Take a little
Oingo Boingo, throw in a cupful of
Devo, add a couple of spoonfuls of
B-52's, and sift in some bizarre guest appearances from Hollywood actors (Bud Cort, Judge Reinhold), and the result should be something similar to
Martini Ranch.
Holy Cow is the sole album release from the Los Angeles-based duo of
Andy Todd and
Bill Paxton, and while the album's novelty approach wears thin, there's a surprising surplus of melody and songcraft on the album. Although
Martini Ranch certainly has a sense of humor, this isn't a comedy album, and they aren't strictly a
"Weird Al" Yankovic-styled novelty act. Instead, the band is essentially a party machine, and
Holy Cow has more than its share of quirky danceable rock. Members of the aforementioned
B-52's and
Devo make appearances, and titles like "How Can the Labouring Man Find Time for Self Culture" prove
Martini Ranch actually sprinkles a little intelligence into the mix. "Labouring" and the catchy "Hot Dog" are the two best tracks, and the rest of the album is surprisingly consistent. As
Devo and
the B-52's have proven on many releases, sometimes wackiness can become downright irritating over the course of an entire album. Fortunately, there are enough pop smarts here to save it from becoming an unfunny joke.
Holy Cow is an acquired taste, but it still tastes pretty good. (Since this album's 1988 release, band member
Bill Paxton has become a very familiar face in such films as Titanic, Twister, and A Simple Plan.) ~ William Cooper