Monster Movie

by

Can

Edit

There are scant few records recorded in the late 1960s that sound like they could've been done last week. The Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat" is one. And this is another. "Monster Movie" belongs in the same pantheon of influential greats as that record, to be sure. Starting off with the berserker sonic vortex of "Father Cannot Yell", the band carves out a wild patch of territory somewhere between noise-rock, jazz improv, New Music, and beat-poet-ranting that hits home like a .44 magnum bullet to the brain even to this day. The whole second half of the release is taken up by the amazing 'Yoo Doo Right', which is one of the truly great jam classics of all time, featuring astounding work by all the band, topped by the ranting, yowling declamations of Malcolm Mooney. As opposed to the 'peace and love' and candy-rock pretentions of its contemporaries, "Monster Movie" is like salt on a raw nerve...and it hurts so GOOOOOD!

3 1/2

Psychedelic hero Can's first release absolutely showed brilliant promise, albeit mostly in short bursts rather then consistent structures. The 1969 debut now seems to have shown quite a bit of wear and tear, in no small part from the one-time contributions of this different vocalist. Malcolm Mooney might not have been the best fit for this great band, but it seems evident he has been copied by many of our modern re-inventors. The first half rambles on with metallic conviction, though the first track lacks an underlying backbone and the second track reminds of a staler shade in the vein of Hawkwind. Proving their versatility though, the haunting punk/western opening riff of track 3 shows a relentless terror seen channeled in future bands post-punk antiheroes The Ex. Finally, in the band's typically short playlist comes the epic (and saving grace) Yoo Doo Right, which could have seemingly brought to life the entire Kings of Leon sound. This is a great warts-and-all jam that will have the distinct pleasure of making fans pleased as punch and alienating most everyone else for it's dedicated plodding. Fan's of the bands greater known works will be able to set a space aside for this one, but newcomers to the seminal act will want to start elsewhere.