Review CD
"THE POPULAR ALTERNATIVE" BY MAN BITES GOD
04/06/06
Man
Bites God hold a unique position in Australia. In the
comedy world they are seen as Musical Comedians, even
though they are the first to admit that there are
many others that are far more comedic than they are.
In the Music Industry they are seen as a talented
band that happen to write some pretty funny songs.
This ability to exist in either world is how they can
produce an album such as The Popular Alternative,
that will have you tapping your feet as well as
laughing your head off.
The CD kicks off with the tune Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle where the boys, with their tongues firmly in their cheeks, lament the hardships of being a Rock Star. This funky little number makes you want to dance.
Despite the very graphic nature of the first two absurd verses, Cubby House is a beautiful song that explores the concept of the Cubby as a place of safety and comfort. This song features a piano arrangement that just screams “delightful”. Just when you think it can’t get more adorable, the closing chorus is sung by a children’s choir. It makes you want to relive your childhood!
Next up is the token single Bride of the Dragon (which has a brilliant animated video that has been shown on Rage). While this song is great when performed live with James handling vocal duties, this version is awesome with it’s additional instrumentation and the female voice of Deborah Conway. Deborah is so good at selling the song that you could easily believe that she actually is the frustrated wife of a Ninja.
God Bless the Dancing Girls is interesting in that it explores the possibly sad and lonely world of a Strip Club / Peep Show patron, yet manages to celebrate this lifestyle at the same time. It also gets bonus points for possibly being the only song that makes use of the word “ecdysiast”.
Beginning as a fairly straightforward tune with a bit of suggestiveness thrown in, The Pope Song poses the question of, beneath the robes is the Pope just a regular guy? The song soon veers off into very wrong territory with the introduction of some pretty confronting Homo Erotic material in the closing moments, all performed as a rap. This song along with Hymn (another religious number containing full on sexual innuendo and plenty of Blasphemy) are the ones most likely to push the buttons of devout Christians, whom the boys seem to take pleasure in offending at every chance they get.
Work Experience Boy tells the tale of most people’s initiation into the workforce in all it’s horrific glory. The humour in this tune is very much of the school of thought that “it’s funny because it is so true”.
A long time favourite in their live set, The War March is just like the title suggests with hilarious lyrics that are seen through the eyes of a clearly delusional Army Reservist. Mark’s recorder gets a workout in this song with renditions of some recognizable war ditties.
Funny Guy is a fairly sad song that about a poor fellow’s attempts to impress the object of his affection with humour that goes awry. Next comes Solar Flares, the wacky song of the album that’s about a girl and her hazardous apparel. With its’ many astronomical references and a catchy snare drum beat, it sounds like a mixture of They Might Be Giants and the Lucksmiths.
The final listed track on the album is Win At All Costs, MBG’s tongue in cheek Commonwealth Games anthem. It combines a scathing commentary about Australian Society’s obsession with sports with plenty of mangled sporting references to form a brilliantly funny song.
A not-so-hidden bonus track rounds out the CD. This un-named song is a extremely clever tune (featuring the sweet vocals of Nicko) that makes the Bonus Song a living entity. The song compares itself to other songs and pleads to be taken seriously, before raining abuse upon the apathetic listener.
Man Bites God have the musical chops to create brilliant tunes that are far from the One Joke songs that others are prone to produce. Each tune is packed full of humourous content that can keep you on your toes for the duration of the song. A constant shifting of musical styles which some may find a little schizophrenic, makes sure that the listener is never bored. This is a worthy addition to anyone’s CD collection.
Colin Flaherty
The Groggy Squirrel
The CD kicks off with the tune Rock ‘n’ Roll Lifestyle where the boys, with their tongues firmly in their cheeks, lament the hardships of being a Rock Star. This funky little number makes you want to dance.
Despite the very graphic nature of the first two absurd verses, Cubby House is a beautiful song that explores the concept of the Cubby as a place of safety and comfort. This song features a piano arrangement that just screams “delightful”. Just when you think it can’t get more adorable, the closing chorus is sung by a children’s choir. It makes you want to relive your childhood!
