Review:'Ex Norwegian and friends' 'Sing Wistle Tunes'
- Album: 'A Tribute To John Entwistle'
- Label: 'Think Like A Key Music'
- Genre: 'Rock'
- Release Date: '9.10.24.'- Catalogue No: 'TLAK 1187'
Our Rating:
Sing Wistle tunes is a tribute to the Ox, the bass maestro John Entwistle of The Who put together by Ex Norwegian and a bunch of friends to shine a light on the often-overlooked songwriting of Mr Entwistle. I have to admit that most of the songs on this album are new to me, I'm not a huge fan of The Who, so only really knew Boris The Spider before hearing this album.
The album opens with the psychedelic sounds of My Size with heavily reverbed vocals, oil wheel guitar and Bolan boogie bass and drums, they seek to bring you down to My Size while threatening old school aggro.
905 has a late 60's gauzy hazy psyche rock feel, while complaining there is nothing new under the sun, they keep searching for new highs and ways of doing things.
Apron Strings a declaration of intent, for someone who's just left home and is making their way on their ownsome. Tears are never far away at the glib situation.
It's Your Turn is paisley pop for someone threatening everything who may just fall over the edge.
Cousin Kevin features Stoned Norwegians getting monumentally out of it, probably with a couple of strippers on acid.
Fiddle About is played by God Bless The Evil Child who take a dark turn into this possibly worrying song, dependant on what they mean by Fiddling About, in the 70's sense of the term it would be about certain kinds of sexual adventures, that by the sound of this version would be dark and disturbing.
Peg Leg Peggy is a close cousin of Mike Absalom's Laura The Leg, only Peggy doesn't leave you covered in splinters, on this Power pop tune about the joys of kissing an experienced woman.
Whiskey Man ft Mark Johnston has a cool trumpet blowing over the intro, before it sounds like a hazy psychedelic The Who, with galloping drums and distinct organ interjections.
My Wife is quite bitter and twisted with all sorts of Psychedelic effects highlighting the bitter lies that happen when you've had a drink or five too many, ending up in the drunk tank once more.
What Are We Doing Here ft John Howard is a piano led home sick ballad, of the sort that gets written when you've been on tour long enough to forget where you are, while always wanting to be home.
When I Was A Boy is with Fernando Perdomo on a heavy psych rock anthem hoping to bring back the good old bad old days.
The Window Shopper is for the sort of old school guy in a dirty raincoat, who can't afford to by the porno mags he wants, so hides in gardens peeping through windows. This is full of behaviour to get him cancelled.
Boris The Spider is tackled by Super 8 in a suitably nursery rhyme psychedelic way, bringing out the almost music hall humour of what often seems like a classic children's tune.
Talk Dirty is stream of consciousness lyrics, tackling all manner of subjects, that almost feels like Billy Joel re-wrote this as We Didn't Start The Fire, it just needs a sharper riff to play off the monster bass part.
Doctor Doctor ft Keith Smart is played with a distinct Dr Feelgood edge to the riff, as this plea for all the pills and medicine you can get hold of, you create your own ailments, while this chugs itself towards oblivion.
I Wonder how things worked out this way, he's happy where he is, but he looks at the topsy turvy world, imagining a time when up is down and vice versa etc.
The album closes with I Believe In Everything ft Nick Frater a magnificent list song, of all the amazing things they believe in from Santa to Satan and beyond, the close conversational vocals draw you right in.
Find Out More at https://www.thinklikeakey.com/release/466370-ex-norwegian-sing-wistle-tunes https://www.exnorwegian.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ExNorwegian8
