Reunion of Cynics
Interview with John Wenzel
Mic
Online: What got
this band together and started in this business?
John:
The principals (label
co-founders Chris Jones and myself) met as graphic designers at Trader Publications
in Dayton, Ohio. We started the ill-named band Dishwater Psychics with producer/guitarist
Dan Miller, eventually breaking up and using the “psychics” part
to start the Friendly Psychics Music recording collective.
Mic
Online: Who writes
and produces all the material for the band?
John:
I sketch out the rough
versions of most songs with a blood-tipped pen. The other members of the various
projects help augment the lyrics, melodies and chords. Dan Miller produced
the Upstate stuff, and I produce most of the rest of it on my Roland 8-track.
Mic
Online: Has the
band played in front of or with any acts our readers would know from the Mainstream?
John:
Nope. Being that we’re
geographically scattered, we’ve never played a live show together (though
we’ve ironically pantomimed it in a couple of music videos we’ve
done).
Mic
Online: Any embarrassing
moments on stage?
John:
None of the bands on Friendly
Psychics Music have ever played live before.
Mic
Online: Any good
stories you want to tell us?
John:
We make only modest efforts
to promote our music, but we’ve received some nice responses from people
all over the world (France, Germany, Australia, Luxembourg, England, etc.)
A few people have offered to set up European tours for us, which is hilarious
because it would be a feat for all the members of any given (FPM) band to
get together in the same state, let alone practice and perform as a group.
Mic
Online: Who is
the bands musical influence?
John:
We’re influenced
by the do-it-yourself ethic of many independent rock bands, especially those
hailing from our dear, rust-encrusted hometown of Dayton, Ohio (Guided By
Voices, Swearing at Motorists, Mink, etc.) But we’re all music geeks
and have a fairly wide range of influences (Pink Floyd, Metallica, The Flaming
Lips, Radiohead, Kiss, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bowie, etc.)
Mic
Online: How did
the band get together?
John:
Upstate rose from the
ashes of Dishwater Psychics – same members, but we added drummer Jaime
Heaps to the mix. Wicked Immigrant has the same two principals as Upstate
(myself as singer/guitarist and bassist Chris Jones) but we formed as a way
to express the quieter, more acoustic-orchestral side of our musical thoughts.
Mic
Online: What is
your musical background like?
John:
Self-taught guitarist,
no formal musical background or training.
Mic
Online: Any other
members in your family that are musicians?
John:
Nope.
Mic
Online: What is
the TOP reason why you want to play music?
John:
To write and record the
kind of stuff we like to listen to. In other words, to please ourselves first
and foremost. If anyone else likes it, it’s a bonus.
Wicked Immigrant - White Nuns on Red Wine (Editor's Pick)
I was rather impressed with Wicked Immigrant’s “Reunion of Cynics” and figured that they couldn’t follow it up with something any better. Oh boy was I incorrect. The two fellas in the band still mail zip discs of their compositions back and forth yet somehow sound as if their writing techniques were more intimate. The production quality is a lot better on this album as they steer clear of some of lo-fi’s mistakes managing to put together a wonderful ode to indie folk rock. Lyrically they up the ante with tales that tell of drunken escapades in journal writing—and I like that.
-J. Sin
Wicked Immigrant
- White Nuns On Red Wine CD
Friendly Psychics Music (7 stars)
One of my favourite songwriters is back with a new long player. Once again John Wenzel wrote songs about everyday life and he don´t care if it´s good or bad... all this he packs into sad and deep acoustic arrangements. "White Nuns on Red Wine" is an album which makes you think but also relax. It´s something to lay back and just listen to. I guess you party people out there will not dig this stuff, but if you´re into deep listening and strong lyrics, "White Nuns on Red Wine" is definately something for you. This album is a emotional riot with a lot of catchy songs that stay in your head for days. -Ralf Burkart
Beat the Indie Drum (07/25/05)
Wicked Immigrant
White Nuns On Red Wine (2005, Friendly Psychics Music)
Wicked Immigrant's second full-length release relies on the very same principles and techniques as their debut, "Reunion of Cynics." The band consists primarily of John Wenzel (vocals, acoustic guitars, keys) and Chris Jones on the bass. The two, once again, found themselves painstakingly exchanging Zip discs via mail - Chris lives in Dayton, Ohio and John in Denver. However, you'd be hard-pressed to believe that given "White Nuns on Red Wine" sounds like a collective of musicians putting on a show right in your very own living room - definitely a welcome step up from their debut.