Next up is the token single Bride of the Dragon (which has a brilliant animated video that has been shown on Rage). While this song is great when performed live with James handling vocal duties, this version is awesome with it’s additional instrumentation and the female voice of Deborah Conway. Deborah is so good at selling the song that you could easily believe that she actually is the frustrated wife of a Ninja.
God Bless the Dancing Girls is interesting in that it explores the possibly sad and lonely world of a Strip Club / Peep Show patron, yet manages to celebrate this lifestyle at the same time. It also gets bonus points for possibly being the only song that makes use of the word “ecdysiast”.
Beginning as a fairly straightforward tune with a bit of suggestiveness thrown in, The Pope Song poses the question of, beneath the robes is the Pope just a regular guy? The song soon veers off into very wrong territory with the introduction of some pretty confronting Homo Erotic material in the closing moments, all performed as a rap. This song along with Hymn (another religious number containing full on sexual innuendo and plenty of Blasphemy) are the ones most likely to push the buttons of devout Christians, whom the boys seem to take pleasure in offending at every chance they get.
Work Experience Boy tells the tale of most people’s initiation into the workforce in all it’s horrific glory. The humour in this tune is very much of the school of thought that “it’s funny because it is so true”.
A long time favourite in their live set, The War March is just like the title suggests with hilarious lyrics that are seen through the eyes of a clearly delusional Army Reservist. Mark’s recorder gets a workout in this song with renditions of some recognizable war ditties.
Funny Guy is a fairly sad song that about a poor fellow’s attempts to impress the object of his affection with humour that goes awry. Next comes Solar Flares, the wacky song of the album that’s about a girl and her hazardous apparel. With its’ many astronomical references and a catchy snare drum beat, it sounds like a mixture of They Might Be Giants and the Lucksmiths.
The final listed track on the album is Win At All Costs, MBG’s tongue in cheek Commonwealth Games anthem. It combines a scathing commentary about Australian Society’s obsession with sports with plenty of mangled sporting references to form a brilliantly funny song.
A not-so-hidden bonus track rounds out the CD. This un-named song is a extremely clever tune (featuring the sweet vocals of Nicko) that makes the Bonus Song a living entity. The song compares itself to other songs and pleads to be taken seriously, before raining abuse upon the apathetic listener.
Man Bites God have the musical chops to create brilliant tunes that are far from the One Joke songs that others are prone to produce. Each tune is packed full of humourous content that can keep you on your toes for the duration of the song. A constant shifting of musical styles which some may find a little schizophrenic, makes sure that the listener is never bored. This is a worthy addition to anyone’s CD collection.
Colin Flaherty
The Groggy Squirrel
MAN BITES GOD: THE POPULAR ALTERNATIVE
13/10/05
Whimsy,
satirical, lateral or just downright silly? These are
some of the words one could use to describe Man Bites
God, who have just launched their new album, The
Popular Alternative.
Man Bites God launched their new album, The Popular Alternative, last week, performing two sets in front of fans from deep within the bowels of the Corner Hotel in Melbourne.
Man Bites God, (James Hazelden, Mark Woodward and Chris Tomkins) have been kicking around the Melbourne comedy scene for five years now. Their second album has built on their regular repertoire of bawdy jokes about male bits, women and religion with momentary insights of subtle social and political commentary. Songs like The War March, Win at all Costs and Rock and Roll Lifestyle stood out from the regular routine for their gentle satire and whimsy lyrical intricacy.
The new album features a mischievous cameo from the rich and resonant vocals of Deborah Conway. Yes, that Deborah Conway. Her song, Bride of the Dragon, about the rigours of being married to a Ninja is great fun. Deborah, who is promoting her latest offering, Summertown, was a highlight of the first Man Bites God set.
Man Bites God have an ability to surprise and delight an audience, with their whimsy lyrics, witty but often bawdy banter, not to mention the harmonised complexity of their vocals. Their coordinated anarchy is entertaining, however sometimes their more intelligent humour is overshadowed by cheap laughs. Whilst not as polished as other trios, Man Bites God are definitely worth seeing. Just don’t take your children.
