MARCH 2010 ONLINE EDITORIALS

James Hamann - America’s Most Wanted

album cover

By Molly McCowan

America’s Most Wanted is an interesting form of album in that it actually highlights the talents of two bands, both cemented by drummer and lead vocalist James Hamann. Drumming and singing at the same time is a difficult task, but Hamann pulls it off nicely, even as the album transfers between funk, rhythm & blues, classic rock and ambient tracks complete with some seriously weird lyrics.
The first few songs on the album, beginning with “Blue Fox” and “Tomorrow,” are more classic-sounding, with funky guitar riffs, walking basslines, and bluesy vocals by Hamann. The album also explores the classic rock ballad on the song “Blue Jeans and Limousines,” an understated track that features a tasty guitar solo and lyrics of love long lost.
The last few songs of the album drift off into another dimension, employing Pink Floyd-esque ambient noise, the audio of porn videos (bringing the Mr. Bungle song “The Girls of Porn” to mind), and other samples and eclectic noises. The song entitled “Flock Ewe” demonstrates Hamann’s odd sense of humor, with lyrics like, “Jesus Christ ate cheese and rice” and “Are the lambs screaming in your head?” These songs exist purely for their strangeness, and they’re definitely worth a listen and a laugh.
A diverse album that seems split between wanting to be traditional funk/rock and off-the-wall weird, America’s Most Wanted is worth a listen if you like it when bands toe the line between classically good and devilishly bizarre.
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