While all of the songs are fueled primarily by acoustic strumming, friends help out occasionally adding cello (more, please), sighing electric guitar lines and harmonica (nice touch on "Sentimental Coffin"). The focus is more or less centered on Wenzel's storytelling approach and not necessarily the musical arrangements. John's comforting vocals will no doubt recall Lou Barlow during his softer, less abrasive moments and the album employs the very same working-class ethics of the last few Mountain Goats albums, neither too rough nor too glossy.
Aside from subject matter (dealing with tales of regret, troubled souls and blood allergy research(!) there isn't any real variation from one song to another on "White Nuns on Red Wine." Therefore, the album may come off terribly redundant to those who rely on diversity to keep themselves interested. On the flipside, others like myself, will appreciate the somber feel of the whole. Somewhere around my third or fourth listen, after most of this review was written, I slowly drifted off to childhood adventures and random high school moments - back when life was less complicated and much more notable. If you are looking for music to simply ease your mind and help you relax for a half hour "White Nuns" is more than up to the task. Another fine release from the Friendly Psychics corps.
Standout tracks:
'Pod Children', 'Brittle Sisters' and 'Fake Virgins Arrested!'
RIYL: (the quiet moments of) Sebadoh, Matt Pond PA, Mountain Goats
-Matthew Marcinowski
Wicked Immigrant
- White Nuns on Red Wine
(Friendly Psychics Music) 8 stars
"White Nuns on Red Wine" is the second CD by Wicked Immigrant, the U.S. two-piece famous for its home recordings. As the two band members John Wenzel (vocals, guitar, keyboard) and Chris Jones (bass) are living in two different states, they have to record their songs at home and send their tapes to each other. The result was already very convincing on their debut "Reunion of Cynics," and the second attempt is anything but worse. Although "White Nuns on Red Wine" isn't that different from their debut, it can't be considered a copy. The musicians write on their homepage that the approach towards song writing is more direct, but in my opinion, this was already the case on the debut. Again, you should expect very calm and relaxing songs that are maybe not overly exciting, but very entertaining. The music is somehow a conglomeration of folk, country, indie rock and pop, all played in a pure lo-fi way. Wicked Immigrant prove that they have a tight sense for melodies. A few wonderful examples are "Brittle Sisters," "Batter of the Sods" and "Fake Virgins Arrested," my favourite track on the record. Everyone who likes melancholic singer/songwriter music should love this album. The two band members also are supported by guest musicians playing cello, harmonica and piano on different tracks. I just wonder why there's a Viking on the back cover. I don't see any relation to this, neither in the songwriting nor in the lyrics that deal about poetic themes like hope, despair and other emotions. I'm glad to hear that Wicked Immigrant again were able to write cool songs although the musicians still haven't practiced together. A strange, but worth supporting band.
-Lex Thiel
South of Mainstream (08/23/05)
Wicked Immigrant - a new review
The first time through anything, be it the carwash or drive thru at Hardees , you are more than likely to get a strange impression of how things work. It is always on that second or third pass through that you finally begin to understand what's happening around you. It is definitely that way with the new release from Wicked Immigrant . Heavy and direct with multiple layers building on top of each other, one can class it as lo-fi indie-folk rock but then that is way too many hyphens. With well written lyrics and even better instrumentation, White Nuns on Red Wine , is a thoughtful listen. While this may not be as trendy as cool couple music, it's part of a trend in its own right as a long-distance band (see The Postal Service .) The two main members, John Wenzel and Chris Jones, share tracks across the midwest from Dayton to Denver. The end result is this mix of "crisp acoustic guitars, swooping basslines, and wavering cellos."
Wicked Immigrant
- White Nuns on Red Wine
Friendly Psychics Music (3 out of 5 stars)
*Standout track: "Pod Children"
For those that were lucky enough to hear it, Upstate's soundtrack to the independent film 'Missing' mined a rich path of bruised folk, like Simon And Garfunkel transported to a modern and even more cynical time. Wicked Immigrant release music on the same Friendly Psychics imprint and include the work of two of the Upstate members (John Wenzel on vocals and guitar and Chris Jones on bass) with contributions from other participants. As if the original sound wasn't chilling enough, the two protagonists here simplify the formula even further adding further resonance to the dark tales within. Though there may be a sense of Wicked Immigrant sticking rigidly to one formula - as one twisted ballad follows another - they leave stark and haunting memories long after the CD has finished playing.
-Jonathan Leonard
Wicked Immigrant
- White Nuns on Red Wine
Friendly Psychics Records
(3 out of 5)
Nine times out of ten, when someone claims to be a home-recording singer/songwriter with a penchant for folk, that usually means he’s a wank with three weeks of guitar lessons under his belt, a couple Dylan and Baez albums and the audacity to run a few dozen press kits off at Kinko’s.
