Barfly

I suppose it speaks to my lack of keeping up these days (years), but I only recently discovered this was out there. Sheer negligence on my part, as I try to keep up with anything Richard Lloyd-related. Oh well, better late than never and, based on only two other reviews here, clearly I must not be alone.In any case, as I understand it, since this was released nearly a year ago, I understand the Lloyd and Cheetah Chrome have both bowed out of subsequent touring and other activities for RFT, so this may end up a sawn song. I hope not, but if so, what a way to go. Rocket Redux was an absolute revelation - searing, soring and a testament to both a great body of songs and the incredible vitality of the gents nearly 30 years on. While the original recordings, as primatively recorded as they were ( Day the Earth Met the Rocket From the Tombs ), still sound magical and vital, the new recordings ( Rocket Redux ) topped them, not only in sonic quality, but in sheer force and power. Second chance with a vengence.Barfly is not an album with the same MO. It does, instead, harken closer to early Pere Ubu. This is probably not such a surprise since this is, after all, new material. Barfly is not as immediately lapel-shaking, if you will. It is, though, a wonderful record made by a group in complete control of their talents, tendencies and sensibilities. Start to finish, there is not a bum track on the record and at its best (I Sell Soul; Butcherhouse 4; Birthday; Six and Two), this ranks with the finest work of any and all of the involved. Heck, Sister Love Train is so good, they did it twice, in both a Stax horns version and a flat-out rocker version - both are terrific.The sound here is more open and sparse than on Redux. David Thomas' lyrics are closer to the humor of his Ubu work than the late 70's (This is me, sitting on the couch / Don't I look happy?). His voice, too, is a little more weather-beaten, though he can still caterwall when called for. The guitar lines and solos are more angular and pointed, which fits the songs' structures and textures. This IS a rock'n'roll record, to be sure, but certainly not in any rootsy sense.If Barfly does end up being the last we hear of RFT on record, so be it. I hope not, but if so, this is a great bang to go out with. Even if it took me a while to hear it. Point is, I now KEEP hearing, over and over and will do so for a long time.

Great stuff.

good stuff

So 1974-1975's Rocket From the Tombs released their first studio album in 2011. The proto-punk band that may have actually laid the foundation before the Ramones could be everyone's influence burst onto a scene that saw them go up in flames before their power could be realized. It wasn't all for naught; lead singer David Thomas went on to form Pere Ubu, art-avant-garde-punks influential in their own right, and others broke away to form the Dead Boys.Back in 2004, Rocket From the Tombs (RFTT) had reformed with Richard Lloyd (Television) helping out on guitar for the deceased Peter Laughner. They recorded an album,  Rocket Redux , straight out of a RFTT set list from the 70's, putting the tracks down live, so as to keep that from being their first studio album.So that meant we waited until 2011 for Barfly to showcase what RFTT could do in the studio. While the album cooks along like a precursor to punk, nevertheless it has been influenced by the intervening 35 years. Apparently RFTT shows in the 70's were brash takes on the Stooges and Lou Reed, but now because of where punk exploded, shined, and sprawled out into rock `n' roll history, Barfly feels more refined than rebellious. For instance, listen to the Detroit horns backing up the punk Motown of "Sister Love Train." RFTT may have broken open conventions in 1974-1975, but for 2011, seeing them as proto-punk has to mean seeing the music as a precursor for the excessive, avant-garde, challenging music that we now know.Barfly opens with "I Sell Soul." David Thomas calls this a story reminiscent of the Byrds' "So You Wanna Be a Rock `n' Roll Star." It's a song with lightning guitar on a quick chord progression that points to the fact that rock musicians "sell soul"--or as Thomas says, "sells a bit of `life'." I think of how AltCountry singer/songwriter James McMurtry says that he's just a "glorified beer salesman." Perhaps McMurtry's right: musicians are just there to entertain so the bar can sell more beer. Yet, I'm inclined to think that Thomas and RFTT are more correct: musicians are there to sell soul, sell life, sell something that's beyond ourselves. at[...]. Thank you to Rocket From The Tombs for the review copy. Read more

It's great to have this band up and running again, and "Barfly" sounds very much like they've picked up where they left off years ago. If you like challenging but rewarding music, this is a mandatory purchase.

Very Good service from Dodax for a fantastic CD!! Great rock music from David Thomas and the ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS!!!If you love Pere Ubu you will love this!

Mitte/Ende der 70er, lange her ...Die Namen hier kennt man man doch: David Thomas (Pere Ubu), Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys), Richard Lloyd (Television).Rocket from the Tombs bildeten 1975 den Nucleus für Pere Ubu und die Dead Boys. Beide Gruppen nahmenStücke von R.f.t.T. in ihr (Live-)Repertoire mit auf - völlig zu Recht! Songs wie 'sonic reducer','ain't it fun' oder 'life stinks' sind grandiose, zeitlose Klassiker des Garagen-Punk.Und nun ein neues Album dieser alten Haudegen - und was für eines! Gleich mit dem Opener 'I sell soul'hauen R.F.t.T. dem Hörer einen Sound mit treibendem Beat und Ohrwurmcharakter um die Ohren. Es folgt eine abwechslungsreicheMischung aus Garagen-Punk, Dead Boys-Rotzigkeit, 70s Wave, Pere Ubu-Eigenwilligkeit und Television-Minimalistik. Diese Symbiosefunktioniert hervorragend, der ungewöhnliche Gesang von David Thomas ist dasdefintive Sahnehäubchen.Die Produktion ist sauber und ausgewogen, bemüht sich aber dennoch, den Charme einerGaragenband einzufangen. Dies könnte genauso gut als ein alter Punk-Kracher aus den Mittsiebzigerndurchgehen! Eine hochwertig gepresste LP mit schönem Cover-Artwork, einen Download-Gutschein für19 aktuelle Tracke des Fire-Labels zum Reinschnuppern gibt es noch dazu ...das Ding macht jede Menge Spaß!!!

Fantastic album from musicians that would later form Pere Ubu