Why is this utterly ridiculous concept album so darn infectious? Could it be the winsome theme of a hapless caveman and his wacky exploits? Could it be the simplistic, almost childlike appeal of former Slint guitarist Ethan Buckler's extremely goofy lyrics, which tell of said caveman's affection for his pet yak and frightening encounters with saber tooth tigers? Could it be the quirky, kitschy feel of the music, which sounds like a funkier, lo-fi B-52's playing a gig at a truck stop in the middle of nowhere while high on a mixture of marijuana and quaaludes? Or maybe it's the distinctive vocal interplay between the monotone Buckler and his more melodious counterpart, Amy Greenwood? Whatever the reason, when listening to this album it's a struggle to prevent yourself from jumping up and down like a crazy fool, doing the funky chicken and screaming along to lyrics like "I love my yak!" at the top of your lungs. And in an era where, all too often, music fails to provoke much of a reaction at all, isn't that enough?
© Bret Love /TiVo