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Highlighting in album tracklistings denotes 'contains Mellotron'. On 'multi-part' tracks I've tried to indicate which parts contain 'Tron, although this isn't always possible.
Ratings:
The * rating (½-5) is my personal, entirely subjective and completely partisan rating of the music.
The 'T' ('Tron, of course...) rating (0-5) is an only slightly more objective indicator of an album's Mellotronness.
By the way, if you know of any Mellotron albums that aren't listed here, please look at my albums page first! Thanks.
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Pearl Jam Nick Peck Pell Mell |
Michael Penn Pentwater |
Victor Peraino's Kingdom Come Tom Petty (& the Heartbreakers) |
Phantom Planet Phantom's Divine Comedy |
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vs (1993, 46.15) ***/½ |
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| Go Animal Daughter Glorified G Dissident W.M.A. Blood Rearviewmirror |
Rats Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town Leash Indifference |
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Vitalogy (1994, 55.22) ***/½ |
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| Last Exit Spin the Black Circle Not for You Tremor Christ Nothingman Whipping Pry, to Corduroy |
Bugs Satan's Bed Better Man Immortality Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me |
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Like Alice in Chains (an ex-glam outfit) and the Stone Temple Pilots, what was it about Peal Jam that makes them inherently 'grunge'? If 'grunge' was Mudhoney, Soundgarden and Nirvana, why was it also dodgy metal bands in lumberjack shirts and no makeup? (That's NO makeup, OK?). Actually, Pearl Jam are better than AiC or STP, which isn't to say that they're particularly good; everything's relative, you know. They certainly sucked a dead dog's dick when I saw them supporting Neil Young back in '93; what possessed him to take them on as his backing band for an album and tour I will never know.
Anyway, vs was their second effort, after the critically-acclaimed (why?) Ten (why?), and sees them already in a musical rut, doing that 'rock with emotions' thing, somewhere in between Led Zep on an exceedingly off day and, er, Neil Young, I suppose. While better than expected, I'm afraid I find this stuff terribly unexciting; not a patch on their influences, anyway. Faint (uncredited) 'Tron strings on W.M.A. from Brendan O'Brien, but that's yer lot.
Follow-up Vitalogy is both better and worse than its predecessor, with full-on punk like Spin The Black Circle contrasting sharply with muckabouts such as Bugs. Guitarist Stone Gossard is credited with 'Tron, and although I remember hearing some brass, oddly, on the track on a previous listen, it seems to've disappeared, with the only audible keyboard being a (deliberately) badly-played harmonium.
Rumours have it that 2002's Riot Act also features 'Tron, but close listening has proved this to be fallacious. So; I'd find it difficult to recommend Pearl Jam (OK, I DO find it difficult), and their Mellotron use is so utterly minimal as to be almost non-existent. Go elsewhere.
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Under the Big Tree (1997, 63.20) ***½/T |
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| Prologue Mouths and Frogs Writer in a Rainstorm The Teepee Morgue Into the Opera House Mars Boulder and Cactus |
The Mountain, the Mirror, and the Pocket Watch The Candle Card Game Portrait/Bow in the Cabin Where Do We Connect? Finale: Into the Trunk |
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Nick Peck is the ex-keyboard player for rather lightweight US proggers Episode, who released a handful of albums on various formats between the late '80s and mid '90s, and whose career peak probably came when they played at Progfest 94, along with luminaries such as the mighty Änglagård and Anekdoten. Peck has recorded several solo albums, although Under the Big Tree confuses the issue by not actually mentioning him anywhere on the cover, though as it's so obviously his album, I feel justified in crediting it to him. Lyrically/conceptually, the album is based on a profound experience of Peck's during a lengthy meditation session, while musically, it's in the 'modern prog' category, rather than Episode's typical neo-prog. The album features eleven guest musicians, including two other Episoders, and while I wouldn't put it up there with, say, Spock's Beard, it's a worthy effort in the genre.
