Customer Reviews

Telegraph Melts

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This is another album by the prolific Jandek. It was released in 1986. The instrumentation is Jandek on electric guitar (and occasionally harmonica) and someone else on drums. There may be someone on bass guitar, but the album is mixed so poorly, it's hard to tell. All the instruments are amateurishly played. The girl singer called "Nancy" sings on several songs, sometimes solo, sometimes in duet with Jandek. Most people will find this album unlistenable, but I kind of like it.

Another of Jandek's recorded outings with help from The Singer Known as Nancy. Of special note is the song "Governor Rhodes," with Jandek and Nancy going back and forth with lines like "Chant for Love" "Chant for Music" "Chant always." I don't know if they intended it to be humorous, but I got a laugh out of it. 'Mother's Day Card" is Jandek singing the cheesy lyrics of a generic Mother's Day card in a goofy voice--also fairly funny.

The disk veers into psycho territory for "You Painted Your Teeth," and on "Fly" Jandek screams like he's become completely unhinged.

Nancy does her usual fine job with vocals on the tracks she is on. "Telegraph Melts" is particularly good.

There seem to be some other musicians on this--drums and guitars and maybe bass--Jandek's "rock group" period (although nothing on here could be classified as rock music, and I suppose most people wouldn't even call it music). Still, this is an enjoyable and varied effort from Jandek and gang. If you're new to J, I wouldn't suggest you start with this, but it's one of his better ones. (Maybe try Modern Dances first, or Chair Besides a Window).