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Flight of the Conchords
“I Told You I Was Freaky”
Release Date: Oct. 20, 2009
Record Label: Sub Pop
Anybody who saw the first season of “Flight of the Conchords” could listen to the band’s debut album and reminisce in its quirks and inside jokes. The same can be said for Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement’s latest effort, “I Told You I Was Freaky.”
Flight of the Conchords has gathered quite a following over the last few years due to its ability to blend comedy and popular music. The band does not subscribe to a genre as rap, techno, folk and rock music are featured on the album. The band takes the stereotypical features of these genres and molds them into its own satirical music. After two albums, the band is showing maturity and beginning to master each genre.
On the surface it would seem the band’s main focus is comedy, but it puts just as much emphasis on creating quality music. On the track “Hurt Feelings,” the band derides the tough image of a rapper by rapping about being unappreciated in everyday situations. While the group preaches its rigid image, it also contradicts itself by cleverly complaining, “no one even mentions my casserole.”
The band also pokes fun at the common tendencies of albums. The track “Angels” represents the typical final song found on many albums, which features a steady build-up until a background choir comes in and produces the climax. All the while, the band is singing of angels having sex in the clouds.
This displays the band’s strong suit, which is songwriting. While the music reflects the mood, the lyrics represent the comedy. On the track “Rambling Through the Avenues of Time,” McKenzie sings of a lost love while Clement cleverly talks alongside in a conversational manner, matching his counterpart with rhymes and witticisms.
Because the band’s first album was so refreshing and new it is hard to compare the albums’ impacts, but “I Told You I Was Freaky” is a worthy follow-up.
