The Gardes: LEGENDS OF VODDVILLE CD Review, Daily O' Collegian, Feb. 20th, 2003, by JOHN ESTUS
The Gardes really don't seem to care about rules, structures, procedures or any of those mechanical, bureaucratic ways of living. Either that or their ambition is a deadly weapon that shouldn't be legal in this country. One of those factors had to contribute to the Ponca City-based band making a freaking concept record as their musical debut to the world. Is that even legal?
Who cares? "Legends Of Voddville" is as intriguing as it is flawed, as promising as it is incomplete, as brilliant as it is awkward, and as ambitious as it is restrained. The Gardes are experimenting with everything from Spector's Wall of Sound to Bowie's "Stardust" era theatrics to Velvet Underground's garage sound for a totally incomprehensible work of twisted experimental art rock.
Best moments between all the chaos: the explosion of thunderous confusion at the end of the seven minute "The Voddville Song" followed instantly by a gleeful pop snap along about piggyback rides, then some hilariously sarcastic white boy rapping about peeping toms. "Legends Of Voddville" is sloppily littered with irreverent pranks like these. They're pranks because as dark as this record may try to be, it's all in grand fun. It may even be one big hoax. You just can't tell.
The most telling point of the disc comes during "Intermission," when a female voice asks, "What kind of show is this?" amidst a shrieking, B-movie organ. How appropriate.