Dogbowl Albums
1989
Tit (an opera) - 85%
1991
Cyclops Nuclear Submarine Captain - 96%
Pop music that is really meaningful is hard to make. Something that is easy to listen to is not the same way when you make it. If it was, you know what? EVREYONE COULD DO IT. Also, every album would be as good as the totally unique Cyclops Nuclear Submarine Captain. This is a synthesis of Frank Zappa and XTC that I never thought was possible, and any fan of either would love this. It is not serious at all but at the same time very ‘purposefully’ poppy music, made to sound like a satire of the music industry, but also proving how great of a songwriter Steven Tunney is. This is a long album at 58 minutes, but it doesn't seem long, rather you are thankful for more music.
Things start harmoniously with “You Hit Me Over My Head”, a cheerful counting song like sesame street, and filled out with echoey background vocals and catchy ness. Ditto for the single ready “Love Bomb”, a song gloriously perverted but also syrupy sweet, and the charming “Silkworm Exploding” full of psychedelic wonder. “Flying Saucer Over Magnolia” is a dream addled menagerie of a tune with saw-bending guitar lines and brilliant falsetto in the chorus. “Apple Mary” is just so catchy while also being just a little to horny for mass consumption, and “Float” remains and underrated gem on an album of underrated gems. The most emotional song is “South American Eye”, a sort of ballad that takes on a life of its own as it moves along flowing out of its cocoon and blossoming to an ending repeating ‘over the desert and the ocean.’ “Carnival in the Swamp” stands alone as a culmination of everything that came before, but then the album goes on longer and “Shopping Mall” does it once again; neither songs are like one another and either song works as a true album closer!
Things remain melodic throughout the record but are a times entreatingly demented. “Revolution of the Homeless” has this kind of odd repeating pattern to it, its relentless and demanding but also unforgettable and one of the most memorable topics of a song brought to life I have ever heard. “Swan” has the clarinet buzzing in the background, and almost comes from an entirely new career, one full of circus geeks that have also been trained to sing. “Toilet!” is a hilarious romp, perhaps Zappa himself came back to write the lyrics and direct the band to hind him to be as random as possible? An article could be written alone about the sea chanty “Window Fall Down”, the mix of pop refrain and out of key jazzy music of “So Painful”, and the psychedelic heights of “Ferris Wheel”. That all these songs can blend together at all is some kind of master in production by thew always magnificent Kramer. This may be even the best album Kramer ever worked on, I would go that far yes, up there with Bozo by Lida Husik and On Fire by Galaxie 500.
In all, its quite the journey and all 19 songs have their place. The thing with many albums of this ambition and scope, that mix chaotic playing and arrangements with elegant melodies so well, is they often come up with more than they can chew. Really, CNSC does not, it is extremely consistent, BUT could 3 or 4 songs been trimmed to make it just about perfect? Sure. You could say the same thing about Rain Dogs, The White Album, Uncle Meat, London Calling, or any album of similar scope. Perhaps “Flower Garden Bed” is a bit to aimless for my taste, and “Beautiful Trailer Park” I need to be in the mood for, but even so it is awe-inspiring how joyful and magnificent this all is. Even the reprise of “Cyclops NSC” I would say adds something to the record! It’s oddball music that is still charming and accessible, even a step further this was made in 1991 at the height of grunge rock…it’s as removed form current music of its time the same way Loveless by MY Bloody Valentine or Spiderland by Slint was, perhaps even more so. Dogbowl also doesn’t quite fit in with any power pop or neo-psychedelic revival, it’s something else entirely. This is even “indie/ college” rock, this is just a man with the obsessions of his idles making a mosaic of an album that stands the test of time so well. It’s way underheard, perhaps one of the most underrated albums of all time. I want to live in a world where “Flying Saucer Over Magnolia“ and “Love Bomb” are # one hits on the radio.
Best Songs: South American Eye, Love Bomb, Flying Saucer Over Magnolia, Toilet!, Revolution of the Homeless