Link here for the original review (of "All Quiet on the Best Western Front" by Stephen Luff, given a rating of 6 out of 10) on the Cross Rhythms website, or read below where I've pasted it in. (I have inserted some paragraph returns, and I corrected the spelling of 'Anglos'.)
http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/products/Moron/All_Quiet_On_The_Best_Western_Front/128085/
Bob Brown (aka Moron) has developed a niche for himself and his music with his unique musical style, his often 'deadpan' voice and his generous policy of giving away his recordings. If you are unfamiliar with Bob's work, the closest comparison is with late 70s new wave/late punk, (for example the track "Band Of Destroying Anglos") laced with an acerbic humour and black irony similar to some of Steve Taylor's output in the mid '80s. An example of the latter is "Grave Flowers" with the lyrics "Flowers on the grave, tell me what they do/Can't be for the expired coz his time on earth is through/Flowers on the grave can't beautify your doom/Get the can of spray paint for your empty whitewashed tomb."
There are some snags though. Bob's voice is a difficult listen and often close to going off key (such as on "Love Rain" and "Real"). The attraction of 'All Quiet On The Best Western Front', however, is the ability for Moron's quirky lyrics to be consistently thought provoking, eg, "Caffeine" ("I want to be caffeine clean, Jesus/I want to get up about being clean") and "Fruity" ("I wanna bear some fruit. Gonna work, gonna grapple/Just wanna hear my Saviour say, 'How 'bout them apples?'").
The production values here are a big improvement on Moron's previous albums and the singer/songwriter plays all the instruments. A couple of the tracks though, like "Quiet" and "Burger" (based on Mark 7:14-23), do sound like demos (especially with the sound of birds tweeting in the background!). Overall, an enjoyable set but not one for the faint-hearted.
Moron says he will send the CD for no charge to anyone who wants it. AFTER receiving it, a non-obligatory donation would be welcomed.
[My comments:
- "Close to going off key" is still on key.
- Only "a couple of the tracks...sound like demos"?! I am improving! Using methods of statistical inference, I figure that in about 24 years, no new moron tracks will sound like demos.
- The nicest thing said in the review: "If you are unfamiliar with Bob's work..." Now that's a very generous conditional "if".]