The Texas Chainsaw Orchestra
TEXAS CHAINSAW ORCHESTRA - American Woman
The Texas Chainsaw Orchestra - I Will Always Love You
The inspiration for this disc was no doubt the gross overuse by rock critics of the “chainsaw-guitar riff” analogy, examples of which are included in the nicely footnoted booklet. Though the liner notes proclaim that all the “instruments” heard are available in a well-stocked hardware store, I suspect samplers and sequencers were also heavily involved. Unexpectedly listenable for the most part, the six cuts are a kind of gas-powered electronica. A less literal approach to the arrangements might have produced legitimate industrial tracks. In fact, this disc should provide prime sampling sources for future technoids. Much of it sounds like music for and by drunken robots, especially the Guess Who’s “American Woman” and the Beatles’ “Birthday.” Aram Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance” has long been rendered cartoonish and is the least inspired track. But routers, saws, and a Kenmore washer transform Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know” into a cheerfully comforting toe-tapper. The undulating machine rhythm of “Chain Gang” is perfectly suited to the song. The Orchestra’s take on “I Will Always Love You” is probably less grating for many people than Whitney Houston’s version; one must credit the Stihl saw for its remarkably close approximation of Houston’s vocal gymnastics. Put this disc on while you’re engaged in some home-improvement project and watch the time happily fly by.
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