Everyman's 4th Dimension

Ashtray Boy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 1996)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ajax
• ASIN: B000005NH0
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #718,296 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Vacuum Cleaner Salesman

2. Little Boy

3. Corn Jack

4. Neighbours From Hell

5. (Onto The) Goat

6. Saying 'No' To Romper Room

7. The Everyman's 4th Dimension

8. Sapphire Island

9. A Universal Occult

10. Tour Vehicle

11. Dromedary Camel

12. The Tourist Living In A World Of Pain

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just--Wow, March 1, 2005

By 

bloodandfire (Tucson, AZ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Everyman's 4th Dimension (Audio CD)

I don't write reviews often, but an album this good from a band this overlooked deserves it. I don't suppose that one accidentally wanders into the "Ashtray Boy" section on amazon very often. Perhaps you heard of them by way of the fact that their leader Randall Lee was once a member of the Cannanes. Perhaps you heard that they represent one of the more cutting edge examples of Australian music.

Whatever the case this is just a wonderful, wonderful pop album. The sound on this lp is pretty dang different from any Cannanes album, but Randall Lee has kept his ability to write believable songs that veer from the serious to the absurd without feeling like he takes himself too seriously. There's definitely an expirimental tenor running through the album from the almost Pixie-ish squal of "Corn Jack", to the semi-jazz of "Dromedary Camel." But the prevailing mood on the album is one of relaxation mixed with tension. If you've ever heard early Talking heads or the "Before Hollywood" era Go Betweens music, especially songs like "Second Hand Furniture," then you know the mood I'm describing.

But the highlight of the album is "A Universal Occult," a waltz decrying the bad effects of fast food. It's a beautiful tune, and the more I hear it the more I think that Lee's attempts to try to wean himself off fast food are a metaphor for relationships in general.

After getting this album I went on a tear through most of the rest of their catalog. All of the albums are well worth owning, but I think Everyman's 4th Dimension is their crown jewel.