On the whole, this sound—the central practice of collaging cabaret, ballroom, folk (from early 20th century North American to gypsy and klezmer), jazz, electronic effects and heavy-riffed rock and noise—has been done. Because this music is about big and bizarre gestures there’s little wiggle room. It’s already crowded by, to name just a few, Tom Waits, The Rheostatics, The Look People, Me, Mom & Morgentaler and more recently Tom Fun Orchestra. Again, the players are clearly talented, knowledgeable and passionate, but the formula is known. The fashion has worn thin. It’s time for Friendly Rich to lose the hand-me-down iconoclasm and try on something new.
This article appears in Sep 9-15, 2010.
Wow. It must suck having to share your crowd with such prominent and on-the-scene acs as Tom Waits (last tour was when?), the Look People (last album in 1993), Me Mom and Morgentaler (one fairly bland record, released in 1993) and the admittedly mighty, yet completely defunct, Rheostatics. Glad that the publication found a writer who was REALLY quite obviously DOWN with today’s music scene. Heaven forbid he would actually have to reference remotely current acts (Fantomas, Man Man, Gogol Bordello…not to say that this album or band sounds like those acts but at least they are in the ballpark and still working, for Christ’s sake).
In the sea of stereotypical rock and pop groups today, you’re criticizing Friendly Rich for not doing something different? Did you even listen to the album?
Turn on the radio for five seconds and realize that this review you just wrote makes no sense whatsoever.
Sean Flinn. Do your homework dude. Have you even listened to FR’s body of work. He clearly is trying something new. I’m with Ben, turn on the radio man. Is anything really original anymore?
I will now review this review
Worst review ever
Sean Flinn. Do your homework dude. Have you even listened to FR’s body of work? He clearly is trying something new. I’m with Ben, turn on the radio man. Is anything really original anymore?
I will now review this review
Worst review ever
Hey Flinn, way to needlessly denegrate an independent Canadian artist who has achieved success on his own terms, without an eye to commercial gains & without tailoring his craft towards the popular marketplace. I suppose because FR draws more from arcane & comparatively forgotten musical tropes he’s not worth supporting?
I’d love to hear your ideas on what’s ‘new’ in music. I’m sure your album is incredibly cutting edge.
My favourite line is “Because this music is about big and bizarre gestures there’s little wiggle room.” That’s really close to an interesting thought, Sean. If only you’d followed through on that and explained WTF you mean by it, you might have something close to an intelligent review here.
But, as usual, you devote 2/3rds of this to meaningless references in order suggest that you know what you’re talking about (as opposed to actually discussing the content or quality of the record). Not fooled. Your approach is no less disingenuous than pointing out that there’s snare drum on this record and that’s been done to death by like, the Beatles and Whitesnake.