MARK OF THE MOLE

Ahh... The Mark Of The Mole. This was the beginning of an epic project that consumed them for some time. It is a parable of racial intolerance detailing the division between the swinging Chubs who live above ground and the Moles who live below to maintain conditions on the surface. It sounds dreary and it is.

The Residents have had frequent misfires and this one is a doozy, especially since it drags over four albums and occupied nearly a decade of their time. The music is ugly and unrewarding, and the story does not progess with any clear definition. The usually sharp band really goes nowhere with this at all.

There are moments in the series of albums that have some real power, but it is difficult to muster any enthusiasm for these albums. If you need to attempt the cycle, I highly recommend starting with The Mole Show: Live In Holland, which offers the whole piece in a more concise fashion with some funny commentary by Penn Jilette as the narrator. As a matter of fact that album would be all the Moles you need.