The Blitzoids STEALING FROM HELPLESS CHILDREN

[rutgers!moss!ihlpl!barth@GAFFA.MIT.EDU (BARTH RICHARDS)]

The Blitzoids -- STEALING FROM HELPLESS CHILDREN (Mook Records)

The Blitzoids are the post-me generation's answer to the Mothers of
Invention.  Blending solid musicianship and smirking humor reminiscent
of Frank Zappa's late '60s ensemble with diverse influences such as
John Zorn, Einsturzende Neubauten, and Eugene Chadbourne, STEALING
FROM HELPLESS CHILDREN is not an album to be taken lightly.  You will
probably either love it passionately or hate it passionately.  It is
possible that you will feel both ways about this album, but it is
unlikely that it will leave you indifferent.

STEALING FROM HELPLESS CHILDREN is a lot to take in in forty minutes.
The range of the album's dynamics, moods, and compositions is
impressive.  Soft recorders make one think of the type of scenes often
photographed for new age album covers, but the listener is jarred out
of any peaceful reveries by crashings and grindings that would do any
industrial noise band proud.  Tapes of all sorts of people saying
stupid things generate a few yuks, but ominously thudding metal
footsteps remind one of the Imperial assault vehicles from THE EMPIRE
STRIKES BACK.  Ella-Fitzgerald-inspired scat is balanced by rock,
classical, and avant-garde jazz.  And believe it or not, with all of
this seemingly schizophrenic activity, the album holds together.  I
never got the impression that the Blitzoids are hacks or that they
didn't know what they wanted to do.

STEALING FROM HELPLESS CHILDREN comes highly recommended by me.

                      * * * * * (highest rating)

The Blitzoids have previously appeared on the Ralph Records
compilation album POTATOES, with such notables as The Residents,
Renaldo and The Loaf, the late Philip "Snakefinger" Lithman, and Mark
Mothersbaugh of DEVO; a Recommended Records Quarterly (Vol. II No. 1);
and a SOUND CHOICE magazine flexi-disc.

                               -Barth Richards