Q*Ball- This Is Serious Business

ARTIST: Q*Ball

ALBUM: This Is Serious Business

LABEL: Bald Freak Music

DATE: 5/7/07

Alternative rocker Q*Ball is back with his third CD, this time diverging into rock territory without entirely giving up the techno influences that marked earlier releases. In terms of production, this is perhaps his best yet, incorporating a slick, '80s-influenced pop sound that works well with his crooning vocal style, and also adding lots of amusing flourishes in the form of samples and skits. Closing track "Conversation Piece," in particular, is a sort of audio equivalent of breaking the fourth wall in theater; the song starts off a telephone call from Q*Ball himself, in which he wakes up a sleeping friend to inform her that the album she's listening to is almost over. It's a perfectly head-scratching moment to an otherwise pleasant and unassuming piano instrumental, and it's actually a much better example of Q*Ball's offbeat sensibility than the more deliberate quirkiness of "Pez Dispenser" or "Music and Pizza Boy." For sheer cleverness in the realm of songwriting, however, "Goodbye Piano" is this album's standout piece. As its title suggests, it's a sort of break-up song to the titular instrument, and it manages to be touching and comical at once. If there's any fault with this album, it's that with such an eclectic range of styles, things are bound to feel disjointed, but Q*Ball manages to hold things together far better than you might expect, given that this album goes from driving hard rock on "Baked on the Freeway" to space age lounge music on title track "This Is Serious Business." He deftly avoids pigeonholing himself in any particular genre, but it's all done with a sense of fun that can't help but be contagious. Check it out when you're in the mood for slick, catchy pop music with lots of great hooks and just a hint of oddball humor.

For more information, check out www.qballmusic.com.