That being said, I am excited to present you all with a very special Halloween post (one which I made several failed attempts to share last Halloween, and which I've waited all year to try sharing again, because I love being topical). This very special album is the self-titled release by Frankenstein and the All-Star Monster Band, a high concept piece of weirdo Halloween pop brewed up by Rock 'n Roll mad scientist Kim Fowley (manager of the Runaways and much, much more)!
According to the borderline insane liner notes, the album is dedicated to "all the ugly, stupid and misunderstood people of the world," a sympathy not unfamiliar to the irreverent, rebellious underdog nature of Punk Rock and New Wave which this album is very much a part of. The difference here is that these songs tackle this subject matter through the lens of B-movie monsters shunned by society - monsters trying to survive in a modern world full of artificial beauty, high unemployment, dwindling individuality, and damsels who won't accept a casual date with the likes of vampires or werewolves.
The band consists of Kim Fowley (appearing here as Doctor Dog, in the role of Frankenstein), whose vocals sound sometimes like Billy Idol, Jim Morrison, David Bowie or Bob Dylan, and a bunch of mystery players using names such as Larry Lizard, Jumbo Frog, Video Pig, Dorothy Dinosaur and Empress of the Underworld (each with their own character role... it gets a bit convoluted). The songs are fun, catchy, witty pop music with a brain - the brain might be floating in a jar in some Transylvanian laboratory, but it is definitely pulsing with life.
This is essential weird pop music, and a must for any Halloween dance party.
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