Wicked Immigrant’s part of that select tenth percentile who makes a case that cheap home recording, affordable CD duplication and revealing our mailing address to the general public weren’t all ideas created by Satan himself. Well, the jury’s still out on Satan’s link to our publicly accessible mailing address, but Wicked Immigrant, a 10-song number recorded by John Wenzel (a former Aversion contributor), and Chris Jones in Denver and Dayton, Ohio bedrooms proves there are still passable rockers doing their thing at home. "White Nuns on Red Wine"’s psychedelic-tinged folk-rock isn’t the stuff of legend, but it sure beats most pretentious singer/songwriter albums that cross our desk.
Wicked Immigrant works for two reasons: One, principal songwriter Wenzel knows enough to know his limits. His eccentric songwriting dabbles in everything obscure: Obscure medical conditions (“Blood Allergies”), sci-fi monsters (“Pod Children”) and a hankering for psychotic ex-girlfriends (“Fake Virgins Arrested!”) unfold in a smorgasbord of quirky tales that don’t dig for comedy gold, but don’t take themselves too seriously, either. It’s a lighthearted and playful spin on The Doleful Lions’ lo-fi pop world of supernatural problems and mystical monsters. It’s more down to Earth, but is certainly cut from the same cloth.
For all its thematic bluster and esoteric musical direction (lo-fi psychedelic folk pop?)White Nuns on Red Wine is a more or less straightforward affair. While a few bells and whistles occasional make an appearance in the way of violin and cello, Wicked Immigrant doesn’t ever stray too far from simple folk-pop, which is a smart move. Wenzel’s voice, while adequate, doesn’t have the punch to carry the songs through musical uncertainty were the act to break down its straightforward approach.
Born in the underground, for the underground, Wicked Immigrant isn’t near flashy enough to capture the ears of kids raised on a steady diet of pop-punk and emo nothing, nor is it even to take on hipsters’ so-calledpolished tastes. Anyone familiar – or interested in – bedroom pop, however, shouldn’t be discouraged from checking out White Nuns on Red Wine because of its unknown label or lineup.
-Matt Schild
Wicked ImmigrantWicked Immigrant is the American duo, John Wenzel and Chris Jones, who layered these tracks together by mailing zip discs to each other between Colorado and Ohio. The fact that they’ve never played together in the same room suggests these collaborations might sound sterile or detached but the songs, remarkably, are as warm and organic had they been knee to knee. Despite heavy metal titles like ‘Fake Virgins Arrested!’ and ‘Void Vixen’ (not to mention the axe-wielding Viking on the back cover) this is intimate, melodic and full of subtlety. Given their genesis, you’d expect them to sound like lo-fi demos and that’s exactly what they are: ideas scratched out on notepads probably strummed into a computer from the the edge of an unmade bed but their amateurishness and lack of pretension is also what makes them strangely endearing. Highlights include Sarah Arnold, one of the occasional guest contributors here, gently stroking ‘Veranda Myth’ with her purring cello into a slumbering lo-fi lullaby. Like homemade wine, this is not for everyone but it’s intoxicating enough and a labour of love for those who made it.
Independent Clauses (09/28/05)
Band Name:
Wicked Immigrant
Album Name: White Nuns on Red Wine
Best Element: Tremendous songwriting growth
Genre: Mellow Indie-folk
It’s always interesting to review releases from Friendly Psychics Music - I never know exactly what is going to come out of my speakers. There’s been psychedelia, there’s been fractured indie rock, there’s been muted indie-pop, threre’s even out-and-out rock in releases from Friendly Psychics.
This album is easily the best release that Friendly Psychics have ever released. Wicked Immigrant’s last album "Reunion of Cynics" was a dark, rolling experiment in Floyd-esque psychedelia, and while it was cool, some of it was highly alienating. There is none of that pretense on their latest full-length White Nuns on Red Wine. This album is a low-key indie-rock album that is centered around songwriting (a new development) and features primarily acoustic guitar and bass (also a development). The reason this is such a great step forward is that songwriting and the guitar/bass interactions were the best things about their previous full-length - to see them pushed to the forefront in such a manner is just golden.
The new importance of songwriting brings clarity to all of the songs, as the only other instruments allowed in the mix are contributors that genuinely have something to contribute to the song (such as the mournful pedal steel on the alt-country “Sentimental Coffin” and the creepy keys and strings of “Veranda Myth”). The vocals bear much more importance, and they step up as such- songs like “Fake Virgins Arrested!” could actually be called catchy. The lyrics are amped up too - I don’t know whether the coldness of "Reunion of Cynics" made the lyrics less noticeable, or whether they were just bad, but the lyrics throughout White Nuns on Red Wine are cohesive, intelligent, and quotable. I didn’t give hardly a thought to the lyrics last album, but this album places a lot of merit in them.
