mtoland (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} mtoland) wrote in ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} highbias,@ 2006-10-03 11:32:00 |
|
The Doleful Lions - Song Cyclops Volume Two
THE DOLEFUL LIONS
Song Cyclops Volume Two
(Parasol)
The Doleful Lions are one of those bands that have consistently delivered intriguing, entertaining and often moving pop for years without attaining cult status, let alone mainstream success. I doubt Song Cyclops Volume Two, the group’s second collection of low fidelity home recordings, will change its status, but it’s another fine batch of tunes from the mind of Jonathan Scott. Scott’s occult and horror obsessions take a back seat for the most part (though there is a song called “The Head of the Shade Antichrist”), but the multi-instrumentalist’s personal lyrical eccentricities are in full flower—check out “The Warriors End Table,” “Oriental Spike” and “Tree Full of Owls.” Which you’ll be happy to do, as Scott is still a master of winsome psych/pop melodies—“Fiend Folio,” “Eskimo Wizards” and “Xanax & Windsprints” would provide eargasms even if they were about sacrificing kittens to Baal. Scott also indulges in revealing covers of some of his influences, including the Beach Boys (“She’s Got Rhythm”), the Close Lobsters (“From This Day On”), the Descendants (“Silly Girl”), the Misfits (“Astro Zombies”) and the Crystals (“There’s No One”). All of them are consumed by Scott’s four-track psychedelic sound, as if he’s not aware he didn’t write them himself. This isn’t the best entrance into the Doleful Lions’ world—that would be his twin masterpieces Out On a Limb and Shaded Lodge and Mausoleum—but it’s a treat for the already converted. Michael Toland
THE DOLEFUL LIONS
Song Cyclops Volume Two
(Parasol)
The Doleful Lions are one of those bands that have consistently delivered intriguing, entertaining and often moving pop for years without attaining cult status, let alone mainstream success. I doubt Song Cyclops Volume Two, the group’s second collection of low fidelity home recordings, will change its status, but it’s another fine batch of tunes from the mind of Jonathan Scott. Scott’s occult and horror obsessions take a back seat for the most part (though there is a song called “The Head of the Shade Antichrist”), but the multi-instrumentalist’s personal lyrical eccentricities are in full flower—check out “The Warriors End Table,” “Oriental Spike” and “Tree Full of Owls.” Which you’ll be happy to do, as Scott is still a master of winsome psych/pop melodies—“Fiend Folio,” “Eskimo Wizards” and “Xanax & Windsprints” would provide eargasms even if they were about sacrificing kittens to Baal. Scott also indulges in revealing covers of some of his influences, including the Beach Boys (“She’s Got Rhythm”), the Close Lobsters (“From This Day On”), the Descendants (“Silly Girl”), the Misfits (“Astro Zombies”) and the Crystals (“There’s No One”). All of them are consumed by Scott’s four-track psychedelic sound, as if he’s not aware he didn’t write them himself. This isn’t the best entrance into the Doleful Lions’ world—that would be his twin masterpieces Out On a Limb and Shaded Lodge and Mausoleum—but it’s a treat for the already converted. Michael Toland
