With 37 short tracks, this 13th installment in the ongoing Carnival Folklore Resurrectionseries has a much more cut-up feel than the two disc set, also createdfor radio, which preceded it. As a critique of the onslaught of quicklychanging imagery that defines America 2004, this program succeeds inpointing out the depths of absurdity to which said culture has sunk.This is best exemplified by "Only In America inc.," which consists of ahilarious answering machine message left by a young entrepreneur for"Mr. Rockefeller." The young go-getter asks if Rockefeller will providehalf a million dollars to help him start up a company whose solefunction is to send phony bills to corporations, on the assumption thatsome of them will pay these "bills" without researching their validity.Alan Bishop's charming/fearsome "Uncle Jim" character makes severalappearances during this set. His free associated ranting is highlyenjoyable, as his interjections are transmitted in several shortbursts. This is an improvement on the previous volume, which devotedthree ten minute tracks to his verbal antics. Here his demeanor is likethat of a radio announcer, except he interrupts the program to presentfacts about cannibalism and make wise-crackin' boasts that oddly oftenreference baseball ("I'll crack yer skull with a greazy spitter/walkthe pitcher/strike out the lead-off hitter"). There is also muchworthwhile music hidden among the skits, radio collages and monologues."Very Middle East" sees the group in pseudo-ethnic mode, theirguitar-bass-drums lineup appropriating melodies discovered whiletravelling in Far East Asia. "Anvils Keep Fallin'" is exactly theparody of the BJ Thomas classic that one would hope it is upon readingthe title. "Bangalore Porch Lights" sounds like a recording of a banjoplayer searching for a melody he heard in a dream. "EvasivePrescription" and "Dark Eyes" are fine examples of the kind of mangledjazz/rock hybrid Sun City Girls are known for delivering live. During"Evasive Prescription" in particular they astound with their talent forcollectively stopping on a dime during sections of free improvisation.Although it has been suggested that they release too much material thatnever should have left the practice room, Sun City Girls should beapplauded for the sheer range of material they produce. I'd rather hearthe failed experiments among their gems than the perfected output ofcountless less daring outfits. - Read More
