CD review: Toy Gun Cowboy, "Big Blue"
Toy Gun Cowboy, "Big Blue" (Gutter Groovy Records), 2 1/2 stars
Toy Gun Cowboy, aka Matthew Erikson, has been busy making a name for himself with a pair of acclaimed EPs. His latest release, the full-length "Big Blue," is a slab of dancey, hooky garage-pop, but falls somewhat short of the buzz.
The album's one weak point is Erikson's vocals. His voice lacks confidence and definition, and his lyrics, while well-planned, seem heavy-handed. Musically, the guitars crunch by just the right amount, the programmed drums add an offsetting mechanical aspect that's crucial to the Toy Gun Cowboy sound, and the orchestration of background vocals, incidental sounds and keyboards is enthralling. In fact, with a more dynamic vocalist, "Big Blue" would be a jaw-dropping effort, but in this business (of pop music) the vocals are the most important aspect. If they're weak, it's difficult to enjoy the entire package, the rest of the elements notwithstanding.
The rest of the elements, though, are definitely a treat. "Soldier On" is like a more garage-influenced version of Prince, while "I've Got To Do Something" is like a less-weird Of Montreal. "Bagman" waxes Talking Heads, while "99.9%" delves into Blur-like territory. Clearly, Erikson is well-versed and talented, which makes the vocal discrepancy that much more disappointing.
Perhaps most interesting of all is the "concept order" of the album. Playing the songs in reverse order doesn't flow quite as well musically, but lyrically it tells the story of man's expulsion from the Garden of Eden and journey to modern-day America. Erikson's lyrics are frequently clumsy and unremarkable, but the idea of a "concept order" is a new spin on the concept album, taking something which has been overdone in recent years and making the pretension optional.
These aren't great songs, and it's not a great CD. But it's founded on good songs, making up a good CD, backed by some really great ideas. Clearly Erikson needs no help in the songwriting, composition or production aspects, and if he could find a partner, a foil or a complement, he could be on to something huge.