But the biggest change overall is that the acoustic songwriting and the bass contributions are just much, much stronger- take the great bass/guitar actions on “Batter of the Sods” as proof. The songs are short, yes - most don’t break three minutes. But the short songs included here pack a much stronger punch than anything on "Reunion of Cynics."
This still isn’t for everyone - John Wenzel’s voice is still an acquired taste, and I wouldn’t call this pop by any means. But if you’ve been watching Friendly Psychics, you’ve seen a growth in Wenzel’s songwriting - and this album is the realization of all those albums in the catalog. Here’s to hoping they keep evolving into better and better forms - or at least keep churning out songs as memorably haunting as “Lie or Die Trying.”
-Stephen Carradini
Wicked Immigrant
"White Nuns on Red Wine" (CDR)
The second album from this long-distance Zip disk collaboration (Denver and Dayton, OH) further hones the cool, homespun indie/folk exhibited so convincingly on their 2004 debut. In fact, 'White Nuns' shows that these guys are capable of sensitive ballads that recall a more confident ELLIOTT SMITH or MATT POND PA at times--pretty high praise, indeed. Truth be told, I have heard countless other indie rock acts that resolutely pale next to these guys, so I'd hope for a more prominent distribution deal imminently. I especially liked 'Brittle Sisters', 'Veranda Myth', and 'Fake Virgins Arrested!', but the rest of this disc is really equally as solid. I am impressed. (Friendly Psychics Music)
Incendiary Magazine (01/11/06)
Albums : Wicked
Immigrant - White Nuns On Red Wine
Posted on Wednesday, January 11
White Nuns on
Red Wine. Now that’s a good album title. Thankfully, these guys aren’t
just a one trick pony because the music Wicked Immigrant have contained within
this criminally short album is rather lovely. Rather understated and wispy,
but very, very pleasant and a wonderful little find.
I won’t pretend to try and explain the album’s cover, because
it makes absolutely no sense to me, but the album itself opens with the rather
wonderful Pod Children, a song carried by a steady rhythm of acoustic guitars
and some eerie vocals. John Wenzel’s voice seems to have a ghostly element
to it and there’s a definite reverb floating around it, but only slightly.
As if the vocals were recorded in a very small tunnel. In the background there’s
some rather entertaining electric guitar playing. Or wailing, I should say,
as it sounds like whoever’s playing it wants to strangle the string,
but in a slow and playful manner. The result is something that sounds like
a drunk whale, sloshing its way home to the Arctic after a few pints too many.
It’s a lovely little tune but it’s rather infuriating because
as soon as the lyrics start getting interesting, as soon as they mention the
city being attacked, then the whale drinks another gallon of kelp vodka and
swims off into the distance. What we’re left with is half of something
extraordinary, so it’s unfortunately just very good.
Veranda Myth, on the other hand is absolutely wonderful. The whale guitar is replaced with a subtle but effective cello and thankfully, for the only time on the album, the song breaks the four minute barrier so it feels like the right length.
As the album goes on it’s more of the same, but at least it is good stuff. It never outstays its welcome but considering the album lasts less than half an hour, that would be a hard thing to do. Everything’s well crafted and played and the song titles are almost as good as the album’s title. “Fake Virgins Arrested!” “Batter of the Sods.” “Void Vixen,” I mean, how cool are they?
Calm, assured and confident, Wicked Immigrant deserve a lot of praise. White Nuns On Red Wine is a great little album, perfectly made for those afternoons when only a bottle of red and a selection of fine cheeses will do. They deserve to be heard, so seek and ye shall find.
Wicked Immigrant - Reunion of Cynics (Editor's Pick)
This album was created by two men in two entirely different (and far apart) states (Colorado and Ohio) by Zip disk mailings of the tracks. While most probably wouldn't have stayed committed via such a long distance, John Wenzel and Chris Jones didn't let that stop them and produced a very promising release. Surprisingly intimate considering the recording conditions, Wicked Immigrant is intelligent indie rock with lo-fi appeal despite tremendous production and engineering efforts. The lyrics are in depth and never transparent and blend in perfectly with the narrow spaces of this adventuresome late-night apartment rock n-roll.
-J. Sin
Wicked Immigrant - Reunion of Cynics CD
I knew that
I know this voice from somewhere...yes...the soundtrack to the movie "Missing".
