Mary Had Brown Hair [Extra tracks]

Gary Wilson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Stones Throw
• ASIN: B0002VER1U
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,315 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's something about Mary, August 25, 2005

By 

S. A. DiCola (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary Had Brown Hair (Audio CD)

Pardon the pun, but there's something about this CD that's got me totally hooked! It's like watching one of those movies over and over where you pick up something new with each playing! I'm mesmerized by the flow of this album--the bass lines are hypnotic, paired with Mothersbaughesque keyboards, howling guitars, moody string machines; all supported by steady, driving beats. The collaboration with Peanut Butter Wolf is evident on this disc. Fans of PBW's taste in music will not be let down.

Sitting in a Korean karaoke lounge or hitting the demo button on an old Casio set the tone for the melodies on this disc--except they're perfectly contrasted by distorted, fuzz guitars which take the super-campy edge off. "Electric Depression" sounds like bouncy muzak heard at the dentist's with an electric-razor guitar lurking in the background like a drill. "Hold Back the Daylight" sounds like a chorus of little gnomes and animals in an electric Japanese garden. "Gary Saw Linda Last Night" sounds like new age climactic silent movie organ music, with a cut in the middle to a lounge singer's broken hearted soliloquy . "Newark Valley" has got to be one of my fav tracks...It's '80s aerobic music meets Broadway musical.

The 2 bonus tracks at the end of Gary's music from the '70s are simply magical, groovy, mystical, dreamy, and sexy! A mix of Shuggie Otis-like slow grooves float along in a lazy river of Stereolab-like cool, sophisticated synths while Gary croons about making you his "Chromium Bitch"......sigh.....sure, I'll be your "Chromium Bitch" anytime ;)

"Mary Had Brown Hair" makes a fab addition to any music lover's collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars gary wilson, May 28, 2006

By 

J. Hinchcliffe (Atlantic City NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mary Had Brown Hair (Audio CD)

It's amazing how great this holds up almost 3 decades after his 1977 masterpiece. I couldn't imagine a better album of new material. This album is as weird as ever, but also every song is either really hypnotic, or really catchy. The sped-up vocals are particularly strange, but very arty. They remind me of Frank Zappa & the Mothers' stuff on We're Only In It For The Money. Gary Wilson is a unique figure for sure, and he deserves any attention he gets. If you love quirky pop songs and you're open minded for weirdness, buy this.