Customer Reviews

The Tale of the Giant Rat of Sumatra

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

 

 

"Giant Rat" is the Firesign's Sherlock Holmes parody, originally relased in 1974. At the time, it was viewed as a sort of a "comeback" album as it came shortly after the group had disbanded briefly to pursue solo projects. It didn't make the splash it could've (the following release, "Everything You Know Is Wrong" would fare better) but is still a very funny title. If you know what the Firesign Theatre is all about, then grab without hesitation. For you neophytes, the Firesign Theatre dragged the comedy album into the '60s psychedelic era and beyond, peppering their albums with lofty literary references, drug jokes, bad puns, and a tip of the hat to classic radio. They took full advantage of studio capabilities and multi-tracking, creating a surreal comic landscape that could take you anywhere (from the Academy Awards to War to Indian Reservations to Eastern Europe...). "Rat" is one of their fastest paced entries and owes a lot to the Goon Show. The theme here is power and corruption as famed detective and cokehead Hemlock Stones (Philip Proctor) and his trusty companion Dr. John Flotsam (David Ossman) help filthy rich magnate Jonas Acme (Peter Bergman) recover the stolen "Zeppo Tube" (a powerful invention) from the hands of the maniacal Electrician (Phil Austin). Like a Python film or Kids in the Hall episode, the four members of the troupe essay dozens of roles each, all unique and hilarious. It may be a hair below their greatest work ("How Can You Be In Two Places...," "Don't Crush That Dwarf..."), as it is somewhat less surreal and ambitious, but even their weakest material (and this is NOT their weakest) is better than most everything else that passes for comedy today. Long live the Firesign Theatre!

This is not the most complex FST piece. It's not the most surrealistic or sociological. It is however one of their funniest efforts. What really makes it work is the timing and unique intonations between all four members. The performances are flawless. So smooth and confident - it's like listening to a great jazz quartet trading off each other. This is the first FST album I heard as kid back in 1974 and I was instantly hooked on their brand of radio theater. It still sounds fresh today and like most FST pieces with each listen there is always a new esoteric reference you'll pick up or discover some interesting dialog going on underneath the forefront. You'll be quoting this one for years to come.
"Where there's smoke - there's work!"

This CD smokes. Great work. Worth every penny.

Usually this album is omitted in FST discussions, but it ranks with their best. As usual, listen over and over again through headphones; you won't be disappointed. So follow Hemlock Stones the Great Defective as he chases after the Electrician from Ampere Watt, through early 20th century America as it might have been.

I've wanted this CD for years but couldn't find it. The Firesign Theatre are a group of cleaver and funny men who concoct these elaborate stories. Like all thier works, it is so layered, you must listen repeatedly to get all the jokes. This story is a parody of a Sherlock Holmes story, beginning with the Tale of the Giant Rat of Sumatra and flowing through the 'lec'ician ('Electrician' with static).

I've heard nearly all of Firesign Theatre's recorded work, and this album doesn't compare favorably to their best. As with Anythynge You Want To: Shakespeare's Lost Comedie, the humor here is pitched directly at the groundlings. There's nothing wrong with that kind of humor--some of the puns here are hilarious--but imagine how tiring Hamlet would be if the entire play focused on the gravediggers...

I'd recommend this album mainly to hard-core Fireheads. Those new to their work would be better off starting with Waiting for the Electrician or Someone Like Him, Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers!, How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?, or I Think We're All Bozos on This Bus.

What many dont realize is that the FST guys did a "Hemlock Stones" play on radio that never made it to any record or CD. It was also called "The Giant Rat of Sumatra" but bears little resemblance to this. I like this one for the rapid-fire jokes. If you dont like one, the next one will get you. And the ineptitude of Stones being unable to figure out who the Electrician is is pretty funny. (They make it painfully obvious.) In some ways, their best, coherent, theatrical effort.