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Clowndog Album Reviews
The Cantankerous Mainstream
The punk scene in Christchurch is a small one, but one that is slowly growing. Some of the key bands in the scene are the ska/punk acts Molly Says Go and RSI, as well as the more esoteric Clowndog. Clowndog have established themselves as arguably the hardest-working of all the South Island bands, with a rich vein of humour in their songs that belies the band's professional approach to their craft. Their last release, the 500-CD Mystery Meat saw them gain national exposure, particularly through the song, "I'm Good At Stuff". Now comes the newest EP, entitled The Cantankerous Mainstream, a seven-song release that sees Clowndog's songwriting reach new levels.
The opening track, "You're Joking?" sets the mood, with a dirty rock riff and confident attitude-laden vocals. Indeed, the vocals of Spanky (actually a relatively dull name compared to bandmates Sherbert and Idiot Pants) are a real standout on this release. It is rare to see a NZ genre singer so comfortable with really cutting loose. The band seem to be at best when they move stylistically towards 60s-era proto-punk, such as EP closer "No-Fi".
The CD goes through a broad array of sounds and styles, usually within the same song, so it doesn't matter at all that the tracks were recorded at three separate studios around the country. The music features brass, a kazoo, old wireless radio samples and a crappy electronic keyboard amidst the distorted guitars, and the lyrical content is quirky, but incisive throughout. "I was a loser until 1993/When I got hit by the Seattle superscene/Seven years later corporate radio has just caught on/Now there's ads for Starbucks between every single song/Save our forests, save our rights, save the chimpanzees/But no-one really gives a shit about the kids overseas", regales Spanky memorably on "Trendsetter".
Some of the eclecticism doesn't quite work; the intro to "Trendsetter" is superfluous, the garage noise of "5150" is forgettable at best, and the 'humourous' chipmunk voices of "Amway Changed My Life" are just plain annoying. But The Cantankerous Mainstream is as much hit as miss, and shows a creative band willing to try something different. The presence of tasty melodies such as the latter part of "Mates With Marxist" show that Clowndog are capable of great songs, but that would be too easy and not as much fun as taking the piss at every turn. One to put on when you REALLY want to annoy the neighbours.
Matt, www.Punkas.com
This is an odd little album just as this Christchurch three piece seem an odd little band. On the surface CLOWNDOG come across as silly jokers but there are some good thoughts behind dem there jokes and with the seven tracks (plus a hidden one) on this CD, they hit you with their smarts. While I hate to resurrect the term, the songs have an early nineties grunge sound that I'm still not over - nor expect to be anytime soon. The rockiness of the guitars is accentuated by the sharpness of their tongues,'Trendsetter' poking fun at people who think they are oh-so different but are actually the same - not to mention a couple of swipes at boy bands which is always a good thing. Recorded with the prize package of the rdu Not So Young Entertainers' competition, which they won last year, there is no studio trickery present but the end result is clean and never muddy, which guitar-based music can sometimes be. The music is propped up by the very able vocals, which sometimes can fly off into silly land, but are overall mature and appealing. A fun album . It's not everyone that can namecheck Sir Howard Morrison and Booga Beazley ("he was looking kinda sleazy") in the same song. CLOWNDOG do, and do it well.
New Zealand Musician Magazine
Created by a now defunct Christchurch (New Zealand) punk trio, this 7 track EP is practically a cult sensation waiting to happen; in a parallel universe it’s not beyond the realms of possibility to find millions of devoted fans wearing Clowndog’s Coca Cola derived red t-shirts in homage to the combined work of band members Spanky, Sherbert and Idiot Pants. This band is created to be a cult act; while they’d be filed under pop-punk, they’re way too intelligent and eclectic to be pigeonholed in the same category as Blink-182 or Good Charlotte, while their arrangements are dynamic and fuelled by a surprising degree of virtuosity. The Cantankerous Mainstream, their second EP, is full of surprising touches, from the surprisingly dynamic opening to ‘Mates With Marxist’ to the peppy hidden gospel singalong track tacked onto the end of the record. I’m not sure that I would argue that any of these individual songs are outstanding, but nevertheless this is an entertaining record, stretching the pop-punk genre to its limits and displaying plenty of charisma in the process. If you’re reading this overseas, your chances of tracking this EP down are practically nil, but just bear in mind that Clowndog are one of the more eccentric members of the extensive infinite list of bands that deserved more attention.
Fyfeopedia, http://fyfe.fusion.net.nz/
Mystery Meat
Clowndog are a Christchurch-based trio and this is an eight track CD full of lighthearted fun and a few meatier skate/ thrashy/ grunge-type bits for good measure. Favourite tracks are a lovely ditty about grandmas called Muffins and straight on from that I'm Good At Stuff - one of the more punky, beefed up tunes. The bouncy Council Building, a tale of skate friends, straight out of a Warped gig (complete with a Yankie twang!) and they go grungy on Green Light, a song featuring strained, poodle-type noises that I think must be the bass player's vocals. This is an energetic CD from a bunch that sound like they're having a good, sweaty time.
New Zealand Musician Magazine