KeyCMND.com: Tobacco
Published by: KeyCMND.com
Date: May 25, 2010
Format: Web (www.keycmnd.com)
Type: Music Review
Tobacco – Maniac Meat
Maniac Meat, the latest album from Black Moth Super Rainbow front man Tobacco, is a little bit like living next to a construction site; it’s loud, abrasive, kind of annoying, especially in the morning, and it doesn’t really ever let up. This super synthy record is a lot to take in. Nearly every track features crunchy, fuzzy synthesizers on top of just as crunchy beats, intermittent textural additions, and mostly buried and/or manipulated vocals. There are some temporary reprieves though. The intensity is toned down on the third track, “Mexican Icecream,” where some of the randomness remains, but the sounds are cleaner—taking a break from the all-around disorder to showcase a sound that would have made the record stronger if it had been utilized more often.
Even guest spots from Beck couldn’t save Meat from spiraling into a cluttered mess. He provides vocals for two songs, “Fresh Hex” and “Grape Aerosmith.” Unfortunately, both songs are under two minutes long and are gone before they begin. The results are confusing, and way out of left field. The vocals are much less prominent, or nonexistent, in all of the other tracks, and all of a sudden Beck makes a brief appearance, which is over so quickly that it just doesn’t make sense.
Maniac Meat is definitely intense, but out of focus, as well. There are moments—though short and difficult to remember after 16 tracks—of great song writing. Those times, however brief, are almost always overshadowed by constant distortion, blaring volume, and a complete lack of direction.
D+