Beard of Bees Journal

2009-01-21T07:12:00.000-05:00

is "to be announced".

Mike Gaito Flashback!

2007-01-16T22:31:00.000-05:00

Well, two weeks into 2007 and I am already behind in my resolution to blog everyday (well almost everyday at least).

Well, I aim to get back on track with this new series: Mike Gaito Flashback! Once a week or so (or whenever I don't have any other bloggy thoughts) I will post a fantastic picture from the past!

I found this shot while cleaning my studio this weekend:

It's me on the night of my high school graduation at our "cinema-themed" Senior Gala with none other than Danny Aiello. He lived in my hometown and one of the parents talked him into coming over and hanging with the kids for a bit. They also raffled off a car if you stayed until 6:30am. I think I won a six outlet power strip. I remember it being pretty fun.

Next time at my blog: Music News or My Thoughts of Cryptozoology

My first Beard of Bees review!

2007-01-02T21:45:00.000-05:00

I just received word that Beard of Bees was reviewed in the "Short Takes" section of Minor7th.com's Jan/Feb '07 issue!
Minor7th.com's is an online magazine that reviews acoustic guitar music.

Here's what they said:

Mike Gaito "Beard of Bees," 2006
"Beard of Bees" buzzes with inspiration drawn from the far corners of folk, jazz, progressive rock and experimental pop. With the exception of drums, Gaito emerges as an eccentric one man band, plying his craft with an arsenal of electric/acoustic guitars, bass, and keyboards abetted with the sounds of loose change, hand claps, barley shakers, and whatever else happened to be lying around. The artist's tongue is oft planted firmly in cheek as evidenced in the quirky, stream of conscious diatribe "Giant Canoe" which proclaims "you let me soar like Aladdin/hit like Dan Gladden/talk like John Madden/sing like Mike Patton/play like the Mothers in '74." Odd time-signatures, swift-key changes, layered vocal harmonies, mind-blowing interplay, and a strong sense of storytelling abound through each of the fifteen epic tracks. I could envision Richard Thompson, the ghost of Frank Zappa, or Brian Wilson digging this record. © Tom Semioli

You can also check it out at the source:
Minor7th's Jan/Feb Short Takes

Sweet!!

Still waiting on about 79 other review possibilities! Very cool of Minor7th.com and Tom Semioli to be first!

"Mike is on the mend and decorating the house for Winter!"

2006-12-11T20:35:00.000-05:00

First off, thanks for all the get well wishes. I am slowly on the mend.

And since I was feeling slightly better, I decided to spend most of the weekend outside in the freezing cold, dressed in only somewhat weather appropriate clothing I might add, decorating the house with Tracy!

I am really happy with how it came out and I wanted to share it with you good folks. This is the first year that we've done "snow lanterns" and I luv 'em!

Hope all is well and everyone is enjoying December so far!

Preorders have shipped and Beard of Bees is now available!

2006-10-19T18:51:00.000-04:00

Well, the time has finally come! Beard of Bees is finally available! The kind folks that preordered will be getting their copies very soon (shipped Monday morning at 11am) and now I am ramping up the release activities - getting press and reviews, booking dates and getting the word out! Thanks so much for all your support! Well back to work on promoting this bad boy and if you haven't already...order Beard of Bees by visiting my web site!

Wow! Here is the track listing for Beard of Bees!

1. Ullow Kahng

2. Beard of Bees

3. Art Bunny

4. Pagan Educated Guess Listening Credenza

5. Hobart the Emu

6. Asparagus & Glass

7. Marco

8. Versus

9. The Fogged Frame

10. ...the sometimes terrifying realities of getting exactly what you want...

11. Meek Lanterns Chosen Nightly

12. Giant Canoe ->

13. The Oar

14. There are Mornings

15. Be Well, Turbine

A quick one...

