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Moron Parade
Heat Slap
Moron Parade still suckles at Frank Black's flabby teat, but that's a good thing. Their updated take on vintage Pixies may not be the most original concept -- and like it's really going to be any better than the original -- but the songs on Heat Slap have a unique quality about them that's difficult to explain. The Portland band's musicianship probably has a lot to do with it -- each of the members lends their background and expertise to the music's style, and Moron Parade ends up with songs that run up and down the musical landscape. Most of the album is straight-forward indie rock (like their best effort, Dark Nights, Knife City), but many of the songs are more experimental. The album's opener, "One Note," is a humorous jab at the industry and themselves -- the band claims that it would be so much easier if all of their songs were only one note.
Listeners would do well to skip "Tennis Locum," however, as the singer's high-pitched whine grates quickly. But overall, Moron Parade score again with an album full (21 tracks full, to be exact) of indie rock. Dark Nights, Knife City is better, but this is an album worth owning. (DAC)