Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Love Kills Theory- Happy Suicide Jim, May 1, 2007
I have a riddle for you. What do you get when you cross the more commercial efforts of the [...] Surfers with the saner elements of Frank Zappa and Mothers of Invention?
Give up?
Why, Love Kills Theory, of course. Now, you might not think that those two musical endeavors would mix too well, but if anyone can make it work, its Love Kills Theory impresario Cevin Soling. Soling grew up listening to the MC 5, the Residents, Jim Carroll and various artists experimenting with electronic vocals. Soling has cultivated the roots of his musical foundation into a creative brew on his debut, Happy Suicide Jim.
Soling is something of an eccentric renaissance man, releasing music, self-published children's books and film documentaries. On Happy Suicide Jim, Soling contributes ample guitar licks and robotic electronically enhanced vocals. He is backed by Bill Brandau on keyboards, Jim Minics on guitar, Darren Pilato on bass and Jason Stewart on drums. Throughout Happy Suicide Jim, Soling and his ensemble dredge up sounds akin to some of the Surfer's later work, including Hairway to Steven and Electric Larryland. But where the Surfers are mostly an acid-tinged comedy act, Love Kills Theory explores some dark domains on Happy Suicide Jim. Sometimes, the lyrics are a bit remote, especially on "Region of the Worms", where Soling's metaphors wander into an almost science fiction-like landscape. But, after all, the album purposely dangles on the edge on insanity, so cryptic poetry should be piece of this shattered jigsaw puzzle of an album.
As interesting as Happy Suicide Jim is, its main fault lies in Soling's contradictory infatuation with edginess. At times, the music happily teeters into uncharted territory, much like a tipsy gazelle prancing in a field of lions. But other times, the group only scratches the surface, playing it safe staying within the boundaries established by Soling's musical mentors. This makes Happy Suicide Jim a bit of an uneven ride. It would be nice to hear Soling use the music he adores as a launching pad for expression rather than an altar to worship at.
Despite its occasional faults, Happy Suicide Jim is just lunatic enough to keep your interest up. Soling and Minics interchange chunky chords, ably assisted by the sonic IED blasts of Pilato's and Stewart's rhythm section. Brandau's keyboards add some loopy effects, making the whole project a fine alternative to the bland pop currently dominating the Billboard charts.
And if you haven't figured it out already, don't even bother with this album if you're worried whether or not Brittney is putting out another album, or if Jason is going to do more duets with Scarlet. But if you're thirsting for a sip of the absurd, Happy Suicide Jim is the album for you. It won't make you cream your pants with its originality, but its still better than seventy-five percent of the [...] out there in musicland.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a rhythm section!!!, November 5, 2008
This group can really hold it down!
Killer grooves. I love Track 4. The Drums and Bass playing on that track couldn't be done any other way. Brilliant. I don't know how they make it groove so well. Yes, some of the vocals can seem a little drone-y. But, however drone-y and monotonous they seem to you, you just have to admit, they are f*-ing brilliant. And how come I have never heard of the drummer before?!? The verse groove on "Love Kills Theory" is dynamite. There is a great eclectic feel about this album. It is just a fun album. I bet the Beatles would have enjoyed this band.
I understand where the first reviewer is coming from, making comparisons to the butthole srfers and what-not. BUt you have to give it to the Love Kills Theory. They made this album with pride, in a world being taken over by Lil' Bow Bow and Nickelback. Happy Suicide Jim is definitely not Nickleback! Listening to this album is reminiscent of picking up a mint condition record from a flea market you have never heard of, taking it home--and it gives you chills when the needle stops, because you can't believe you never heard of that band. This record takes some fun things from the obscure 'progressive' bands of the last 30 years and turns it into an enjoyable modern record with that retro garage rock vibe.
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by The Love Kills Theory 
