Cardiacs: Opinion/ Description + 2 Mini-reviews

CARDIACS
We first heard about the Cardiacs from our friend Jussi From Circle. He 
didn't really give us much to go on, just told us to find Cardiacs 
records. So when I (Andee) was in England last year I looked everywhere for 
Cardiacs records. No stores stocked them, no one had even heard of them. 
Rough Trade? Nope. Record And Video Exchange? Nope. So on a whim I 
went into Tower Records, and whhattayaknow, the Cardiacs had their own 
big ol' section. So I bought 4 of the 8 records they had in stock, without 
even knowing what they sounded like. The guy I was staying with was not 
at all impressed, telling me "Nobody likes the Cardiacs". But when I finally 
got down to listening to them, boy was I pleasantly surprised. Somehow 
not at all what I expected, but that only made me like it more. It's definitely 
pop, but it's not pop like you or I know it, it's freaked out, complex, super 
dynamic, totally catchy, weird vocals, drum machines, high pitched lead 
vocals, carnivalesque, bombastic kick ass sort-of-power-pop. 
It's really hard to describe. 

When I brought my copy to play for people in the store, every couple of 
minutes someone walked up wanting to buy whatever it was we were playing.
 So finally, we were able to get enough copies to list and let you all get 
your grubby litttle paws on this demented pop goodness. Think the Pixies 
meets the Sweet meets the Toy Dolls meets Uz Jsme Doma meets Queen meets the 
Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack meets XTC but more punk rock, and more 
prog, or something like that. With totally unlikely but irresistible melodies, 
squiggly guitars, circus organs, the occasional children's choir (?), drumming 
that is so stuttery and precise it sounds like it must be a drum machine, burbly 
spaced out ambient keyboards, completely fucked lyrics and amazing vocals 
and harmonies. It's like power-pop-prog-ska (like Uz Jsme Doma sounded ska) 
punk craziness. Goes from manic and intense to throbbing and dreamy at the 
drop of a dime. I think this band was 'big' for a while in the UK which is why 
my hipster friends scoffed, but to be honest I can't understand why they're not 
still big, or big here too. Just a little too weird, methinks.



Songs For Ships And Irons

(1989 Alphabet)
This is my second favorite Cardiacs record ONLY because two of my favorite 
Cardiacs' songs are on 'Guns' (see other review). But it's easily as good as 
'Guns' with its frenetic pop, completely mad vocals and brain-melting arrangements. 
I mean just listen to the sound samples!! You might as well buy both of them 
because this band is the fucked up, off-kilter, totally difficult and damaged pop 
band you've been looking for your whole life. I kid you not.  



Guns

(1999 Alphabet)
'Guns' is my favorite record of the bunch. Just listen to the sound sample for 
the song 'There's Good Cud'. One of the most perfect pop songs I've ever heard. 
Weird and damaged but totally catchy and fun. Sort of like the whole record. 
And the sample after that 'Wind And Rains Is Cold' shows the softer 
(but no less weird) side of the Cardiacs. Lilting pop loveliness wrapped in a 
warped rock framework. This record totally rules.