Stephen's CD: Add N To X's "On the Wires of Our Nerves"

At, or near, the heart of my having accumulated too many possessions over the years is my desire for completion. I will admit to owning some things that are perhaps "sub-par" or "not quite up to muster," primarily because they belong to a greater collection of things. This is mostly bad, but it can be good for the sake of providing context.

Such is the case with my small (three CDs) collection of Add N to X albums. Here, I shall review them in order, as I recently listened to them. Upon listening to the first of the discs, I thought to myself "Why do I have this aimless thing?" but by the third CD, I knew precisely why: analog genius, revealed over time.

I am fairly certain I purchased this CD sometime in high school on the basis of the cover alone, although I am sure the track listing probably helped. Clearly, an album with song titles like "Gentle Germans," "The Black Regent," "Planet Munich" and "King Wasp" can't be all bad. And it isn't. However, I should say that, rather than really liking this CD, I more so appreciate it. Almost every song has a great intro and often, a great first minute or so, full of thick synths, burbling, beeping and zooming away, much of it backed by solid non-programmed drums. After that, though, the whole thing just bogs down. Either the song merely repeats itself over and over, or the changes are entirely based on some typically aimless noises. Perhaps this is all intentional, and the members of Add N to X are in some monochrome pub, drinking opaque fluids from filthy and tarnished devices, laughing about how annoyed they made me. And yet, I have kept the CD and bought two more from the same band...

Grade: C+ (the + is because there are just so many lovely analog keyboards happening and because the cover features Ann Shenton having a lovely Moog Rogue being inserted into her womb)

Shall I keep it? Yes. (See album cover, above) Stephen_, StephenCD_

Stephen's CD: Add N To X's "Avant Hard"

Alright, so the title is a pun. And the cover isn't exactly eye-catching. But, hear me sigh with relief. For the songs, the songs...these songs are songs!

We are treated to the same analog keyboard fest that the first Add N To X album features, but this time around the songs typically go somewhere. Or, lacking a real song progression, there might be a vocoded voice to keep the ear interested (not to mention some sparing, but nicely done theremin leads). The single was "Metal Fingers in My Body" (accompanied by a striking animated and, frankly, pornographic video) and the title fits the song, if such a thing is possible.

Most of the other songs (such as "Revenge of the Black Regent," "Steve's Going to Teach Himself Who's Boss," and "Skills") also hold their own, although there are a few moments when the band treads a bit too familiar of ground, setting up a song with a great keyboard part and then running out of ideas on it. For the most part, though, this is a great retro-futurism synthesizer noise album, although it has a few moments of drag.

Grade: B+

Shall I keep it? Yes, indeed I shall. It's very much not in a jewel case, too. Stephen_, StephenCD_

Stephen's CD: Add N To X's "Add Insult to Injury"

Ah, how many times can I count the joys of owning this Add N To X CD?

At least three.

Firstly, the album itself, although apparently somewhat discoherent in its creation, is fantastic from start to finish. I shall list each and every one of the (as usual) fantastically named tracks:

1. "Adding N To X" is a funky synthy creation, featuring variations on the title phrase both said and shouted, apparently, by a French child. Or several of them. I love French children.
2. "Brothel Charge" is precisely the song I shall use when I next storm a brothel.
3. "You Must Create" is as inspiring a mantra as it is thoroughly in a groove
4. "Kingdom Of Shades" is dancy and has an obvious major key change!
5. "Monster Bobby" is like some kind of android Gary Glitter pub chant song, including the potential for underage girls
6. "Poke 'Er 'Ole"'s title might cause a wince, but the song is a pleasant sort of joy-ride
7. "Plug Me In" again has a near-pornographic video, although the song is more bubbly than sensual
8. "Hit For Cheese" is a bit silly, with (presumably) Anne and a robot voice having a sort of back and forth (Anne: 'I want to treat you bad' Robot: 'You'll wish you never had'), but it also rocks
9. "MDMH (Miami Dust Mite Harvest)" rocks itself into a prog-rock tizzy
10. "B.P. Perino" is a completely obscure title for me, as is the song itself
11. "Incinerator No. 1" has a sort of noisy drum and bass beat backing some noisy synths
12. "The Regent is Dead" ends the album with an epic and tragic musical eulogy for the now dead Regent (who appeared on the previous two albums in song form)

Secondly, the CD has some great album art (mutants on the CD itself, I believe) and the version I got actually had stickers in it!

Thirdly, the CD is in a flexi-pack that has SCRATCH 'N' SNIFF patches on it the front and back covers!! From what I can tell, the smells are "Pine Cudgel," "Dirt Floor," "Oily Blanket" and "Liquorice Whip."

Rating: A

Total GPA of My Add N to X Album Collection: 3.2

Shall I Keep It? Scratch and Sniff, Stickers and not in a Jewel Case? How can I do otherwise?

Stephen_, StephenCD_

Stephen's CD: 8 1/2 Souvenirs "Happy Feet"

For some time in high school and college, I subscribed to CMJ New Music Monthly Magazine, valued not only because its reviews mandatorily suggested other similar artists for every album reviewed, but for the compilation CD that came with each issue. Although the magazines are long gone, the CDs still sit, just to my right as I type this, in their paper slipcases. I often have intended a purging of these items from my life (after, of course, making digital copies of the songs from each that are worth having). In fact, they have been migrated to a more conspicuous position for precisely this reason [see photo at right].

However, it is not these compilation CDs that I wish to write about.

Rather, it is the 8 1/2 Souvenirs' album "Happy Feet," which occupies at the moment the second slot of my alphabetized CD collection. Although I cannot prove it with certainty, I believe that I was tipped off to the swinging jazz sounds of the Austin-based Souvenirs by the appearance of "Happy Feet" on one of said compilations. I purchased the album in the flurry of excitement marking the late-90s revival of swing, big band and lounge, although listening to it now, it stands quite apart from the rest of the zoot-suit crowd.

The album is more "hot jazz" than the bulk of the other 2nd-wave swingsters' material, full of improvised solos and skillful playing on everyone's part, especially French-born guitarist Oliver Giraud. The single "Happy Feet" features Crysta Bell's vocals, which are sometimes more suited to the song than otherwise, although Giraud himself provides some rather pleasant French vocals on some of the tunes.

Although certainly a product of the retro impulses of the late 90s, this album actually still stands as a sincerely produced and played hot jazz album (even if it does skirt novelty at times, one might suggest that this was the case of much vocal jazz even in its original heyday in the 1920s-30s). Also, the CD also includes a version of "Brazil," a song that my obsession with the film Brazil nearly requires a positive reception on my part. Plus, at least two kazoo solos!

Rating: 8 1/2 out of 10 (alas, the CD is imprisoned in a jewel case)

Shall I keep it? Yes, I shall, as it is one of the few CDs that fits nearly any mood. Stephen_, StephenCD_