"Come
on kiddies gather 'round / There's a new sensation here in town /
When all else has been done and said / Along comes Mr. Oysterhead."
Oysterhead
may not be the last word – or note or chord – in music, or any
art for that matter, but they are definitely one of the most unique, exhilarating, and maniacal voices in the socioeconomic and political
entertainment continuum.
I
recently exhumed this gem from deep within my archival collection in
anticipation of the eponymous debut album by supergroup Gizmodrome,
co-founded by Police and Animal Logic drummer Stewart Copeland, who
also sits behind the kit for Oysterhead in collusion with Primus
bassist/vocalist Les Claypool and Phish guitarist/vocalist Trey
Anastasio.
Obviously,
the collaboration of such musical giants as Copeland, Claypool, and
Anastasio results in instrumental performances of the highest
technical – not to mention grand pecking – order. And thanks
especially to the freewheeling mad genius of Claypool, as well as
Copeland and Anastasio, the lyrics and vocals are refreshingly
ludicrous.
For
example, sample some more practical wisdom from Oysterhead:
"Rubberneck lions as I lie in bed / I bought a cactus from a
miser named Fred / I choose to live on water and bread / Rubberneck
lions as I lie in bed."
Although
Oysterhead themselves are not the last word, I leave the last words
of my review to them, extolling their presumably imaginary namesake's
virtues, which I believe they also share:
"He's
an inspiration! He's an inspiration! He's an inspiration to us ALL!"
--Raj
Manoharan
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