The Ominous Seapods' debut album was recorded live at Bogie's in the band's hometown of Albany, NY, on January 28, 1994. The indie record sounds like one, and showcases some fine instrumentalism built around largely weak songwriting. (The lyrics and vocals were definitely the band's weakest link in 1994.) One song sounds like a Dana Carvey routine: "I never met those people I didn't know." "Anything Is Possible" showcases one of the problems with
Econobrain: The vocals are recorded poorly and are ridiculous: "Anything is possible when you've only been alive for...24 hours." When Dana Monteith takes off on guitar solos, the music reaches its peak. Jamming is definitely the band's forte. But lyrics just get in the way of the jam. The band's alignment with the "gobi" music scene and drugs deflects attention to the lack of cohesion in their songs. Structure and organization mean little to that state of mind. As such, the good guitar work, funky bass, and fun spirit rule supreme. Though the recording of
Econobrain is uneven at times, the LP is recommended if you like the Dead or
the Freddy Jones Band. Overall,
Econobrain sounds like one long jam without much variation. Sometimes when the singing gives way to soloing, it is unclear if it's been heard somewhere before. The use of piano in "Millworker's Lament" is a nice addition and one of the only variances to the Seapods' early formula.
The Ominous Seapods definitely found a popular niche, but, while solid, did little to expand the genre. ~ JT Griffith