Reviews of The Dukes of Stratosphear: Psonic Psunspot

File Under, May 15, 2009 Outsideleft, May 2008 Blurt, May 8, 2009 Jersey Beat, May 2009 Platomania, April 2009 The Pulmyears Music Blog, April 28, 2009 Synthesis, April 28, 2009 AllGigs, April 26, 2009 Atlas and The Anchor, April 21, 2009 Treble, April 21, 2009 Prefix, April 17, 2009 CityBeat, April 16, 2009 The Big Takeover, April 8, 2009 BlogCritics, April 4, 2009 The Fire Note, April 3, 2009 Pitchfork, April 2, 2009 Rolling Stone, March 30, 2009 24,000 Dischi, October 2004 Hurtmore!, October 26, 2004 In The 80s, circa 2002 All Music Guide, circa 2002 The Ultimate Mellotron Recordings List, circa 2002 Pitchfork, November 2002 Mark's Record Reviews, circa 1999 TNT, 1999 Matt Kaden, January 26, 1999 Gary Pig Gold, circa 1989 Village Voice, January 26, 1988 Q, circa 1987 Rolling Stone, December 1987 Billboard, August 29, 1987 CMJ New Music Report, August 28, 1987 The New York Times, August 26, 1987

Gary Pig Gold
circa 1989

               Psuccinct Psonic Psunspot Pstudy
                      by Gary Pig Gold

    Vanishing Girl: Hollies tune, circa '66 (i.e., Pay You
    Back with Interest) harmonies and bass line especially.
    Beatles ending chord (6th, I think).

    Have You Seen Jackie: Magical Mystery mellotron.
    Ogdens Nut intro w/ touch of Keith West and '67 Bowie.
    Music effects Electric Prunes (I Had Too Much to Dream)
    Strawberry Alarm Clock (done with a harmoniser unit set
    on "octave", by the way).

    Little Lighthouse: More Prunes! (tremolo effect on
    guitar).  Slight XTC influence (a la This Is Pop).
    "Conquistador" trumpet).  19th Nervous Breakdown
    bassline on end fade.

    Albert Brown: '67 Kinks Khorus with a Rutles dash.
    Piano solo Mungo Jerry 1970 (early!).  Laughing at end
    from end of "We're Only in it for the Money" (the song
    based on Kafka's "Penal Colony" ...forget the name...)

    Collideascope: More Lennon ("Walrus") / Rutles
    especially chord progression and voice overs on intro.

    You're My Drug: "So You Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star"
    (bass line and percussion and 12-string fills).

    Shiny Cage: "I'm Only Sleeping" chords and acoustic
    strumming.  Touch of '66 Hollies too (again).  GREAT
    ending!!!

    Brainiac's Daughter: Yellow Submarine solo bubbles and
    vocal answers on last chorus.  More bouncy Carnaby
    Street chords.

    The Affiliated: A Mini-Opera!  More minor-chord Beatles
    ("Cry Baby Cry") / "Dating Game" and Byrds break in
    middle.

    Pale and Precious: Andy imitating Eric Carmen initating
    Brian (with Dennis "Be Still" keyboard). Brian "Heroes
    and Villians" bass tone... and NOTES!, but mellotron
    makes it distinctly British.  Also "Help Me Rhonda"
    ba-ba-ba's.  "California Girls" jaunty keyboard riffs
    in middle part.

[Thanks to Gary Pig Gold]

Billboard
August 29, 1987
Reviews & Previews

Dukes of Stratosphear
Psonic Psunspot
Producer(s): John Leckie, the Dukes
Geffen 24169
Genre: POP
RECOMMENDED

Ten new cuts from the XTC boys in psychedelic garb; "Vanishing Girl," especially, is as fine as any vintage era track. CD contains the Dukes' earlier EP release as well, previously available only on import.

[Thanks to Wes Hanks]

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