Customer Reviews

Ooky Spooky

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

 

 

In a music genre where most of the artists takes themselves way too seriously, Voltaire is the antithesis of the dark and gloomy goths that permeats goth culture. I have been a Voltaire fan for several years now. His music is a lot of fun too listen to. His lyrics are filled with biting humor and his music are addictively catchy.

OOKY SPOOKY is Voltaire's latest offering. As a long time Voltaire fan, I was not disappointed. What I have noticed on this album is that Voltaire incorporates brass instruments in a lot of his songs that weren't heard before on past Voltaire albums. There is even a ska influence to his music (intentional or not I don't know) like on "Day of the Dead". Other than the introduction of brass instruments, nothing else has changed in Voltaire's music. "Blue Eyed Matador" and "Bomb New Jersey" is what you would expect from Voltaire, sarcasm set to medieval folk music. Voltaire's humor is sharper as ever. "Bomb New Jersey", "Cantina" and "Hell in a Handbasket" says it all. Those songs got the biggest smiles from me when I ever I listen to them especially "Cantina" with its references to Star Wars characters.

OOKY SPOOKY may not be groundbreaking but it sure is heck of a lot of fun to listen to. I love how Voltaire takes the pretentiousness out of goth music and inject a healthy dose of humor which is rarely seen and heard. I enjoyed every song on the album. There were only a couple of so-so songs but even they weren't all that bad, just not as good as "Cantina" or "Stuck With You" (Voltaire's duet with Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer). Overall OOKY SPOOKY is well worth checking out.

I had heard Voltaire perform live on numerous occasions at various conventions and events, and had always thought his music was fun and enjoyable. However, I had never bothered to pick up any of his albums until Ooky Spooky. Now I wish I had bought some of his work previously!

Never have zombies, cannibalism, prostitution, sacrilege, and hell been topics that are quite so aurally pleasing! Voltaire's hilarious lyrics are backed up by violins, cellos, and horns that definitely bring to mind the mariachi imagery found on the albums cover.

Among the highlights are "Zombie Prostitute," which has unforgettable lyrics and an extremely catchy brass chorus, and "Day of the Dead," which speaks of El Dia de Los Muertos and has a beat you can' help but want to get up and dance and sing to. "Cantina" speaks of the infamous bar scene from Star Wars. "Stuck with You" is a duet with Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls, and is about lovers who take their marital un-bliss to the grave, bringing axes and Korean bayonets into their duels. However, my personal favorite is the closing song, "Hell in a Handbasket."

Ooky Spooky is comedic, black-humored goth rock at its best. Voltaire really has a corner on the market in this genre, and his acclaim is well-deserved. Ooky Spooky would certainly be a great choice for any Halloween party, but I also highly recommend this album for anyone interested in checking creepy music with a jovial and light-hearted twist! Indeed, goth does not have to equate with doom and gloom. As Voltaire himself states "It's a Halloween party in a jewel box," and for those of us who could celebrate Halloween all year `round, it's an instant classic!

What can I say Voltaire has done it once again!! I think this is the funniest CD I have heard in some time. Voltaire is a Gothic Renaissance man!! Songs about love, death and well the undead!!! Voltaire is also knowen for hos comics he has done Chi-Chian, Deady, and Oh My Goth...

Wow,

There's a lot of time since I heard the first Voltaire's song. But as a Voltaire Fan i must say that this is not his best... this doesn't mean that the album is bad or something, It's just that he has settled that enourmous standar that aparentely this time was not reached at all. But the album is great specially for new Votareans.

Cheers

So this seems like quite a departure from his previous full album, Almost Human. At first glance, perhaps not; they both tend to dwell on the macabre. But looking closer, Almost Human had a dark, hauntingly ethereal feel to it. Ooky Spooky, as the name may suggest, has more of a silly feel to it, with more dark humor and a new found emphasis on accordions, rather than lyrical twists and orchestral tones. I certainly find this album highly entertaining, and often quite funny. But it lacks the musicality of Almost Human.

That being said, this is a truly fun listen. "Cantina" and "Stuck With You" are easily my two favorite tracks, and worth purchasing this album for alone. I think his music is a bit polarizing, in that you'll either love it or hate it, but most of the people I know who listen to Voltaire do come around to the dark side.

If you have never heard anything from this artist this is a great place to start. Funny, witty, catchy, good music.

What can one say about Voltaire that hasn't been said before? It takes a man of true genius to sing about drowning kittens and still manage to sound romantic. It takes a man with courage and disregard for the mentality of others to sing on the same cd about zombie prostitutes and dead people. A truely charming collection of songs. Not recommended for the easily offended.

I've never heard of this guy until my girlfriend played this CD for me and I just don't see the appeal. It's an album of novelty songs about various skeletons and zombies and Star Wars characters doing silly sexual or scatological stunts. I guess 13 year old boys would get a giggle out of it. Reminds me mostly of Wierd Al Yankovic with a horn section instead of an accordian.