Customer Reviews

Irresistible Bliss

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This album was one that gave me hope for contemporary music. I first heard of Soul Coughing through a giveaway cassette a few years back. It had "Super Bon-Bon" and "Soundtrack to Mary" on it, and those two songs were the first ones I'd heard in years that made me sit up and wonder "Wow, who the hell are they? " A year later, "Irresistable Bliss" hit my CD deck and rarely left it.

Soul Coughing was a band chock full of the rarest talent I have ever seen. Doughty's writing is glib yet powerful, emotional yet aloof, and constantly cryptic and captivating. The sound of Sebastian Steinberg's upright bass blends beautifully with Yuval Gabay's offbeat drumming and Mark De Gli Antoni's arful sample work.

"Super Bon-Bon" is the leadoff booty-shaker, the song that shot SC into the mainstream. My personal favorite track is "Lazybones", a simply beautiful song in all senses. There's not a bad song on this album, but the best ones are "Soft Serve", "Sleepless", "The Idiot Kings", "How Many Cans" and "Collapse". Each song is rife with originality, verve, wit and overall artistry.

This was the first Soul Coughing CD I bought, and it was the one that hooked me in and dug into my brain. I would be hard-pressed to say that any of their three albums are the "best" album, as they are all amazing and captivating in different ways. Ruby Vroom is more playful, Irresistable Bliss is more poppy and bass-y, and El Oso is beat-driven and funky. All are outstanding.

I only wish I could give it six stars. Actually, I received this CD as a gift for Christmas one year, and it sat on my shelf for a year before I listened to it again one more time before I was going to trade it in. Yes, Soul Coughing are not what they seem to be for the uninitiated. If you want to catch Soul Catching at their peak, get Irresistable Bliss! If you're used to straightforward, simple rock 'n' roll, these guys will take some getting used to. But once you catch Soul Coughing Fever, you can't stop listening! The rhythms and how they are put together serve as a solid foundation for the music. That, and some of the funniest, catchy, but cryptic lyrics, make these guys SPECIAL. Sure, I think that their first effort, Ruby Vroom, was even funnier, with really sharp, hilarious wit brilliantly served up by the vocalist Mark Dougherty. It was a wonderfully campy effort, with just enough of the feel of an indie, underground effort. The sonics, and tighter, boppier jazzy sound of Irresistable Bliss, however, make it the musically superior record. Even the polished El Oso (their most recent release) falls short of Irresistable Bliss in my humble opinion. That, and it's the least funny of the three... Soul Coughing is special, more of a phenomenon than an artist, group, or bunch of guys with instruments. At their best, they can seamlessly blend intelligent, catchy lyrics with intelligent, catchy music in a manner and combination that can only be called sublime. I can't think of anyone quite like them. And to think that I almost missed out. If you want to catch Soul Coughing at their peak, you need to listen to Irresistable Bliss!

This CD is four years old, but it is STILL in heavy rotation in my CD player. Why? Because it still sounds as fresh and innovative as it did back then. With the first couple of listens, you won't be sure quite what to make of this group. The music is, in turn, rocking, rollicking, soulful and witty. I was not blown away initially, which I now blame on my own inability at the time to process the brillinace of this work (the same reaction I had to Radiohead). Now, I can't get enough of it.

The funk, rock and punk influences on Soul Coughing are immediately evident, but closer examination revelas traces of classic folk music and bluegrass. You will also be blown away by the lyrics, not just in their intelligence, but also in the wordplay.

It's difficult to name a favorite song from the album, because I firmly believe it should be listened to in its entirety. In stark contrast to much of the pop music being recorded today, this CD is more than just a collection of unrelated songs; it is a coherent story. That said, "4 Out Of 5," "Super Bon Bon," "Soundtrack to Mary" and "Disseminated" stand out as extraordinary songs.

Finally, it's nice to see that the Slash record label is still capable of finding and producing good artists. This was the original label of The Violent Femmes, The Germs, Los Lobos, The Blasters and others. Glad to see they haven't lost their touch since the acquisition by Warner Bros.

