Penguin Party “Sex furniture warehouse and other stories”
Dave Milligan has a lovable quirky attitude on this third Penguin Party album. “Mike Leigh-on-sea” is an impressive XTC styled single, and the album goes off on the theme of senior citizenship with typical British jangle and whimsy. The production is sparse compared to the last album, and it brings us a homey intimacy on “She Was Only A Roofer’s Daughter.” It’s like Martin Newell doing a sing-a-long in the pub, especially on the charming “Song For My Old Lady.” Sometimes it looses it’s way getting too jokey (like an old Monty Python tune) or experimental. But there are more than enough gems here (like the terrific “Whatever Happened to Tomorrow’s World?”) to make it worth your while. Fans of Mr. Newell and Mr. Partridge shouldn’t miss this one.
Lousy Robot “Hail The Conquering Fool”
If you mixed The Eels and Apples in Stereo in a blender you might get Lousy Robot. This Albuquerque indie band knows about quirky synth hooks and fuzzy riff based pop. Listening to the hand clapping goodness of “Andy Warhol’s Gone” it sets expectations high. The album balances out tight melodies in songs like “The Peacock” with low key filler (“A Not Quite Perfect Film”). Some of the stream of conscious lyrical musings work well on “Christmas In Berlin” and it sets you up for sweet tracks like “Sugarsweet Me.” However the band wears its slacker badge with pride, as “A Man On A Weird Horse, Pt. 1” teases us with a single bridge. And that’s the issue I have – a few good songs surrounded by a pile of loose snippets. This 12 track album felt more like an EP, so I hope the band makes more pop and less “corn” on the next album. Pick out the choice kernels here.
