More than 40 years into
the B-52s' career,
Fred Schneider doesn't get much of a chance to generate new inspired silliness with the group, which makes
the Superions that rare example of a side project from a veteran artist that serves a legitimate purpose. I mean, if you could write tunes like "Konnichiwa," "Stampede at the Petting Zoo," or "Passport Wallet Cellphone," wouldn't you want a chance to perform them for your audience? Especially when you were writing as well as ever, and arguably singing significantly better than when your main band first entered mass consciousness? Granted, the electronic dance pulse generated by
Schneider's sidemen Noah Brodie and
Dan Marshall lacks the lightly greasy Southern groove that's always been
the B-52s' secret weapon. But
Schneider sounds like he's having a ball on
The Vertical Mind, and the record's sense of fun is contagious. Chances are excellent you'll find yourself singing along with "When the Dingoes Ate the Babies" or "Sleeping Booty" before either song comes to a close, and if you can't get on the good foot with "Savage Kiss" or "Strip Search," you clearly haven't been trying.
The Vertical Mind also shows that age age 65,
Schneider isn't afraid to get his sexy on or let his freak flag fly --
Fred and his pals have always been all about the party, but these days he's throwing a bash for the grownups, and he's clearly happy to put it in the air and shake it like he just don't care.
The Vertical Mind is a party record that's funny and you can dance to it, and if
the B-52s can't be bothered to make albums like that in 2017, thank the fates that
Fred is happy to do it with
the Superions. ~ Mark Deming