Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band
Between My Head and the Sky
Chimera Music
7/10
Sing Along to Songs You Don’t Know
Fatcat
8/10
I’m going to review both of these albums together because they have a similar vibe and I fucking feel like it. I really cannot tell you how badly I wanted to hate this Yoko Ono album. My editor-in-chief can tell you, and I’m positive that’s precisely why he sent it to me. As much as I would love to tell you this Beatles-killer has produced the most atrocious thing released thus far this year, I’m less than thrilled to report that this album is solid and cutting edge, which is truly impressive considering Yoko Ono is over 70 years old. Musically, it reminds me a lot of more avant-garde stuff from the late ‘70s, but it’s surprisingly provocative. Some people are just now discovering those bands, so it makes since this still sounds relevant.
I do, however, want to bash on her a bit so I’ve decided to rant about how this spotlight-stealing, attention-grabbing whore (didn’t she and Lennon have orgies? If not, I’m using creative license) made an amazing album with her son Sean Lennon, which would be incredibly touching, as well as a beautiful tribute to his deceased father if Yoko weren’t the exact antonym of self-effacing. This bitch didn’t even have the decency to put Sean on the cover with her! For shame! I do not foresee candlelight vigils in your future, Yoko. At the very least, they will not be well-attended!
Yeah, maybe I’m searching for a reason to bitch. Sometimes we humans do that.
This album by Icelanders múm is similar in its employment of electronic devices used to good effect and in its vocalizing. It is not unlike the more peaceful moments of Yoko and Sean’s album. This is why I wanted to review them together. If you like one, I bet you would like the other. A more accurate comparison for múm, though, would be to Belle and Sebastian. Múm seems to feature a more eclectic mix of instruments than B&S, but the resulting songs are very similar. The album put my new puppy to sleep for a much extended nap. This was a very nice end-result. I’m hoping it will do the same thing for me in a moment.
–Luke Toney