous gasses and we poisoned their asses"
10. Boom - Again, they can pull this off because they really know what they're parodying - in this case, dancehall reggae. It helps that the song is actually pretty funky despite its silly lyrics. Favorite line: "we both get freaky and the boom gets leaky" (this might be only the show version).
11. A Kiss is Not a Contract - A very rare male commentary on entitlement and consent. Less charming artists would not be able to pull this off. FOTC only pull it off because they are portrayed as such underdogs on the show.
12. The Most Beautiful Girl - For my money, this is FOTC's best song - both pretty and memorable, with genuinely funny lyrics. Jemaine really nails his El Debarge croon here. The addition of bass on the album version is most welcome.
13. Business Time - R&B is easy to parody, I suppose, but few artists would take it to this silly extreme. The TV version benefits from visuals such as the "business socks" but I like the phat keyboards at the end of this version.
14. Bowie - Genius, this one. It's such a loving pastiche that gets everything that's funny about Bowie. Favorite line: "Ooo yeah man!"
15. Au revoir - Just a bit of Franco-pop vamping.
General Impressions: These tracks are probably best enjoyed live or on TV - visuals add a lot. But if anybody deserves to cash in on their work through various revenue streams, it's FOTC.
Summed up in KIWI slang: Tu meke - they go together like stubbies and jandals.
Background: Flight of the Conchords are a New Zealand-based comedy duo composed of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. The duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an American television series that aired for two seasons on HBO. Flight of the Conchords is their debut full-length studio recorded album, released in 2008 by Sub Pop. All of the tracks, with the exception of track 15, were featured in an episode of the TV series. The album debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling about 52,000 copies in its first week. In their home country, the album debuted at number two, beaten to the top spot by Beautiful Machine by Shihad. The following week it jumped to the number one spot. The album was certified 2x Platinum in New Zealand in 2009.
Existing prejudices: I came across Flight of the Conchords through the show, like most people. Before I got HBO, it looked like just my kind of silliness, so I bought the DVD and watched it nonstop while getting settled in yet another new apartment (post-dorm/foreign study, I moved six times during my twenties). As a result, I know these songs like the back of my hand. Later, I had the pleasure of meeting the band after their gig at DAR Constitution Hall in DC. My housemate's then-girlfriend-now-wife is a close school chum of Kristen Schaal, who opened on FOTC's tour. She is lovely and I have most fond memories of chatting with Jemaine while preparing tea with honey backstage. He asked me about DC (and told me which hotel they were staying in, though I thankfully resisted the urge to become a groupie) and about my job with the government. I asked him about different places he's visited in the U.S. and which he liked best. Naturally, I put in my bid for Chicago as best city in America.
Track by Track Impressions
1. Fou du Fafa - This is a song will randomly get stuck in my head when I'm getting ready in the morning or doing groceries. The whimsy is just infectious. I like the keyboard and electric mandolin effects on this version, though the show version is more authentic to the Serge Gainsbourg "Colour Café" vibe.
2. Inner City Pressure - I love Pet Shop Boys, so I understand what would compel FOTC to parody them. Brett McKenzie's quasi-Bowie voice sounds particularly good here. This isn't their funniest or sharpest satire, though.
3. Hiphopopatamus vs. Rhymenocerous - This is ridiculousness on top of ridiculousness. It works because it's not white foreigners deriding rap; you can tell they actually listen to hip hop because of the bit of Silk the Shocker Bret throws in toward the end.
4. Ladies of the World - Parodies of sexism can be risky, but this deftly balances a smooth, infectious groove with mounting absurdity. I like the little Tame Impala-style coda at the end of this version.
5. Think About It - This is an appropriately silly parody of socially conscious music like "What's Going On". I like the 'breakdown' better in the show version of this track. Favorite line: "killing each other with knives and forks and calling each other names like dork."
6. Mutha'uckers - Worth it for the nonsensical last verse, but kind of inessential otherwise.
7. Prince of Parties - I think I spoke of my affection for this track in my previous thread's discussion of Donovan. I mean, it takes a true music fan to even think about parodying someone like Donovan. I dare say Weird Al couldn't pull this off because he's already too ridiculous. I wish this had a second verse, though.
8. Leggy Blond - Cringe comedy in song. It works because they play it completely straight until that little thong song breakdown at the end.
9. Robots - In the show, this is a bit of a throwaway, but in concert it's the jam. Favorite line: "We used poisonous gasses and we poisoned their asses"
10. Boom - Again, they can pull this off because they really know what they're parodying - in this case, dancehall reggae. It helps that the song is actually pretty funky despite its silly lyrics. Favorite line: "we both get freaky and the boom gets leaky" (this might be only the show version).
11. A Kiss is Not a Contract - A very rare male commentary on entitlement and consent. Less charming artists would not be able to pull this off. FOTC only pull it off because they are portrayed as such underdogs on the show.
12. The Most Beautiful Girl - For my money, this is FOTC's best song - both pretty and memorable, with genuinely funny lyrics. Jemaine really nails his El Debarge croon here. The addition of bass on the album version is most welcome.
13. Business Time - R&B is easy to parody, I suppose, but few artists would take it to this silly extreme. The TV version benefits from visuals such as the "business socks" but I like the phat keyboards at the end of this version.
14. Bowie - Genius, this one. It's such a loving pastiche that gets everything that's funny about Bowie. Favorite line: "Ooo yeah man!"
15. Au revoir - Just a bit of Franco-pop vamping.
General Impressions: These tracks are probably best enjoyed live or on TV - visuals add a lot. But if anybody deserves to cash in on their work through various revenue streams, it's FOTC.
Summed up in KIWI slang: Tu meke - they go together like stubbies and jandals.