This album is just great. Every single song is worth listening to. It's full of catchy lyrics and tunes you'll find yourself humming for months after even a couple of listens. Of course there's the obvious "Super Bon-Bon" with its lyrics "Move aside and let the man come through" (which when I'm driving late at night I often change to "Move aside and let the van come through"), and Soul Coughing has this great ability to shift tempos and sounds at a moment's notice but in a very natural way which this song exemplifies. Of course "Soft Serve" is just a great grooving song with a beat that just kind of makes you want to kick back. Then there is the rock kicking anthem of "White Girl" which I find myself screaming randomly every now and then. Then cool it off again with "Soundtrack to Mary", and who can forget "Lazybones". Overall a great CD with a truly innovative and awesome sound, it may take a couple of listens but when you finally start feeling yourself repeating lyrics you'll know you're hooked. I like this CD so much I actually bought it twice, I lost one copy and just couldn't go without it.

Soul Coughing does it once again with Irresistable Bliss, a gentle fusion of Jazz, Hip Hop and Beatnick sensibilities are combined to form what could only be described as "Math Rock." Layers upon layers of sampling, willowy baselines and powerful lyriscisms make for a CD that can be played and played again without ever sounding reptitious. Such a shame to music fans that hte label dosent do a little more advertising for these guys, because the music they craft is positively addictive (Don't tell Tipper Gore). Intelligent, genuine and pleasing to the ear and mind, and apparently passed over by the evil pariahs of the music industry. Oh well, ya learn to expect these things.

-Tom Cashman Portland, Oregon tacashman@hotmail.com

These guys rock! humurous insightful poetry spewed out by the genius m. doughty layed out over the funking grooviest musical language known to man. the best group around,period. they might be giants and the beastie boys had a child that was adopted by the chemical brothers and raised on a steady diet of jazz and the screamin beatbox and then ran away from home to join the circus. SC please I, SEAN TERRY beg you to come out with another album, soon. Idont care if its an hours worth of phone messages.

This CD is simply brilliant. Soul Coughing produces a unique sound, combining funky drums and stand-up bass, original sampling, and, in-a-word, outstanding lyrics and vocals. After listening to this CD, I have difficulties finding something suitable to play and end up playing it again. It is very difficult to compare their sound to anything else. If I'd have to, I'd pick Talking Heads in the "Remain in Light" period. At least 5 of the songs of this CD have been on endless repeat in my apartment: "Sleepless", "Hoe many Cans?", "lazybones", "Soft Serve", and of course "Super Bonbon". Wonderful CD, wonderful band. I can't wait till they pass through my city.

It is hard to compare this band to any one out there, and that is a compliment. If you listen closely, there are myriad peculiar noises surrounding the powerful, driving bass and inventive percussion rhythms. It all blends into a hell of a crafty, catchy collection of tunes. I plan on listening to this a lot, lot more. "Soundtrack to Mary" is dynamite, and so is "Disseminated". The vocalist has a scratchy, handsome voice that fits the jaunty music well. A fine addition to anyone's cd collection.

This CD is great listening, all the way up and down. Super Bon-Bon is the radio hit, but every track's bound to stick in your head after a listen or two. The lyrics are nuts, I don't know what he's getting at exactly but the music is just outrageously good. I'm not usually a huge fan of this genre, whatever genre that is, but this is a top-ten disc for me.

As ground breaking as El Oso was, Irresistible bliss remains my favorite Soul Coughing album. The Idiot Kings, Soundtrack to Mary... The music is artfully mixed. The keyboard work is fabulously expressive, someone who is new to the genre perhaps wouldn't appreciate the incredible beauty and stuttering synchronicity of these musicians, but it is there. Vocals by Mike Doughty are as always dripping with slam-like imagery. While being expressive and engaging, it is the sheer energy, the electricity of this album that elevates it above El Oso, Though I strongly reccomend El Oso as well.