Reviews    Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Live (Sickroom Records)
by Chris Barnes

I didn't hear SGM's debut album Grand Opening and Closing, but everyone and their Mom's cat was saying it was the second coming of heavy avant-garde/prog. Kind of an eclectic mix between King Crimson, GWAR and Devil Doll.

If Live is any indication, I'm not sure what the fuss is about. I admire the idea behind SGM - a traveling performance art/musical act from the Bay area - and the recordings culled from various tour stops have a definite "warts n' all" feel. A bummer if you're into sound quality, an asset if you want a unexpurgated snapshot of the band at that particular place and time. The problem, for me at least, is that the music annoyingly disjointed and I'm not really sure what is stage speak and what is the actual content of the song. They kinda pour into each other and the result is like pouring together oil and vinegar. The once song that does stand out is the slightly menacing "Baby Doctor", but even that didn't do much for me. The problem I have with most avant-garde bands is that most seem to be on a mission to "out-avante" each other. Therefore, the songs and lyrics devolve into odder and odder territory until they reach such point that any passion or musical enjoyment is sucked out of them.

Maybe I need to either see them live or get a hold of a copy of Grand Opening and Closing to really see what the band is all about. Live may be good for the hardcore fan, but I'm not sure that this is the album that you want to listen to if you're unfamiliar with the band.

Visit the Sleepytime Gorilla Museum website at www.sleepytimegorillamuseum.com

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Review by Chris Barnes 12/30/03