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CD REVIEW: The Residents – Petting Zoo
By Ben Ohmart - 04/03/2002 - 12:06 PM EST

Artist: The Residents
Album: Petting Zoo
CD Review: It’s difficult to believe, but it seems that The Residents, that odd eyeball group known to go out of its way to dream up wacky songs, visuals and characters, has now produced a collection of ‘ear friendly’ tunes upon which to – well, I’m not sure What their point with this cd is actually, but as a Residents fan myself (something perhaps few would admit to), it’s great to have Any new release from these unknown guys/girls.

Consider this another Greatest Hits album, but more accessible than their previous GH try. You’ll recognize, and go away humming, tracks like ‘God’s Magic Finger’ (with its repetitious ‘it was the finger instead of the singer’). Another one I’ve personally never been able to forget (though I’ve tried!) is the sickly vocal from the memorable melody ‘Hanging By His Hair.’ Great and simple instrumentation on this.

Without going through their whole catalog, it’s hard to tell if there are any new tunes in this collection, but just the fact that the ordinary person can Listen to Everything on this 20 track, 57 minute disc is enough of a reason to put it together and ship it out. Especially now that The Residents have turned 30.

Yep, in 1972 they began. The interior of the cd booklet tells of their accomplishments: being on the Grammy nominee shortlist in 1980 but then just sharing a table with Donna Summer. Being a permanent part of NY’s Museum of Modern Art. Recording 40 one minute songs for The Commercial Album, then buying 40 1-minute spots to play the whole damn thing as commercials on a San Francisco radio station! (I love that!) Writing a ten hour score for the Hunters series on the Discovery Channel (release more of it, you bastards). And on and on.

Of course even though it’s More ear friendly, Petting Zoo probably isn’t melodic or rock/pop enough for the gist of civilization. Still, if you’ve ever wondered about the Eyeballs, here’s the perfect place to start.

www.residents.com


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