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If you\u2019re not familiar with the Mommyheads, try this: imagine a cross between the quirky intelligence of They Might Be Giants, the sophisticated use of studio-as-instrument of Talking Heads, and the enduring pop sensibility of Todd Rundgren (more on that last bit presently). The Brooklyn band was active from the tail-end of the 1980s through \u201897 or so, and then after a quiet period, resuming in 2018 and continuing to present day.<\/p>\n
Along the way they\u2019ve released more than a dozen albums, and in recent years they\u2019ve reissued some of their earliest material. The latest in that ongoing effort is 1992\u2019s Coming Into Beauty<\/i>, the Mommyheads\u2019 second long-player.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a varied release, with uptempo, catchy numbers like the title track. But it also features off-kilter excursions like \u201cNino Wrote a Tune,\u201d which answers the question, \u201cWhat kind of erstaz world music might Camper Van Beethoven have written if asked to contribute music to Pee Wee\u2019s Playhouse<\/i>?\u201d (Okay, nobody asked, but there you go nonetheless.)<\/p>\n
The Mommyheads are wholly capable of writing straightforward pop melodies. It\u2019s just that on Coming Into Beauty<\/i>, they seem largely uninterested in doing so. Imagine having bought Todd Rundgren\u2019s pop opus Something\/Anything?<\/i>, falling in love with it and then purchasing A Wizard\/A True Star<\/i> and Todd<\/i>, and being completely mystified. That second part is kinda what you get with Coming Into Beauty<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Thing is, if you\u2019re prepared for it \u2013 and presto<\/i>, now you are \u2013 then it\u2019s a delightful experience. There\u2019s a close-in feeling to the album\u2019s production style, one that makes the listener feel right here in the studio with the band. The record goes light on roaring electric guitars, often favorite ukuleles and similarly non-noisy instrumentation. And lots of creamy vocal harmonies figure into the songs. There\u2019s a kind of acoustic psychedelia vibe to tunes like \u201cSunfish, Sunflower\u201d that gives the album a slightly disorienting feel. And don\u2019t think too hard about the oblique lyrics (sample titles: \u201cPigeon in Your Tongue,\u201d \u201cI\u2019m Not Real\u201d). Instead, just accept the weirdness and go along for ride. It\u2019s worth the trip.<\/p>\n