Mutts – Fuel Yer Delusion Vol. 4
Some people don’t like music that’s considered “weird.” When you talk about artists practicing or who have practiced that type of sound, several names come to mind. For me, three are near the top, Captain Beefheart, Frank Zappa and Mojo Nixon. A lot of this set channels those artists. Since I love all three of them, that’s a great thing to me.
“America’s Next Top Something pt. 1” is one part skit and one part weird little song. It reminds me a bit of something David Lee Roth might do. “Everyone is Everyone” is a modern rocker with a bit of a weird bent and some classic sound to it. It definitely earns a parental advisory for the lyrics – or specifically several. This reminds me a bit of Mojo Nixon. I can hear some Captain Beefheart here, too.
I definitely hear the Captain Beefheart references on “Real Good Boy,” too. It’s also got quite a bit of Frank Zappa. It’s all delivered with the same kind of weirdness we’re getting used to by this point. Imagine combining Randy Newman with musical theater and Mojo Nixon. You’ll be pretty close to “Like Mama Had.” The percussive based freak out at the end is great, too.
The usual suspects of Mojo Nixon, Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart are in place on “I’m Trying.” Add in some psychedelic rock and soul, too. A variation on the first piece, “part 2” has a psychedelic element combined with carnival music. It’s an intriguing twist on the sound. Mojo Nixon is all over “Shake It Up.” That’s a good thing.
Continuing with the Mojo Nixon thing, “Breed” is the one of the most mainstream classic rock pieces here. I can even make out some hints of Deep Purple. The early sections of “Proof” definitely bring that Deep Purple reference back to some degree. This is a cool organ based jam that really rocks. On “People” we get a psychedelic excursion that’s not far removed from freeform jazz or even beat poetry, but brought modern.
We’re back in the neighborhood of Captain Beefheart on “Stone.” It is noisy psychedelic rock.
Psychedelic Captain Beefheart is on-hand on “Black Ties & Diamonds,” too. It is another cool one. It even has some hints of early Pink Floyd at times. The closer is part 3 of the America’s Top…bit. “Captain Beefheart” is written all over it. From the harder rocking first section, to the blues movement later, this feels very much like it could have come from one of Beefheart’s album.
I really like this set a lot. Anyone who likes Captain Beefheart should find a lot to like here. While artists like Zappa and Mojo Nixon are also well earned references, this comes closest to the music of Don Van Vliet (aka CB). This is just plain cool.
– Steve Rafferty
https://www.amazon.com/Fuel-Yer-Delusion-Vol-Explicit/dp/B00PJUUXFS
9/10 Stars