American Astronaut is the consummate Billy Nayer Show album, demonstrating both the maturity of a band over a decade in the making, and the consistantly unorthodox musical vision that has made them a growing cult favorite in Manhattan, San Francisco, and abroad.
Although their music defies conventional explanation (Often the simplest way to do so for my friends is to apply to the ears directly), perhaps this formula will suffice:
Imagine a pop-tune's sticks-to-the-grey-matter type ditty playing in the background, whilst a melodious could've-been-a-bluesman's deep voice (in the case of McAbee) belts out rhythmically rhyming lines, the lyrics of which would make Frank Zappa proud (or blush). This is a glimpse into "The Girl With the V...", only one of the spirited numbers on the album.
If you are searching for something new, something to shake you at your music-loving foundations, something to renew your faith in the music scene, you have found your album. If you enjoy the album, you might also be entertained by the Sundance award-winning film- find out where it is playing, and see it. Better yet, see Billy Nayer Show play in person. (...)
I write these words with much reverence and affection for this band, and I hope I have done their music justice.
This CD features the soundtrack to The American Astronaut - a low budget, yet excellently executed movie about space travel, kidnapping, murder, friendship, birthdays, and girls with glass vaginas. Some of the members of The Billy Nayer Show act in the movie and provide musical numbers, hence allowing for a totally wacky, if not disturbing, musical effect.
From country through bluegrass, from rock to slow sad songs, TBNS provides a huge spectrum of music able to satisfy any music lovers as long as they possess any good music taste at all.
I recommend this CD as well as the movie to only open-minded people, otherwise you might not appreciate it to the extent it deserves.
PS. I ranked the movie #1 for 2001 on my list of best movies.
