Robert Christgau: Dean of American Rock Critics

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Swollen Monkeys

  • Afterbirth of the Cool [Cachalot, 1982] B-

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Afterbirth of the Cool [Cachalot, 1982]
I've been a fan of the irrepressible Ralph Carney since Tin Huey, but he doesn't have a bandleader's sense of purpose. Moderately entertaining on stage with its four or five horns and almost as many clever lyrics, his polka-to-salsa "world rhythms" outfit comes perilously close to mess on record, where you can't see how unpretentious their highjinks are. If sidemen are gonna goof around, better they should be smart, nice sidemen. But not that much better. B-