Stage
Nahum Ayliffe
Man Bites God launched their new album, The Popular Alternative, last week, performing two sets in front of fans from deep within the bowels of the Corner Hotel in Melbourne.
Man Bites God, (James Hazelden, Mark Woodward and Chris Tomkins) have been kicking around the Melbourne comedy scene for five years now. Their second album has built on their regular repertoire of bawdy jokes about male bits, women and religion with momentary insights of subtle social and political commentary. Songs like The War March, Win at all Costs and Rock and Roll Lifestyle stood out from the regular routine for their gentle satire and whimsy lyrical intricacy.
The new album features a mischievous cameo from the rich and resonant vocals of Deborah Conway. Yes, that Deborah Conway. Her song, Bride of the Dragon, about the rigours of being married to a Ninja is great fun. Deborah, who is promoting her latest offering, Summertown, was a highlight of the first Man Bites God set.
Man Bites God have an ability to surprise and delight an audience, with their whimsy lyrics, witty but often bawdy banter, not to mention the harmonised complexity of their vocals. Their coordinated anarchy is entertaining, however sometimes their more intelligent humour is overshadowed by cheap laughs. Whilst not as polished as other trios, Man Bites God are definitely worth seeing. Just don’t take your children.
Stage
Nahum Ayliffe
MAN BITES GOD
10/06/04
The
self titled album, from the band of the same name,
encapsulates everything you loved and hated about
spelling bees, trailer parks, showers and awkward
phone calls.
The first album from the Melbourne based Man Bites God trio, or conglomerate of artists, is a stellar moment in the display of range and musical talent. Songs regarding killer bees, strap-on sex, sheet steel plating and mashed potatoes are all highlights of this marvellously recorded stereo album.
The intelligent use of complex conceptual subject matter can be witnessed in songs such as track 5, Justice wears a skirt wherein a mild mannered accountant by day changes into the crime fighting cross dressing superhero 'Lady-Man' by night. Other challenging rubiks-cube style mystery songs are evident in the deep, dark Better Gnomes and Gardens which empowers the forlorn folklorish downtrodden Gnome to fight back against the overbearing capitalist establishment of which he is helplessly a victim. In my mind, there are just not enough songs about devilishly angry Gnomes anymore. A highlight...
In contrast, the light and toned consumer anthem Sponsorship judges the mass market industrial mall complex with much ironic disdain. This song is also highlighted by the use of voice samples from the legendary Denzil Houson. Another figure of great value is ex-triffid Rob McComb, on track 9.
A valuable album - perhaps more songs about plate steel or alloy sheeting could make it better. Still, an excellent and exciting recording.
The Program
Gregory Mackay
The first album from the Melbourne based Man Bites God trio, or conglomerate of artists, is a stellar moment in the display of range and musical talent. Songs regarding killer bees, strap-on sex, sheet steel plating and mashed potatoes are all highlights of this marvellously recorded stereo album.
The intelligent use of complex conceptual subject matter can be witnessed in songs such as track 5, Justice wears a skirt wherein a mild mannered accountant by day changes into the crime fighting cross dressing superhero 'Lady-Man' by night. Other challenging rubiks-cube style mystery songs are evident in the deep, dark Better Gnomes and Gardens which empowers the forlorn folklorish downtrodden Gnome to fight back against the overbearing capitalist establishment of which he is helplessly a victim. In my mind, there are just not enough songs about devilishly angry Gnomes anymore. A highlight...
In contrast, the light and toned consumer anthem Sponsorship judges the mass market industrial mall complex with much ironic disdain. This song is also highlighted by the use of voice samples from the legendary Denzil Houson. Another figure of great value is ex-triffid Rob McComb, on track 9.
A valuable album - perhaps more songs about plate steel or alloy sheeting could make it better. Still, an excellent and exciting recording.
The Program
Gregory Mackay