Customer Reviews

A Splendid Tray

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

 

 

I'll confess freely to knowing absolutely nothing about Mr. Barbeau or his music before getting my hands on this latest release. Apparently it's his first in four years, and to anyone out there already acquainted with his work, it's well worth the wait. Barbeau combines witty lyrics with catchy tunes and kicking guitar riffs to create puncy, off-the-wall power pop that kept me well entertained for fifty minutes or so. His voice - Elvis Costello meets David Bowie in a sixties time warp - is pretty unique, but doesn't detract from the lyrics at all. Psychedelic Beatlesesque tunes like Dazzle Girl and Once In Royal David City are balanced out by the slightly heavier sound of the Banana Song and Creepy Tray. A definite highlight is Black and White Elvis, opening a solid album which never goes off the boil. Some of the tracks are growers though, ask me again in a week and my favourite song will almost certainly be different. Well worth a listen though - put it on and play it loud!

I was excited to discover that Anton was finally signed with a label, Frigidisk. After years of toiling in Sacramento out of the back of his van, now Anton can ask someone else to toil out of the back of their van for him, and deservedly so.

This album's strengths lie in his astonishing ability to play hook-driven, upbeat pop with cryptic and surreal lyrics. It plays like an aural puzzle...with each successive listen, revealing the meaning underneath. From the upbeat pop of "Black and White Elvis" (which held the number one spot in, of all places, Croatia) to the haunting "Dazzle Girl" (Your money/I'm sorry/My Brother/He Says "Hi"), Anton's lyrics plague me for days at a time. What do they mean? What is he saying? Give Anton a try. I think everyone should.

I'd heard a lot of good - nay, great - things about Mr. Barbeau, but had never heard his music until I got this CD on Saturday. Amazingly, he lives up to his advance billing. He employs a diverse array of styles, but always manages to sound like himself (a rare talent that earns major points in my book).

Great energy, solid musicianship, and hooks that crawl into your brain and set up housekeeping back up lyrics that are charmingly surreal on first spin, but begin to make perfect sense as you listen more closely. I'm off to try to find his other three CDs!

I played this thing once about two years ago, and now I can't get it out of my CD player. Barbeau's creepy, splendid tray carries all the pop you need. But caution: The hooks here are barbed.

Even (what, three, four?) years after its release, this album is still sticks. While I'll always miss the old old songs more than anything else, this is still a great album. From the proggy hooks, to the heavier jammy moments, this will always remind me of a great era in Central IL's music scene. Kudos, Mr. Barbeau (just kidding).

I have no idea what you people are talking about. Let me clarify. I am in this band, Greenwood. And as far as "Mr. Barbeau," I have absolutey no idea what you're talking about. For the true information on my band, please visit www.myspace.com/greenwood

Of course I'm going to give my own album 4 stars, haha.