Very rarely does an album title perfectly capture the music recorded on it. Yet, the Majestic Twelve have done just that with Schizophrenology, a ten song collection of bizarrely diverse material ranging from serene piano to satirical sing-a-longs, rounded out with heavy rock and fiery screaming. Just as diverse lyrically, Kenyata Sullivan takes on a barrage of subjects including politics, suicide, and relationships. Schizophrenology is not only amazing for an independent release, but will be considered by many as a must for any best album list of 2006.
Much of the album has an unexpected edge that is led by the vocals of Sullivan. Opening with the bass-driven "Welcome to the City," he growls, "Your life is gonna b-b-b-break you down." Yet, it is the presence of songs like these that allow the calmer songs to be so powerful. This is illustrated best through the band's integration of country into rock without compromising their own sound on "Whispering," a heartfelt tribute to family. The ability to have such diversity in song style is mostly thanks to Sullivan's voice, which is excellent throughout the album - even when making choices that most vocalists would never even imagine. Many tracks thrive on this antagonistic interplay of vocals and instrumentation, such as the poppy "Break it and Breathe," which has Sullivan pondering the suicide of a friend. Without question, the Majestic Twelve are at their best when performing heavy rock, led by Sullivan's screams on highlights like "Trapped Underwater" and "Cry."
Sullivan tackles politics with a whimsical, matter-of-fact voice, often hinting that he is parodying his own choice to record political songs. This gives these tracks a slight novelty feel - yet far from suggesting that they aren't to be taken seriously. The conservative-ribbing "Condoleezza, Check My Posse" is the catchiest song on the album by far, mainly because of the humor injected into Sullivan's ranting. While his sarcastic "I will rule the world forever, I'm straight and white and male, American and free" hook may strike many as a scathing political statement, Sullivan supplements this with a hilarious a capella crescendo - a slow build-up with lyrics that consist only of the names of conservative figureheads, including Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson. Yet, Sullivan makes it clear that he is not simply jumping onto an election-year bandwagon, as he declares his political independence in "Thank God Everything on TV is a Lie."
Schizophrenology isn't solely a platform for Sullivan's often brilliant lyrics. While not at the foreground of the songs, the supporting musicians are certainly accomplished. Bassist Michael D'Alessandro's penchant for groove is highlighted on several tracks, including "Welcome to the City" and "Thank God Everything on TV is a Lie." Combined with the drumming of Anthony Cribb, songs like "Are You Ready?" have a rhythm section that couldn't possibly be any stronger. The wall of sound created by guitarists Joey Stewart, Alex Alexander, and Sullivan allows for subtle nuances that would have otherwise been omitted. Most importantly, there is an overall sense of modesty emanating from the group - no musician unnecessarily shows off their mechanics. This modesty bleeds into the band's interaction with the audience, as they simply promise "more songs to come" inside the CD artwork of the album. We can't wait.
