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| Review: Downtown Brown ''Moist & Ridiculous'' |
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 Now that you've read every other review of Downtown Brown's "Moist & Ridiculous" and concluded that everybody loves this band , you can read Mitch's ornery diatribe.
'Downtown Brown is the musical equivalent of "Jackass". - an extremely popular entertainment phenomena, but a worrisome omen for our cultural mental-health.'
Click "Read More" for a basic review, a critique and track by track highlights. 
Band: Downtown Brown
CD: "Moist & Ridiculous"
Label: Static Records
Producer: Downtown Brown with Ryan Hyland
Studio: MPA Pro Audio (Canton, Mi.)
Hear Music: MP3.com
Buy This CD at Static Records.
Your Basic Review
Downtown Brown's music is a stew of funk, ska, punk, metal and dirty fun in the tradition of Scatterbrain, Circle Jerks and early Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their debut, "Moist & Ridiculous" (Static Records) is 12 1/2 tracks (one Rage cover) of technically proficient and polished rock loaded with little surprises hidden between the psychopathic screams of singer Neil P and his blistering guitar work. A sense of humor is a must when listening to titles like, "Cream Corn", "Mullet Millennium" and "Bathroom Door" . Musical high points come in the form of impromptu jams that appear at the end of tracks like "Body Rock" and "Sitting On Top of the World."
Critique
That said, this CD's been haunting me for months. I'm definitely in the minority of published opinions regarding Downtown Brown's "Moist & Ridiculous"; I didn't like it the first time I heard it and I've barely warmed up to it after a dozen listens. I've come away from this disc more a fan of Neil P's guitar work than DTB's songwriting. I don't have to like this CD - but I should be able to explain why.
First, with a name like Downtown Brown, I can only assume the ca-ca colored character wielding a plunger on the cover of "Moist & Ridiculous" is a grimacing turd. This is, I'd guess, the symptomatic dysfunction of a generation of anally-fixated children weaned on South Park's singing poo, Mr. Hankey. Is it filthy fun or a fucked-up fascination with feces? Is it sick humor or some deranged cultural move towards coprophilia? Just when you think it's gone as far as it can go Rome continues to burn. I'm still of the generation that finds it base and gross, not funny.
But Downtown Brown's "Moist & Ridiculous" has nothing to do with satisfying some web-wonk's indie songwriting fetish, but feeding the local masses insatiable desire for intoxicating entertainment . Downtown Brown has become an extremely popular draw on the merits of their spastic live shows where anything can happen. Downtown Brown is a musical 2x4; it may have no particular aesthetic value, but it will definitely get your attention if used properly.
And because DTB has become such a good live draw, they'll become the darlings of club-owners and headliners alike looking for a profitable act to exploit (speaking of which, DTB will be opening for The Howling Diablos at The Magic Bag on December 22nd Not to be missed, I'm told.).
So what's my beef with "Moist & Ridiculous?" It only aspires to grab your attention, never to hold it. This collection of songs is like a roomful of children with attention deficit disorder who are jacked on sugar, distracted by cartoons and simultaneously thumbing a Gameboy™ in an futile effort to satisfy one craving for mindless entertainment while constantly reaching for another. Like ping-pong balls inside a pinball machine, they may be entertaining to watch, but they don't actually score.
My bitchings aside, the technical performances and production quality of this CD are first-rate.
Some track highlights...
1. Body Rock - This track is all over the place, beginning with, interestingly enough, a bolero, breaking down into a riff-oriented hard-rock, then making way for the R.H.C.P. styled rappings of singer Neil P. which very soon lapse into psychopathic screaming for lack of better things to say. This track doesn't get interesting until 2:41 into the song, when a gothic organ & demon voice interlude breaks for a very satisfying 1:10 speed-metal binge. There are moments on this disc.
2. Mission Statement - Neil P's slack-jawed, left-coast rap over a typical ska beat is such a shameless derivation of assorted pop and funk acts that it's painful to listen to DTB's third-generation mimicry. There's some political music-biz backlash in the lyrics that will score with indie musicians and anybody else who's sick of the status-quo (me included). Unfortunately, the lyrics aren't provided in the package or on the website, leaving me guessing as to the garbled details of DTB's "mission statement. " On the upside, power and performance
3. Mullet Millennium - 'Mullet Millennium / 1983! / Mullet Millennium/ D.T.B. !' The only song I've ever heard dedicated to the year I graduated high-school. I even had the hair-cut, but I hated the metal of that era, even though I played it one of my first bands. This is a favorite of Xina's, singer of Riverside Drive (you can read her complete review here. I can't stand it.
