Brian Jonestown Massacre - Who Killed Sgt Pepper?

  by Carl Bookstein

published: 31 / 3 / 2010

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Review

The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s latest album 'Who Killed Sgt Pepper?' possesses an intriguing title, conjuring Beatlesque imagery and ghosts of classic rock past. Recorded in early and late 2009, between Iceland and Berlin, their most recent full length recording is now released. This latest work in no way lives up to vintage Brian Jonestown Massacre albums, but is nevertheless an intriguing listen. With numerous member changes over the years, the one thing that remains constant in this neo psychedelic rock band is songwriter and front man Anton Newcombe. The band was formed in San Francisco in the early 1990s and was later the subject of the rock documentary 'DiG!',along with the Dandy Warhols. Newcombe was portrayed in 'DiG! as part genius and part disaster. 'Who Killed Sgt Pepper?' includes Eastern flavored beats, Krautrock loops, Scandinavian folk as well as an excursion into dance floor territory. The result is somehow fascinating, but lacks the melodic beauty of earlier Brian Jonestown Massacre compositions. Early songs by the band, like the beautiful 'Open Heart Surgery' once gave me chills. Guests on the new album include Will Carruthers from Spacemen 3 as well as musicians from France, Germany and Iceland. The 13 new tracks encompass ambient bhangra beats, rock, shoegaze and gypsy influences of Eastern European music. The band’s trademark psychedelia is less pronounced. The opener 'Tempo 116.7' is a pleasing enough instrumental number with a focus on the drum beat and the presence of an Indian influence. 'Tunger Hnifur' starts ominously and includes swirling guitar and a hazy vocal. 'Let’s Go F**king Mental' is a droning repeat of the title lyric. On 'This is the First of Your Last Warning', a techno like dance beat is present. 'Someplace Else Unknown' features some mildly interesting lyrics: “Now I’m looking for drugs/ I’m not asking about Jesus, not asking for hugs.” While not without merit, this is clearly not Brian Jonestown Massacre’s best work.” 'Detka! Detka! Detka!' has a pleasing beat and 'Super F**ked' is rhythmically satisfying with innovative instrumentation, somewhat reminiscent of classic Brian Jonestown Massacre music. It is not until the closer, however, 'Felt Tipped Pictures of UFOs' where we think of the album that might have been. The finale starts with a fine almost symphonic sound that continues while taped interviews are painted in like a collage. We hear the famed John Lennon recitation regarding the Beatles being more popular than Jesus. I found this last track to be the most interesting number on the album. In the end, the title 'Who Killed Sgt Pepper?' seemed to hold great potential, that the album somehow just did not live up to.

Track Listing:-

1 Tempo 116.7 (Reaching for dangerous levels of sobriety)
2 Tunger Hnifur
3 Lets Go Fucking Mental
4 White Music
5 This Is the First of Your Last Warning (Icelandic)
6 This Is the One Thing We Did Not Want to Have Happen
7 The One
8 Someplace Else Unknown
9 Detka! Detka! Detka!
10 Super Fucked
11 Our Time
12 Feel It
13 Felt Tipped Pictures of UFOs