I can´t believe that this is a home recording, cause it sounds so
fresh and present...to keep it short...it sounds great. Oh, I can´t
tell you how I love classic guitar and how dig the smooth and emotional
voice of John Wenzel...he´s a story teller...a man I could listen
to for hours. This time John Wenzel and Chris Jones also added Cello and
piano to their songs and what can I say...it sounds great...I don´t
know what to say (as usual)...the only thing I can say is...I highly recommend
this Indie-Folk album to EVERYBODY who´s into good music.
Rating: 7 stars -Ralf Burkart
Wicked Immigrant - Reunion of Cynics
Wicked Immigrant were formed in 2003 and are two guys creating home-recorded music. This doesn't sound very spectacular at first, but "Reunion of Cynics" is a fascinating record which has already found several times its way into my CD player. The most curious fact about this album is the way of recording. John Wenzel is the head behind Friendly Psychics Music, a label that specialises in releasing albums of bands that haven't practised together. Although this sounds like a chaotic punk attitude, the musical output is completely unexpected. The two musicians, John Wenzel and Chris Jones, were recording their parts in their own homes (in Ohio and Colorado) and sent the result to each other by Zip discs. This is the same way of recording as chosen by Upstate, another band from the same label. The two guys play very calm lo-fi independent folk. To give the whole music a certain mid-fi feeling, they were supported by friends playing guitar, cello and piano on several songs to create a tinge of orchestral bombast. I especially like the songs with cello which gives them a certain chamber music touch. My favourite track is "Pyramid Law," sounding like a Guided By Voices ballad. Similarities between the voices of John Wenzel and Bob Pollard are obvious. Wicked Immigrant show on the whole record that it's possible to be calm and relax without sounding too mellow.
Grade: 9/10 -Lex Thiel
Wicked
Immigrant "Reunion of Cynics" CD
7/10 - [Friendly Psychics]
This is a very fucking nice CD, I'll begin with that before I get into the one thing that kills me about it. What is that one thing? You guessed it. The layout. It pretty much stinks. I'm not that fond of it simply because the aesthetic seems far too slapped together and inappropriately unrelated to the sounds of the music itself. I've seen worse, but it's really bland, and the collaging of images looks like it was done in a quick, digital manner that's less interesting than literal cutting and pasting. This music deserves a far stronger visual force, and I'll get into that now. This curious duo occasionally enlists help from a handful of guest musicians, but the core of the band is two guys using nothing but acoustic guitars, bass, and vocals. Keyboards, cello, and electric guitars make a few appearances, but everything is always stripped down and minimal, but with a really clean, lush recording that has a lot of nice, natural reverb and atmosphere to it. Honestly some of this stuff sounds like Simon and Garfunkel or Kansas ala "Dust in the Wind" or something, but darker and with an indie thread and a unique singing voice that separate it from that stuff a little bit. "White Concrete" is a superbly emotional instrumental with piano and some lead lines, "An Easy Win" blends softly filtered vocals with almost hypnotic layers of note patterns, and opener "The Implied Fraction" really just sucks you in immediately with memorable vocal patterns and a great combination of stringed instruments. Really this is just an example of excellent songwriting, because normally things of this nature aren't my thing at all, but the performances and feelings generated here are just fucking excellent. This stuff really has the potential to reach a far wider audience, because anyone who's into that whole singer/songwriterish type of pseudo folk that's gaining popularity as of late should certainly appreciate this. I find it to be far superior to most of that stuff that I've come across, and I look forward to hearing more from this band for sure. I would damn sure hope these guys can get this music into the hands of an individual that can help them get the opportunity that they need to really expand on this. Very nice. If you're even mildly curious about hearing this I would recommend trying to at least sample it online to see what you'd truly think of it. I'm very pleased with it. Were this to have come in a really sleek, artistic package that represented the music properly I'd likely have given it an 8/10.
Running time
- 46:31, Tracks: 14
[Notable tracks: The Implied Fraction, White Concrete, An Easy Win, Just
a Plan]
Independent Clauses (05/02/04)
Wicked Immigrant - "Reunion of Cynics"
Psychedelic
music has always confused me. I always associated psychedelic with flower
power, bright colors, blurry colors, euphoria, stimulants, and happy music.
Then people told me that Pink Floyd was the best psychedelic band ever,
to which I got seriously confused. I still have no idea what
psychedelic music is.
Nevertheless, if Pink Floyd is psychedelic, then so is Wicked Immigrant. Thankfully, Wicked Immigrant knows where to draw the line between influence and idol worship; this album, while definitely influenced by Pink Floyd, has its own sound thanks to the grafting of folk-rock influences into the sound. Pink Floyd also rocked out a lot more than Wicked Immigrant does; the members of Wicked Immigrant prefer the mellow approach to music.
