"Banji (Gamble On)," the stand-out track from Need New Body's debut LP, is a great lo-fi interpretation of the insistently composed madness of Yerself is Steam-era Mercury Rev. The rest of that album, with the exception of three or four other gems, is mostly a difficult mess of irreverent (and yet fairly commonplace) crashabash improvisation. There's considerably less aimless mess with UFO, turning what could be an uneven listen into quite a hilarious and fascinating journey.
Almost every track here is mentionable, for a multitude of different reasons. But with twenty three songs, I'll stick to the real treats. A song like "Red as a Bone" could easily be mistaken for a Kinsella-type pretentious indulgence, if it weren't for the offhand, half-assed nature of the free associative monologue being sort of sung in a detached monotone over a bland piano figure. There's some great absurdist imagery (admittedly one of Kinsellas' strengths) in the monologue, made even greater by the incidental bursts of laughter. It takes me to a very Frogs place, only much stranger. "Moondear" is a funny sort of ballad that is just delicate enough to be kind of pleasant, despite the silliness of the vocalist's approach. It's pretty amazing the way the singer blurts "You're the pumpkin of my eye," making you think it's just a tossed off thing, then coos in harmony with another vocalist in a sweet finishing coda. The band applies just enough compositional deftness to their off-the-cuff madness to keep things from sounding like my friends and I goofing off in the basement.
There's both an audacious bravery to their approach along with a respect for keeping some infectious hooks in the mix. "Ox" is a pretty straightforward tune for these guys, sounding a little like an organ-led instrumental that Quasi might come up with. While most of these songs are under two minutes, there are some more sprawling bits for variety. "Popfest" has a great metronomic groove with a relatively quietly sung, repetitive vocal line. I can just picture kids bouncing and pitching forward in joyous agitation to this number. It's four tight minutes of herky jerky fun. "Magic Finger" is a feat because it's such a funny little song without needing the kooky vocals. "Pen" and "Beach" are excellent examples of just how far into inane madness Need New Body was willing to go this time around. They both irradiate a commitment to absurdity in its nakedest states that is further encompassed by the a great deal of the band's output.
If you dig really strange, fun music that isn't opposed to your impatient, hook-loving ears, I highly recommend this and the band's previous album. Due to its slightly more significant wealth of user-friendliness, though, you might want to start with UFO. And be sure to see these psychopaths perform live. I know I will.
1. Gigglebush Meets CompUSA
2. Hot Shot
3. Moondear
4. Popfest
5. Pisscat
6. Tittiepop (In Japan)
7. Show Me Your Heart
8. Pow Pow
9. Red as a Bone
10. Turken Hogan
11. Make Gay Love Not War
12. Beach
13. Magic Finger
14. Ox
15. Manglor
16. I Know
17. Shark Attack
18. Need New Age
19. Dr. Spiffin's Food Drive
20. Coffee Shop Girl II
21. Pen
22. Applesnake
23. Turn Pillars Into Trees