CD/LP/Track Review
The Taubes: The Peace Album (2003)
Javier AQ Ortiz
JAQO's bohemian life eventually led to jazz...
Quick and to the Point: A peacefully strong political statement from unlikely musical sources .
Awash amidst the war news, The Peace Album by The Taubes –or Doves of War– has not attracted much attention in the media. Nevertheless, one of the stated goals of The Peace Through Strength Foundation of North America –a for profit organization operating out of Guam– is to “enrich the arts through works founded upon a worldview attentive to reliable facts.” In spite of the lack of promotion, this recording has proven to be the most popular of their works so far.
According to the liner notes written by Arthur Schlessinger, Jr., this recording was conceived on a dare at a White House function last November. I won’t let the whole cat out of the bag here for obvious reasons, albeit the dare arose out of a discussion about the hitherto unknown musical prowess of various figures from several professional backgrounds. Hence the rather unlikely ensemble and compositions involved in this production. All donated their services to this event.
The quality of the performances is remarkable given that Clint Black and Ted Nugent were the only two professional musicians involved. Indeed, they composed, arranged and produced it. The album’s cutthroat lyrics, such as Nugent’s “Hunting For the Great White Manatee” –an angry metal rock tongue-in-cheek derision of Michael Moore and Rosie O’Donnell– will certainly prove extremely controversial. Unfortunately, lost in the controversy will be the surprisingly good conga playing of G. Gordon Liddy. Who would believed he learned such a skill during his days behind bars? (Perhaps his cellmate, "Big" Pepe, could explain.)
The jazzy and swinging opener “Hell Yeah We Will Go!” features a revealing Italian rap cum vocalese from one of Philadelphia’s leading thinkers, Ms. Camille Paglia. In “Victory & Peace”, the pace slows considerably after the initial volatile country rock head unstintingly shrinking into an unruffled violin riff by David Horowitz. The piano duo of “The Cry of the Benedict Arnold Brigade” balances rather well the jazz knowledge of Clint Eastwood and the Classical one by author Dinesh D’Souza.
All funds raised by The Peace Album will benefit the art-related works of the imaginary Peace Through Strength Foundation of North America.
Contact: Peace Through Strength Foundation of North America .
Track Listing: 1. Hell Yeah We Will Go! 2. The Taubes 3. Hunting For the Great White Manatee 4. Hello My Name is MOAB 5. When Johnny/Joanne Come Marching Home 6. I Got Your Arrogance Right Here! 7. The Dogs/Bitches of War 8. Serenity Now! 9. American Freedom 10. Victory & Peace 11. The Cry of the Benedict Arnold Brigade
Personnel: Band Boys: Noam Chomsky, Edward James Olmos, Edward Said & Cornel West. Baritone Horn: William Buckley, Jr. Bass: Rush Limbaugh. Drums: Michael Novak. Guitars: Clint Black, Ted Nugent & Howard Stern. Percussion: G. Gordon Liddy. Piano: Dinesh D
Record Label: Undovenik Strapping Visions | Style: Fringes of Jazz
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