While it's easy to classify Wicked Immigrant's sound, it's much harder toexplained the music contained therein. It's the perfect road-trip album, as the hypnotic acoustic guitar/keys/bass mix transcends mere songs and creates a contiguous feel to the entire album. The guitars are haunting, the bass is subtle but very important, the vocals are mournful, and the occasional cello offsets everything wonderfully, creating a wall of hypnotic, soothing sound. While certain songs are fantastic ("Broken Fingers of the Forest", "Hours Underwater", the sweeping epic "White Concrete"), the charm in this album lies in the fact that this album creates a flawless mood. I could listen to this endlessly; the performances are delightfully mid-fi (not low, but nothigh either, creating a warm sound), the songwriting is excellent, and the sound is unique- what else is there to want?
Not one track on this fourteen-track album is a stinker. This is a brilliantly composed album, and one that will keep anyone with an open mind amused for hours and hours. If you like Pink Floyd, mellow music, or being hypnotized into a sleep-like state, you should check this out. It will make you very happy. Very happy.
Best Element:
Capitalizing on influences without ripping them off.
Genre: Pink Floyd-ish Psychedelia/Folk
Label: Friendly Psychics Music
Website: www.friendlypsychicsmusic.com
-Stephen Carradini
Past and Present Music (05/04/04)
Wicked
Immigrants; Reunion of Cynics
Friendly Psychics Music
I must say that I am really impressed with this record-label, Friendly Psychics Music, that I've never heard off before. It turns out that they're specializing in releasing stuff with people who've never even practiced together. Take Upstate (reviewed earlier in this issue) for instance, a band of five who mailed their stuff back and forth until it was ready for release. Wicked Immigrant's is the same thing. Two guys, John Wenzel (label-owner and singer/guitarist in Upstate) and Chris Jones (bassist in Upstate), that are sending their music back and forth (from Ohio to Colorado). And also in this case it's remarkable how good the result is. I mean, you'd never have guessed that these guys didn't spend hundreds of hours practicing these songs before going into a studio. Musically this is a little more folk-inspired than Upstate, but still staying true to the indie-sound. Good stuff.
(4 stars) -Hans Jakup Eidisgard
Wicked Immigrant
Forever recording new indie albums uniting the music scenes of Dayton and Denver, Colorado, former area vocalist, guitarist and keyboardist John Wenzel amazed us when he admitted a few years ago that the many albums off Friendly Psychics Music were recorded in both cities without the musicians ever having set foot in the same room. Wenzel and Dayton bassist Chris Jones sent Zip disks to each other, overdubbing and mixing the songs. The interplay between artists continues to create a unique flavor overset with electric guitars, piano and cello.
Formerly known as the Dishwater Psychics, the duo has since renamed itself Wicked Immigrant, soliciting the musical expertise of friends James Focht (guitar), Sarah Arnold (cello), John Metzger (guitar) and Buddy Watson (piano). The band’s recent album, Reunion of Cynics, a 14-song CD, closely relates to projects created in prior years by similar artists Swearing at Motorists.
The clever lyrics, often undeniably poetic, are best expressed on tracks including “Myths of Beds” and “Pyramid Law,” whereas tracks like “White Concrete” and “Broken Fingers of the Forest” feature gentler expressions of musical harmony and western influence with piano, low guitar humming and bending in the foreground. To order Reunion of Cynics or for more information on Wicked Immigrant, visit www.friendlypsychicsmusic.com.
-Leslie Benson
Whisperin' and Hollerin'(05/18/04)
WICKED
IMMIGRANT "REUNION OF CYNICS"
Friendly Psychic Music
Genre: Indie
Catalogue No: FPM 011
Our Rating: 7/10
The press release states "Wicked Immigrant is neither an evil band of migrant workers nor a right wing anti-alien group." If I may be so bold as to offer some advice, change your name, it's awful. It's also misleading because rather than being confronted with bad heavy metal or raging skinheads, Wicked Immigrant could be loosely called indie folk and definitely err on the side of delicate, fragile acoustic songs.
Consisting of two main members John Wenzel (vocals, guitars and synths) and Chris Jones (bass) and several guest musicians including Sarah Arnold on cello (we'll come back to her). Apparently John and Chris have never played or practised in the same room, which immediately reminds me of the last Friendly Psychic Music release reviewed on W&H, Upstate's "Missing" soundtrack, who also have never played together in the same room but rather mail each other their contributions. This is either a bold statement of our times, the breakdown of community and the rise of the internet building virtual communities, or a bunch of miserable sods who don't like interacting with other people in traditional forms. Either way in both cases the results have given a distance to the music, an alienation, a removal that can leave the listener cold.
