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The Residents - Duck Stab / Buster & Glen CD (album) cover

DUCK STAB / BUSTER & GLEN

The Residents

 

RIO/Avant-Prog

4.31 | 140 ratings

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AtomicCrimsonRush
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Music with a severe case of dementia.

"Duck Stab/Buster & Glen" is one of The Residents albums that I looked forward to hearing after listening to a heap of others that alternate from plain ridiculous to ingenious. This one is hailed as one of their best so it was one I had to indulge in. it opens with 'Constantinople' with that nasal twang on all earlier albums "here I come Constantinople". Okay, it is not too bad, next is creepy weirdness in 'Sinister Exaggerator' and it is perhaps only for true addicts of this band being so oddball. Snakefinger's guitar work is always great though.

'Booker Tease' is a short stab reminding me of "Commercial Album"'s content. I like the guitar and rhythm that is actually a more commercial sound but the brass are unmistakeable as a Residents style of jazz. 'Blue Rosebuds' is more like Residents with a bubbling synth and deep bass, and the vocals are the same style as on "Commercial Album" that I have grown used to.

'Laughing Song' is wonderfully delirious, lots of laughter and nasal singing, and a nice little comical touch on the synths. 'Bach Is Dead' is whimsical with staccato brass and a synth sounding like a chicken clucking and the chant "Bach is dead" is chilling. Sounds like anything you are likely to hear from "Commercial Album".

'Elvis and His Boss' has an Elvis blues feel but with odd out of tune synths. The voice mimics Elvis similar to material on "Third Reich and Roll".

'Lizard Lady' has a classic disturbing Residents sound with weird verses sung nasally and echoed by atonal synth lines. Don't try and make sense of the lyrics as its pointless. 'Semolina' has quirky vocals multilayered and off kilter to the tuneless synths, a maddening low point on the album. Must admit the seagulls and waves enhance the sound.

'Birthday Boy' is funny but warped not to be played at birthdays. It sounds like a birthday at an asylum. I love the oddball music in particular but thankfully these songs are short before they wear thin.

'Weight Lifting Lulu' is great with its cool swinging surfie guitar sound, and layered whispered vocals. The atmosphere is incredibly unnerving, a trademark Residents vibe. 'Krafty Cheese' is more demented tuneless stuff, with a droning bass, and deep resonance in the vocals. The eyeballs revel in this type of sound.

'Hello Skinny' is one that I had heard elsewhere so it had a nice familiar sound. The pragonist is so skinny he can be sucked into an eye dropper. The melody is endearing and quite catchy and I love those vocals reminding me of much of "Commercial Album".

'Electrocutioner' ends the album with some really creepy music and as the song builds up there is the musical definition of an electrocution.

Not an album to be played at funerals.

AtomicCrimsonRush | 4/5 |

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