Happy nihilist Tonio K. returns after his critically acclaimed Life in the Foodchain with a stronger, even more sardonic record, Amerika. With tight riffs and intelligent lyrics, Tonio K. rocks hard on this one. But if an album's message can make one want to walk into traffic, this is it. Every song here espouses the end of all hope, the absence of values, the hopelessness of the human condition -- all sung with intelligence and wit (from "Say Goodbye": "The signs are everywhere/Only no one even cares/This paradise is dying/Say goodbye"). Most notable is the Dada tribute in the final track, "Merzsuite," which is divided into three sections ("Let Us Join Together in a Tune," "Umoré," and "Futt Futt Futt"). A lot of fun. Tonio K. is punk for academics. Lots of literary and political references. Lots of words in foreign languages (he admits in the CD reissue liner notes that he doesn't know what the foreign words mean, but he can look them up). A fun recording all around. ~ Mark W.B. Allender
Called "a rousing original" by Rolling Stone when he burst onto the scene in 1978 with the classic "Life in the Foodchain" album, Tonio K. has had a rabid following since that release (Stereo Review called his debut "the greatest album ever recorded," then said that "Amerika" replaced it in that spot when it was released two years later!).
Includes liner notes by Tonio K.
Personnel: Tonio K. (vocals, guitar, piano, drums); Jeanie Reed (vocals, percussion); Ike Willis (vocals); Nick VanMaarth (guitar, background vocals); Garth Hudson (accordion); Jay Gruska (organ); Paul Hertzog (keyboards); Claude Pepper (drums, percussion, background vocals); Jolly Chimp (percussion); J.E.D., Jon ?, Peter Frieberger (background vocals).
Merzsuite: Let Us Join Together in a Tune/Umore/Futt Futt Futt/Umore: Let Us Join Together In A Tune / Umore (A Memoir De Jacques Vache) / Futt Futt Futt See All 2
Nice! Awesome Record - Rockin! Submitted by a reviewer (Earth) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Looking For (and Finding) Trouble I've always found it difficult to describe Tonio K's music. The best way to do so quickly is to say that it's a little bit of a lot of things that you might like, while still being not too much of what you don't like. As an example of the latter, I'm not at all a country music fan. But it's not at all hard for me to actually enjoy the little bit of country influence in his music.
Amerika treats you to a number of extremes. The soft "Cinderella's Baby" is offset by a chaotic "Merzsuite Medley." The quiet sunset of "Say Goodbye" (as today becomes one of tomorrow's good old days) is a counterpoint to the loud clash of various cultures in "Trouble." Tonio K observes: "The French hate everyone. But that's just part of being French."
This artist's odd sense of humor is never more than a minute away, and it is often based on some unique observation of basic human emotions and relationships. He is quite cynical, though incredibly on point. In an incredible tease, he reveals the cause of Rodney's troubles at the end of "The Night Fast Rodney Went Crazy" in German!
This album requires a bit of adventurousness, but not much. It is a good reward.
By the way: also excellent - "Life In the Foodchain."
Doug Submitted by dwolak (SE Wisconsin, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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