Search - Snakefinger :: Greener Postures / Chewing Hides the Sound

Excellent Repackaging Of Must Have Material

raydoast | California | 01/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Snakefinger is one of those artists you just can't get enough of, so you buy everything. This is easy to do since his career ended in 1987. The repackaging of Snakefinger's weirdest albums: "GREENER POSTURES" and "CHEWING HIDES THE SOUND" is a great start. This CD has material from early in Snakefinger's career so it mirrors early THE RESIDENTS closely (see "DUCK STAB/BUSTER & GLEN" by THE RESIDENTS). These albums are from a time when DEVO and TALKING HEADS were new and the term "new wave" was unknown. Punk music was too limiting and rock was too gothic and everything else was disco music.

New to Snakefinger? He's one of those timeless innovators who really defies category. For youngsters: He sounds like a ska BECK with WEEN lyrics and some SPARKLEHORSE thrown in. For oldies: Vaguely THE STRANGLERS with lyrics by FRANK ZAPPA and arrangement by SPIKE JONES. He has an ESQUIVEL jazz beatnik feel but darker and more tongue-in-cheek. Goofy but infinitely hummable. A good description might be nightmarish cartoon music. Definitely satirical. It is difficult to describe the indescribable. See for yourself. You haven't heard everything thing till you've heard Snakefinger."

'Wakey Wakey, Hands Off Snaky...!'

Paul Ess. | Holywell, N.Wales,UK. | 11/13/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"By far the strangest dude I've reviewed,(and that really IS saying something!) Snakefinger is a Residents waller and as dotty as they come. I haven't a clue what this bloody fool's going on about, but it's completely enrapturing and compelling.

You'd want to be mad to begin your album with a muffled, Hawaiian-guitar version of Kraftwerk's 'the Model', yet that's just what old Snaky does on 'Chewing Hides the Sound',(! enigmatic is ol' Snake if nothing else) and it's more interesting than the tepid original. Other bits include the lilting 'Kill the Great Raven' (why Snaky..?) the controversial (ha ha, any-one interested..?) 'Jesus Was a Leprechaun' and the redolent strum-thrum of the inspired 'Picnic in the Jungle'. All 'songs' swivel convention on one finger. You can't imagine 'CHTS' as a live set; no-one would believe it.

The audience would think they'd had their drinks spiked.



More insanity follows with 'Greener Postures' (See? Snaky's having a laugh at our expense-God love him. He's having FUN!!) Totally insane title's like 'Thrashing All the Loves in History' and 'the Picture Makers vs. Children of the Sea' leave you glowing with appreciation before you even listen to the actual song's and when you do - no disappointment at all. Yay!

A summary isn't necessary, and trying to write one seems as loony as sitting down with the questionable intent of listening to these two delirious albums at one sitting. A couple 'tracks' would probably be enough for a 'rock' fan, but watching his greasy mullet speeding over the horizon would be a treat for Snaky, ever hard-core.



Where else can you hear genius statements like;

'Jesus was a leprechaun, dying on the cross,

Remembering his Celtic roots.

He tried to have a little fun.

Jesus: But my hands and feet are so numb'

It's like Pound's magnificent 'Ballad of the Goodly Fere' set to affectionate but psychotic music.

You can't help listening;

'Jesus was a leprechaun, his name was Tidy Tom,

A twinkle in his aye.

Jesus: They made a martyr of me,

But I never expected to die.'

If you want your life to be better, get this double cd."

Yes!

Ben Dover | Bergen, Norway | 01/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The unique and weird sound of snakefinger really is on the top on this double-disc. It has a more complexe and still perfectly fit sound throughout all the songs than what his work TOGHETER with the legendary Residents showed (yes, they have been producing it togheter...) witch gives a more listener friendly album. Good tunes, funny and odd sounds and lyrics, great guitar, and just simply a wonderfully great album."