OKComputer1016
07/12/08, 01:55 PM
Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band - The Whole Fam Damnily
Record Label: SideOneDummy Records
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Like a much more bluegrass version of Primus, Reverend Peyton and his immediate family of nowhere-Indiana musicians tend to come off a lot more novelty than, you know, musical. I’m sure that that’s what they’re going for in writing this stuff, but it’s not what I’m going for in listening to it.
For one thing, Reverend Peyton doesn’t have the most exciting leadman voice – in fact, his breathy bumble takes away from some pretty alright songs like “Worn Out Shoe.” His pitch isn’t that good kind of bad like Les Claypool... it’s just regular bad; it’s like Flogging Molly’s Dave King and Jello Biafra combined with Lambchop from "Lambchop’s Playalong" (if you don’t know who that is, just substitute a goat into that equation).
Peyton tends to just say the title of the song during the chorus, then maybe shake it up a bit by yelling the same words. I pictured Wesley Willis, especially during the not-attention-holding “Your Cousin’s On Cops.” That’s just definitely not the impression that good music should give you (unless of course you were one of the lucky fellars Wesley wrote a song about).
I like it that the group sing songs about what they know, rather than writing some Republican support ballads or something. “I wanna thank y’all for the food that ya gave us / but it don’t hold a candle to mama’s fried potaters,” shouts Peyton in his best attempt to jam as many syllables as possible into the refrain of “Mama’s Fried Potatoes.” Sure, it’s kind of pointless, but so is this album.
It’s refreshing that the group doesn’t have a Myspace (or probably even a computer). It kind of authenticates the whole working on a farm vibe, so you know they aren’t some suburban Chicago residents who just wanted to try and start the next big thing in music (completely, just ridiculously illogical). And plus it guarantees they won’t be able to read this negative review.
For the most part, if this dude were to learn how not to sing like a cartoon character, I’d be on board - I mean, their music is pretty interesting, to say the least. The big damn band would be pretty wise to hire another family member... to hold down vocal responsibilities. But as it is, I’m relatively certain the Reverend Peyton won’t be converting many people any time soon.
Primus, O Brother Where Art Thou?, nothing else that you’ve ever heard
myspace.com/therevpeytonsbigdamnband (http://www.myspace.com/therevpeytonsbigdamnband)
Record Label: SideOneDummy Records
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Like a much more bluegrass version of Primus, Reverend Peyton and his immediate family of nowhere-Indiana musicians tend to come off a lot more novelty than, you know, musical. I’m sure that that’s what they’re going for in writing this stuff, but it’s not what I’m going for in listening to it.
For one thing, Reverend Peyton doesn’t have the most exciting leadman voice – in fact, his breathy bumble takes away from some pretty alright songs like “Worn Out Shoe.” His pitch isn’t that good kind of bad like Les Claypool... it’s just regular bad; it’s like Flogging Molly’s Dave King and Jello Biafra combined with Lambchop from "Lambchop’s Playalong" (if you don’t know who that is, just substitute a goat into that equation).
Peyton tends to just say the title of the song during the chorus, then maybe shake it up a bit by yelling the same words. I pictured Wesley Willis, especially during the not-attention-holding “Your Cousin’s On Cops.” That’s just definitely not the impression that good music should give you (unless of course you were one of the lucky fellars Wesley wrote a song about).
I like it that the group sing songs about what they know, rather than writing some Republican support ballads or something. “I wanna thank y’all for the food that ya gave us / but it don’t hold a candle to mama’s fried potaters,” shouts Peyton in his best attempt to jam as many syllables as possible into the refrain of “Mama’s Fried Potatoes.” Sure, it’s kind of pointless, but so is this album.
It’s refreshing that the group doesn’t have a Myspace (or probably even a computer). It kind of authenticates the whole working on a farm vibe, so you know they aren’t some suburban Chicago residents who just wanted to try and start the next big thing in music (completely, just ridiculously illogical). And plus it guarantees they won’t be able to read this negative review.
For the most part, if this dude were to learn how not to sing like a cartoon character, I’d be on board - I mean, their music is pretty interesting, to say the least. The big damn band would be pretty wise to hire another family member... to hold down vocal responsibilities. But as it is, I’m relatively certain the Reverend Peyton won’t be converting many people any time soon.
Primus, O Brother Where Art Thou?, nothing else that you’ve ever heard
myspace.com/therevpeytonsbigdamnband (http://www.myspace.com/therevpeytonsbigdamnband)