2006-08-26T19:18:00.000-04:00

Hey all,
Well, things continue to be busy here at the Gaito Camp. I had a delightfully long week up at West Street Digital with André. We got eight of the 15 songs pretty much completely finished (including Beard of Bees, Pagan Educated Guess Listening Credenza, Hobart the Emu, Asparagus and Glass, Marco, Strumkin Versus (which I might just shorten to Versus...hmm), ...realities..., and Meek Lanterns Chosen Nightly). Tracy and I have been working on the cover art - which is becoming an ambitious project and I have been working on the bonus Sandwich disc as well. On top of that, I have been trying to do some marketing stuff - which is not my favorite thing - I know it is essential - but it seems very time consuming - I am trying to make it fun though -my friend IngaDahling! will begin helping me on the marketing piece on 9/1 and I can't wait for the help - it will be fun working with IngaDahling!

Anyway, I will probably be glued to my laptop tonight and tomorrow (email me and say hello - I can use the encouragement :-)!) and then it is back to the studio on Monday and Thursday, at least) Tracking Dan Bailey's bad ass drums on Thursday so that will be a total blast!

Well, I should go back to pushing my wares and bringing my special kind of joy to the world ;-).

Be well,
Mike

And the winner of the Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Giveaway is:

2006-08-05T00:50:00.000-04:00

Frank Briggs has won the Deluxe Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Package including a Gaitoplexicon Records T-Shirt, Mug, Messenger Bag and Mouse Pad! (retail value over $80.00). Congratulations to Frank! Thanks to all who preordered early - you have gotten this project moving full steam ahead! And if you simply must have these items they are available for purchase at Schpronk.com.If you haven't preordered yet, there's still time. Click on the preorder link at the bottom of this entry to find out more!

A note about our winner, Frank Briggs:

I first met Frank Briggs when he came to play at the University of Maine at Farmington in 1996. He was drumming for Mike Keneally and Beer for Dolphins who had come to UMF to perform for the University's Spring Fling event. The outdoor venue provided many challenges, one of which was Frank's charts blowing away in a vortex of tornado if you will. Even so, much fun was had by all and these events we documented in Mike Keneally's song, Potato and Frank and I were immortalized in the following verse:

We went to Maine 'cause we're friends with Mike Gaito

And Briggs's charts flew away in tornado

And I was up all night writing potato

Australia

Potato

- by Mike Keneally from the album Sluggo!

So, years passed...and a few weeks ago, Frank and I reconnected via the odd cultural phenomenon known as myspace. Frank is an amazing musician and drummer and an incredible guy. He has a new CD coming out in October called China Ranch. Frank has a great outlook on music and the importance of supporting independent artists. Please check out his music. You can hear it on his web site and his myspace page (be sure to check out his excellent blogs too!)...while you're there you can also get the latest scoop on China Ranch.

All that's left to say is, "Congratulations and Yay, Frank!!!"

A Quick One...

2006-07-30T18:44:00.000-04:00

Well, things have been crazy here at the Gaito Camp. Trying to wrap my head around some stuff, catch up on things fallen behind, create some new experiences for myself, all while finishing the recording of Beard of Bees. It is going really well and I am really happy with it. AND, I now have a deadline for home recording to be complete! August 21st, 2006 at 11 AM I am to convene with Andre Maquera at West Street Digital to begin data transfer, mixing and mastering.

So know I have a deadline - very good - terrifying - but very good :-)!

So there's the update more and more detail soon.

Hope you're all well!

Mike

Asparagus and Glass and the Bruddas Gaddos

2006-07-15T15:38:00.000-04:00

I finished recording Asparagus and Glass this week and I can't tell you how happy I am with how it came out. The track is made even stronger due to the fact that the
"Bruddas Gaddos" were able to make a guest appearance on the instrumental mid-section.

To elaborate: the Bruddas Gaddos are 4 Italian Brothers who are busking through the US. I met them in downtown Huntington, VT performing somewhat avant-garde acoustic pieces. Now you must understand busking in downtown Huntington (a town of just over 1000 residents and no true centralized downtown) is about as financially rewarding as biting your nails. They were hungry, friendly and great. I invited them to my home and we were able to hang out for a bit. As we chatted over fresh-baked french bread, VT Cheddar Cheese and local veggies dipped in EV Olive Oil we realized that we were actually related! Distant cousins as a matter of fact.

So, to make a long story short, the Bruddas Gaddos (Marco, Icabod, Kelvin and Efram) wanted to pay me and Tracy back for our hospitality. I taught them Asparagus and Glass and they created a wonderful mid-section for the tune! I'll expand more in future blogs and in the liner notes of my new CD (Beard of Bees), but I love these guys (if you ever see them busking about in your town ask them to join you for some wine and bread and ask Efram to do his Benito Mussolini imitation - it's HYSTERICAL!). I hope someday I'll be able to produce a whole album of their music!

