The declining price of recording equipment over the past few decades has encouraged Frank Zappa-inspired weirdos to come out in droves. In other words, if you’re apt to over-think the latest release from Who Don’t?, the new project from local musician Brent Blalock (formerly of sludge-rock goofballs Marriage), try to keep this in mind. The self-titled record, which shamelessly invokes surfy, spooky sounds throughout, winds up sounding like a collection of “Monster Mash” B-sides.
If that’s your thing, you’re likely going to find the slightly irreverent Who Don’t? worth your time. Eighties aficionados will get their jollies from “Bubblegum,” a track that repeatedly samples lines (well, a line, really) from “Rowdy” Roddie Piper’s character in John Carpenter’s 1988 black comedy/horror film They Live. The tune sounds like a theme song from a game show from hell. If you’re a Carpenter fanatic, this is your track.
Things get a little bit more accessible when Blalock enlists the help of a female vocalist in Tunabunny’s Brigette Heron. On “Ready to Play,” arguably the record’s cleanest track, synth and bass mix to make some simultaneously scary and dancy sounds. “Walkin’,” which features vocals courtesy of mysterious newcomer Sanchez Elder, is largely incomprehensible. The lyrics border on gibberish, and the synth/harmonica combo found here is light years away from Huey Lewis and the News. 3 out of 5.
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