Search - Zeena Parkins :: Mouth Maul Betrayer

Zeena's worst moment

Pharoah S. Wail | Inner Space | 12/02/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

""Completely disappointing". That could be my entire review of this disc.



I love Zeena, and she has pinned my consciousness to the wall more times than I remember, but this is awful. I really don't like writing reviews that just dog the product out, but this disc doesn't have any other reviews. For the sake of those of you who may find this disc and consider buying it, I decided to review it.



Feel free to stop reading right here. Just mosey on along to another cd.



The deal here is that Zeena studied up on this culture of Jewish gangsters and part of their hidden language is on this disc. Her interest in this story/culture caused her to compose sort of a Gangster Suite. I felt like this could have been great, so I bought it. I was sadly mistaken. First off, this music is just gimmicky. It doesn't even come across as a composed piece of music. It sounds more like a collection of digital sound effects. I'm not talking Evan Parker and Lawrence Casserley's Solar Wind disc, completely mind-altering effects though. The sounds and sampling on this disc are completely cheesy. Zeena's electric harp playing is generally fantastic, and even IT comes off here as just a prop.



Secondly, how can Zeena work with artists on the level of Nels Cline, Bjork, Mark Dresser, etc... and even be able to tolerate the guitarist (Mark Stewart) in this band?? His tone is horrible and his playing is purely generic. At one point on this disc I swear he is doing his impression of the Ren & Stimpy themesong guitar style.



This album is a mess. If you were thinking "should I buy Mouth Maul or ....{insert whatever else here}?".... go with the whatever else. If you are aching for some Zeena but you don't have No Way Back, The Inkling, or Live at Easthampton Town Hall, get any or all of those instead. They range from great to astounding. Mouth Maul never even sees "good" on the far horizon."