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"I'm the kind
of guy who likes to sing
about his penis, please
forgive me darling let's
not let that come between
us" That's the thing
that separates satirical
music from songs that
are incidentally funny
- you can always easily
understand the lyrics.
With a new CD of all their
most requested songs,
Melbourne threepiece Man
Bites God have brought
out a radio-friendly mix
of poppy music and well
enunciated, humourous
lines. In the case of
musical comedy , I think
you generally need to
have experienced a live
performance of the band
to feel connected to the
CD (TISM being a possible
exception), so not having
heard them play live I
had to just imagine their
reputed hardcore legion
of fans lining the front
of the stage at Pony religiously
chanting the words to
the eight songs on their
second EP, "Ultrasounds".
More musically evolved
than most comedy groups,
Man Bites God blend pub
rock, bubblegum pop and
sleazy pornstar funk to
tell tales of unrequited
love, sexual misadventure
on Contiki tours and good
old-fashioned witch-burning.
The anthemic "Irish
Drinking Song" was
the standout tune for
me. If I'd had a pint
of Guinness, I would have
swung it in time with
the rousing chorus. With
lines like, "If you
were an electrical device
then I would be your socket.
I am glad to see you this
is no gun in my pocket,"
I'm sure the porn inspired
"Sleazy" is
a massive hit with live
audiences and will be
played with relish by
groups of lads in Saturday
night warm-up mode. "Children
of Japan" and "Lullabye"
provide the necessary
darkness and light, using
their sinister lyrics
to undermine the folly
of the tunes that surround
them.
For the uninitiated
to thoroughly enjoy this
CD, I suggest the following:
first check out one of
their live gigs or catch
them at Pony's comedy
night, Skeptic Tank. Drink
in the atmosphere, have
a dance, watch the boys
strut their stuff - and
then buy the CD. I think
when you can attach your
own memories of their
onstage antics and the
vibe of the show to their
music, you'll get more
out of it - I plan to
anyhow. (Rebecca
Cook, InPress) |
