(photo by Skip)
The Speaking Canaries – ‘Get Out Alive : The Last Type Story’ (12XU 020-1,2), CD, limited edition vinyl
20 October 2003
“Menopause Diaries” (4:47) (mp3) from the CD/LP ‘Get Out Alive : The Last Type Story’ (12XU 020-2,1)
The Speaking Canaries are from Pittsburgh, PA and are essentially a vehicle for guitarist/vocalist Damon Che. Through prior releases for the Scat and Mind Cure labels, Mr. Che has already been responsible for some of the most thrilling moments in rock The new album (also scheduled for simultaneous release on Scat in North America) redefines any notion of “guitar workout” in a rock (or non-rock) context and words like “epic” and “crunchtastic” don’t really do it justice. So we’ll try to find more words. Or perhaps invent some.
Damon Che might be known to the handful of those paying attention as the drummer for such powerhouses as Don Caballero and the ill-fated US/Italy love connection known as Bellini. And that’s ok, he’s a great drummer and if you want to fixate on that, there’s not much we can do about it. But the more than respectable output of those artists has zilch to do with the massive range shown on ‘Get Out Alive’, a record that defies category and manages to be solidly traditional and totally avant all at once. Maybe a little more of the latter. And I mean that in a good way.
That Damon is a genre-busting virtuoso isn’t nearly as notable as the actual songs showcased on ‘Get Out Alive’, all of them multi-layered, and gargantuan in scope. The level of artistic ambition is, to our ears, unprecendented. While most of The Speaking Canaries’ peers seem content chasing their tales, Damon Che has set out to write a new musical language.
None of which is to suggest that this is an unwieldy album to get a handle on. Fully-realized it may be, but it still sounds pretty fucking great on a car stereo.