4. Drinking Song - This is actually my favorite DTB track because the stupid horn playing against the beat in the background makes me laugh. It's the kind of goofy tune you raise your beer to and sing in the bar every night - assuming you can afford to go to the bar every night. The breakdown in the middle of the tune is stuffed with feigned melodrama with a wink and a nod.
5. Cream Corn - It's just a silly thing to say and it feels good. So is "Spam" which is used liberally in this song. Coupled with an infectious, bashing staccato riff it makes you want to do the Muppet Dance (precursor to The Bobble Head). Keeps me entertained until I hear the RHCP influences again which is just distracting.
6. Sitting on Top of The World
More laid back than just about any tune on this record, which is welcome after having your ears boxed for five tracks. Really nice soulful space-jam tacked on the end of this tune with some tasty bass work by Wolf here.
7. Gordan (sic) - DTB's painfully off-key spoof of fifties doo-wop (I'd guess, "Oh, Donna").
8. E-Jam - Flangey, forced jam that can't hold a candle to the end of "Body Rock" or "Sitting on Top of The World." Throw-away track.
9. Bathroom Door - Back to the psychopathic monkey, scatterbrained punk explosions of Downtown Brown, easing back for another great guitar lead from Neil P. Man, that dude can play.
10. Know Your Enemy - Rage Against The Machine Cover that's a bad match for Downtown Brown's attention-demanding, "Look at me!" clown pathos. Definitely not an improvement on the original. Maybe even an insult, if you think politically.
11. Post Grundel Field Trip - Starts with a cool octaver riff, but won't cue up anymore since I've tossed the disc into my back seat too many times. I guess you'll just have to find out for yourself.
12. Moist & Ridiculous - This track closes the CD and is probably the most representative of Downtown Brown because it includes the speed, the spasms, the schizophrenic tempo changes and one of Neil P's blistering leads. It's got the whole turd.
Conclusion:
To me, Downtown Brown is the musical equivalent of the show "Jackass". - an extremely popular entertainment phenomena, but a worrisome omen of our cultural mental-health. Whoever pulls the craziest shit, stoops to the basest humor, or screams the loudest and longest wins, right? Not in my book.
Downtown Brown's music is funniest when it doesn't scream in you face, but simply adds a pennywhistle or a plastic horn to the mix. And If they weren't so desperately borrowing from every influence to gain favor, they could be a first-class metal band instead of a second-class Red Hot Chili Peppers or Scatterbrain.
- Mitch
You can hear samples of this record at mp3.com
Buy This CD at Static Records.
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No Comments Allowed for Anonymous, please register |
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Re: Review: Downtown Brown ''Moist & Ridiculous'' (Score: 1)
by Mitch on Monday, December 16, 2002 @ 18:20:48 EST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.michiganbands.com | When someone calls me on my bullshit I'm big enough to admit it. I inferred that Sue Summers only interest in Dowtown Brown was good business. I had no right to assume or to speculate what Summer's motivation for signing Downton Brown was or what her relationship is to the band. I hope that they will accept my apology. I'll try to do better in the future.
Mitch |
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Re: Review: Downtown Brown ''Moist & Ridiculous'' (Score: 1)
by Mitch on Wednesday, December 18, 2002 @ 07:13:04 EST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.michiganbands.com | | I've gotten more than one "***** You - I know those guys and they ROCK!" e-mails from DTB fans. Please, if you disagree with the review, use the comments button below the article to publish your opinion. Just remember, it's not a personal attack, but an opinion about music. Ok? |
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Agreement with Mitch (Score: 1)
by lilemohomie on Wednesday, January 22, 2003 @ 12:52:21 EST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.jumpplug.homestead.com | | I saw DB last year around this time i believe at a local venue, i saw a raw band with potential yet it wasn't my thing. I wasn't sure if it was just that show or how new they were, i'd give them another chance in the future if i come across them but i just didnt like the style at that time, it was like a lack of blending almost. |
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Re: Review: Downtown Brown ''Moist & Ridiculous'' (Score: 1)
by Stan_Bush on Monday, March 10, 2003 @ 18:56:17 EST
(User Info | Send a Message) | | Please refrain from using Italian terminology in future reviews. |
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| Michigan Business Directory |
Average Score: 4.33
Votes: 6
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