Lunatics and Poets
2004 CD release by Red Elvises
By Kayt
Red Elvises were long overdue for an album release, even acknowledging that they’ve been through a lot in the past two years as band members left and new ones were added and then they in turn started leaving. Even with all that, it has still been two years since they released a CD so we are kinda starved for new Red Elvises music. But the guys have been working hard to write, perform and produce more of the kick ass music we’ve come to know and love from them and “Lunatics and Poets” is the excellent result of all that hard work. Although the main musicians on the CD are Igor, Oleg, Adam and Schramm there were also quite a few others who contributed to the project, and the energetic, smooth result is a tribute to the talent and spirit of this inspired teamwork.
Overall, I would say that this CD is truly candy for the ears; it is crisp with tight rhythms and very clear vocals that aren’t overshadowed by the music. You may not even need a lyrics list to sing along, that’s how much the vocals stand out. Igor’s and Oleg’s voices are in fine form and sound terrific, and the backup vocals are a lot of fun as well. This CD, after forays into disco, synthesizers, slightly harder rock and a nearly all-Russian CD, takes us back to their Russian roots with a sound more reminiscent of their earlier work and just as danceable and fun as the “Belly Dance” CD.
I made notes for this review while driving to work and back, over several days’ time, mostly at traffic lights but also while jammed in torturous L.A. traffic. And then sometimes the light would change while I was scribbling some “profound” thought, mid-word, or the traffic would suddenly and inexplicably free up, so trying to actually read my notes later was a challenge. But I had a great time listening, either way – no one should have a right to be that happy while stuck in traffic! And so here goes…
The first track consists of relaxing ocean sounds to ease us into it, then track number two (actual song number one), “Venice USA” jump starts us into gear and will make a lot of people want to get up and dance. It delivers some very L.A. images after its “come on and dance” high energy saxophone intro and makes you feel like you really are driving down the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway, for those outside California) and seeing the ocean that looks like the silver screen, the surfers who look a little stoned, the blondes dressed up in silicon and everybody, in and out of their cars, talking bullshit on the phone. Then there’s some scatting with audience participation built in, and the whole thing is just a lot of energetic fun.
The next song, “Night Butterfly,” is one some of us have heard played live within the past year; it’s a lot of fun and it cleans up real nice. On “Lunatics and Poets” it starts out with a rather hair-raising chorus of what sounds like child vocalists singing “Hey Hey!” and then it goes on to kick some more ass from there. Now let me say here that I know nothing whatsoever of the technicalities of music, and what qualifies me to write this review is simply loving this band and being very experienced at listening to their music over the years. In short, I know what I like and I know what gets people at the shows dancing. This song definitely does, as some of us have seen already. So when I say that the “musical part in the middle” (not knowing the technical name for it, where the guitar wails and the keyboard has a party but there is no singing…) is impressive both where it’s more guitarish and where it’s more keyboard-ish, just bear with me. You know what I mean, or I hope you will when you hear it. It’s a good solid song and already a proven crowd pleaser.
On the next track, “Love Rocket,” Oleg sings his only lead vocal on the CD and he’s never sounded better. This song makes me smile because it’s so like Oleg, especially the line “I’m in love with the whole world!” He’s truly a people person and especially all about the female people, as when he sings “I’ve got a condom in my pocket, gonna meet me pretty girl!” This very fun song raises honky tonk to a whole new energy level and the drums and piano in it are truly inducive to ass shaking as well.
Next we have a short but peaceful interlude of… wind. Yes, wind. Just enough to take some deep breaths and then jump out on the dance floor again, just in time for the new, reworked English language version of “Natasha Loves Reggae” from the mostly-Russian “Rokenrol” CD. The song is now retitled “Winter Reggae” and is way cool in either language. Hey, it’s all about some girl named Natasha and she’s singing reggae and that’s just really groovy. It has a really cool reggae rock beat teamed with a very L.A. sort of drinks-by-the-ocean feeling that many of us can easily imagine craving in the winter. It evokes that feeling of walking along a boardwalk or through a carnival with your special someone, hand in hand, carefree, just having fun. The very first few notes of the intro reminded me a little of “Susanna,” but from there it is, of course, completely different. I love it just as much the Russian-language “Rokenrol” version, and I love it even more live. It’s such a catchy song that I find myself singing bits of it – quietly, only to myself , don’t panic-- hours after hearing it.