Peck plays a variety of keys, old and new, principally a grand piano and Hammond B3, but there's a couple of snatches of Mellotron choir on Portrait/Bow In The Cabin and Finale: Into The Trunk, but nowhere near enough to make it worth buying on those grounds. If you like modern US prog, there's a good chance you'll get something from Under the Big Tree, but more 'trad' proggers might be better off going somewhere else.
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Marburg (1972, 40.00) ****/T½The Clown and the QueenMoldau Friend City Monster Alone |
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Rhapsody (1975, 39.29) ***½/TRhapsodyFrost of an Alien Darkness Wanderer Can Can Prelude Desert in Your Mind The Riot Paris the Past |
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Only a Star (1977, 39.59) ***/TCount DownDaydreamer Only a Star Across the Universe Disillusion Trailors in Movie Halls Phoebus is Dead |
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Pell Mell (not to be confused with the American avant-garde outfit of the same name) were one of many German progressive bands who 'grew out' of their Krautrock beginnings, becoming more symphonic along the way. Their debut, Marburg, named for their home town, is an intriguing mix of slightly old-fashioned UK 'proto-prog' and German Krautrock, with pastoral, organ-led passages coexisting peacefully with bizarre multi-vocal parts like Focus on speed (Friend). Another occasional influence is early Pink Floyd, particularly in the organ part in Alone; in fact, the Floyd seem to be a constant in the Krautrock arena, with several bands obviously getting stoned to A Saucerful of Secrets on a regular basis. Anyway, the band's violin use is notable, sometimes confusing the ear as to the album's Mellotron content, to the point where all I can hear is a string part under the violin on Moldau and a similar part doubling the organ on Alone.
Album no.2, From the New World, is more progressive (and 'Tron-free), and 1975's Rhapsody (with co-writing credits for Liszt and Rachmaninoff) is full-on prog, complete with eccentric interjections like the Can Can (yes, that one). Did you know it was written by Liszt? The band were a six-piece by this time, and with three people credited with keyboards, it's impossible to know who plays the rather minimal Mellotron on the album, so take your pick from Thomas Schmitt, Ralph 'Flipper' Lippmann or Cherry Hochdörfer, although my money's on Schmitt, one of the band's two main men, along with vocalist Rudolf Schön. Anyway, the only audible evidence is a few seconds of choir on part 1 of Rhapsody itself, Frost Of An Alien Darkness, and a short choir part, repeated once, on Paris The Past. Not a bad album, but not one for 'Tron fanatics.
'77's Only a Star was noticeably more straightforward, in keeping with the times. I've seen comparisons with Kansas, and there's certainly a couple of violin parts that recall Robby Steinhardt's style, but overall, it sounds like a mainstream version of their earlier sound, although there's still quite a bit of classical influence, particularly on side two. Again, very little Mellotron (definitely played by Schmitt this time), with faint choirs on Disillusion and the rather ropey Across The Universe (not the Beatles' song).
So; Marburg and From the New World are their best albums, although the 'Tron on their debut is far from earth-shattering. Rhapsody has noticeably better 'Tron, and Only a Star has its moments, but none of these are really worth it on the Mellotron front.
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March (1989, 42.32) ***½/TTT½ |
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| No Myth Half Harvest This & That Brave New World Innocent One Disney's a Snow Cone/Bedlam Boys Invisible Cupid's Got a Brand New Gun |
Big House Battle Room Evenfall |
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Free-for-All (1992, 41.11) ****/TTTT½ |
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| Long Way Down (Look What the Cat Drug in) Free Time Coal Seen the Doctor By the Book Drained Slipping My Mind Strange Season |
Bunker Hill Now We're Even |
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Resigned (1997, 39.18) ****½/TTTT |
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| Try Me Around Like Egypt Was Out of My Hands All That That Implies Selfish Cover Up Figment |
Small Black Box Comfort I Can Tell |
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MP4 (Days Since a Lost Time Accident) (2000, 39.36) ****/TTT½ |
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| Lucky One Whole Truth High Time Beautiful Footdown Perfect Candidate Don't Let Me Go Out of its Misery |
Trampoline Bucket Brigade |
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Michael (brother of Sean and Christopher, also Mr. Aimee Mann) Penn had a major hit on his hand with his first album, 1989's March, with its incisive, intelligent songwriting; 'pop for grown-ups' indeed. He re-teamed up with his early-'80s keyboard player, the redoubtable Patrick Warren, with the happy result that the album's sugar-coated with Chamberlin. Some reports would have it that it's over-commercialised, but to my ears it's an only slightly poppier version of his later albums, with tracks such as Disney's A Snow Cone/Bedlam Boys and Cupid's Got a Brand New Gun giving the lie to the 'commercial' jibe. Notable Chamby moments include the flutes on High Time and Big House, and while it's got nothing to do with tape replay, there's some beautiful harmonium at the beginning of Disney's A Snow Cone/Bedlam Boys. Not quite Mr. Penn's best album, but still pretty damn' good, and reasonable Chamberlin, too.