Anyway, that's where I am at right now. Don't forget to preorder my CD (check out my banner below!)

Hope you're well!
Mike

Finger Tale Poem and other diversions

2006-07-06T17:23:00.000-04:00

Finger Tale Poem
With the finger things have slowed yet the mind it wanders well
Clarity from patient healing ensures pleasantly explosive ends
And with the time a smile grows as calm prevails above the storm
Containing it but brewing unimpeded and focused all the more

CD is going great, if slow and preorders are making me smile and adding huge bricks to my confidence wall everyday…and the creator of this beast, his muse is calling clearer than ever before and for once he’s in a position to truly and boldly answer.

Exciting times…tinged with sadness yes…but very exciting.

More soon…

Beard of Bees Update - Making Progress

2006-07-01T13:19:00.000-04:00

The good news: The recording is going pretty well. I have 5 songs almost completely finished. These include Ullow Kahng, Beard of Bees, Art Bunny, Hobart the Emu and the tentatively titled "Intermezzo". I have made some headway on Asparagus and Glass and other bits and pieces are slowly finding there way to completion. I am very happy with it so far and I think the range for a target release date of "between September 1 and November 1, 2006" is still very reasonable - sweet!

The bad news: A nasty little cut on the tip of my index finger (damn my home improvement/weekend warrior tendencies) might slow down everything other than vocal tracking for a little bit - luckliy I have recorded guide tracks for a bunch of stuff so I can indulge myself with doing tons of vocals! And it is healing well and as long as I don't accidently try to type with it (which I have done twice so far in this blog) it doesn't hurt too much.

So, it is less bad news and more inconvinient news.

So I'll keep this short as it is almost time to isolate myself in my makeshift vocal booth for the weekend.

More soon, Gaito

Beard of Bees Update, Mike’s Night Shift and The Sandwich CD Q&A

2006-06-26T17:47:00.000-04:00

Well, I have been extremely busy! I have been meaning to write this blog for days now and just havent gotten to it! The first week of preorders has been VERY successful and I am just so pleased folks have started to jump on board with me for this fun little project/adventure. Big thanks to everyone who has preordered!!

That being said, there are still plenty of slots available for the Gaitoplexicon Records Schwag Giveawayso order before August 4, 2006 and get yourself entered!

As for Beard of Bees, I have been doing lots of recording! Lots and lots of recording! I have started to work at night (quieter, fewer distractions and somehow it just seems easier). So I am adjusting to a new sleep schedule but luckily I deal well with change - well I dont really but it hasnt been so bad, especially since I am getting tons more done in a shorter amount of time - and I am all about efficiency, baby!

Finally I have been getting a lot of questions about the Sandwich CD, so heres a little Q & A I put together. I hope it will allay your fears, delight your senses, drown your sorrows and make you happy like clams:

What is the Sandwich CD?
The "Sandwich" is a limited edition CD featuring 8 original Mike Gaito songs 'sandwiched' between 7 brand new parody commercials (plus some other madness) all recorded specifically for this collection only available to the first 300 people who preorder "The Beard of Bees Platinum Circle Preorder Gift Set".

The songs include:

The Prophet of Central Maine * Burnt Siena/64 * I've Been Waiting All Day * Aqualish *Asnered * Happy Mishy Woodsy -> Dave, the Slob of the Village * Magbulah

The commercials will include:

"Best of Monkey Madrigals" and the long-awaited, oft-spoken about and highly anticipated "Juicer that can Juice a Whole Watermelon Infomercial".

All of this will be presented in a special handcrafted package:

Is that real bread?
Yes, that is real bread. Using a newly developed Gaitotronic Process (Pat. Pending), the bread has been preserved for use in this artistic endeavor (It also helps to start with a supermarket giant" or "sandwich loaf as it is full of preservatives and stabilizers and only marginally resembles bread to begin with).

The Gaitotronic Process (Pat. Pending) does change the molecular makeup of the bread and bread associated with the limited edition sandwich packaging should NOT be eaten - trust me.