What saves Wicked Immigrant is the quality of songs. Although there is little variation from song to song the basic premise of beautifully plucked acoustic guitars, fuzzy vocals and an overwhelming feeling of loss and regret combine to offer us a record to be wallowed in. It feels like a Sunday morning hangover when you're sure you really messed up in some way the night before but you can't quite remember what you did or whom you did it to.
What really elevates this record though is the use of the cello. Appearing on 6 of the 14 songs it's beautiful, haunting refrain invokes a wonderfully melancholy presence. The use of orchestras, particularly during the Britpop era, was completely worn-out as though adding a string section to any half-rate song gave instant gravitas. Here the lonely cello truly adds to the songs and when occasionally paired with gentle electric guitar or piano manages to re-capture the attention, which occasionally drifts during this very subdued album.
So bold pioneers of future band relationships or miserable buggers who can't stand to be in the same room, it's up to you to decide. What is certain is this is a beautifully crafted album that invites the listener to dwell in it's offbeat charms. Shame about the name though.
-Mike Campbell
Wicked
Immigrant - "Reunion of Cynics"
(Friendly Psychics Music)
3/5 stars
Members of the group Upstate, a band we profiled here on MusicTAP, have joined together as duo Wicked Immigrant. Centered on John Wenzel (vocals, guitar, keys) and Chris Jones (bass), the release continues the long flow of worthwhile independent music coming from Friendly Psychics. With unique songs like "Passenger Being" and "Hours Underwater" you can tell that there's a lot these artists want to say and, in the best sense of it, they're doing it for themselves.
My favorite track, the instantly sing-able "Right Hand Man," finds a nice balance between the song and the lack of percussion on the entire disc, insofar as the beat never seemed to be necessary. Honestly though, some of the tunes do seem to require a backbeat and don't connect with the listener as easily as others can.
Another bone of contention is, dare I say it, the name of the group spelled out in old (spelled Olde) English font. If you weren?t tipped off beforehand, you'd be expecting either slobberingly bad cheese-metal or Renn-Faire wannabe madrigals, neither of which are (thank God) here.
But that's all quibbling, because the positives certainly outweigh the negatives. We're looking at the beginning of a long career for these performers and if you enjoy indie rock that still clings to the promise of the D.I.Y. ethic, you have to give Wicked Immigrant a try.
-Dw Dunphy
UPSTATE
- Missing - The Official Soundtrack
WICKED IMMIGRANT - Reunion Of Cynics
(Friendly Psychics Music)
The Friendly Psychics Music Collective revolves around John Wenzel (guitar, synths and vocals) in Denver, Colorado and Chris Jones (bass) in Dayton, Ohio. They don't practice or record together in person but rather collaborate long-distance by sending zip discs back and forth, adding parts to each other's tracks. The first virtual band they were in together was the Dishwater Psychics. Currently Wenzel and Jones are working as Upstate and Wicked Immigrant. Upstate also includes Dan Miller (guitar, keyboards and backing vocals), James Focht (guitar) and Jamie Heaps (drums). In Wicked Immigrant, Wenzel and Jones are joined on some tracks by James Focht (guitar), Sarah Arnold (cello), John Metzger (guitar) and Buddy Watson (piano).
Upstate's first release is the soundtrack to Joe Bargdill's film Missing (info at www.brokenlamp.net). This five-song EP is just about a perfect set of imaginative modern folk rock. The opening "Falling Missiles" sets the tone for the band's work with shades of Neil Young, Bob Pollard and Patrick Porter. "Orange At Night" has a great melody and delicate acoustic leads that hint at the warmth of the Gipsy Kings. "The Static" has a somber mood and pop hooks that remind me of our good friends AqPop. The slack beat, acoustic strumming and Leslied lead on "Immune Like Me" create an original sound that touches off a distant feeling of Pavement like melancholy. "Shaking Badly Anthem" has a verse that sounds like the cooler cousin of America?s "Sandman". The progressive acoustic guitar breaks and tape-reverse effects turn the song into something else entirely.
As consistent as Upstate's Missing is varied, Wicked Immigrant's Reunion of Cynics keeps more to the low-key side of John Wenzel and Chris Jones' music. This is a collection of beautiful folky indie rock, with subdued but emotional vocals and understated arrangements. The melodies, lyrics and instrumentation keep the songs from sounding too similar to each other. "Myth Of Beds" features a low-end guitar solo that could be early Robert Fripp. Buddy Watson's atmospheric piano gives "White Concrete" a dream-like setting. Sarah Arnold?s cello parts add a graceful dimension to songs like "The Implied Fraction", "More Or Less Intact" and "Pyramid Law". There's not a bad song out of the fourteen here. It doesn't get much more underground than musicians mailing each other song parts, but that doesn't mean that the Friendly Psychics Collective bands are lo-fi. John Wenzel, Chris Jones and friends record homemade music that sounds at least as good as most studio productions. Upstate and Wicked Immigrant have a laid-back and moody style with irresistible hooks to spare. Find out more about the various projects involving John and Chris at www.friendlypsychicsmusic.com.
