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90 Day Men
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Panda Park
Southern Records
Release: 2/24/2004
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Rated:
Review by:
Jason Dixon
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On first listen, Panda Park sounds like foolish, yet
intelligent math meddling. Upon further inspection, 90 Day Men
are easily the saviors of Rock As Art. If music geeks had a
convention akin to computer geeks' G3 (oh, maybe that's
South By Southwest), 90 Day Men would be the headliner for
2004.
Nearly every song on Panda Park seems to be an
escapade into "What other instrument are we experts at that
still fits into the context of this." Most of the
arrangements, even on the more straightforward ones ("When
Your Luck Runs Out" and "Too Late Or To Dead") reflect, yet
don't imitate OK Computer. It's not a large leap
to imagine Radiohead recording this record in Ween's
Scotchguard-induced The Pod sessions.
It's conceivable that on "Chronological Disorder" the band
hooked up with Mike Patton and crew to channel Zappa from a
wicked-cursed Ouija board. If that sounds too far-fetched,
maybe imagine Axl Rose on a whippit binge with Diana Krall
drunk and worthless on keys. Jazz extraordinaire! And
speaking of fine pianists, the closing track, "Night Birds"
contains an interlude anyone classically trained would be proud
of.
Panda Park is 40 minutes of something
resembling an At The Drive In record at 18 RPM - easy to lean
to the annoying side of the spectrum, but still surprisingly
listenable - fine for a rock evening or an especially boring
dinner party. It's sure to start conversation. As I'm still reeling
and remiss to say it's just progressive or importantly
whacked-out, I say open your mind and let the band inspect
your brain. |
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