Friday, January 07, 2005
Laughter, Hatred, Half-Dead, Naked; Where is the Solution?
The National Gallery "Barbaric, Classical, Solemn"
The National Gallery "Self Portrait"
Maybe more so than with any other recent youth trend, great things could happen when otherwise “unhip” folks tried to jump into the late ‘60’s hippie miasma. In 1968 the National Gallery released a great, long forgotten psych-pop record inspired by the paintings of Paul Klee, an early 20th century Swiss expressionist (and protagonist of a good short story by Donald Barthelme). Appropriately enough, they called it “The Interpretations of the Paintings of Paul Klee”. Combining ridiculous lyrics with guileless, sometimes child-like vocals, this record is like a brilliant cross-section between Arcesia, the United States of America, and Up With People. It also resembles the humorous hippie knock-offs found in the contemporary film The President’s Analyst and Mr. Show’s Jesus Christ Superstar parody "Jeepers Creepers". Apparently there was no information about the band members whatsoever in the liner notes of their only album. It’s almost impossible to tell if they were sincere, yet naïve, young flower children with a love for early 20th century art, or if they were cynical pros trying to exploit the popular tastes of the time. Chuck Mangione produced the album, and might have written or performed on the songs, and that probably tips it towards the latter of those two options. The National Gallery were from New York, and there are hints of their influence on fellow Empire Statesmen the Ladybug Transistor and the Essex Green. If this was rereleased today, I could see it going over big with the sort of people who went nuts over the Free Design and the United States of America.
Special Bonus MP3: Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88". Maybe the first ever rock and roll song. Written by Ike Turner. Intro ripped off for "Good Golly Miss Molly" and countless other songs. Directly responsible for Breaking Benjamin and all this other great rock music that we so love.
The National Gallery "Barbaric, Classical, Solemn"
The National Gallery "Self Portrait"
Maybe more so than with any other recent youth trend, great things could happen when otherwise “unhip” folks tried to jump into the late ‘60’s hippie miasma. In 1968 the National Gallery released a great, long forgotten psych-pop record inspired by the paintings of Paul Klee, an early 20th century Swiss expressionist (and protagonist of a good short story by Donald Barthelme). Appropriately enough, they called it “The Interpretations of the Paintings of Paul Klee”. Combining ridiculous lyrics with guileless, sometimes child-like vocals, this record is like a brilliant cross-section between Arcesia, the United States of America, and Up With People. It also resembles the humorous hippie knock-offs found in the contemporary film The President’s Analyst and Mr. Show’s Jesus Christ Superstar parody "Jeepers Creepers". Apparently there was no information about the band members whatsoever in the liner notes of their only album. It’s almost impossible to tell if they were sincere, yet naïve, young flower children with a love for early 20th century art, or if they were cynical pros trying to exploit the popular tastes of the time. Chuck Mangione produced the album, and might have written or performed on the songs, and that probably tips it towards the latter of those two options. The National Gallery were from New York, and there are hints of their influence on fellow Empire Statesmen the Ladybug Transistor and the Essex Green. If this was rereleased today, I could see it going over big with the sort of people who went nuts over the Free Design and the United States of America.
Special Bonus MP3: Jackie Brenston's "Rocket 88". Maybe the first ever rock and roll song. Written by Ike Turner. Intro ripped off for "Good Golly Miss Molly" and countless other songs. Directly responsible for Breaking Benjamin and all this other great rock music that we so love.
