For Crying out loud indeed
Ben Deily needs no introduction apparently. He is the founder member of The Lemonheads, but split from Evan Dando after 3 albums. Evan Dando would then turn The Lemonheads into mass grunge-pop, multi-selling pioneers. These aren't my words, these are the words of Varisty Drag's press release. The first thing that strikes me, is that The Lemonheads hit the big time once they got rid of Ben Deily. Was Ben Deily holding them back? I could be wrong but one listen to his new project, the aptly named Varisty Drag (and boy, does is drag), suggests to me that The Lemonheads are better off without him, because 'For Crying Out Loud' is extremely poor by anyone's standards.
A rack of bowling shoes isn't really the most inspired front cover, neither is the photo of a rug on the back. The cashew nuts and cinema tickets are even more drab as booklet pictures go, and the less said about the foot the better. Because of the dreadful imagery, the album looks ugly before you've even reached for the play button. When the play button is finally depressed, what emits from the speakers is nothing more than a weedy collection of poorly played, bad sounding guitar-pop tunes.
Before reading the press release I thought this was a demo from a sixth form college band. To know that this toss is from a veteran of the music world is really quite astonishing. Deily's vocals in particular are the slurry of this release. They really are quite dreadful. Rarely in tune, the melodies too high for Deily's range, lyrics sung without any passion or feeling, and you would be forgiven if you thought that it wasn't some rock 'legend,' but some seventeen year old kid pissing about with a microphone for the very first time.
I've seen many battle of the bands competitions over the years, and witnessed many young kids and college bands chocking out a similar style of half assed indie rock. At least the beginners have a reason for being utterly dreadful (and let's face it, many bands are), Varsity Drag have no such excuses. Even with three guitarists on board they all play the same thing. There aren't any clever harmonies, fancy axe work or any type of musical imagination that would separate this band from all the other hundreds, nay thousands, of bands around today. They could sack two of the guitar players and Varisty Drag would still sound the same.
This type of guitar pop isn't really my cup of tea, but I like to think I have an appreciation for most styles of music. I know a good album when I hear one, and 'For Crying Out Loud' is pitiful at best. The production is flat, the songs uninteresting and perhaps some of the worst singing ever laid down on disc. With only nine songs on offer at a running time of twenty-six minutes, this fetid pile of compost doesn't even give value for money. It's lazy, un-directional and uninspired, and if I ever hear the ear splitting, out of tune, cringe-worthy 'you-hoo' at the end of 'Summertime' again, I think I'll drive into the nearest deep disused quarry. If you want some great guitar pop then check out 'Wilt,' and leave Varisty Drag for the stoned students and bargain bin rummagers of this world.