7/10 This album features some of their best work, though only a minute long. Not all the songs work. Some are just fun or the normal random. But track 4 on this album "End of Home" is actually my favorite Residents song ever and hopefully someday they will produce a longer and more elaborate version of the song. "Loss of Innocence" is a great song with great lyrics also. Also, try to download the live version of "Loss of Innocence" that starts out with a church organ and "Everyone Comes to the Freak Show." It's great. -Jordan

Posted: Mon, 23 Jun. 2003
Expires: Mon, 19 May. 4741

9/10 In personal belief, this is their greatest album yet. It is dark, beautiful, colorful, poetic and truly reveals the more disturbing parts of the bible. I liked almost every song though especially Hanging By His Hair and Bathsheba Bathes which are now some of my favorite songs. Also, pick up the live version, it's less computerized. That and Mr. Skull's voice is awesome live. -Jordan

Posted: Mon, 23 Jun. 2003
Expires: Mon, 19 May. 4741

I'll never forgive UK music columnists for downthumbing this album in 1980. Apart from them completely missing the humour that is present and runs rampant on this album, there is also fear, love, terror, ambiguity, insanity, moments of introspection and philosophical questions and more tied together as neatly as one can in such a unique package. Also everyone seems to have missed that the soundscape on this LP is deeply in debt to Raymong Scott's "Soothing Sounds For Babies" series of early electronic albums from the nineteen-fifties. And also there's some nifty loud guitar, too! A deeply wondrous listening experience. Revisit the Commercial Album - today! Kevin Kunreuther

Posted: Sat, 21 Jun. 2003
Expires: Sat, 17 May. 4741

After a number of years, I've been listening to this album once again. Recorded during what turned out to be the closing overs of UWEB, upon first listen I found FLOWERS initially struck me as rather boring for a Residents album but now I enjoy the album and its playful 'regurgitation' and assembly of past tunes and familar Residential themes, very much along the lines of their old mentor's work, i.e. N. Senada's Pollex Christi. Haunting themes from Eskimo, Fingerprince, Not Available are abound on this album. An interesting and playful sendup of career retrospective albums. Compare this with music from the Third Reich'n'Roll, For Elsie, Pollex Christie and Icky Flix Soundtrack. Kevin Kunreuther

Posted: Thu, 5 Jun. 2003
Expires: Thu, 1 May. 4741

A new residents album to me, is like very fertile soil for your mind. Once you begin to wrap your thoughts around it, strange and beautiful things begin to grow. Demons Dance Alone has crept up on me and surprised me time and time again. Infact, every time I listen to it I sink ever deeper into a well of ideas that inspire and grow. I find connections that were once overlooked and the concept becomes more and more clear to me. When you wake up on a Saturday morning, feeling a little out of place and you plop on your couch trying to register what to make of it all, lawn mowers chanting, cars passing, wind chimes chiming, playground kids echoing and fridge buzzing... put on this album!

Posted: Thu, 12 Jun. 2003
Expires: Thu, 8 May. 4741

From the grandfathers of the DIY generation, maybe after thirty years this album's time for worldwide acclaim has finally come. Unbelievably, the beautifully scary Rest Aria has been featured not once but twice recent TV commercials: T-Mobile in the U.K. and Levi Strauss jeans in USA (2003)Will 'Spotted Pinto Bean' be fetured in VW commercial next or will it be 'Smelly Tongues' selling attitude for some type of soft drink or chewing gum?. A remarkable and astonishing self produced album from 1974. Poetry, nonsensical nursery rhymes, avant garde lite opera, funky jams, space rock, war protest, proto-sampling and more, Meet The Residents is as raw and masterful debut, both beautiful and sonically ugly but a total aural wonder to behold. The art of noise, indeed! kevin kunreuther

Posted: Wed, 2 Jul. 2003
Expires: Wed, 28 May. 4741

An inexpensive sampler of some of the more 'ear-friendly' Residential Music plus two bonuses right up front from Demons Dance Alone. At five dollars a pop, buy an armload to pass out as calling cards or anytime of year gifts to all your uninformed friends and aquaintences. Standout tracks all! Personal faves are Kick A Picnic (Icky Flix Sndtrk), Moisture (Commercial Album) and Hello Skinny (Duck Stab/Buster and Glen). kevin kunreuther

Posted: Thu, 22 May. 2003
Expires: Thu, 17 Apr. 4741

A wondrous and affectionate collection of old and new Santa Dogs (and Kick A Cats, too!). I sometimes fantasize The RZ will one day present a performance piece based on the numbers from this collection. Released as part of the limited edition RA series, it is sold out officially and is available only at specialty CD collectors shops and online auctions. If you're a Santa Dog completist, you'll need to purchase Dot.Com (still available, $21 cheap!) for Santa Dog Gamelan Orchestra version. kevin kunreuther

Posted: Thu, 22 May. 2003
Expires: Thu, 17 Apr. 4741

Please don't stone me, folks, but I was surprisingly disappointed by Wormwood when it came out. Conceptually and lyrically great, but flat and uninspiring sonically. Wormwood Live rectifies this with a vengeance. Everything is performed completely live with an earthy foundation of acoustic drums and amazing electric guitar. It's passion and intensity redeem Wormwood completely and elevate it to a classic among Residential masterpieces. Among some truly hair-raising moments: The terrifying Dinah and the Unclean Skin. The brilliant vocal duet in Abraham, with the disembodied wail transitioning it effortlessly into KILL HIM! When the music drops out in Old Time Religion, turning suddenly from pointed and ironic to deeply sympathetic, adding an exquisite, poignant touch of human warmth. And then it turns into an old time tent revival rave up to get your on your feet and praising the lord. Flawless. Among the best Residents albums of all time. - Dr. Fritz Rotwang

Posted: Sat, 3 May. 2003
Expires: Sat, 29 Mar. 4741

The Petting Zoo is my favorite album. If you haven't listened to it lately, take a new listen! - Patrick

Posted: Fri, 25 Apr. 2003
Expires: Fri, 21 Mar. 4741