Bianca and Sierra Casady—better known as the French duo CocoRosie—put out one doozy of an album a few years back, “The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn,” a “concept” record about a “magical transatlantic journey” that I say felt more so like a “journey through a sanitation department, narrated by an incessantly cackling Jack-in-the-box.” Seriously, what a godforsaken album that was, replete with unnecessarily annoying clicks and squeaks (I understand you’re trying to be twee—you don’t need to use that bicycle bell for the eightieth time), perplexing operatic interludes and some of the most intellectually vapid arty lyrics ever sung. For example, gems like “Life is like a roller coaster/It does flips and throws you over” and “You blew through me like bullet holes/Left stains on my sheets and stains on my soul” seem like meaningless blathering. Who knows, maybe the next CocoRosie will successfully transcend genres (freak folk has been the preferred label, but it’s possible the Casadys have pioneered the “art-school drivel” genre) and create the magical journey the girls were aiming for, but I’m willing to wager it’s going to be more layers of bicycle bells. (Andy Seifert)
September 11 at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie, (773)509-5019, at 9pm, $20.
Bianca and Sierra Casady—better known as the French duo CocoRosie—put out one doozy of an album a few years back, “The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn,” a “concept” record about a “magical transatlantic journey” that I say felt more so like a “journey through a sanitation department, narrated by an incessantly cackling Jack-in-the-box.” Seriously, what a godforsaken album that was, replete with unnecessarily annoying clicks and squeaks (I understand you’re trying to be twee—you don’t need to use that bicycle bell for the eightieth time), perplexing operatic interludes and some of the most intellectually vapid arty lyrics ever sung. For example, gems like “Life is like a roller coaster/It does flips and throws you over” and “You blew through me like bullet holes/Left stains on my sheets and stains on my soul” seem like meaningless blathering. Who knows, maybe the next CocoRosie will successfully transcend genres (freak folk has been the preferred label, but it’s possible the Casadys have pioneered the “art-school drivel” genre) and create the magical journey the girls were aiming for, but I’m willing to wager it’s going to be more layers of bicycle bells. (Andy Seifert)