Which part is the music on?
The music will live on the Olive Loaf. I took a meeting over coffee with a local duplicator last week and he reviewed my prototype and he was very confident in being able to faithfully reproduce the Olive Loaf. This was very exciting for me as I woke up in a cold sweat a few weeks ago wondering what would happen if I couldnt get the music onto the Olive Loaf. Anyway, you would put the Olive Loaf in your CD player - not the tomato or the cheese.

What are the songs about?
Well each of the songs is about something different. Most of them are from my Folkloric Folk Collection and have to do with some real-life person or event that effected me in some quirky odd way some references are quite obvious, others are masked in obscurist riddling to protect the innocent. They are all a lot of fun and I love playing and singing them. I just never had the chance to record them before!

What are the commercials all about?
During the Schpronk.com presents "A Woodland Holiday" project, I was tasked with recording five humorous, faux commercials. I really, really liked writing and recording the commercials. They were short, I could be funny and silly, I could do voices, write odd music,etc. So I have been collecting ideas since December for brand new commercials and they will be presented for the first time on the Sandwich CD! Yay!

How do I get rid of raccoons?
Well, I dont know but dont put a little transistor radio out there tuned to talk radio. We tried that and the little bugger ran off with it - no joke! Stupid raccoon. We recently named it Mitchell, so I am a little more endeared to it now.

How do I preorder The Beard of Bees Platinum Circle Preorder Gift Set?
All you have to do is click here.

How do I contact you with questions about your music/Beard of Bees/The Sandwich CD?
Message me via myspace or send me an email at mjg@mikegaito.net

Thanks for reading and Ill have more updates next week!!!

Be well,
Mike

ALBUM REVIEW - Mike Keneally Band - Guitar Therapy Live!

2006-06-12T20:04:00.000-04:00

Is there anything better than a Mike Keneally Band record? Normally, I would say no, but I just received the new Guitar Therapy Live Special Edition and this might be the most rocking live album ever produced and the fact that the Special Edition comes with a DVD of the July 30, 2005 Baked Potato gig sends a Keneally fan like me through the roof. From the opening madness of Quimby to the heavy, charging chugg of 'Cause of Breakfast (Joe Travers on drums rocks this one especially hard) it knocks you down and then gangs up on you and doesn't let you get up until the end.

Everyone must own this CD. Every guitar player, bass player and drummer must hear this. If you play in a rock band you must hear this CD. What is most amazing, is that despite the fact the facility of all the players is so overwhelming, they cannot overpower the brilliance of the writing. Mike Keneally has always been able to write songs that hit me in the sweet spot and Beller's Seven Percent Grade is a perfect fit with MK repertoire. The fact that the songs are so strong is the reason I would see the Mike Keneally Band over any other "rock guitar group". Always tasteful, always shredding, great songs - and somehow they are able to keep the balance between each of these. Fantastic!

Gaito says: Everyone in the world should own this CD - and try to get the Special Edition and get a rockin' DVD in 5.1 surround sound. I'm not kidding. Go to www.keneally.com and buy it right now!

Favorite Tracks:
I defy you to choose!

Track Listings for Beard of Bees & the Sandwich CD plus preorders begin!

2006-06-12T20:02:00.000-04:00

Well, I am finally posting the track listing for my debut solo CD, Beard of Bees (see below) and recording has begun in earnest (although the opening track has got my number - it's not that hard - it's just a mental thing, ya know - I'll get it done though - no worries :-) I'll be updating my blog weekly with my progress (be sure to check out my updated myspace page too!)

So here are the track listings (songs in quotes are tentative titles)!

Beard of Bees

1. Ullow Kahng
2. Beard of Bees
3. Art Bunny
4. Pagan Educated Guess Listening Credenza
5. Hobart the Emu
6. Asparagus & Glass
7. "Intermezzo"
8. "Strumkin"
9. "The Aria"
10. ...the sometimes terrifying realities of getting exactly what you want...
11. Meek Lanterns Chosen Nightly (formerly The Philly Cheese Steak Suite)
12. Giant Canoe ->
13. The Oar
14. There are Mornings
15. Be Well, Turbine (excerpt)

and

The "Sandwich" CD is 8 original Mike Gaito songs 'sandwiched' between 7 brand new parody commercials (plus some other madness) all recorded specifically for this collection presented in limited edition, handcrafted packaging only available to the first 300 folks who preorder!.

