Search - Doleful Lions :: Song Cyclops 2

Song Cyclops Volume Two, the sequel to Song Cyclops Volume One (released in 2000), finds the Lions not-so-Doleful, in fact much more upbeat and "pop" than the last 2 DL albums: Shaded Lodge and Mausoleum, and Out Like A Lamb. One of the reasons for this is that this collection of songs, 22 in all, were recorded in 1999, soon after The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here! was released. It almost sounds as if Jonathan saved all of his "pop" songs for this volume, which isn't exactly the case. Essentially SCV1 and SCV2 were released in the order they were recorded. There are some quiet and slower moments on this record, but nothing like the first volume. Take a song like the "Warriors End Table" which is total lo-fi Ramones/Cheap Trick worship (and was written so Jonathan, when he played live could announce that the next song is called "Warrior" and everyone would think they were about to play the Scandal/Patti Smyth song from the early 80s), or something like "Oriental Spike", a get in and get out (1 minute 20 seconds), full-on pop song, which is incidentally about Jonathan's favorite pro wrestler of all time, Terry Gordy, 1/3 of the Fabulous Freebirds, whose killer move was the Oriental Spike. This album, like volume one, is a Jonathan Scott solo album, save for a couple of songs recorded in 2006 (Oriental Spike, Wallflower, The Head Of The Shade Antichrist) with his brother Robert. There are also 5 cover songs on this volume, songs by The Crystals, The Descendents, The Beach Boys (late 70s era at that), Close Lobsters, and The Misfits, a window into Jonathans disparate influences, and proof that a great pop song can come from just about anywhere, maybe even from here...