The Residents - The Bunny Boy

I was lucky enough to experience their show in Oslo on November 29th last year, and wasn't disappointed. Plus that the show was highly amusing as well and I had several good laughs during it, it was a really unique experience. Musically, it was pretty much what I expected; demented and VERY quirky tunes that worked very well with the Bunny Boy concept (in the strange Residents way of course). One of those gigs I'll surely not forget!

Slartibartfast wrote: I see I have a little Residential catching up to do.

You're not alone. TBH, I've probably only heard/experienced 15% of everything they've done - I still haven't heard the Mole albums! The Bunny Boy is definitely a good one to get into, though. Watch the videos and you'll soon be hooked.

Slartibartfast wrote: The latest two I have are Tweedles and Animal Lover.

I have Animal Lover, which is good but not as brilliant as some have made out, IMO. Tweedles passed me by altogether. What did you make of it?

It's already been released? Sweet.

Syzygy wrote: Rocktopus wrote: Trouserpress wrote: I still haven't heard the Mole albums! Mark of the Mole, Intermission EP (bonus on Mole CD) and The Tunes of Two Cities are absolutely fantastic! I can't imagine they'll dissapoint. Up there with Duck Stab/Buster and Glen (but very different). Haven't really warmed up to Bunny Boy yet myself. Enjoyed the concert, though. Have you got the Animal Lover release with the excellent Imaginary Jack bonus, instrumental album?   I have an epic review of the Mole albums which I may eventually get round to posting (if I ever finish the bloody thing). Their last truly great music IMO, although there's been plenty of good stuff since. I've not heard Bunny Boy yet, but I'll get around to it once I've finished procrastinating.   Incidentally TP, how the devil are you these days? Nice to see you back on the forums!

I'm definitely going to be getting hold of the mole stuff just as soon as I can. Do finish off that review, Syz! I'm still fiddling with my Bunny Boy one - so much I'm trying to cover with that without it becoming a review of the entire project (which isn't appropriate for an album review, but necessary to put it all in context).

Oh, and I'm quite well, if a little hard-up at present. Graduating from uni on the cusp of a recession was poor timing, it seems.

victor77 wrote: I have Animal Lover, which is good but not as brilliant as some have made out, IMO. Tweedles passed me by altogether. What did you make of it?   I´m quite surprised about it, I think Animal Lover is one of the best records they recently made, mainly because of the great balance between weirdness and accessibility, an aspect hard to find on other of their records.

Agreed. It's just never 'clicked' with me. At least, not yet. Maybe I need to dig it out and try again.

Tweedles is rather pervy.  I've got a review and am so far the only one to "touch" it. 

I think Animal Lover is my favorite so far, though there's many I haven't heard yet.  I agree with it achieving weirdness and accessibility to a good degree at the same time.  Inner Space is really moving.


Edited by Slartibartfast - April 10 2009 at 07:48

Well, it's over.

npjnpj wrote: Never heard any of their albums. Which one would anyone recommend for the easily scared?

Eskimo - That album basically consists of sparse, experimental soundscapes (with a dash of humour in there). This was the album that got me into The Residents.

Duck Stab/Buster & Glen - Superb, twisted avant-pop. A little more blatantly freaky but it's also quite catchy and is undoubtedly amongst their very best works.

The Commercial Album - The songs on this album range from the very strange to the suprisingly melodic. Also, they all last just sixty seconds, so if you don't like one track it won't be long before the next one comes along!

The Bunny Boy - Their latest project and the main subject of this thread. See my review for details: http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=20936

I wouldn't like to say which of those four would be best for you, but Eskimo and TBB are probably the least overtly strange and discordant. Good luck!

Trouserpress wrote: npjnpj wrote: Never heard any of their albums. Which one would anyone recommend for the easily scared? I wouldn't like to say which of those four would be best for you, but Eskimo and TBB are probably the least overtly strange and discordant. Good luck!

I'm sorry, but I strongly disagree. For someone's easily scared Eskimo and The Bunny Boy may be two of the worst startingpoints I can think of. I wouldn't consider any of them representative and I find TBB to be quite uninteresting, musically speaking (imo, of course).

Eskimo is a fantastic but a sometimes terryifiyng and icecold tone poem (and a bit of fun, yes) will not work well as an introducton for most. The twisted and catchy avantpop on the two you other classics you suggest: Duck Stab/Buster & Glen, The Commercial Album, gives a much better idea on what The Residents are (mainly) about.

Not Available and The Tunes of Two Cities are probably good places to start as well. My first was Meet the Residents. It was the strangest music I've ever heard, and I played it over an over, probably 50 times or more (especially side 1).