 Love of Everything "HandJob Community" Reviews: |
IndieWorkshop Liepaper.com Slightly Confusing to a Stranger |
From IndieWorkshop
http://indieworkshop.com/reviews/1313/
By Darren
It is said that when Matt Groening first heard Captain Beefheart’s “Trout Mask Replica”, he shut it off in disgust. Giving it a second, and third chance, Groening became fixated with the album and now firmly declares it to be his favorite album of all time. I’m not entirely positive that Love of Everything’s newest album, “Handjob Community” is destined to become my favorite album of all time, but much like Groening, I was at first completely repulsed by this album. It wasn’t until multiple listens later that I started to see what Bobby Burg (the main man behind Love of Everything) is going for.
“Hotel Parties” lays the foundation for the entire album. Hinting at vintage Pavement, Burg’s childish piano noises, off time drumming and boyish vocals somehow make sense. If at first it doesn’t sound quite right, give it time; somehow it will. “It’s Better” once again has all the likable qualities of a children’s song, but with the very Joan-Of-Arc-drumming, the song is mysteriously engaging. “Iceland On My Mind” once again brings images of early fuzzed out Stephen Malkmus recordings to mind, but its Burg’s inclusion of children’s toys and noises that gives this album its originality.
At 16 songs, “Handjob Community” takes some getting used to. Some songs are better than others, but as a collection of songs, they all work together. Burg’s choice of song order is virtually perfect. He begins the album with the most minimal of songs and progressively increases not just the volume, but the distortion pedals.
Who the hell knows who’s calling the shots over at Redder Records, but if anyone wants a lesson in how to choose truly original, great bands, they can intern over there any day of the week
From Liepaper
http://www.liepaper.com/loveofeverything.htm
By Hugh
Love Of Everything is the solo project of Joan Of Arc member Bobby Burg. Don't let the horrible title of this record scare you away from its brighter moments. Stylistically, HandJob Community combines the twisted humor of Joan Of Arc with the lo-fi wonder of Mt. Eerie. Much like JOA leader Tim Kinsella, Burg doesn't possess a fantastic voice, but on tracks such as "Proud Brave Nothing," his emotions resonate with the listener far more than anything Kinsella has done in recent memory.
Much like Kinsella, Burg's work doesn't exactly make a case for consistency, but HandJob Community is surprisingly enjoyable for the most part. However, I could do without songs like "Recycling Fuck," which features the unforgettable line, "Your dick's not fucking anymore." Several of the songs are a bit too similar for comfort, but the beautiful "It's Better" will keep you coming back for more. HandJob Community lacks a spectacular climax, but there are several gems in this mess that will appeal to fans of JOA and indie rock in general.
From Slightly Confusing to a Stranger
http://www.sctas.com/framebirds.html
"It doesn't feel good to lie, but at least it's less real"
Should I never make it as far as Portland (Oregon), on my trek to escape the Evil East, I'm gonna relocate to the fertile grounds of Chicago - and bands like Love of Everything keep hope alive.
Led by Sir Bobby Burg, traveling companion to such loved acts as the Joan of Arc and Make Believe, Burg with his off-kilter vocals (see: "Beginning with Answers") and say-what-I-want lyrics (see: "Recycling Fuck") - doesn't allow his fruitful offerings to roll far from the Chicago art collective he is part of. Joined here by a wealth of like-minded musicians (Owls, Euphone, The Race.. .), those who haven't - and none of us ever will - gotten their fill from the handsome number of the Joan of Arc collective should get right on this.
A sixteen layer journey through Bobby's Handjob Community, a brilliant title for a horny (well, like the trio of Unicorn's that grace the cover) batallion of songs - Chicago's got all my love. It's albums like Handjob Community that you wish would never end.. . yeah, Handjob's forever! (You at least gotta hear "Talk for Hours" - the Kind of Like Spitting in you will nurse on that 2 minutes for weeks.)
"When I fall, I wanna fall hard"