Customer Reviews

Groovy Neighborhood

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

let me say i have never heard of this band until two weeks ago, and let me say i have been pleasantly surprised. theyhave the charm and wit of jonathan richman, and a playful way of music much like the elephant 6 bands. the songs here are a whole lot of fun and charming.... i heard that they had another album in the can after this one that showed a progression in their music, too bad alex had to skip town and leave it in record limbo, i hope someday their follow-up will be ressurected and pianosaurus can be realized for the ididot savant genius. find this album!

Real fun, real music, real toys. Plinking piano, plastic guitar, loving renditions of "The Letter" and "Memphis". Great original music too. You'll love "Love is a Two-Way Street" and all the rest. I first heard this album in '87 and it's still one of my faves.

The best way to describe this band's sound is to say that their overall result is like NRBQ only with toys. That's to say, old fashioned white, southern R&B with the professional instruments replaced by toy ones. Excellent song selection here that mixes originals with covers and goes from bubble gummy love songs, to tributes to their neighborhood. There's a very positive feel to all of the songs and the lead singer's geeky sensibilities shine straight through. It's too bad that they still haven't released their second album 'Back To School.'

I have owned this album on cassette since it came out, and long lamented the possible demise of said tape. NOW, this wonderful, shamelessly pop- bubblegum music played most cleverly on toy instruments is preserved for near-eternity.
A little background, as I know it: all the musicians on this recording were classical music students at Cambridge. They were trying to get back to campus after a trip, didn't have enough cash to get all of them home, so they used the money they did have, and bought toy instruments to play on the corner. Busking got them enough $$ to get back to school, and enough a reputation that this album then resulted. Sadly, they never followed it up, but I am pleased to see they have not been forgotten!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I have for nearly two decades.

Pianosaurus are summed up in one word - FUN! Imagine coming up with the idea of compiling an album of tunes, all played on TOY instruments. If there was any justice in this world this would have been a huge hit on its release many years ago but it didn't make it - Shame! If you want a great place to start sampling this album then download "Ready To Rock" with its pinkety-plonkety piano beat - or buy the album and get on down to "(A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the) Toystore". You will laugh and be the envy of all your friends. Enjoy!

The songs are rockin' even if they were not being played on toy instruments! I wish that they were still producing material. Saw Pianosaurus perform many years ago in Cleveland, and they were a lot of fun, shredding several sets of instruments. Time for a reunion tour!