- Artist: Alloy Orchestra
- Rating:
- Release Date: December 21, 1999
- Genre: Avant-Garde
Review
The three-member Alloy Orchestra dedicates this music to the great comedians of the early 1900s: Buster Keaton, Laurel & Hardy, and Charlie Chaplin. Specializing in producing new background soundtracks for old-time films, the "orchestra" uses lots of imagery and comedic repast to enhance these themes, which a CD-ROM version or live performance (they do tour) would have further illuminated. Roger C. Miller plays various synthesized roles, Ken Winokur is on percussion and occasional clarinet, Terry Donahue jumps from percussion, frequently accordion, and the musical saw. There are three strung together segmented pieces for each comedian. "One Week" for Keaton's skit in 1920 is in 16 components. A calliope polka with train sounds intros a second prelude with synth and keystone cops action on "Drive Away," then sheep baas and big bad wolf stalking on "Lot 99" set up the tidy accordion "Tuesday Waltz." The 11-piece "Big Business" (1929) for Laurel & Hardy states their famous theme three times then musically depicts the oom pah pah goofy "Selling Christmas Trees." Chaplin's "Easy Street" (1916) in 15 parts sets a tone by starting with the familiar "Old Time Religion" then merging into a pensive "Angelic Brimstone" and "Hallelujah." The indeed zany "Zany Dish Pants" and "Snidely Whiplash" evokes the cartoonish, frenetic, evil, and wack images of Chaplin and the villain perfectly.As a work standing on its own, this is loads of fun and full of easily enjoyable twists and turns. Let your imagination loose while listening, but make sure you catch Alloy live sometime for the full effect. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
Tracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| One Week Intro | Alloy Orchestra | (:42) | |
| Drive Away | Alloy Orchestra | (1:20) | |
| Lot | Alloy Orchestra | (:36) | |
| Tuesday Waltz | Alloy Orchestra | (:52) | |
| Handy Hank | Alloy Orchestra | (:51) | |
| Wednesday Waltz | Alloy Orchestra | (:47) | |
| Piano Mover | Alloy Orchestra | (:27) | |
| Spotanski/Head | Alloy Orchestra | (2:33) | |
| Spontanski II | Alloy Orchestra | (1:01) | |
| Thursday Waltz | Alloy Orchestra | (2:22) | |
| Friday the 13th | Alloy Orchestra | (1:08) | |
| Merry Go Round | Alloy Orchestra | (2:04) | |
| Saturday's Song | Alloy Orchestra | (1:00) | |
| Determined | Alloy Orchestra | (1:30) | |
| The Train Wreck | Alloy Orchestra | (:56) | |
| Last Waltz | Alloy Orchestra | (:32) | |
| Laurel and Hardy Theme | Alloy Orchestra | (:30) | |
| Selling Christmas Trees | Alloy Orchestra | (:42) | |
| Laurel and Hardy Theme II | Alloy Orchestra | (:17) | |
| Don't Want to Buy a Xmas Tree | Alloy Orchestra | (4:38) | |
| Trouble at the Door | Alloy Orchestra | (2:26) | |
| Patrol Wagon | Alloy Orchestra | (1:45) | |
| Wackey One Too | Alloy Orchestra | (1:05) | |
| Destructo March!!! | Alloy Orchestra | (4:16) | |
| Officer Foldy Arms | Alloy Orchestra | (:43) | |
| Apology/Tears | Alloy Orchestra | (2:08) | |
| Laurel and Hardy | Alloy Orchestra | (:36) | |
| Old Time Religion | Alloy Orchestra | (1:11) | |
| Angelic Brimstone | Alloy Orchestra | (1:00) | |
| Hallelujah | Alloy Orchestra | (:17) | |
| Angelic Brimstone II | Alloy Orchestra | (:40) | |
| Charlie Leaves the Mission | Alloy Orchestra | (:16) | |
| Easy St. | Alloy Orchestra | (2:20) | |
| The Bad Guy | Alloy Orchestra | (1:40) | |
| The Gassing | Alloy Orchestra | (1:38) | |
| Phone Call Cops | Alloy Orchestra | (1:22) | |
| Charity/Orphanage | Alloy Orchestra | (3:18) | |
| Zany Dish Pants | Alloy Orchestra | (2:12) | |
| Snidely Whiplash | Alloy Orchestra | (1:01) | |
| On the Street | Alloy Orchestra | (:20) | |
| Junkie/Charlie Kicks Their Asses | Alloy Orchestra | (1:08) | |
| Angelic Brimstone Finale | Alloy Orchestra | (1:16) |