On “Ticket to Japan,” the next track, we’re treated to some very sexy lead guitar sounds as well as some nifty jet airplane sound effects. This song just makes you want to shake your head wildly back and forth while dancing like a maniac. It’s a let-your-hair-down song full of that special Red Elvises wackiness mixed with Russian angst. I mean, think of it, the poor guy wants to cry because his girl took off on a one-way ticket to Japan and is never coming back. Why is she going to Japan? Why isn’t she coming back? We don’t know these things but it’s sad, dude! You’d cry too, if you could stop dancing your ass off long enough.
The next song, “Memoirs of a Phuket Geisha,” is the tearful story of a down-and-out Thai hooker telling her troubles to the one man who will listen and then write a song about her. It’s not so danceable but in the tradition of great storytelling songs such as “Strip Joint is Closed,” it’s funny as hell and well worth taking a breather from dancing to give it a listen. This song is a veritable culture clash with its Thai main character (Phuket, of course, being a town in Thailand) and the music sounding like a beautiful but tragic Russian folk melody. Throw in the boyfriend from Norway who no longer sends money, the annoying client from Rome and the transvestite uncle in Bangkok and you’ve got a virtual United Nations of tragedy going on amidst the dark comedy. Be glad you don’t have her troubles… Kinda makes your life seem better, huh?
“Juliet” is, of course, another song that has been played quite a bit live over the past year or so, and also appeared on the “Rokenrol” CD as one of the two English-language songs on that CD. Here it features some very cool and accomplished guitar work on its intro. It has always made me want to dance like mad and still does, and the child-sung chorus is still very humorous because of the stark contrast between the sweet sounding innocence of the girl’s voice and the lyrics themselves. It’s a little, but not much, different from the version on “Rokenrol” which I had gotten used to enjoying very much in Russian; it loses the violins of the “Rokenrol” version and to me it now sounds a little less “produced” or cleaner, or something (keeping in mind my total ignorance of any musical technical terms). Either way, “Juliet” rocks, as always.
“Tchaikovski” begins with some spooky but neato sound effects and a really cool, kick ass guitar intro followed by great lyrics, a jazzy-rock bass interlude and the lyrics that formed the CD’s title. This is one sexy song and gives us a chance to shout out the name of some Russian girl who is driving her guy insane and inspiring him call out her name. I think this may be my favorite new song on the CD, but then there are others I also love that are real contenders as well.
Such as… “Party Like A Rock Star” – a “good times” song that makes me think of summer fun. “You like to party like a rock star, baby…” Now I finally know how to describe how I like to party! Like a rock star! Who knew? It’s sweet, danceable and lots of fun. You gotta love a song that (inadvertently?) gives a nod to both Fred Flintstone (“Yabba dabba dabba doo…”) and Elvis (“I’m a hunka hunka burnin’ love”); it just makes me smile, a lot, and I think it’s a very cool song.
The last song on the CD is “This Music Is Wasted If We Don’t Dance,” which has also been played live at many shows, at least in the Southern California area. It’s a song that will inspire belly dancing and all other types of dancing as well; it also has that summertime feel that permeates this CD (bring on the summer! Yeah!). It’s salsa-flavored and has that rev-up-the-crowd kind of energy. I’ve seen and heard this song rev up crowds so I know what it can do. It’s fun!
So we have a new Red Elvises CD and it’s a keeper, like a very satisfying and delicious well done piece of steak, or a sweet and irresistible big yummy piece of cake! But much easier than either to put in your CD player and it may not leave as fast. If I had to sum it up in one word I’d say “Fun!” It also brings us some very accomplished lead guitar, jazzy infectious basslines, kick ass drumming, get-up-and-move sax and wildly tinkling piano notes, as well as other guest instruments such as accordion. For anyone who has missed the more Russian sound of their earlier albums, this should help. And it will get you moving, or at least tapping feet or fingers or toes along to the beat. The songs also tend to stick like teflon in your head, so if you’re going anywhere very serious it may not be the best idea to listen just before going. But life is too short to be serious very often, so buy “Lunatics and Poets” and listen, enjoy and dance! Don’t waste the music!
Many thanks to Oleg for making the mp3s available to me ahead of time and sending me a copy prior to the release date, for this review. And thanks to Igor for asking me which song I like best and making me really think about it hard, even though I honestly do love them all. And of course, big thanks to them both and to all the fine musicians on “Lunatics and Poets” for making such terrific new music for us!
|