URBAN TULSA WEEKLY, Oct. 30-Nov. 5, 2003, Legends Of Voddville CD Review
The GARDES: Legends Of Voddville
The Gardes throw together 60's-influenced pop, Stooges-ish junkyard rock and the sounds of horror-movie screaming and telephone conversations for a slap-happy concept album. Basically, the record is meant to be like a strange "voddville" thing, starting with an instrumental called "Opening Act," complete with the sound of booing, and closing with the lilting, yet twisted lullaby, "Happy Ending."
Along the way there are sunny bubblegum tunes along with thrashy kickers, and subtly disturbing semi-traditional pieces. The band is inventive, making use of accordions, odd percussive instruments, and various freaky noises. There is a sprite garage rock feel to everything, particularly the trashy drum sound and thumpy acoustic guitars.
The vocals are good-humored and vary in their distance from the actual note of the song. Overall it's a comical, quaint album, taking a fun approach to the idea of a concept record. -J.F.