Now, I've known for some time that Penn's a major Chamby fan, but Free-for-All is RIDICULOUS!! Almost every damn' track has loads of the thing played by Warren; strings, choir, brass, cellos, steel guitar even (I think), you name it, it's here. Given how well the instrument usually hides in the mix, there's no attempt to conceal it here; right at the front of the mix, above the guitars. It's so good to hear this sort of thing done well without any awful 'contemporary' (read: crap) production tricks; how dated would the Doors sound now if they hadn't gone along with their producer's insistence on not being 'fashionable'? Just watch David Gray or Dido in a few years... Anyway, Free Time has what must be Chamby steel guitars; noticeably different to the real one on the following track, and you can hear the key-click. Other essentials are the strings in Drained, and everything in Strange Season, but it's all pretty bloody good.
Penn took a five-year holiday after the relative (commercial) failure of Free-for-All, finally bouncing back in '97 with Resigned, a rather rockier proposition all round, this time with a proper band. I actually feel the album's songs are better than those of its predecessor; they certainly have more life to them, which isn't to denigrate Free-for-All in any way. Resigned is an excellent, mature record, full of the sort of songs many artists would kill for, but it still hasn't made him into a superstar, which says more about the general public's taste than I ever could. Anyway, Patrick Warren's still there on various vintage keyboards, with (presumably) Chamberlin highlights including the string part on Out Of My Hands, the flutes on All That That Implies and the pitchbent cellos on Cover Up.
His most recent album to date, 2000's wittily-titled MP4 (Days Since a Lost Time Accident) is business as usual, with Penn's by-now standard mix of upbeat intelligent pop, melancholy ballads and the odd rockier effort. Patrick Warren's back again, with very obvious Chamberlin on most tracks, although I don't know if a Mellotron was also used this time round. No specific highlights, but the first half of the album (minus the first track) are probably the best.
So; four bloody good albums, especially Resigned, and all, as you may have noticed, at a sensible LP length, even though I doubt if they're available on vinyl. None of your '78 minutes, half of it entirely unnecessary' here, thank you very much... Anyway, good songs, great tape replay. Buy.
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Pentwater (1977, 37.31/50.19) ***½/T |
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| AM Living Room Displays Memo Orphan Girl Frustration Mass Palendrode War Gwen's Madrigal |
[CD changes track order slightly and adds: Prelude to War Death Wave Radioactive] |
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Out of the Abyss (1992, recorded 1973-76, 62.41) ****/T½EM 54Take Cause & Effects Necropolis Billboard Smiles Gwen's Madrigal (the Violation Version) The Journeys Oceans Kill the Bunny |
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Ab-Dul (2007, recorded 1972-2006, 60.26) ****/T½ |
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| It Feels Like Stealing Luncheon at the Parade Autumn Kill the Bunny The Tale of Clear Fog Sealed in Today Across the Mediterranean Somehow Feelin' Fine The Tale of Clear Fog (Reprise) |
The Cry of Eugene Entropal Pause Chasing Descends You Knew Turn the Key It Feels Like 3 a.m. Awakening |
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Pentwater were one of a surprisingly large number of US prog bands who couldn't even get a foot in the door, managing one self-financed album, and never breaking out of their own region, in this case, the Illinois area, I believe (see: Leviathan, Lift et al.). Pentwater crept out in 1977, but only found its way onto CD in 2003, replete with four bonus tracks and a slightly revised running order, making it awkward reviewing the original tracklisting. It's a good album, while not really displaying the odder side of their repertoire, opening with the average hard rock of AM (moved to track 5 on the CD, swapping places with Frustration Mass), and rarely moving into non-(prog)mainstream territory from then on. This isn't to say there's anything wrong with the album, of course, just that it doesn't especially stand out from the pack. There isn't that much Mellotron to be heard here; I don't believe the band owned one, so keyboard man Ken Kappel would probably have decided where to use it pretty much on the spot in the studio. There are a couple of string chords on Orphan Girl and Gwen's Madrigal, with more serious use on Palendrode, but that seems to be it, with nothing on the CD's bonus tracks.
