The Residents — I Am A Resident!

Back in 1976, The Residents changed the idea &  possibilities of cover albums forever with the release of their third album Third Reich ‘n’ Roll. This album took a selection of thirty 50’s/ 60’s/ 70’s hit parade songs- put them through their avant-grade sound mangled, and squeezed out a wholly original & deranged work that blended together wonky familiarity with sonic alien-ness & un-balance-ment.  For their new release I Am A Resident!- the band carries out a similar process, but instead of songs of others they use their own extensive back catalogue for influence. But to add an extra inventive turn they utilize cover versions of their work by others- all to create a truly unique & at time truly bonkers trip.

Here on Cherry Red/ MVD audio, we have a double CD issue of the release- with the new album appearing on the first disc, then on the second disc a selection of very varied & genre surprising selection of untouched covers from fans of the project. The two discs come in a six-panel mini gatefold- with each disc coming in its own card sleeve. We also get a fold out inlay/ poster- on one side we get a write about how & when the album's concept came about, details of tracks used etc. And on the other side we get the classic eye & top hat logo of the band made up of pictures from all of those who created the covers. There is also a digital download, and  vinyl release of the album too, but I believe these don't feature the second disc- which is really worth hearing too, as in true Resident form the song covers are extremely different & radical altered version of Resident's songs.

Much like Third Reich ‘n’ Roll this new album presents its self in a series of suites-  spread over the albums sixty five minute runtime. In all we get seven parts, and each of this is created by utilizing many cover song elements, as well as new elements that the project has added in. The idea of this concept may sound a little messy & haphazard, and it’s true at times you feel like your drop through pure musical derangement- but it’s always done such a heady & enduringly madcap manner- so it never becomes tiresome or point-less, all giving the album a feeling of crazed sonic adventure, that even after multiple plays still offers up new surprises & shocks.

After a brief minute or two introduction track- that features a mock DJ discussing The Residents, we’re into the first suite “Linger Illusions”- this comes in at just under the thirteen minute mark, and it moves from a slurred & mangled version of 1974’s "Smelly Tongues"- which sees a blend of throbbing electronica bass-line, sourly jaunting guitar/ sax blend, creepy whispered female vocals, and the standard southern drawl of Mr. Skull/ aka Randy. Then we move into a twanging & wondering easy listening take on "Ships A Going Dead" (from 1978's Not Available album)- with chiming slay bells, female showy vocals, and comic male vocals…but just when you think you’ve got a hang on it the track suddenly drifts off into a slurred groove of church organ, throbbing bass, and layers of vocals- before jarringly shift into a bobbing bass toned indie rock take of  the later part of the original "Ships A Going Down"- but with sudden wailing & weird guitar soloing, and strange breathy sing-song indie vocals.  I think it would be fruitless to try & dissected every change/ shift in this first track, let alone the whole album- as really it’s a very highly shifting & snaking beast of an album. But trust me it really is a hell of a sonic adventure- which will( I think) work for both old fans like myself linking in all the elements, but also those who enjoy multi-genre melding/ blend & are  new to the project. As it really is a truly head-spinning/screwing experience which shifts, blends, and melds  together theatrical oddness, tight-to-moody electronica elements, seared guitar elements, male and female vocals & texts, and really anything else they fancy to create a truly crazed & shift vibe. Though throughout the album stays just on the right side of structure- so it never becomes  random/ shapeless.

Moving onto the second disc, and twenty-four cover versions from Resident lovers far & wide, and really I think you’ll be hard pressed to find such a genre varied takes on the collective’s music- and you also get a  impressive total runtime of seventy-five minutes. We move from jaunting & swinging squeeze-box & horn take version of "Moister " (From 1980's The Commercial Album) by Ok Class- which sees the whole thing finished off with a more vocal active take on the singer from American Pop-punk band Green Day.  Onto a dramatic & grand piano/ glitching beats version of Boo Who? with added chillingly sang pop-rock-prog male vocals From 1977’s Fingerprice album. Through the squelching ‘n’ slamming blend of chugging Atari-core electrionca, manic fair ground synth fills of "Margaret Freeman". Onto the churning Deathrock meets grinding organ propulsion of "Hello Skinny". Through to the flamboyant country rock strum along meets bowling guitar twang of "The Aging Musician".   Really pretty where ever you drop down here on this disc, you get a surprisingly different take on an original Residents songs.

There are so few long-term projects that can still manage to surprise & challenge, and The Residents are one of the few who do. I Am A Resident! is another daring, yet wholly worthy sonic adventure from the project. The idea of melding & merging covers of one's own work with new odd-ness may sound more than a little crazed, and I guess is, but somehow the Eyeballed ones managed to pull it off. And the second straight cover disc is pretty great too.