The songs include:

The Prophet of Central Maine * Burnt Siena/64 * I've Been Waiting All Day * Aqualish * Asnered * Happy Mishy Woodsy -> Dave, the Slob of the Village * Magbulah

The commercials will include:
"Best of Monkey Madrigals" and the long-awaited, oft-spoken about and highly anticipated "Juicer that can Juice a Whole Watermelon Infomercial".

It should be lots of fun!

Also preordering on my new CD has begun!
Preorder The Beard of Bees Platinum Circle Gift Set" Now!

Elephant in the Closet

2006-05-30T00:44:00.000-04:00

Spaulding Gray had a Monster in the Box. I’ve got an elephant in the closet. Hopefully the gestation will be clear and I will be able to release more details soon.

I can say this, the writing on my new CD is 93% finished and I have started the recording process. I don’t want to say too much else other than I will be posting the track list within the next few weeks and I will be starting pre-orders in June. I will also say that there will be some special stuff available to those who preorder! All these details will be revealed in due time…they are just not yet ready to be told…and that’s all I can say.

So in the mean time, be patient, feel free to ask questions and send lots of peanuts.

Album Review - Can - Tago Mago

2006-05-29T20:11:00.000-04:00

Ooo…I missed last week’s review and I am short on time for this one! Okay here we go – and by next week we’ll be back to my normal verbosity…I promise!

Odd, groovy, surprisingly funky, Can’s Tago Mago is a masterpiece of weird space-out fun. If you’re anything like me you’ll be wondering how you lived with out this album for so long. If you’re not like me…well that’s too bad! Ha-ha…just kidding. If you’re just like me there’s a chance that you won’t like this CD…

Next week I’ll be back on track…promise ;-)

Favorite Tracks:

They’re all good ☺!

ALBUM REVIEW - The Tuna Helpers - I'll Have What She's Having

2006-05-16T00:19:00.000-04:00

Inspired by a web site that does CD reviews in 75 words or less I am going to attempt to be pithy in my review this week.

I believe that if Tori Amos wrote soundtracks for gothically macabre puppet shows it would sounds like The Tuna Helpers. The songs, while seemingly innocent, have a darkness to them. It makes for an interesting if not 100% satisfying listen. The recording could sound a little better and by the end of the disc the ‘gimmick’ where’s a little bit thin. But hey, it’s more original and enjoyable than 98% of the stuff that’s readily available so who am I to complain.

Gaito says: Need something different? This surely fits the bill – and it is also very fun to say, “I am currently listening to The Tuna Helpers!

Favorite Tracks:

Hold This
Oh No
Wait and See
Gather Your Children

Phrenologist

2006-05-15T23:55:00.000-04:00

Went to phrenologist again today. Dr. Gall, once again a little tipsy, grasped my skull for further mapping. Seems I have a nice big bulge at veneration, a healthy indent at imitation and a veritable gulley at the Love of Approbation. So it’s all good so far, I guess. I asked if the softening and subsequent re-hardening of my fontanel (due to those damn Aardvark/Anteater/neither of those refrigerator magnets I got at Target) might impact the results. He looked me directly in the eye and said, “I don’t know, but what I do know is this: you are a beautiful, beautiful man with a sensitive beard, a grand sense of cheddar, and an exceptionally tall torso and I would be proud to call you friend...,” and then he added under his booze laden breath, “…or perhaps Louvre.”

Now those of you who know me know that I hear like a bat that’s lost a good deal of its upper register and suffers from mild tinnitus. So I asked him, “Do you mean the museum or the vertical blinds?”

Dr. Gall then stabbed me in the leg with the claw from a Maryland Blue Crab and began to weep in the arms of a small puppet he calls Milo.

I grabbed some gauze, my files and as many tongue depressors as I could fit and left the food court post haste.

So the moral of the story is never ever go to the mall for anything.

Weird Mood

2006-05-10T00:13:00.000-04:00

Can't pinpoint my mood, odd and off not all together bad...lost perhaps?

Hrumph...

