Published on Mar 24, 1998
For those readers who think “alternative” music comprises solely
of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and the Smashing Pumpkins, you might want
to read today’s other review, ’cause you’re not going to like what
I’m going to talk about here.
Those of you who are still reading, you are the wiser ones – you
already recognize that part of the alternative scene also is made
up of bands who continually push the envelope of both the
boundaries of the genre and the sonic sctucture of music.
Today’s lab rats: Stickmen and their new disc
Life Colored Green, a disc which is challenging, but mostly
worth the effort you need to apply towards it.
This isn’t pure funk like Parliament, nor is it the “joke” funk
like Limbomaniacs tried to pawn off a few years ago. But brothers
Steve and Andy Demirjian plow through 13 numbers that dare to walk
the middle ground between both bands while establishing their own
voice in rock.
Admittedly, this is not something that’s easily digested. Songs
like “Sick Of It All” and “Peace Pipe” are enjoyable, but they’re
the equivalent to a concussion to the unsuspecting listener.
Harmonies and guitar solos are tossed out the window, allowing the
brothers Demirjian, bassist Eddie Jo and drummer Shawn Mullen the
freedom to fuck with your mind. And I gotta admit, they do a great
job of that.
C’mon, how can you not love a song called “This Sucks”? (By the
way, it doesn’t.) Mullen’s drum solo on “Red 40” puts John Bonham’s
“Moby Dick” to shame, while “Under The Influence” could well be the
first single off
Life Colored Green based on the strength of the
songwriting.
But as Kermit The Frog said, “It’s not easy being
Green.” Their cover of “Mexican Radio” leaves me – ugh –
pining for the original version (who
did perform the original? I’m drawing a blank), while the
sonic sculpture that closes the album, “Guh,” is a little
too experimental for an album like this.
But if you can get past the initial adjustment to the new sound
(it took me four songs before I really started to appreciate the
album – and I still think I need to give it another listen or two)
and you can withstand the few clunkers on the album,
Life Colored Green proves itself to be a halfway decent
effort, if not just a tad bizarre.
Are Stickmen going to achieve massive success with
Life Colored Green? Probably not – but that’s just because
the world may not be ready for their style of alternative music.
With a little more experience and patience, Stickmen could be the
new sound in a stagnating genre.