Search - Burn Witch Burn :: Burn Witch Burn

From Dead Milkmen to dead serious

C. Slippery | Pasadena | 10/03/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Maybe the joke's on me, but I believe Rodney Anonymous (Rodney Linderman) takes his new style of music seriously. This is quite a departure from the Dead Milkmen, but something all us pale cow fans can appreciate if given half a chance. It's accoustic, it's medieval-gothic and it's kinda rockin'. Completionists NEED this and casual fans should take a listen, too. And probably the amateur ethnomusicologists will find this interesting, too."

Mmm...turbulent

C. Slippery | 07/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i was worried that this record would be a let down like another project that I have been anticipating for awhile **cough** Butterfly Joe. But this is a complete departure from the milkmen and unlike anything I expected. it is not a rock record by any means, but rather some kind of PA Dutch and celtic hybrid that I know nothing about and therefore won't try to explain. but it is ORIGINAL music, except for a swank cover of 'Citadel' The drumming is super tight throughout the record and Rodney doesn't dissappoint with his unique narratives that are still Milkmen-esque, if not a little darker this time around. this is not a joke record, but then again I don't think that the milkmen records are joke records either, just because they are hilarious. "Soul Rotation" is brilliant pop craftsmenship and one of my fave records, but because it's themes were somewhat serious, people weren't into it. Anyway, this is a solid record. My only gripe is that nobody from the Milkmen family tree comes to Pittsburgh. Philly can keep G Love, Bob Clarke and the friggin' Sixth Sense. We want Burn Witch Burn...and Stuart."

Rodney's New Band

rgs42 | Chicago, IL | 01/12/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As an avid Dead Milkmen fan for over ten years, I was quite happy to find that Rodney Linderman, Rodney Anonymous for the Milkmen fans, had created a "side project"....The album was quite different from the Milkmen....I call it closer to a style of folk/goth. If you remove the lyrics you have a unique and quite pleasant sound, played by a group of instruments that could rival the Mahavishnu Orchestra, including the hurdy-gurdy, mandolin, banjolin, violin, bouzouki, recorder, melodeon and a tin whistle along with the standard guitar, bass, and drums. Putting in the lyrics, you come to a real problematic dichotomy; Rodney does not fit into the band.I have a great love for the old punk sound, but this is a different genre of music. The band's two front singers Rodney and Vienna Linderman, alternate lead between songs, in a few, between verses. Vienna's voice fits in perfectly to the background sound, and if she were to be the sole lead singer, would make me a hooked listener for life. Being a Rodney Anonymous fan for so long, I didn't think that it would be possible for me to not like any project of his, no matter how horrible. I think that is why I dislike him in this role. This music is not horrible, I feel embarrassed for him... These are quality musicians playing a tricky subject, and his presence degrades it to a flippant irreverence. The problem that this causes the band is reason why the fans buy the album in the first place. I bought this because it was Rodney's "new band". After the first few listens, I prefer hearing the "new band" part more that I like listening to him. This is not a bash Rodney review. I am a very big fan. I just don't think he fits in very well with the rest of the band. While a few of the songs could not be sung by anyone else but him, Beaumont Arkansas, for example, and other songs, such as Treetop Flotilla, are pure Dead Milkmen. Those are good songs; they just don't fit in. If this band wishes to make a presence as a band, they will have to choose an identity. I have few complaints about any song individually, except for New Tsar & Catapult/Drowsy Maggie's main riff sounds extremely similar to the riff of Ringo Buys a Rifle, a Milkmen song, and a rather gimmicky introduction.There are some extremely good songs on this album, which I think will encourage listeners to buy upcoming albums, but they will only be found after the Dead Milkmen fans spread the news of "Rodney's New Band". I just really hope the Milkmen get back together, and let this new band bloom on its own."