The Residents - 'Talking Light: Bimbos' (MVD Visual)

Where do I start with this one? I have to say I have struggled to find words to explain what I have just seen. Usually you can form associations with past, present or even futuristic music the way some trends can develop onwards, not this one, it's out on its own.

I have never seen or heard anything like it - Official!!!!

So who are The Residents? The Residents are an American collective specializing in avant-garde music (a label that tells you no one really understands what the fuck they are) and multi-media work. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs. They have undertaken seven major world tours and scored multiple films. Pioneers in exploring the potential of CD-ROM and similar technologies, The Residents have won several awards for their multimedia projects. Ralph Records, a record label focusing on avant-garde music, was started by The Residents.

The blurb I managed to pull tells me that "their albums generally fall into two categories: deconstruction of Western popular music, or complex conceptual pieces, composed around a theme, theory or plot. They are noted for surrealistic lyrics and sound, disregard for conventional music composition, and the over the top, theatrical spectacle of their live performances."

What a load of pretentious bollocks. I have to say this performance bored me stupid, why would anyone actually pay to be totally baffled by a band so up their own collective arse-holes that they think they can get away with anything under the banner of art (note I didn't call it music).....or have I totally missed the point?

The audience appear to be enjoying it, but they would, they're American!!! They enter stage left to a distorted "There's no place like home" onto a stage set that looked like Ginger's stage set from the recent solo tour including the lamp and the family portrait but with an added fireplace and a small TV, and then I totally lost the plot. I disliked the vocals, I disliked the keyboard sound and I disliked the guitar work, there were no drums, he has left to go back to Mexico (good for him he probably woke up one morning drug free and realised that since 1972 he had been part of the biggest load of bollocks ever committed to whatever).

If you feel the need to explore this DVD do so, after all what do I know? I didn't like Frank Zappa either, someone else renowned for avant garde musical construction and deconstruction. Myself I would prefer to nail my left testicle to the kitchen table. Absolute shite!!!

I am definitely not one of the mirror people.

www.residents.com/