Customer Reviews

Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Brilliant. Clever. Just d*mned catchy. I bought this album on a whim, after catching the music video for Banana Man floating around the internet. Didn't think it'd be much more than a curiousity. I don't -think- I've had any other CDs in my player since I got it.

The music shifts gears from playful to dolorous, the lyrics are intricate without being overblown, and the whole album is a joy to hear. All I can say is I hope more is forthcoming. One of the few albums I own where -no- track is something I skip past when it comes up.

I should start by saying that I'm a bit biased. I've been to Marvin's and I've seen Tally Hall live. With that said...

This album is phenomenal.

The band has drawn comparisons to the Barenaked Ladies and They Might Be Giants, and they're entirely justified. Like any given BNL or TMBG album, "Marvin's" is split between two kinds of songs. Tracks like "Banana Man" and "Two Wuv" can only be described as goofy, whereas songs like "Greener" and "Be Born" are much closer to the radio-friendly rock.

The common thread that binds the album together? Every single track is good, as in "winning the John Lennon Songwriting Competition" good ("Good Day" in 2004). With the possible exception of "Taken For A Ride" (I'm not a big fan of the distorted vocals), I can say that I'm happy when any one of these songs shows up in my iPod's rotation. The lyrics are well-written, the vocals and harmonies are astoundingly good, and the songs are just fun to listen to.

Choosing a favorite song on the album is hard, but I'd have to say that "Greener," "The Bidding," and "Be Born" are all strong candidates.

Perhaps the best testament I can offer? Every person that I've had listen to my copy of the album has loved it. Tally Hall is just a darn good band, and I think that this is going to be one of my favorite albums for a long time to come.

Mark my words - one of these days, Tally Hall will make it big. They deserve to.

Learned about these folks from my mid-teen daughters, who are extremely serious Tally Hall fans. And after wondering what I was subjecting myself to, in a couple of long car trips, it all gelled: These are true talents, and I've come laugh with glee when they come around on an iPod or mix CD.

We're talking "talent" with vocals that are fully the equal of, let's say the Bonzo Dog Band or the best of Eddie from Ohio or maybe even Zappa in the Mothers era. And then there's the music, which is bright and ever-changing, and ever-lastingly funny (and funny does count for something, at least with me, when it comes to songs). The orchestration is sophisticated, often surprising, and ingenious. For all those feral youth who find Tally Hall because of Banana Man, they'll learn that there's so much more with Hidden in the Sand, or Spring and a Storm, or The Bidding.

The fun -- I warn you, though -- can tend toward the wicked and skewering. Sarcasm and acerbity is there -- Enjoy.

I heard about Tally Hall when one of their songs one the John Lennon Songwriting contest about a year ago... ever since then I have been in love!

They are one of the few bands that I know which really have talent musically, and they actually use the talent! It's so great to hear a band that doesn't stick to just one "style"; they aren't afraid to experiment with different genres of music.

I really highly recommend this album. It is a great mix of music, and since it is a clean album (another shocker considering a lot of pop music today) it is family friendly!

Buy the album, listen, love it!
Check out: http://www.tallyhall.com to find out more about the band if you are interested.

I had the pleasure of playing a show with Tally Hall recently, which is how I discovered their unique brand of incredibly catchy music. I've been listening to MMMM just about nonstop for 5 days now, and it just keeps getting better.

How to describe their sound? And, this isn't to say they sound derivative - this is some pretty imaginative and original stuff here - but imagine the best parts of TMBG, Phish, The Dissociatives, Queen, Weezer, and The Beatles, all tossed into a mixing bowl with some bananas.

The album is well-mixed, and features some top-notch production. As a musician, I'm inspired; as a music fan I'm thrilled. You want to hear this.

This is one of the BEST albums I've ever listened to.
MMMM has a wonderful variety of musical styles that it's hard to classify Tally Hall into just one genre.
I'd dare say they rival Queen in terms of vocals, and TMBG for their unique songs.

Don't trust any preview clips of their songs you might hear. They do this CD no justice at all.

If you're open to great new music, then give Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum a try!

I first read about this band in a few of the local Detroit newspapers, and sought them out because I read that a couple of their songs won some big songwriting prizes. One of the songs that won was "Good Day", and after I heard that tune, I could see why. While too many modern bands settle with safe and banal grays, Tally Hall gleefully and heroically employ a vivid array of colors to their music. While listening to this album, I could not help but be blown away by the immaculate quality of their songs. While most modern rock bands can't write a decent melody to save their lives, Tally Hall loads the entire album with intellegent, well written catchy tunes. From the ballad "Just Apathy", to the playful psuedo-Calypso of "Banana Man", to the psychadelic "Taken For A Ride", MMMM delivers one rich musical gem after another (with the exception of "Two Wuv". Sorry, I do not think that Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are hot or interesting enough to have an entire song dedicated to them).

The only reason why I gave this album 4.5 instead of 5 stars is because of the production. Even though I am really being nit-picky here, it sounds too clean for my taste. Vocal harmonies never sound that clear live. I would rather hear vocal parts that have a few notes that are a hair off, because in my opinion, it sounds much more human and earnest. Also, the distorted guitar parts are quite limp and do not pack the hard punch that this album could have used.

Other than that, I still believe that this a terrific album, and I would recommend this to anyone who is fan of smart and well written pop ROCK. I also would strongly recommend this album to people who are sick being force-fed the McMusic that dominates OUR airwaves.

In Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum, Tally Hall has released one of the most original CDs I've heard in a long while - and it's not different in a stand-offish avant-garde way, but in a way that just makes you realize these guys have fun writing music, which is convenient because you'll have fun listening to it. Speaking of the music - it's rock solid. Three part harmonies make a frequent appearance on this album, along with catchy hooks and song progressions that break away from the boring verse, chorus, verse etc ... paradigm. This band is not afraid to break a song down and build it back up in musically complex ways that bring their listener along for the ride. Sit down and take that ride. Welcome to Tally Hall.

Now,

I know what you're thinking: Didn't Bernie receive Tally Hall's Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum as a third place, consolation prize on Jeopardy High School Edition? The answer is indisputably "yes." But, let me hit you with some knowledge MMMM prospective purchaser, after only one listen of Tally Hall's debut LP, I not only dropped four pounds, but I can now fit into my old, favorite pair of jeans. In fact, when speaking with a close, musical confidant (I think you may have heard of him... lets just say his name begins with "Pa" and ends with "artny*"), he remarked, "Tally Hall are musically equivalent to Pop Rocks and Coca-Cola: a dangerous union- dangerously good." So, if you're really on the fence, just buy this album. I mean, despite it's being the definitive pop cultural mosaic of 2005- rife with harmonic wit and amplified wonk, it just may save your life. As George Murray affirms in his essay "Tally Hall: Peacemakers, Cream Soda Aficionados, Conquistadors:" "When being mugged in a dark alley, TH keyboardist Andrew Horowitz leapt down from a rooftop and got right in the middle of the action... not only did he save my life that night, but [Horowitz] also gave my mugger twelve dollars because he `empathized with monetary plight.'" This is no ordinary band, folks. The Tallies are simply an experience. To conclude, buy this album. It's awesome.


________
* Patrick O'Hartney: music journalist for "The Hoboken Tribune"

This is the best album I purchased in 2006 -- its fun, catchy songs stay in your head and keep you humming long after the music ends. A nice departure from the bands that take themselves too seriously! Lots of talent and humor here.