ALBUM REVIEW - Faun Fables - The Transit Rider

2006-05-10T00:11:00.000-04:00

There are moments I get really frustrated and bored with music. Jaded moments where I feel as if I have heard and seen everything. These are the moments I thank my lucky stars for groups like Faun Fables. I saw Faun Fables on Sunday night and they absolutely blew me away. They played a truncated set featuring many songs from their new song cycle “The Transit Rider” along with a few selections from previous albums. I was informed that usually there is a whole stage show but their set length (opening for Pleaseessaur and Pinback) didn’t allow for the full performance. No matter, as they put on a hell of a show. I watched in awe with mouth agape and went and bought they disc as soon as they were finished!

The CD is a masterpiece, featuring Dawn McCarthy and Nils Frykdhal (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum) and was amazingly recorded on 8 Track cassette at home. It is an achingly beautiful CD, strange and comparable to very little with songs that at one moment sound like the rebirth/reprise of Greensleeves and at another like…well, I don’t know what…it is truly stunning. I am on my 10th listen since Monday morning. You have to hear it and go see them live if you can. Amazing.

Gaito says: If you haven’t gotten the point already…go buy it right now!

Favorite Tracks:

House Carpenter
In Speed
Roadkill
Fire And Castration
Questioning

ALBUM REVIEW - The Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics

2006-05-01T19:56:00.000-04:00

My good friend Shawn “Root” Keller just had an email exchange about this new Flaming Lips album “At War With the Mystics”. The upshot of the conversation was that although we really enjoyed the disc, the sounds that were present were somewhat dissimilar to the canon of tones that we had expected – the expectations built on the fanatical listening of the previous two discs (The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots). The conversation ended when someone overhearing Shawn’s music said “That sounds like Prince!” or something to that effect, I am paraphrasing here. That changed the listening right there. “Whoa!” was said and I wrote back some gibberish because my mind was blown by that comment (something about listening in purple and then an insular reference to a college classmate that liked Prince). That comment made me sit down and listen again. But this time I was not listening to a Flaming Lips CD. This time I was listening to the music, performance and sonics minus the expectations. (By the way, I am sharing this story without Shawn’s permission – hope he doesn’t mind ☺!) Also, there is a review coming too.

So right away we have an album that is pretty cool. Anything that is from a group that I know I like and confuses me this much on the first few listens is usually good. It is a layered and beautiful. Some of the tones annoy me, but others are big and rich, some of the organs synth and guitar tones are miraculous. Also it is best listened to straight through. Bouncing around gives the impression it is an album full of singles and it doesn’t really work too well that way.

I am not going to pretend I get the whole thing or understand some of the choices (like Wayne singing in a much lower register of his range for a good deal of the record for example). I am also not going to pretend I liked it on the first spin. But thanks to the person who told Shawn that it sounded like Prince I was able to step back from my expectations and find the brilliance inherent within. It’s a great disc, but give yourself time to listen…and appreciate the whole rather than the parts. You’ll be glad you did! Why’d you end with that? That’s stupid! – ed.

Gaito says: Buy it and don’t unwrap it until you have a few hours. Then sit down, when you’re ready and don’t analyze. It’s worth the wait.

Favorite Tracks:

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song

The Sound Of Failure / It’s Dark … Is It Always This Dark??

The Wizard Turns On … The Giant Silver Flashlight And Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins

Haven’t Got A Clue

Goin’ On

Let’s sing the happy chimp song!

2006-05-01T19:55:00.000-04:00

Let’s sing the happy chimp song!

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

Chimp, Chimpy Chimp Chimp
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha
Hoo, Hoo, Ha, Ha

It’s over now ‘m sad.

ALBUM REVIEW - Messer Chups - Crazy Price

2006-04-23T16:18:00.000-04:00

Messer Chups started in Germany, but have their roots in Russia. They eventually moved back to St. Petersburg in the late 90’s. I just recently picked up the Ipecac recording version of their CD Crazy Price.

The CD is an odd amalgam of surf, rockabilly (or psychobilly) and 50’s horror and sci-fi samples. No lyrics other than the movie samples that drive the themes of each piece. If the Stray Cats were ever possessed by the devil, they would probably sounds like this…oh and they would have to hire a cheese organ and Theremin player in addition to being possessed by the devil.

