Customer Reviews

What Are You on

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

 

 

F.M. Cornog, who is East River Pipe, has dealt up another winning batch of homegrown prozac pop with What Are You On? The album seems to mirror Cornog's own personal journey, one which rivals Charles Bukowski's in down and out-ness, self-loathing, and ridiculously pitiful hilarity. If all this sounds like a bummer, it's not. Here's an example. Even the anti-hero of the song "Druglife", who spends his entire day looking to score/use drugs, is watched over by the wonderfully mellow, beautifully arranged, whimsical haze that saturates this entire record. It's this musical playfulness and capacity for empathy that sets East River Pipe apart from the moaning and ugly pack. 999 out of 1000 bands/solo artists couldn't do this. And with lyrics like "dimebags flash up in Union Square / people walk in serotonin pairs" and "just shuffle on through the golden mist / take a number 'cause you're on the list," it's like being there under the soft glowing neon of lower Manhattan, in the protective gauzey arms of your favorite libation.

This album comes out 3 years after what was probably my least favorite ERP album "garbage heads on endless stun". Not one store was carrying it locally anymore (they all did 3 years ago when the last new album came out). Either that says something about the internet(bad for cd sales), the economy(bad for cd sales) or the "band" itself(since its not brittany spears it must be bad!). In this album he seems to have gotten back to some of the guitar complexities of "the gasoline age"(which was one of my favorites next to "Mel" and "shining hours in a can".
The low points:
*the album clocks in at only 36 minutes.
*most of the songs are also very concise.
*a few naff moments (background vocals on dirty carnival, re used sound effect on shut up and row).
Thie "high" points: (no pun intended).
*after admitting he spent $200,000 on drugs his music can still sound this good!!!
*not one bad tune!
*return to guitars which were mostly missing on the last album!
I disagree with the prior reviewer who rated the album poorly. It sounds like there IS some growth/change on the guitar sounds and drums. On some tracks he must be using a live drummer or better drum machine. It even mentions in the liner notes some of it was recorded at an outside location on dfferent equipment (sounds like he made up the name "the new jersey institute for worserer recording!"). One should not expect ultra glossy production, or completely new directions (would anyone listen to a country, rap, or techno east river pipe album???).
To summarize, if like east river pipe you should like this album very much! Some dreams can kill you, some music can kill you but East River Pipe can save you!

I have been a big ERP fan since his first record came out. My favorite is "Poor Fricky." I have enjoyed his recent work, but not quite as much as the first three. This new one actually reminds me of his first and that is a good thing. Every song has something special or interesting about it...great melodies, arrangements, funny/enigmatic/mature lyrics with a touch of melancholy. Luckily he doesn't sound too depressed. I get a little Dylan vibe, say in the Basement Tapes or J.W.Harding vein, but that may be a stretch. I can't say that I have a favorite song, although the robot song may be it, but I definitely don't hit skip once. I agree the songs are short, but the economy works for me. I would like one long guitar freak-out, 'cause those are so sweet...maybe next time. In sum, this is a great ERP record and that is saying a lot. Cornog has kept his passion, economy of style and lack of pretense after six records and that is amazing. He is among my all-time favorite singers.

Well I have to say that I have followed ERP for quite a few years now and at one point in 1999 felt this guy was a musical god. When he release "The Gasoline Age" I felt like that album saved my life. Now in 2006 I listen to "What are you on?" and I feel like I cannot get into his groove anymore. What the hell happened? Did I grow up and ERP stayed the same? How could I loose appreciation for a man I put up on such a high pedestal? I am not sure but all I know is that I just have not been able to get into the last couple of ERP albums including this new album. I still have no doubt that Cornog is an excellent songwriter but musically he just has not matured what-so-ever. I feel like I am listening to the same songs, sounds and ideas recycled over and over. F.M. could really benefit from getting together with a REAL band and some REAL recording equipment. YES I understand that would go against everything that ERP stands for but when the music starts to feel played out it might be high time to change things up. I feel really bad giving this album such a bad review. Trust me I REALLY wanted to like this album and waited a long time for it to come out but I'm just not sure anymore about old F.M. Maybe working at Home Depot is killing what little is left of his musical soul? Again I am not sure but all I can do is say a little prayer and hope the next album puts him back onto his pedestal where he belongs. I remember reading an interview awhile back and F.M. stated that he really was writing music for himself and if others got pleasure from it, all the better. He didn't really seem to care that much about the people who weren't into him. That kinda rings true on the last couple of albums he has released. He maybe writing music as his way of his own personal therapy and if it speaks to the masses then that's just great, and if you don't get into it then move on to the next indie artist, F.M. probably won't miss you to much. I hate to think I may have moved on.