Cheap Suit Serenaders combine
musical influences memorably
‘Singiri in the Bathtub' tackles varied
American styles from jazz to Cajun
RYAN NYBURG
PULSE EDITOR
As a comic artist in the 1960s, Robert Crumb helped de
fine the look and attitude of a volatile time in America's
cultural and political history. For this reason, fans of his
artwork are often surprised upon hearing his ventures into
music. Gone are the piercing social satires, the vicious cari
catures and the madcap takes on repressed sexuality. What
remains are dry-witted, technically superb takes on long
gone American musical styles.
Over the course of three albums, Crumb and his band, the
Cheap Suit Serenaders, attempted to recreate the sounds of
group of counterculture artists would be performing old jazz,
ragtime and Cajun music in the middle of the 1970s.
The best of these recordings is the third album, "Singin' in
the Bathtub" (originally released as "Number 3"). The album
is the perfect compendium of a style that has failed to gain
any better a moniker than "old-timey." Mostly done on
stringed instruments, including Crumb's own accomplished
clawhammer banjo-playing, the music also features a couple
of saxophones, an accordion and (of course) a musical saw.
The arrangements are tight and well-crafted and blend a wide
range of styles into a single cohesive sound.
The vocals are either oddball group harmonies or by
Crumb himself, whose voice lends itself perfectly to the
music, which is fortunate because there are few other styles
it could lend itself to. The lyrics are tame, considering the
source, but like everything else on the album they fit per
fectly with the intended sound.
The closest thing to a political song is the Cajun romp
"Shopping Mall," one of the best tracks. "I ain't got
no job, no way to pay my rent/But I keep on shopping 'till I
squander my last cent," is a pretty overt swipe at consumer
culture. But for the most part the lyrics are dry, quick and
inviting, even a bit self-deprecating. There is not an ounce of
CD
REVIEW
classic American music from the
1920s and 1930s. Obsessive col
lectors of 78s from that era, the
group members were able to
match the sound while remaining
completely original, somehow
making it seem natural that a
I
\ X
J
Aaron Sullivan Illustrator
Artist Robert Crumb and his band, the Cheap Suit Serenades,
perform lively old-time music on their album 'Singin' in the Bathtub.’
irony throughout the album, which should be a welcome
respite from much of modem entertainment. The group goes
into each song with a sincere love of the style it is playing.
That love comes through with each note, and the Sere
nades' ability might come as a surprise. Crumb in particular is
a superb player, weaving together a variety of sounds and styles
which most modem listeners would have never even heard
of. The band even busts into polka on occasion, not to men
tion Hawaiian music, blues, Dixie and who knows what else.
With each style, the musicians find inner joy and bring
it out, as if attempting to share with the listeners the same
pleasure they found in those old 78s. The best thing
about the album is listening to the amount of fun the
group is having on each take, as if the joy of making mu
sic were all they needed and it didn't make any difference
if anyone were listening.
It's rare to find music as lively and life-affirming as
this, in this or any era. That it all came from such an odd
source only makes it all the better. "Singin' in the Bath
tub" is a good place to start for an introduction to old
time music as well as to the musical works of Crumb. Its
companion album, "Chasin' Rainbows," is almost as
good. Both are available on CD, though the original self
titled album by the group has fallen into obscurity. At
least these two remain to enlighten and enliven any
lucky enough to hear them.
ryannyburg@dailyemerald.com
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