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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Disposable Heroes enhance the Burroughs' words, December 6, 2001
This review is from: Spare Ass Annie & Other Tales (Audio CD)
I had become a fan of the sardonic humor, baroque visions and gross-out charm of William S. Burroughs by way of such stunning books as Interzone, Junky and Naked Lunch. When I bought Spare Ass Annie and Other Tales, I knew nothing of his collaborators on this spoken word album, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphopricy but one of my favorites authors on tape was enough for my money. I was pleased to discover that the Heroes, Michael Franti and Rono Tse, have the perfect sense of texture and cartoony whimsy to back up the legendary beatnik. The bouncy drum and bass of “Dr. Benway Operates,” “One God Universe” and the tense “Did I Ever Tell You About the Man That Taught His (...) to Talk?” spotlessly and cohesively convey Burroughs’ raspy words while parodies such as the swanky downtown jazz of “Mildred Pierce Reporting” (about police apathy during a gang rape), 50s television-commercial glitz of “Warning to Young Couples” (about jealous family dogs snatching newborns) and the choirs, festive sounds and use of traditional carols on “the Junky’s Christmas” show the Disposable Heroes’ keen understanding of the irony of the author’s crass magic realism. Fanti and Tse show sure talent, yet they never try to override Burroughs, always working behind the writer’s commanding, often hilarious words. The author searched through seven of his best books of strange expressions and offbeat satire for the readings and the Disposable Heroes of Hiphopricy bring those legendary writings into a new dimension on Spare Ass Annie. I am sure other Burroughs fans will certainly be pleased by the fine ways in which these extraordinary young talents enhance the innovative writer’s uncanny work.
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hilarious, January 23, 2002
This review is from: Spare Ass Annie & Other Tales (Audio CD)
Sometimes when I am just reading Burroughs, I manage to forget how damn funny the guy is. I get put off by his vividly grotesque descriptions of lobotomies and flying fecal matter and neglect to notice the scathing humor behind it all. This album really highlights Burroughs the satirist. Hearing Burroughs speaking with his loooong drrryyy draaawwwwwllll really reminds you how he's trying to push your buttons. Burroughs is one of my all time favorite authors to hear read his own stuff, and this CD is no exception in that department. Plus, as an added bonus, the reading is set to some great music, nice acid jazz and, in the case of the 10+ minute "Junkie's Christmas," traditional x-mas carols, creating one of the most increcdible juxtapoitions in a story of all time and an hilarious piece. All in all, this collection is one of my favorites of Burroughs' readings.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
listen to my last words anywhere, March 6, 2003
This review is from: Spare Ass Annie & Other Tales (Audio CD)
serendipity. very cool mixture of Hiphopricy's jazz/funk/hiphop grooves and Burrough's always ahead-of-his-time future rants, stream-o-conciousness, and political concerns. whoever thought of this idea was an absolute genius. the production is top notch, and often collides with what Burroughs is talking about in a hilarious or bizarre manner. interesting guest stars too. Ras I Zulu. shooty yeah. out before Dr.Octagon's futuristic blend of wacked-ot lyrics and spaced beats would evolve hiphop two years later. a crucial ingredient. burroughs, disposable hereoes of hiphopricy. burroughs, kurt cobain. these collaborations are priceless.
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