listening room | Tangy - Die For Us Tonight (2004)
by: Matthew Hundley
Tangy wants to be the great pop alternative band. Their sound is a blend of all the best the 80’s had to offer – Stone Roses, REM, Game Theory – with a touch of Brit Pop sensibility - Supergrass, Wilco, Oasis.
The Jammy Bastard who provides the juice for this Tangy outpouring definitely contributes much to the taste.
Tangy’s CD “Die For Us Tonight” opens with the song ‘November Kills’ layered with horns and mandolins and guitars and more. This is vintage JB. A song that’s carried over and evolved since first penned. This rendition of the song brings on an air of Hoodoo from the Jammy Guru.
’Hey!’ wants to be a political anthem about guns and god. The opening lyric tells us “we can feel better with a gun in our hands.” The chorus brings “Hey. Get up. Get down. Baby all of the time.”
Groovy wind chime sounds open /Petaluma’ one of my favorite opens on the album Michael Stipe word call with the Mike Mills backing vocal.
Done/Gone opens as a strummy ballad with bells. There’s an English Beat break in the middle that moves the listener into the Brit Pop/psychedelic move into the “Gone” portion of the song.
’Daily Routine’ is remniscent of classic Joe Jackson (but heavier). The song asks, “How do you deal with all the little things in your head?” And assures us “It’s alright.” With lots of “we-oh-oohs” to keep us chipper.
’Scenester Xrist’ opens with a room ambient bass. Given way to a bit of 12-string electric. Jammin’ lost in the crowd control kind of thing.
’Pulpit Lip’ lets drums lead the way before bringing in the rest of the band and the nifty xylophone. The lyrics get a bit lost in the mix. There’s a lot going on here.
’Black Hole Baby’ opens with a rocked out Replacements sounding rant. Then hits the beat break walking into a Sonic Youthy. Nice siren sounding guitar effects.
’Slipped Out’ hits me as pretty standard fair. I can picture Jammy at the Tul in Boulder (his and my college alma matter) playing this kind of fair.
’Vapourite’ opens with a tight drum bass riff. This one “all belongs to vapourite.” The history you cannot change. The drums are brought out a bit more on this track which is nice (great floor tom). Nice ska breaks. I feel very Simon Cowell saying, “This is one of the best tracks I’ve heard so far.”
’Masterpiece’ begins with Nick Drake-esque lilting poetry fare with the piano, the organ. Not sure if I would’ve went out on this song. The tune kind of moves into this Meatloaf-ey “from the trailor park to fifth avenue” attempt to make the song a “masterpiece of curls.”
The CD falls short of being a masterpiece, but succeeds in being an homage to an era of great forgotten bands – think everyone on Enigma in the mid-80s or IRS in the early 80’s.
Oh yes. That twinging in the headphones about five minutes after the final track means you’ve hit the hidden track. Actually I dig this - you’ll have to buy the CD for this hidden nugget.
Posted: April 29, 2004  
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