Flashy

Electric Six | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metropolis
• ASIN: B001EN468Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,797 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Electric Six returns with their fourth album; another one filled with songs mostly about nothing, but damn, if it isn't enjoyable. Songs cover everything from their preferred cleaning solution, "Formula 409" to the tribulations of being a "Graphic Designer" to a throwback to their debut album "Fire" with "Gay Bar Part Two". Unclassifiable, this group blends sounds and influences from glam, funk, rock, disco, punk, new wave, and metal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still got it!, October 22, 2008

By 

Alex Nennig "al27" (Oshkosh, WI) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Flashy (Audio CD)

Electric Six will never get taken seriously as artists (though I'm sure none of them would care one way or another if they were) but that doesn't mean they don't make good music.

For those not familiar, E6 churn out overblown rock and/or dance songs that revel in rock 'n' roll excess and cliche. But, like similar acts Tenacious D, Spinal Tap, and the Dictators, though their music IS tongue and cheek and makes fun of big dumb rock, the songs they produce are far too well written, catchy, and fun to be considered as just another novelty.

What is amazing to me is how far the Electric Six has gotten with this schtick.

"Flashy" is album number FIVE for these guys, and its a confident reassurance that Dick Valentine is a long way off from running out of ideas.

Simply, "Flashy" is as diverse, hooky, stupid, musically dense, and entertaining as "Senor Smoke" and "Switzerland" were.

"Gay Bar Part 2" is a great example of why these guys still deserve our attention. While it might sound like a retread or sequel to the minor hit from their first album "Fire," it has NOTHING to do with that song outside of the title. You'll instead find a latin flavored rock song with lots of swagger and HUGE HORNS!!!

"Evil Empires" is another great song, one with a great groove and a nice hook. I love the romantic and wistful vocal melody, and again they bring out the horns with a nice sax solo.

This song in particular is a good example of what I mean when I say the songs on this album are "musically dense." There is a TON of stuff going on in this song. It starts with some simple enough acoustic strumming and then a synth bubble line descends and the drums kick in. Immediately afterward they drop in thick guitar chords and a wonderfully haunting piano run. Then that drops out for the first verse where after a few lines of the song a fuzzed out bass line and modest horn arrangements trickle in. All of this stuff and more (some clean, disco-style guitar note runs, more synth lines, etc) swirl back in and out at different points in the song. That's why you shouldn't just write off the Electric Six as another dumb joke band. Few novelty acts would bother putting THAT much forethought in their music. Even if E6 isn't serious about their lyrics, they're serious about their music.

There are many other winners on this album (I absolutely LOVE "Graphic Designer" with is ridiculously energetic pace and that free jazz implosion in the middle), and all of them are densely layered, all loaded with funny, so-stupid-they're-smart lyrics ("Anytime you'd wanna leave your lover for me/Would be a good time to leave your lover for me"), and all of them hooky and diverse enough to somehow keep Electric Six's schtick from growing tiresome, even on album number five.

Good job Electric Six, as long as you keep writing songs this good, I'll still be listening.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Electric Six Still Has The Goods, April 19, 2009

By 

Magic Mike - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flashy (Audio CD)

Upon first listening to this album I have to admit that I felt it was too familiar sounding and not of the same quality of their previous releases. However, I have grown to love this album as I've listened to it more. Every thing that is awesome about Electric Six is all here. I also might argue that they have never rocked as hard as they do on one of my favorite tracks on the album "Graphic Designer".

All the lyrics are still amazing in their twisty, random, hilarious, and insightful ways. The guitar is possibly more rocking than ever on this album. The bass is also very present and provides a very nice groove. The synthesizers are once again given a more prominent role like on their previous release. The drums are class as usual. I mean any drummer that goes by the name of Percussion World is sure to deliver the goods! That guy is a beast live by the way (as is everyone else in the band)!

So for me the highlights on this non-stop fun album are Graphic Designer, We Were Witchy Witchy White Women, the first single Formula 409, and the classic FU to fans everywhere Gay Bar Part 2!

Here are some of the lyrical highlights:

"I used to dress in black every night
Now I dress primarily in white
And I was under duress
Removed my pants and my vests
And now I'm undressed tonight" from Gay Bar Part 2

"I met you on a Monday
It was Friday night
You were doing all right
'Cos it was Saturday night
And we were
Night bitches, white witches
We lived under the city
We were doing alright" From We Were Witchy Witchy White Women

"In the event of a water landing
You can use my body
As a flotation device" From Transatlantic Flight

4.0 out of 5 stars Electric Six at their experimental high point, September 29, 2011

By 

dfm - See all my reviews

This review is from: Flashy (Audio CD)

If you're expecting another "Fire", turn back now. Flashy is probably the furthest that Electric Six has gone from their roots, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. This album is far more influenced by New Wave and garage rock than their other records, and pretty much throws the disco / cock rock swagger of their early work out the window. That said, it's still irreverently hilarious music. Dick Valentine is as sharp as ever, whether he's addressing casual fans' desire for another "Fire" on Gay Bar Part Two or chronicling the woman behind the dictator on Watching Evil Empires Fall Apart. There are a few misses here, though. "Your Heat is Rising" and "Face Cuts" are just dull, and "Making Progress", with its huge pile of vocoder, is unnecessary.

That being said, there's still enough here to keep diehard E6 fans and music aficionados happy. "Formula 409" is a respectable single, and "We Were Witchy White Women's" ridiculous narrative is sure to please. This is one of my favorite E6 records, but it's certainly not for everyone.