INTERMISSION

Why would The Residents release albums of incidental music from their defunct and failed stage shows? Because it's The Residents and some people just have to have everything they produce. This is an EP of 5 songs that were previously unavailable on any of The Mole albums, but (as the label says) it is not Music from The Mole Part III, its all music that was produced only for use in The Residents' live Mole shows. Originally, it was not intended for release, but since The Residents couldn't capitalize on the goofy story, they just couldn't help themselves. And it is good for us that they couldn't. The 5 songs on this short EP are better than most of the tracks that were released for consumer consumption and regurgitation.

This album was made before Snakefinger's passing away and before the period of time when the band got caught up in the vortex called The 80's, which is probably when they released their most unfunny and uninspired music and resorted to your grandmother's cheap Wurlitzer organ to make music.

Lights Out - Snakefinger makes his presence quite known on this track with his unique guitar stylings laid out upon a base of percussion and hand clap loops along with some very eerie synth effects and music. Strangely enough, this sounds better than a lot of the music on any of "The Mole" albums and was only used as an introduction to their live show.

Shorty's Lament - A lot of percussion loops and a spooky synth play the melody of this track, and the melody gets more apparent when some guest singers sing choral style along with the synth. The percussion is a bit hollow sounding (due to effects) and maybe too repetitive, but the vocals make up for it all. Spoken word from The Resident's own lead vocalist and his drawl fill in more space on this one when the synth isn't there making some atmospheric freakout music.

The Moles Are Coming - This tense piece sounds like it could have come from a suspense thriller, but then so could 70% of The Resident's music. It is quite an intriguing, yet short track, and probably one of the best of any of their incidental pieces. This is the reason why you just have to have The Resident's music, because you never know when they hit upon a masterpiece even if it is by accident.

Would We Be Alive? - This one sounds the most like it was produced on an organ in your friendly neighborhood second hand store. But this was also before they wore that sound out, so you got to give them credit for trying it out here, but after that, they should have left the organ in the fire they set when they burned down that 2nd hand store.

The New Hymn - More really band music, but done in a good way. Bad rhythm track, obnoxious organ chords and a really twisted sounding choir that sucks on helium balloons for a hobby. Oh yeah, and Mister Cowboy lead singer from The Resident's sings too. But again, this was before they wore that sound out completely. But it's all in fun, and when it's all in fun, well, anything can get past the snobby critics.

This is a fun EP and if you have to have at least one album full of incidental, failed stage shows from The Residents, well you should first have your head examined, and then you should have this one. If not, well then, absolutely nothing will happen, but you will eventually pass away not ever having heard this before. Hmmm, kind of makes you stop and think, doesn't it? No? Well then go finish your cauliflower pizza! Oprah loves them!