Rasputina
A Radical Recital (Filthy Bonnet Co.)
By Amber Drea
Published: May 23rd, 2005 | 11:33am
Forget about Apocalyptica or the String Quartet tributes to Rush, AC/DC, and the Mars Volta. Rather than using cellos to render rock wimpy, Rasputina plugs them into Marshall amps, stomps distortion pedals, and turns classical arrangements into head-banging anthems. With four full-lengths under her belt and a solid backing band consisting of cellist Zoe Keating and drummer Jonathon TeBeest, frontwoman Melora Creager displays her virtuoso bowing skills and an overview of her compositions from the past decade.
The concert performance supposedly took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on October 29, 1804, an indication of Rasputina's obsession with the 19th century. A Radical Recital isn't a greatest hits compilation so much as a collection that shows the trio's diverse range. The bulk of the set list comes from the best songs on Rasputina's most recent record, Frustration Plantation (Instinct), such as “Momma Was an Opium-Smoker,” “If Your Kisses Can't Hold …” and “High On Life.” Though both begin rather subdued, the two covers — Heart's “Barracuda” and Zeppelin's “Rock & Roll” — definitely pay tribute to the originals' explosive aesthetic. Old favorites include “Howard Hughes” and “Things I'm Gonna Do.” The biggest single “Transylvanian Concubine”, which has been remixed by Marilyn Manson and featured on Buffy, is left out, though I didn't miss it at first. (A live version is available on Rasputina.com.)
Half concert musician, half stand-up comic, Creager introduces each piece with audience banter or a joke that may or may not have anything to do with it. She wonders about Hitler's single testicle, dubs “Rose K.” their “incontinence song” (changed from the notably more depressing “Alzheimer's song”), and clears the air regarding “The Mayor,” which is about her friend who is crazy, not the president of the United States. A Radical Recital is a must-have for hardcore Rasputina fans and worth a listen for the casual consumer.
Issue #35
Comments
Please login to be able to comment on this article.
more