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Recorded in 1980 at Sam Phillips & Ardent Studios and produced by Alex Chilton & James Dickinson.. This is perhaps Alex Chilton's most controversial album. Some saw it as the definitive collapse of a major talent, saying "the LP sounds like a bunch of drunken louts running amok in a studio with no producer to restrain or guide them", other's hailed it's casual anarchy calling it "a beautiful mess: rock n roll as it was born to be: chaotic sloppy a wreck of incomplete hooks and vocals·a savage postcard from the edge of hell". There is no question that the record is a shambles, but if you take the time to wade through the chaos, you may find the sublime. "Like Flies On Sherbert" is one of the weirdest records in my entire collection. If you think Big Star's "Third/Sister Lovers" sounds fucked up then wait 'til you hear the former BS mainman Alex Chilton's 1980 solo 'masterpiece' of drugged up, sloppy rock 'n' roll covers and bizarre original songs.After spending a few years in the wilderness following the break up of Big Star, Chilton staggered into the studio with a band seemingly as wasted as him and knocked out this set which, in it's chaotic 35 minutes veers from happily stoned ("Waltz Across Texas") to wired and psychotic, with Chilton screaming his lungs out over stabbing piano chords (the title track).Elsewhere we get such treats as "My Rival" (the best song on offer) and "Boogie Shoes" in which Alex's lazy vocal deliveries are juxtaposed against guitars so bleedin' LOUD and chunky that they wouldn't go amiss on a death metal record (I kid you not!).The nearest thing to a sane, balanced song on the album is the catchy stomper "Hey! Little Child" which features some pretty melodic guitar lines that bring back vague glimmers of early Big Star (not for long though as the song descends into near chaos with discordant piano stabs and wiry guitar solos)."Hook Or Crook", another Chilton original, is also pretty cool while "Alligator Man" is probably the best of the covers.Anyway, before my review gets as scrambled and incoherent as the album itself I'll wrap it up- basically if you're into shambolic garage rock or albums that sound a little bit wasted, bleary and dangerous then you'll love this. (Julian Cope) |
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Unless you`ve spent the last twenty four years
in the jungle,you must have heard this song at least once and
you might even remember the name of the group :The Box Tops "The
Letter" was the biggest worldwide hit of 1967,topping the
charts everywhere.Several other hits followed including "Cry
like a Baby". "Neon Rainbow" and "Choo Choo
Train".... Problems arose when Alex was no longer allowed to have his say about the choice of new material (Producers dominated then as now)Poor songs were followed by the enforced replacement of his friends by professional studio musicians.Being more involved in music than brief fame and quick money Alex decided to handle his own career his own way and play his own music.  Finally resurfacing in the "Big Apple"Alex started playing in Max`s Kansas City,CBGB`s and all the other New York bars and clubs and recorded a wonderful but poorly distributed EP.The follow up single "Bangkok",one of the best singles of the 70`s gained him the recognition he deserved.A year later he released the enigmatic "Like Flies on Sherbet" and produced The Cramps first album "Songs The Lord Taught Us" Alex spent the early 80`s producing & playing with Tav Falco`s Panther Burns before disappearing once again.Or so it seemed...In fact he moved to New Orleans in 1982 quit drinking and resolved to clean up his act,This process included time working as a dish washer and a lumberjack...There would be no more music until... Summer 1985 saw the return of a rejuvenated completely healthy Alex Chilton and the release of his first record for five years "Feudalist Tarts" (a six track minin LP) revealed an Alex Chilton who had recovered the Jazz\Soul influences of his formative years.A great fusion of sophisticated soul and sublime horn arrangements. In 1987 he released "High Priest" then in 1990 the great "Black List".In 94 Alex recorded one of his all time great LP`s "Cliches" where he covers standards like "My baby just cares","Time after Time" and "all of Me". In 1994 he recorded along with Alan Vega & ben Vaughan the very brilliant "Cubist blues". Now Alex is cult idol for bands like the DB`s, REM,The Violent Femmes.The Soft Boys,The Posies,Teeenage Fanclub.....Others like The Bangles,Replacements,this Mortal Coil & The Nomads are playing his tunes.
Incredible talent. discographie sur Last Call
   lost decade - high priest/black list - live in anvers  |
