Search - Shivaree :: Tainted Love: Mating Calls & Fight Songs

When the moon is full, would you lay with me?

E. A Solinas | MD USA | 07/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Jackson. Chuck Berry. R Kelly. Lead Belly. Motley Crue. Tanya Tucker.



No, "Greensleeves" is not included on "Tainted Love: Mating Calls & Fight Songs." Shivaree's fourth full-length album is, simply put, a collection of love (and lust) songs, which they reimagine as sensual jazzy ballads and gritty, sexy indiepop -- lots of ringing riffs and slinky keyboard.



It opens on a surprisingly sparkly note: "There is a land I know/Where lovers go and flowers grow... Where time is standing still/And lovers fill the quiet places/By the shore," Ambrosia Parsley croons happily, over a twinkly, trumpeting folky melody, telling us about this mythical lovers' land full of rainbows, flamingos and castles. Someone get me a map.



Tempos switch rapidly for the second song, a cover of Berry's "I Wanna Be Your Driver," a sexy indie-rocker ("I've never had the thrill of riding/Such a wonderful machine") full of fuzz, sizzly guitar, and retro keyboard. The songs that follow vary almost as much -- slow mellow ballads, rattly funk, spluttering ambient rock, swooning keyboard pop, kooky hornpop, and a grinding cover of Rick James' "Cold Blooded."



I have to say, I haven't got the faintest idea how they selected these songs -- perhaps Shivaree just selected the sexiest and/or sweetest songs they could find. But they fit surprisingly well into all the different styles they try out -- about half are jazzy, pop or slow, and the other half tend to be poppier, funkier and more uptempo.



The slower ones tend to have gentle ringing guitars, while "Cold Blooded" and "I Wanna Be Your Driver" has blazing, classic riffs, along with some smashing jazzy drums and layers of fuz. And virtually all the songs are draped in heavy layers of synth, ending up in slow swirls, colourful squiggles, or stretches of retro keyboard.



And the music gets plenty of other sounds -- horns, trumpets, accordions, mellow strings, tambourine, and xylophone. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" is almost drowned in samples, rattles, rustling, and tribal drums.



Shivaree didn't write any of the songs on this album, but they do have good taste -- the songs are full of passionate love ("Will you still love me/When i'm down and out?") and sexy odes ("She's gonna turn on your juice, boy"). Parsley's voice sounds a bit crackly here, but she molds her strong, sharp voice into whatever vocals match the song.



"Tainted Love: Mating Calls & Fight Songs" is an ideal title for this song, full of fast-driving sex and devoted loves. A colourful album, full of musical variety."

One of the best ever concepts for a concept album

Peter J. Ward | Lewisburg, WV. USA | 04/14/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Normally I get annoyed with concept albums. Probably becuase the "concepts" are vapid or superficial. However, Shivaree's new album is a good, no GREAT, concept packaged with Ambrosia Parsley's versatile voice and some really varied instrumental approaches to each of these songs. My personal favorites to listen to are Paradise, Hello Hello I'm Back Again, Cold Blooded, Looks That Kill and Shame on You.



While I still prefer Shivaree's originial work (I Oughta..., Who's Got Trouble, and Rough Dreams) I really dug this album after I'd listened to it a couple times. Other reviewers have noted these are all cover songs, but look a little deeper at the orginial songs and who's behind them and the real cleverness of this album comes out.



Tainted Love is exactly that:



Paradise - Phil Spector (Phil was arrainged on 2nd degree murder charges in the death of Lana Clark and repeatedly threatened to kill his then-wife Ronnie - this makes the lyrics to the song especially creepy)



I Wanna Be Your Driver - Chuck Berry (Chuck transported a minor into the U.S. and was then arrested in connection with prostitution)



Half On A Baby - R. Kelly (facing several charges relating to sex with minors - he was later acquited)



Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson (enough said)



Would You Lay With Me (in a field of stone) - David Allan Coe (not sure why this one fits in the compilation)



Hello Hello I'm Back Again - Gary Glitter (arrested several times relating to child pornography - REALLY CREEPY lyrics when you're aware of that fact)



My Heart Belongs To You - Ike Turner (you would have to have been in a cave for the last twenty years to not have heard all about Ike - he is most famous for writing great songs and beating Tina Turner)



Cold Blooded - Rick James (Rick "Superfreak!" James - Most famously Rick and his wife kept a woman captive in their house for several days during a coke binge, burning and sexually assaulting her)



Looks That Kill - Nikki Sixx (main songwriter for Motley Crue, he's been through several marriages, lots of booze and drugs, but hasn't done anything that I'd consider comparable to some of the others on this compilation)



Shame On You - Spade Cooley (Convincted of murdering his second wife)



Good Night Irene - Leadbelly (Several stitches in prison but I'm ignorant of any "rough love" incidents relating to Leadbelly. Maybe it's on here just for being a great song.)



So, if you can't enjoy a collection of love songs written by the perverse and sung by an angel, then this album isn't for you."