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DESI Press & Reviews
release: THE FLYING PIGS - DESI * SONIC TROUT RECORDS (ST 00008)
The Flying Pigs latest release, DESI, is now available on Sonic Trout
Records. The follow up to the Flying Pigs' sold-out debut, MEXICAN
DIVORCE, DESI contains sixteen of the Pigs' most requested numbers, as
well as special guest appearances by The Flat Duo Jets' Dexter
Romweber, The Four Star Combo's Matt Goldman, The H-Bombs' Chris
Chamis, The Woods' Terry Anderson & Jack Cornell, Pressure Boy Jack
Campbell, and many more modern music luminaries.
Based in Durham, North Carolina, The Flying Pigs spent much of the
1980's making night club, concert hall, radio and television
appearances throughout the Piedmont to enthusiastic audiences. The
endless touring and packed venues took its toll, however, as far as
live performance goes. Rhythm guitarist P.J. O'Connell commented, "it
got to the point where I couldn't even hear myself on stage, and the
crowds were out of control." Despite efforts to repair the band's
monitor system, as the 90's approached The Flying Pigs went into their
second "Beatles period", performing almost exclusively at Overdub Lane
Studios with producer Wes Lachot, who until that time had worked
primarily recording comedy acts.
The end result is DESI, now available on Cape Cod based Sonic Trout
Records, home of
The Incredible Casuals, Chandler Travis, and other distinguished
"fellow travelers".
The Flying Pigs have recently played surprise, unannounced night club
appearances,
under the name "The Flying Pigs", so be prepared for the unexpected.
-KENT TORRINGTON
No Depression #8 - March-April 1997
FLYING PIGS
Desi
Sonic Trout
Flying Pigs songwriter/vocalist/guitarist Patrick O’Connell says he
spent his formative years listening to the Beatles and the Byrds, and
the Durham, N.C., band’s new release, Desi, proves O’Connell retained
the right stuff. The disc delivers fresh pop gems sparkling with
familiar jangles and hints of twang.
The 16 songs, clocking in at just over an hour, no doubt have that
British invasion, mid-‘60’s radio feel, but I was struck by the uncanny
resemblance to the songs of the late Seattle/San Francisco songwriter
Jimmy Silva, who hung from the same branch of the family tree. Desi
contains at least one perfect pop song, “Ceremony”, a
makes-you-wanna-dance tale of unrequited love in which the narrator is
attending the wedding of the object of his affections, who has run off
to marry someone whose only redeeming quality may be his credit cards.
It brought to mind the image of Dustin Hoffman yelling at his beloved
through the glass in the wedding scene in The Graduate, although Simon
& Garfunkel are nowhere to be found as lead guitarist Bill McCarthy
squeezes out sparks with a Gary Louris-type irreverence.
Other standouts include the irresistible rocking opener “Angel 10/11”
and “Safe As Houses” which champions the relative safety of smashing
into things with somebody else’s Buick. O’Connell’s musical education
didn’t stop with 60’s pop; upon moving to Durham in the mid-80’s. he
befriended the members of NRBQ, who he refers to as great
musicologists. Indeed, a deep well of information enriches the songs
here. Although this album is stylistically cohesive - with the possible
exception of the jarring rockabilly Elvis
impersonation “Out Of Touch” sung by Flat Duo Jets’ Dexter Romweber -
there are subtleties that emerge with subsequent listens.
-Deborah Malarek
OPTION * May-June 1997
FLYING PIGS - DESI
When the “golden era” of North Carolina is mentioned, a lot of folks
think back to the early heyday of dB’s and Let’s Active, not the more
recent Superchunk/Archers Of Loaf period. The Pigs have golden status,
all right; songwriter Pat O’Connell has been running the band on and
off for just about forever, and not only are his current bandmates N.C.
vets, a number of guest musicians (including producer Wes Lachot and
assorted Woods, H-Bombs, Pressure Boys and Flat Duo Jets) pop up on
these 16 tunes. Unsurprisingly, the Pig’s sound is vintage N.C. pop
with occasional rootsy flourishes. O’Connell’s gentle, warbly upper
register is
unaffected and genuine, revealing glimpses into the human condition,
bittersweet recollections of relationships and the occasional,
unapologetic burst of sentimentality. The arrangements are familiar and
inviting, too. There are at least three bonafide gems: the gruff,
Rockpile-like “Out Of Touch”; a plangent, harmony-flecked
dB’s-meets-Flamin’ Groovies “Foreign Countries”; an insanely catchy,
bluesy “Safe As Houses” which recalls one of O’Connell’s avowed loves,
NRBQ. But more importantly, one hears the
echoes of another time that, in the confidant contemporary hands of the
Flying Pigs is once again timeless.
-Fred Mills
THE MUSIC MONITOR #91 - February 1997
…Cape Cod’s Sonic Trout Records, who released Desi, also support an
outfit called The Incredible Casuals, and that band’s name goes a long
way toward describing the feel of their labelmates’ album. They can be
casually incredible: the sparkling, rootsy album opener “Angel 10/11”;
the Liquor Giants-ish “Only Friend”; “Out Of Touch”, featuring Flat Duo
Jet Dexter Romweber on lead vocals and piano; and a foray into rugged
pop a la the Windbreakers called “Hurtin’ Kind”. Most contagious is
“Foreign Countries”, whose “Are you sure we’re speaking the same
language?” metaphor is typical of O’Connell’s wry commentary on
relationships and other lost causes.
-Rick Cornell
THE SPECTATOR
FLYING PIGS - Desi (Sonic Trout CD)
Pop music is like pasta; no matter how many times you’ve had it, it’ll
be a satisfying meal as long as it’s done right. Take this Flying Pigs
record. Is there anything here that hasn’t been done before? Not
really. Does it sound great and stick in your head for days? You
betcha. If these guys had hit at the right time with the right kind of
major label backing, they could’ve been as big as Squeeze or Dire
Straits, whom they sound like to varying degrees. Unpretentious, laid
back. ear candy like this sound great in a car with the windows down.
And that’s worth something in and of itself.
-Greg Bower
NEW HAVEN REGISTER January 3, 1997
…The group’s second album ranges from easy picking to sharp jangle, all
with an air of gentility and an awareness of what a hook is…
This is for summer days in the country with the windows open in the
living room and a mild breeze blowing through and the scent of flowers
in the air.
-Fran Fried
BLUE SUEDE NEWS #38 Spring ’97
Most of the Flying Pig’s songs are penned by keyboardist,
Pat O’Connell. Although each band member hails from some
roots-influenced genre, the group generates a distinctly pop-based
sound… Although there are notable exceptions, the Pigs seem to fare
best when they work in some rockabilly or traditional strains. “Out Of
Touch” features some wonderfully twangy guitar and ersatz Elvis vocals.
The odd juxtaposition of styles on the Appalachian traditional number
“Fair and Tender” turns the song into what sounds to me like a wry,
nostalgic and slightly humorous sendup. “Angel 10/11” and “Safe As
Houses” forego references to a musical past. These are the best pop
tunes on the CD.
BUCKETFULL OF BRAINS
The Flying Pigs, whilst being new to most readers of B.O.B., have
had…years to perfect their |