The visual aspect of Messer Chups is a huge part of their appeal. Their website is very fun and campy with some great animations and graphics all keeping with the basic damsel in distress, Lugosi/Karloff, Dick Dale vibe. Unfortunately, with out the visuals the music wears thin after a listen or two and even though the disc comes with 5 mpeg videos (playable on your Mac or PC) I can’t say I’ll be popping this disc on consistently. Perhaps as a soundtrack to a Halloween Party or if my auteur spirit ever takes hold and I finally make that independent film, but in the car or when I am looking to sit down and get blown away…not ever.

Now if they release a huge crazy DVD…now that I might get into.

Gaito says: Unless you need background music for your next alien autopsy or zombie surf party, I would look else where for musical satisfaction.

Favorite Tracks:

Fantomasofobia

Monkey Safari

And the Days Run Away Like...

2006-04-23T16:17:00.000-04:00

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #1
I was reading the bottle to my multi-vitamins and I realized that they don’t have any calcium. So I went to the fridge to look at the milk. It seems that I will have to drink 3 and 1/3 8 oz, glasses to be sure to get my daily value. I could defray that though with some plain yogurt and cheese.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #2
Getting the septic tank pumped tomorrow. I had to move the scrap woodpile and the empty mum pots before I cleaned the dirt away. They charge $50(!) if they have to do any digging, so I did it myself.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #3
I wish they would sell our low-sudsing detergent in liquid form. The powder gets all clumpy and chalky in the spring and summer months, even though we run a dehumidifier.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #4
I can’t taste the difference between Quaker Oats and the store brand. That being said, Planters Cashews are much, much better than any store brand, but at $2 or more extra per can, I find myself asking “Is it worth it?”

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #5
I’ve just about had it with bananas. Buy them green and they never ripen, too yellow and they get all mushy as you peel them.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #6
I can’t seem to get a straight answer re: freezing store bought previously frozen fish. Seems to me if it’s FAS you should be able to freeze it again, but not everybody thinks so.

Mike Gaito’s Days of Banality – Day #7
I hate peeling those bumpy potatoes. I think Rob Thomas and Santana should come out with their own ‘branded’ potatoes. I bet those would be easier to peel.

ALBUM REVIEW - Mugison - Is this Monkey Music?

2006-04-16T13:32:00.001-04:00

According to various sources on the “internet”, Mugison is the third biggest superstar in Iceland, behind Bjork and Sigur Ros. I really wish I lived in Iceland. It must be awesome if Mugison and his CD Mugimama! Is this Monkey Music? is not only well received but results in superstar status. American radio would probably refuse delivery on this, let alone play it.

Mugimama! Is this Monkey Music? is a collection of odd love songs, bawdy light rockers and downright weird Beck-inflected pastiches that I absolutely love. The recordings are a little rough around the edges, the arrangements are untraditional to say the least and some of the lyrics are either stream of consciousness or the result of English not being Mugison’s first language. No matter, the CD oozes creativity and inspiration.

The performances have a manic, anxious quality adding to the overall unstable feel of the recording. The CD opens with the heart-wrenching I Want You, probably the most produced track on the CD. The open lyric is VERY reminiscent of The Beatles’ I Want You (She’s So Heavy) – so much so that it is jarring when you don’t hear the “want you so bad” after the opening line. From the koto-esque guitar line to surprisingly upbeat “Baby, Let’s Go Dancing” chorus it’s a great track.

Other CD highlights include the quiet and beautiful 2 Birds (a duet with his wife Raina), Sad as a Truck (an existential construct that features the oddest and a somewhat disturbing arena rock chorus I have heard in a while (to quote: Come on everybody raise your right hand and slap your face, come on, uhn - ah, ah, ah, ah…ah, ah, ah, ah…[crazy cackling] ) and the single that took Iceland by storm, Murr Murr.

I don’t know if this disc is for everybody. It’s such an oddly constructed collection of music, that some might find it hard to follow. I think it is a brilliant display of creativity that should be heard and admired for it’s pure (almost insane) display of creativity and emotion.

Gaito says: If you like, this I bet we’ll get along.

Favorite Tracks:

I Want You

2 Birds

Sad as a Truck

Murr Murr

Hold on 2 Happiness