Given that very few people would've heard their sole album at the time, it was a wonder of the modern age that an archive disc, Out of the Abyss, appeared in 1992, triggering interest in the band among the newly-organised progressive community (praise be for the Internet...). It contained nine of the 54 (!) songs the band wrote in their lifetime, most of which are now, sadly, presumably lost to the ravages of time. It seems that their more interesting material was kept on the shelf at the time, so going by this disc alone you'd probably describe their sound as complex, driving prog, with Gentle Giant influences, amongst others, reminding me slightly of another obscure US outfit, Yezda Urfa. There isn't a bad track on the album, although some are, of course, better than others; definitely worth hearing for any fan of the genre.
Kappel is listed as playing a wide range of 'boards, but going by the rehearsal pic in the CD booklet, he probably owned the cheaper end of the list, with the one highly visible instrument being an Elka string synth. Oh well, at least they had the nous to borrow/hire some good kit for recording, unlike other bands I can think of (how much better would Fruupp have sounded if they'd hired a 'Tron?). Saying that, the Mellotron gets very little use indeed, with short (but intense) bursts of strings on EM 54 and Gwen's Madrigal (The Violation Version), and slightly more of the same on The Journeys, so this is quite a long way from being a 'Tron classic, although it's a damn' good prog album, especially if you're into the more 'twisty/turny' end of the genre.
Like many of their contemporaries, the band reformed in the 2000s and recorded some new (and old) material, combining it with more archive recordings, releasing the composite album as Ab-Dul in 2007. Bad news first: the cover. What are you thinking of, guys? Even if it's meant as a joke, it's possibly the ugliest prog sleeve design I've ever seen; maybe I'm missing something. Anyway, the good news: it's excellent. It seems a few more of those 54 songs have now been made available, which has to be good news, and while neither of the newly-written tracks are exactly jaw-dropping, nor are they offensive, which is a distinct result. I'm not sure if anything here is as adventurous as some of the Out of the Abyss material, but most of it is more satisfying than most of their original album. As always, very little 'Tron, but given the number of different sessions over which it was recorded, that's hardly surprising. Near-as-dammit identical flute parts on the exceedingly short and near-as-dammit identical The Tale of Clear Fog and The Tale of Clear Fog (Reprise), plus a monophonic string line (along with a real violin) on Chasing, only just tipping the album over the one-star level.
So; three good albums, though the archive material is definitely more adventurous. Not a lot of 'Tron on any of them, to be honest, but they're all worth hearing for prog fans of all persuasions.
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No Man's Land (1975, 38.31/49.43) ***½/TTTTT |
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| Sun Sets Sail Demon of Love Empires of Steel Tru Lady of the Morning Garden of Death Run Through Your Life At Last a Crew |
[CD adds: We're Next Demon of Love Fire Athena] |
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After Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come disintegrated following the release of the wonderful Journey, US keyboard player Victor Peraino somehow retained the name, releasing No Man's Land in '75 under the name Victor Peraino's Kingdom Come. It doesn't sound a million miles away from Journey, if you could imagine that album being played by a full band and sung by an American (go on - try). There don't seem to be any genuinely great songs on the record (although Lady Of The Morning's pretty good), but all the material's reasonable, in a hard rock/prog vein, although some of the tuning discrepancies between synths and 'Tron are enough to set your teeth on edge.
