Odd Numb3rs And Slanted Rhymes. Gary Calamar

Reading Gary Calamar's Wikipedia page gives me the impression being presented with a modern day uomo universale. From a volunteer at a radio station filing cds, to DJ, music supervisor of motion pictures and series, record store owner, musician and a lot more. With Odd Numb3rs And Slanted Rhymes Calamar bundles the many singles he's released in the past few decades and adds a few new songs to the whole.

No, Calamar is not the best singer I've ever heard, but his deadpan delivery fits his music perfectly. This music spans the decades of his life in which he obviously soaked up the various forms of pop music and turned that into his own musical world. His voice, at times assisted by background vocals, surfs over the pop music, making a whole that just works. Music that bubbles, not explodes, music to listen to yet feel alive with.

Opening song 'The Prince of Pico Boulevard' and second song 'Who Are We Gonna Be Today?' (with Robyn Hitchcock) are statements on that soaking up. I have no doubt that there are more references in them to other songs and albums in the texts that I am able to recognise. Musically, this goes for the whole album. 1960s and 70s reference are abound. Some The Beatles, some The Byrds and far more.

It also means that not much more words are needed to single Odd Numb3rs And Slanted Rhymes out. From beginning to end this is a pleasant album to listen to. Gary Calamar does a lot right here, making for some great, albeit nostalgic listening.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Odd Numb3rs And Slanted Rhymes here:

https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/odd-numb3rs-and-slanted-rhymes