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Album Details

• Artist: New Age Hillbilly
• Album: IV: White Walls
• Label: MT6
• Year of Release: 2005
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: patchen on 2005-10-25

Frank Zappa once asked, "Does humor belong in music?" While that can be debated over beers, the general consensus seems to be that being goofy does not make for a sound career plan. You could call the Residents or Devo goofy, but beneath the costumes there was deadly intent in the music. New Age Hillbilly (Alex Strama) comes to us, costume and all, with a mix of crunchy guitars and 1980 techno. The atmospheric "Ghost" works well, with its moody vocals from guest Amanda Strama (Alex plays all instruments, with occasional help on drums by Troy Hays). The rockers: "Rock/Roller", "Sin Sin Natty", (get it?) "Weekend Warrior" prove Stama to be a so-so guitarist with at least the good taste to distort some of his arena-rock cops. More problematic is "Doctor Spins" and other tracks like it, which sink the record in jittery early-80's goofiness. It seems like Stama has some good ideas that may serve him better down the road, when he ditches the big yellow sunglasses, Pete Townshend jumpsuit and lightning strike makeup.

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