Dolly Rocker - Hello, Dolly Rocker!
(self-released)
The musicians saunter along, like Eeyore tripping on ether. The vocalist follows suit, like Jarboe on heavy sedation (or Nico at regular speed) (or Greta Garbo on a good day). If you're looking for a somnambulistic quartet with which to mope and sigh, and the usual suspects are unavailable, you could do much worse than these folks. While that endorsement doesn't ring out with pristine clarity, that's not to dismiss this record by any means. But, please, if you're going to listen, make sure you're in the mood for this type of experience—nothing's worse than a bunch of slow songs dragging you down.
Of course, it's better with headphones—the fine points of this record (focused primarily on the efforts of violinist Jim Gaylord, and the melodies hiding behind the torpor) shine like pearls at the bottom of the ocean. Through regular speakers, unfortunately, you're left with a guitarist strumming very, very, very slowly and a drummer tapping out a very, very, very comatose beat and a very, very, very exacting woman enunciating her lyrics very, very, very slowly. In less forgiving moods, no amount of violin mastery can save such efforts. Sure, it's better when the BPMs hit double digits (as on the second version of "Shattered"), and it's better when the lyrics slide quietly into place (unlike the somewhat stiff "Mars & Mercury"). But then you come home, and it's raining, and nothing seems to be going right, and there's no one around to talk to, and this record will be your best friend.
|