Peraino's Mellotron use is, again, quite magnificent, with lashings of strings, choir, cellos and brass all over the album. There are too many individual highlights to name, although Lady Of The Morning has especially good use on all fronts. Peraino frequently used two sounds at once (strings and choir being popular choices), although I doubt if he was able to reproduce this live. To my knowledge, his Mellotron ended up on the West Coast with Syn-Phonic label owner Greg Walker, who occasionally hires it out for gigs or recording. So; not a bad album, and it's finally out on CD, but an absolute Mellotron Monster, so highly recommended on those grounds.
Incidentally, the bonus tracks on the CD are from Peraino's 1981 EP, We're Next, in a very similar style to the album, despite being from several years later. Unfortunately, they've been 'mastered' from rather tatty vinyl, complete with distortion and considerable surface noise, with no obvious attempt made at de-noising. The tracks aren't bad (OK, Victor's version of Arthur's Fire is rather ordinary), although only two of them are actually new songs, Demon Of Love being on the album in its original form. Practically no 'Tron, with only a couple of choir chords at the end of Demon Of Love, although I'm quite surprised there's any at all. Anyway, you won't find this on vinyl, so you've got 'em whether you want 'em or not.
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Wildflowers (1994, 62.49) ***½/T |
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| Wildflowers You Don't Know How it Feels Time to Move on You Wreck Me It's Good to Be King Only a Broken Heart Honey Bee Don't Fade on Me |
Hard on Me Cabin Down Below To Find a Friend A Higher Place House in the Woods Crawling Back to You Wake Up Time |
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Echo (1999, 61.58) ***½/½ |
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| Room at the Top Counting on You Free Girl Now Lonesome Sundown Swingin' Accused of Love Echo Won't Last Long |
Billy the Kid I Don't Wanna Fight This One's for Me No More About to Give Out Rhino Skin One More Day, One More Night |
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Tom Petty's had a slightly odd career, not releasing his debut album until 1976, despite being born in 1950, making his spiritual home some years earlier than his first flush of success. He survived the horrors of the '80s remarkably well, even managing a great psych single in '85 with Don't Come Around Here No More, and gained a career boost from being the youngest member of the Travel(l)ing Wilburys later that decade. The '90s saw him taking on the role of Rock Elder Statesman, without the pompousness that so often goes with the title, not to mention no appreciable drop in songwriting quality.
1994's Wildflowers is Petty's second solo album, though most of us would be hard-pushed to spot the difference, especially considering that most of the Heartbreakers are present and correct, including keys man Benmont Tench. It's a good album without being groundbreaking, covering all Petty's bases from fully acoustic (Don't Fade On Me) to all-out rock (Honey Bee) and every stage in between. Tench plays Mellotron on a couple of tracks, with quite upfront flutes and more background cellos on Only A Broken Heart and a weirder, less overt flute part on Crawling Back To You.
Echo saw him back with the Heartbreakers officially, though sonically, it heavily resembles Wildflowers, essentially being his take on what's become known as Americana. I actually found the album a little dreary in places, though Petty fans will almost certainly love it; it certainly sounds like a Tom Petty album, which beats just about anything being produced by anyone new, sad to say. Definite Chamberlin from Tench on closer One More Day, One More Night (flutes) and possible strings on Rhino Skin, but, as usual, it's hard to tell.
So; two Tom Petty albums, both predictable, but in a good way. More tape-replay on Wildflowers than Echo, should that be your buying criterion (and don't try to pretend it isn't; I've got the e-mails to prove it).
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Phantom Planet is Missing (1998, 33.15) ****/TTTT |
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| I Was Better Off So I Fall Again Recently Distressed Can't Take it The Local Black and Red Don't Get Down Dying of Silence Down in a Second |
Lisa (Does it Hurt You?) Rest Easy Sleep Machine |
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Good job Jim Rigberg reviewed this; I've never heard of Jason Schwarztman...
