A handbook for parents that D.A.R.E. will never adopt as part of its “Talking to your kids about drugs” campaign and jingles that will never make it into Planned Parenthood commercials are both contained on Hamell on Trial’s latest release, Songs for Parents Who Do Drugs. Hamell, the self-proclaimed anti-folk musician, has created another entertainingly offensive opus that not only encourages former party-animals turned domestic to lie to their young ‘uns about their sordid pasts, but also endorses filling your purse with a beautiful rainbow of pills, and putting the heat on a pimp.
A one-man opinion machine, Hamell on Trial laces his songs with steely guitars, sing along-style choruses (e.g. on the imitation campfire anthem, “Pretty Colors” when people in the studio join in for the catchy-tuned list of pill shades), and disturbing but funny verses. His controversial choices of subject matter such as hookers, twins, and other fun, drug induced sexual escapades are made less than unnerving by the upbeat simplicity of the music’s sound. Undeniably influenced by Lou Reed vocally, Hamell delivers his disturbing subject matter in a very straightforward deadpan that almost makes you buy in to his endorsement of a seedy rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
With no more than an electric guitar, the occasional harmonica blow, and a little help from his no-good friends, has created a disturbingly enjoyable, cleverly inarticulate, punk-ish, weird, badass good time.
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May 20th, 2006 at 6:49 pm
He reminds a little bit of george carlson