The Electric Mess, “Falling Off The Face of the Earth”
Look, I won’t “jive” you, as today’s young people say. I had some trepidation about listening to the Electric Mess’s second album, Falling Off the Face of the Earth. Not because they are the Electric Mess, but because this is the second album. Will it suffer from “second album syndrome?” Will it just offer more of the same? Or worse, less of the same?
Well? Will it? Huh? Huh?
The answer is a resounding, echoey, distorted NO!!!
If anything, the new record sounds more ambitious (and accomplished) from the stand-points of both songwriting and musicianship than their inaugural effort. At least that’s how it sounds to me. I haven’t listened to their first one The Electric Mess (reviewed here) in a while, but it seems to me that everything has gone up a notch. It sounds like since the last record the whole band has been practicing their scales and rudiments 24/7 and then passed around a bottle of Benzedrine before hitting the “record” button (or whatever one hits at the professional level). Guitarist Dan Crow in particular sounds like his fingers are on fire on just about every tune.
One (among many) of the stand-out tracks is “Tell Me Why”, driven by Oweinama Biu’s relentless organ riff:
Ow only plays organ on some of the songs, which is s shame because when it’s absent, ya miss it. He plays guitar on other songs, and sings lead vocal on couple, including a call-and-response duet with Chip Fontaine/ Esther Crow called “Nice Guys Finish Last” which is kind of like “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” on uppers.
Half the tracks on the record vie for my favorite, including “Elevator to Later” which evokes the Jimi Hendrix Experience of “Crosstown Traffic” and gives drummer Craig Rogers a chance to shine; “Runaway Daughter” a sweet lament with just a hint of Beach Boys in the backing vocals; and “He Looks Like a Psycho”, the opening track which would be catchy enough to be the single in any kind of rational universe. Bassist Derek Davidson, who penned many of the best tunes, is conspicuously at the fore in the album’s title track (which he also wrote).
There’s much more to be said, but I want to make sure I post this in time to let you know about their two July 4 gigs:
Roberta’s Pizzeria, Brooklyn
Crif Dog Classic!
Independence Day celebration featuring live music, celebrity guests and a Crif Dog eating contest
featuring Kobi and nine of North America’s most talented eaters!!
LIVE MUSIC by The Electric Mess, The Wild Yaks, and Andy Suzuki and The Method
ELECTRIC MESS plays at 12:50- AND you can watch it on the web at sportsillustrated.com!
Where: Roberta’s, 261 Moore Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206
When: July 4, 2012, 11 AM – 3 PM
Tix are only $10 but they will go FAST!
http://crifdogclassic.com/
AND LATER THAT DAY:
Studio Counts
279 Frost Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
(Graham Avenue Stop on L-Train)
4PM – ?
BROTHERS NYC’S 4TH OF JULY ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
FREE Bourbon from MAKER’S MARK WHISKY
FREE beer from COTTRELL BREWING CO.
FREE coconut water from ZICO
BBQ offerings by THE SHOP
THE DARDYS
THE ELECTRIC MESS- *they play around 5:30
THE AMERICAN DREAM
Have yourselves a psychedelic Independence Day!
