Customer Reviews

The Man in the Turban

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I played this album for a friend yesterday and told her, "this is your new favorite band". She didn't believe me, and on the first listen, was a bit frightened by Man Man's haunted children's choir, traffic whistle, elephant noise, shouting, barely understandable lyrically (and sometimes incoherent) qualities of music. However, by the end of the album, I had sold her that a second listen was absolutely necessary to continue on with life. And a third. And a 95th. She asked me at some point, "What does one call this genre?" and I responed, "Ugly. But GOOD ugly."

Imagine the ugliest Tom Waits song you've ever heard, the ugliest Modest Mouse song you've ever heard, nails been dragged over a chalkboard, and circus animals all playing over one another, and you will have encountered one of the most absolutely wonderful and necessary album I purchased in 2005.

Anyone who enjoys the inventivness of Zappa, the deep caverns of Tom Waits or the other worldly 16/4 of Captain Beefheart look no further then the delightfully playfull debut of Philly's Man Man. These guys breath new life into the contemporary lifeforce of music in 2005. Enjoyable to the point of tears...........

This album, "Man in the Blue Turban with a Face" really does not represent novel songs. The songs on this album simply deal with a man and his relationships with a woman, or women (its left ambiguous). In the most stripped sense, these are just love songs, songs about passion, and songs about loss.

On the outside, however, is the strangest thing anyone ever considered to call music. Its just...wrong. You think to yourself that, that horn part really wouldn't be there in a normal song. You think, why would they be yelling like that? Why are there children humming in the background while strange instruments play and all sorts of chaos is about to erupt.

That is the beauty of Man Man. They play songs that appeal to our most natural senses, relationships, passion, lust, love. But they play them completely wrong! And its wonderful. Its so nasty and so jagged and so harsh that you just can't get enough of it.

And like most other reviewers here, I have seen them live, twice actually. They are a wonderful band to see live, their live show reminds me of The Mars Volta's. If anyone who reads this likes The Mars Volta, they know that The Mars Volta's albums are like stories, while their live shows are just explosions of emotions and power, but they're not just going to repeat the album songs. Man Man is the same. They will play the songs, but they will be different and new and creative and it will be a great time.

So remember, Wearing that Guerrilla suit, try to scare me but it don't work.

Best songs:
1) Gold Teeth
2) Man Who Make You Sick
3) Sarspirillsa

THIS BAND IS AMAZING. I just saw Tom Waits this evening and I saw Man Man two weeks ago in Cleveland and its hard to tell which one is better. This band is like Tom Waits was a novelty song writer or something. Like, Tom Waits + Circus. AMAZING.
SEE THEM LIVE IF YOU CAN

This is a good album. Do not, however, pay $40 for it like half of these scammers are charging when you can get it for $10 on best buy's website. It's not rare or collectible.

Accept no substitutes. Rabbit Habits and Six Demon Bag are great albums, they really are. This one sounds the most "pure" however. If you are just getting into Man Man or already have one of their albums, I highly recommend this one. "Gold Teeth" is easily one of the most beautiful songs ever, the subtlety of the percussion takes several listens on good headphones to discern.

the only reason this album isn't perfect, is that their following album, six demon bag, is.

The first time I ever even heard of Man Man is when they played at a bar around my town. I was immediately hooked, their sound was so unique. Imagine if Tom Waits and Mr. Bungle got together and had a bastard child with Modest Mouse, (no matter how impossible that may seem) that would be Man Man. From the voice altering devices, to the eerie childrens choir this album is amazing. Their second album "Six Demon Bag" only continues the greatness.

I get sudden urges to listen to this band. It's awesome. I've heard nothing like it.

Ok, First off this CD needs to take off like The Arcade Fire. Maybe not as well done but, surely just as powerful. And if you get a chance go see them live and then we can start talking. This is what "Good News........" should of sounded like without the candy coat. "True indie darkness".