The Barbarellatones- The Devil's Dildo

ARTIST: The Barbarellatones

ALBUM: The Devil's Dildo

LABEL: Self-released

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 9-12-09

On their latest release, The Barbarellatones move further and further away from the gothic and rockabilly side of things into a gently Eastern-infused blend of glam rock and surf music. While the darker, more comedic elements are still in play, most notably on title track "The Devil's Dildo," the best material on this album is infused with a mellow spirituality that somehow manages to incorporate lead singer and songwriter Robbie Quine's interests in surfing and Hinduism. Sounding something like product of a bizarre three-way between latter-day Andi Sex Gang, The Beach Boys, and The Rolling Stones at their most psychedelic, songs like "Lion of God" and "Surfing in India" manage to achieve a seemingly impossible combination of Eastern transcendentalism and western camp. While things do occasionally verge on overly serious hippie sentimentality, as on the environmentally-themed "R.I.P. Mother Earth," it's actually the more intentionally comic moments that provide the biggest distraction; hillbilly country parody "Take It Like a Man," in particular, manages to somehow be both bland and mildly offensive. Luckily, bonus track "Nina Hagen" is a more effective attempt at humor, a spy tale delivered in a campy fake German accent and incorporating samples of the legendary avant-garde singer herself. While fans of The Barbarellatones' more raucous material (not to mention Quine's previous project, Sex with Lurch), might find this album a little befuddling, for the most part it offers some interesting insights into the band's quieter, more contemplative side, and apart from a few missteps, it's a solid addition to the band's prolific output.

For song samples and more, visit the band's official MySpace page at www.myspace.com/theofficialbarbarellatones.