Mr. Kurt
Benbenek, proprietor of the
Houseplant Picture Studio web site, has a new CD recently out, enigmatically named "Listening to Paint Dry", which he was kind enough to send me a FREE copy of, just because I asked. Such
generosity surely should be rewarded, and as such, here's my glowing review:
"Listening to Paint Dry" is a misnomer, as it implies a boring experience, whereas the actual listening reaction I had suggests that a truer title would be "Listening to Paint Being Applied". At every auditory twist and turn, this CD covers new ground, or at least traverses old ground in some new ways. Musically, it surpasses
Benbenek's previous releases (which is no small task, I might add), and either delights or ambushes your ears with sounds both strange and pleasing. I found it a great accompaniment to my workout, with a beat that got my heart rate and breathing really soaring! Lyrically,
Benbenek uses words like cotton hammers, gently pummeling your brain with concepts that suggest a man who is both thoughtful and humorous, with a trace of disgust thrown in to season the verbal stew.
Highlights of "
LTPD" include:
"Me and Jesus Got a Good Thing going," wherein the narrator (likely Mr.
Benbenek himself) praises Jesus (no not that one, but his buddy Hay-Sues Lopez), observing the miracles inherent in everyday occurrences, such as potato sacks falling and planes crashing and yet missing him completely.
"I Lost My Car So Fuck It," about acceptance and grand theft auto, with some really nice semi-psychedelic harmonies and a generous amount of the f-bomb being thrown about.
A cover of the Rolling Stones tribute to footwear and drugs, "Can't You Hear Me Knocking," streamlined and compressed into a concentrated package of lovingly sloppy musical conciseness.
"On My Cross Country Trip," which should be covered by some country singer and make Kurt a shitload of money in royalties so he can realize his dreams of world domination and coast-to-coast flea markets.
"People Calibrate and They Buy Stuff," which confused me until the verse about the record show.
"From the Desk of Mr.
Koutaba," a wonderful musical recycling of those asinine spam email con jobs.
"Funky Green Shit," which is either a cautionary environmental warning or not.
"Your Love Keeps Me Going," a shockingly sweet love song—who'd a thunk it?
"A
Beachcombing Breadmaker Sure Shells Out the Dough" closes the CD with a
wailin' blues riff behind rampant puns and a quote from Al
Kooper via Three Dog Night.
This CD is the contemporary equivalent of the Beatles' White Album, if the White Album were shorter and made more sense. It fit very nicely on my
iPod, and I suggest you will not only enjoy it, but that it will change your life, or at least the number of
CDs in your music collection (by one).
If such words of praise intrigue you, contact Kurt at houseplantpicturestudio@charter.net, and ask him how you can get your very own copy. And browse his web site while your at it. It won't do ya no harm!!!
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