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L.A. Tool &
Die: Fashion for the Evildoer
What you can expect from dyed-in-the-wool pop purists L.A. Tool and Die is absolute brilliance. These six lads from Charlotte, NC whimsically serve up a buffet of catchy tunes designed to make you forget about the fact that rock n' roll is taken all too seriously in current times. The opening track, "Jesus Saved Me at the Record Show" is a spoof on aspiring rockers who believe in some sort of divine manifestation the instant that they decide to form a band of supposedly loyal scenesters. The taunting lyrics mock those who attend shows with an agenda that involves more than simply enjoying themselves: Twee kittens, punkers, and Emo, too/I saved Elf Power and I'll save you." LA Tool and Die realize that making music is not about whether or not youre hip, and they urge the kids when Lee sings "Just get on stage and go make some noise." One of the most pleasing elements of this record is Duncan's bassoon; it is shockingly not used as a gimmick. The bassoon on this record is understated yet adds to an overall richer texture. The only factor that makes me hesitate to give this record a perfect rating is the song "Flat on My Back." It is out of place, but perhaps that is L.A. Tool and Die's intention. While the rest of the album conjures happiness even on the sappy lost love ode "Lucky For Me" this song is too much of a pity party for itself. The real problem is in the first verse: "I got nauseous and I coughed up a lung." You don't have to be a five-star Scrabble player to know that a person cannot be "nauseous;" things like Rosie O'Donnell in a thong and cheese that has been left on the kitchen counter for a week are nauseous because they invoke nausea. At any rate, when you misuse a word in Scrabble, you just lose a turn and move onto the next player. That next player in this case is the song "1983," and this song is the true gem of the album. The song is frighteningly reminiscent of Elvis Costello's earlier work, though it is not Punch the Clock (released in 1983) that I think of, but his second album, This Year's Model. Lee's voice is certainly close to that of an "Angry Young Man," but the interesting fact about "1983" is that the song's lyrics are comprised of only six lines: "Little one in the dark/You hold me close/You're Driving Me Crazy/And I want you now/In my arms again/Every minute of every hour." While the lyrics are not as brooding as Mr. Costello's blurtings, the keyboard usage makes it hard to control your feet while singing along to Lee's heartbreaking words. The farewell song on the album, appropriately titled "Game Over," is another synth-heavy homage to the cultural lifestyle of the 1980's. The keyboard is the only instrument featured on this song, which is ideal for providing a simple melody that is just cheesy enough, considering the song is about an unhealthy obsession with the video arcade. The closing lines of the song couldn't be more fitting, not only for the song but for the album as a whole: "Oh Ms. Pac-Man/A quarter more and we can score/And I'll be with you/Til the end."
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