R&B Transmogrification

• Artist: Quasi
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 25, 1997
• Genre: Rock

Review

For a two-piece band, Quasi sure does make a lot of noise. Their second CD, R&B Transmogrification, is filled with indie-pop gems buried under layers of textured sound, bringing to mind the best work of Up labelmates Built to Spill. Sam Coomes' nasal vocals, also reminiscent of Built to Spill's Doug Marsch, are often plaintive, but never dull. Using a heavily distorted "Rocksichord" -- an electronic keyboard invented to approximate the sound of a harpsichord -- as its central instrument, R&B Transmogrification combines a retro feel with a healthy helping of grunge, sort of the Doors meets Pavement. Best of all are the songs, which include "Ballad of Mechanical Man" (which uses the lyrics "soon we'll all be dead" as its creepy, catchy hook) and "Birds Eyes View" (written by drummer Janet Weiss of Sleater-Kinney), which recalls the work of the Magnetic Fields and Brian Eno. ~ Lee Zukor, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Ghost Dreaming	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(3:23)
Ballad of Mechanical Man (Lyrics)	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(3:13)
In the First Place	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(4:02)
Bird's Eye View	Sam Coomes, Janet Weiss	Quasi	(3:23)
Two-Faced (Lyrics)	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(2:53)
Ghost Vs. Vampire	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(3:26)
R&B Transmogrification	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(2:28)
When I'm Dead	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(2:19)
Sugar	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(5:27)
My Coffin	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(3:59)
Mama, Papa, Baby	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(2:59)
Chocolate Rabbit (Lyrics)	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(3:24)
The Iron Worm	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(3:17)
Clouds	Sam Coomes	Quasi	(2:51)

Credits

Charlie Campbell (Mixing), Charlie Campbell (Engineer), Tony Lash (Mastering), Quasi (Engineer), Quasi (Mixing)

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