Search - Alex Chilton :: Feudalist Tarts & No Sex

Just as Soon Gas a Virus

Roger Duprat | Cleveland | 07/12/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This contains two EPs Chilton did in the mid-'80s, when he began playing and recording after a few years getting it together in New Orleans. Not bad, but certainly not as good as going to see him back then. The Ardent Studios sound is nice, but I've always found some of this rather antiseptic. "Paradise" is one of the worst songs he's ever done. "Wild Kingdom" is pretty pointless "jazzy" jamming. His Slim Harpo covers (amusingly referred to by one reviewer here as "doo-wop") contain some of the shakiest harmonica playing I've ever heard.



That said, there are four great songs on this: first, his cover of the 1965 Willie Tee Nola Records classic "Thank You John," which was the followup to Mr. Turbinton's "Teasin' You." A tale of drugs and prostitution, it's perfect for Chilton, and he sings it exquisitely--it's the equal of the original. "No Sex" ranks among his best conceptions, a worthy successor to his avant-pop "Bangkok"--check out the not-quite atonal guitar in the instrumental section of this one. One writer, back around the time he made these recordings, called his guitar playing "harmolodic," and this is the kind of thing he was likely referring to. "Lost My Job" and "Under Class" are both pretty fine too.



Alex Chilton is, intermittently, a great artist, but there's always been some kind of experimental genie--some detached little devil--perching on his shoulder, encouraging him to mess up otherwise good things. You could, I suppose, call it casual intensity or the dynamic pause. I for one admire his more outside efforts, such as "Like Flies on Sherbert." But once he came back and turned himself into a sort of Europhile Malaco Records version of deep-south cabaret, he lost something, even though he was a delightful live performer during those years, and probably still is, as he sings "Choo Choo Train" and "The Letter" to the casino-hotel audiences he and the reformed Box Tops play to now. Or Big Star tunes to the feudalist tarts of Ole Miss..."

Chilton's White Boy cynical Soul

musicburgler | DC | 09/16/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of Chilton's later albums and includes more of his retro soul complete with the Stax legendary Memphis Horns duo. On "Stuff" they really shine in a jazzy soul inspired jam interlude.
"Tee Ni Noo" is a real doo-wop take but its pretty catchy.
"Lost My Job" is a typical blues/ country take but includes some great lines like "Think I'll watch a little T.V."
"No Sex" is a more social commentary type thing about the emerging 80's Just Say No campaign and AIDS scares.
"Under Class" is more of that fitting in with the new Yuppie movement of the time includes some biting lyrics."