While every review I've ever read concerning this band comments on Jason Schwarztman's acting (and that Francis Ford Coppola is his uncle and Talia Shire is his mom), none of them note that Phantom Planet Is Missing actually was released months before Schwartman's film debut in Rushmore. It would not surprise me if the omission of this fact incorrectly leads readers to believe that Phantom Planet is some kind of gimmick band put together to enhance Schwartzman's burgeoning film career. I suppose it doesn't help that, at the time Phantom Planet is Missing came out, no member of the band was older than 21 and lead singer Alex Greenwald is a model.
Clearly, Phantom Planet is no gimmick. I happened to pick up Phantom Planet Is Missing the week it was released after listening to the first three songs at a Tower Records 'CD bar'. (Consequently, while most people seeing Phantom Planet for the first time likely saw Schwartzman and said "Hey, its the guy from Rushmore", I saw Rushmore and said "Hey, its the drummer from Phantom Planet!"). The first three songs were that good and the rest of the CD really didn't disappoint either. The band plays earnest art-pop - I'm certain their influences would include the usual suspects (Beatles, ELO, old David Bowie, Cheap Trick, XTC etc.). Phantom Planet has a unique sonic 'attack' in that its three guitarists - Greenwald, Jacques Brautbar and Darren Robinson - really take the time to come up with great guitar 'arrangements'. Rarely do all three play the same thing at the same time and they come up with a great variety of guitar sounds. As good as it sounds on the CD, it's even more effective live.
Adding to the mix on Phantom Planet is Missing is a copious contribution of Chamberlin courtesy of the ubiquitous Patrick Warren. Opener I Was Better Off is laden with flutes and strings as well as what sounds (to my untrained ears anyway) like either slide or Hawaiian guitar during the chorus. Flutes are used effectively to punch up the chorus in So I Fall Again and there is a great little cello melody weaving in and out of the verses in the power-poppy Recently Distressed. Possibly the tape-replay highlight of the CD is Warren's great string waltz that wraps up the end of Can't Take It. Also of note is the great vibe part in Down In A Second.
Producer Mitchell Froom of all people unbelievably opted not to use Mellotron/Chamberlin on Phantom Planet's second CD, The Guest. The few songs I've heard are very good, though, augmented as they are with real strings etc. Incidentally, according to Allmusic.com, Schwartzman left Phantom Planet two months ago (August 2003). As he did not appear to write any of the music, I'm not all that concerned that the band's creative abilities will be horribly affected by his departure, although reviewers, I suppose, will start referring to Phantom Planet as his former band.
At any rate, if you like crunchy (but happy) arty power pop, pick this up, although I can certainly recommend it for its Mellotronic (okay, Chamberlinic) content as well.
| Jim Rigberg |
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Phantom's Divine Comedy, Part 1 (1974, 39.23) **½/TTales From a WizardDevil's Child Calm Before the Storm Half a Life Spiders Will Dance (on Your Face While You Sleep) Black Magic, White Magic Merlin Stand Beside My Fire Welcome to Hell |
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I listened to Phantom's Divine Comedy, Part 1 before I read any online reviews, but still managed to come to the same conclusion as most other reviewers, i.e. it's a rather ropey Doors pastiche with a vocalist who sounds slightly like Jimbo on a bad day. The music is basically piano-driven slightly hard rock, with few memorable features, while the lyrics are by and large preposterous rubbish, although at least they're amusing in places. I've no idea why they called themselves what they did, let alone why they used pseudonyms like Phantom, X, Y and Z, unless it was a semi-deliberate attempt to pull the wool over the public's eyes (see: Klaatu). The weirdest thing about the whole project is that is was actually released by Capitol, rather than just creeping out on some two-bit independent. What were they thinking? The Doors?
All in all, this is a bit dismal. Plagiarism is rife; Stand Beside My Fire could be accused of ripping off Hawkwind's Magnu, had that appeared a year earlier (!), and Welcome To Hell cops lyrics from Sabbath's NIB. I sat through most of the album thinking, "No bloody 'Tron here", until the uncredited strings on Welcome To Hell, possibly played by the mysterious 'Z', who may or may not be otherwise known as Mike DeMartino. So; pretty tedious, even to fans of the era, with just one passable 'Tron track. Avoid.
