Camper Van Beethoven’s 1985 debut Telephone Free Landslide Victory was split between absurdist singalong numbers such as “Take the Skinheads Bowling” and “Where the Hell is Bill,” sometimes going over into punk (parody) and 60’s garage psych territory….
…and songs displaying a respectable knowledge of various folk traditions.
Subsequent albums would see the band continue to dabble in everything from country/western to polka to Eastern European folk forms. 1988’s Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart, their major label debut saw the first full flowering of singer David Lowery’s songwriting, displaying his offbeat and increasingly cynical observations.
The band finally achieved a minor hit with a cover of “Pictures of Matchstick Men” from their darkest album to date Key Lime Pie in 1989 and that was basically that except for a one-off reunion album years later.
Questions? Comments? Complaints?
Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
- pcqgod
- Posts: 19949
- Joined: 11 Apr 2010, 07:23
- Location: Ohio
Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?
- Rayge
- Posts: 15288
- Joined: 14 Aug 2013, 11:37
- Location: Zummerzet
- Contact:
Re: Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
You don't need authorization, Robert, have at it. I've added it to the list
In timeless moments we live forever
You can't play a tune on an absolute
Negative Capability...when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason”
- hookfinger
- Posts: 6329
- Joined: 23 Jan 2008, 18:43
- Location: the observation post
- Contact:
Re: Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
Revolutionary Sweetheart is one on of my all time favorite records. Much better than Key Lime Pie. Also saw them in a bar one where they played right on the floor, no stage. They played for close to 3 hours, taking an intermission. Excellent show.
Oh boy is it getting rough, when my old world charm isn't quite enough.
- pcqgod
- Posts: 19949
- Joined: 11 Apr 2010, 07:23
- Location: Ohio
Re: Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
hookfinger wrote:Revolutionary Sweetheart is one on of my all time favorite records. Much better than Key Lime Pie. Also saw them in a bar one where they played right on the floor, no stage. They played for close to 3 hours, taking an intermission. Excellent show.
I saw them play a show where the power went out and they had to finish on acoustic instruments. Perfect!
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?
- Rayge
- Posts: 15288
- Joined: 14 Aug 2013, 11:37
- Location: Zummerzet
- Contact:
Re: Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
unauthorised bump
In timeless moments we live forever
You can't play a tune on an absolute
Negative Capability...when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, Mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact & reason”
- Dayodead
- Posts: 937
- Joined: 15 May 2015, 21:39
- Location: West Los Angeles
Re: Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
Actually, they have released four albums since Key Lime Pie, all pretty respectable:
Tusk (2002)
New Roman Times (2004)
La Costa Perdida (2013)
El Camino Real (2014)
Tusk (2002)
New Roman Times (2004)
La Costa Perdida (2013)
El Camino Real (2014)
- pcqgod
- Posts: 19949
- Joined: 11 Apr 2010, 07:23
- Location: Ohio
Re: Unauthorized Beyond BCB 130: Camper Van Beethoven
Dayodead wrote:Actually, they have released four albums since Key Lime Pie, all pretty respectable:
Tusk (2002)
New Roman Times (2004)
La Costa Perdida (2013)
El Camino Real (2014)
I did know about the 'Tusk' thing.
Where would rock 'n' roll be without feedback?