Magpie Alarm

Based out of New York, these guys may be described as slightly skewed upbeat jazzy pop gone bent. It’s jazzy, it’s experimental, it’s lots of madness - and it’s all quite fun. With great bizarre lyrics there’s always something interesting coming forth. Not much is known about Phil Dray, Chris Nelson and company, but who cares? They’ve been in the business since the early ’80’s with only several releases and this one is a gem. Lots of horns with guitar, drums, bass. Great, interesting stuff. No FCC’s.

*My Favorites*: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12.

1. (3:25) Mid. Mellow with a horn almost like a drum beat. Piano, drums, horns. Some stop start phrases.
2. *(3:50) Mid. Keys, plodding beat, guitar. Catchy and poppy, yet slightly off. Very nice.
3. *(2:56) Mid. Upbeat, Dixieland-ish jazz, alternating with some off-kilter stuff featuring some bizarro horns. Gets really fun. Just killer.
4. (2:26) Mid. Horns in the back of an upbeat number.
5. *(4:07) Slow / Mid. Organ, horns, drums, guitar on this solemn near-dirge.
6. *(1:56) Slow / Mid. Guitar, drums under harmonies. Great horn solo with organ. Great end song, although it’s fairly short.
7. (2:31) Mid. Mad drum and guitar start, then gets rockin’ with horn out front. Backing vocals.
8. *(2:03) Slow / Mid. Mellow jazzy anthemic disturbing sitcom theme song. ???
9. (2:49) Mid. With a wracked voice to start, plodding beat, upbeat with cool piano.
10. (4:21) Slow / Mid. Carnival song wanting to break out, but doesn’t quite. Backing vocals, nice easy beat with beautiful horn.
11. *(2:17) Mid. Great mad vocal interplay, mad horns, stop start phrases. Just beautifully bizarre.
12. *(2:37) Mid. Drunken Elvis Costello, all bent up and backing vocals, horn leading a march, then a harmonica over a troubled mass of a mess. Yeah.
13. (2:32) Mid. Upbeat and bright duet wanting to be normal, but no chance. Tijuana horns, guitar, drums.
14. (3:23) Mid. Dialogue over a buzzing jazzy mood, then some singing over it. Nice.