Review © 2004 by Nick Bensen
WICKED IMMIGRANT - "Reunion Of Cynics" (Friendly Psychics Music)
John Wenzel and Chris Jones mailed Zip discs to each other over the last half of 2003 from Dayton, Ohio to Denver, Colorado to create this folkish-emo sounding record. Only problem is that each track contains the exact same acoustic guitar tone as the previous one. The vocals from time to time have a watered-down '60s psychedelic feel to them, almost in the vein of an early Appleseed Cast record. "Hours Underwater" is a direct representation of this sound. The occasional accompaniment of cello and piano on the record help out tremendously to escape the trapped sound of the acoustic.
(SP)
WICKED IMMIGRANT - "Reunion Of Cynics" CD
The result of a long-distance Zip disk collaboration, the duo of John Wenzel (Denver, CO) and Chris Jones (Dayton, OH) here present a hospitable collection of indie folk tunes. It's a really homespun sound, with masterstrokes of melody and nice layers of cello on nearly half the tracks. WICKED IMMIGRANT's sensitive and highly listenable tunes are emotive and pleasing to the ears. Fans of honest, down-to-earth indie rock should look into this group (and label). Excellent work. (Friendly Psychics Music)
-Todd Zachritz
South of Mainstream (07/16/04)
Reunion
Of Cynics - WICKED IMMIGRANT
reviewed by impintraing
You can't judge a book by its cover, nor a CD by its jewel case packaging. This is a good lesson to learn. If I'd let myself be swayed by the gothic font and hazy photography that encase "Reunion of Cynics," thinking it was an homage to '70s metal, I'd have missed out on this disc.
Luckily, I had a little help. We'd already reviewed John Wenzel's soundtrack with his band Upstate, so I knew who he was, and I had an expectation about the sound. My expectations were met. Wicked Immigrant could easily be compared to Sebadoh and other Lou Barlow projects. Wicked Immigrant stick to the darker sounds of earlier Sebadoh recordings, a truly lo-fi sound.
"Right Hand Man" has a nice guitar and bass line with nice acoustic bridges and almost porno-esque wah-wah electric licks. The mournful cello adds an elegance to the darkness, making it sound deep and tragic rather than creepy. "White Concrete" has a delicately plinking piano sound along with an almost sparsely elegant guitar sound via dual electric guest musicians. It's a very pretty instrumental.
Wenzel's vocals are richly emotional and resonant. No whining. The similarity to Barlow is staggering. Wenzel could easily fill in at gigs if Barlow ever comes down with a sore throat. "More Or Less Intact" really showcases the emotion of Wenzel's delivery along with another haunting cello progression.
The downside of the album is the lack of tempo and minor style change. "Hours Underwater" picks up the pace marginally, but the overall tempo is slow and often dirge-like. Which is fine, and even excellent at times. But sooner rather than later the songs begin to melt into one another, losing their distinction. When tracks meet too seamlessly in and out the disc can quite easily be relegated to background duty.
Kudos to Wenzel and fellow immigrant Chris Jones for choosing to add Sarah Arnold's glorious cello abilities to so many tracks. She adds an appreciative elegance to the overall sound. Congrats, also, on the unique keys Wenzel incorporates into "A Particular Thing." Before I go off on a tangent, let me also make sure I mention that all the rhythm throughout the album is created with string instruments. No drums. Very interesting, but also adds to the dearth of tempo change.
This is a good
album, a sound album. Wenzel has great vocal presence and an ability to
create meaningful, elegant music, full of emotional depth. To put out a
great album, a bit more life should be infused in small doses throughout
the album.
*Genre: Lo-Fi/Folk Rock*Released: 2004 *Rating: 3.5 out of 5
WICKED IMMIGRANT - "Reunion of Cynics"
"Reunion
of Cynics" isn't quite a "Holy mother of Iggy Pop! What horrors
have the proliferation of home recording technology and PC sound editing
programs wrought?!?" story, but it certainly comes close. Wicked Immigrant
members John Wenzel and Chris Jones reside a couple of time zones away from
each other (Colorado and Ohio, respectively), and they've never physically
played music together -- they've just been trading Zip disks for the last
year or so, so far yielding this fourteen song disc. The majority of their
songs go down quite nicely -- a clunker or two slip in, but most of this
stuff is great rainy Sunday afternoon, sit inside and sip peppermint tea
music, not unlike The One AM Radio sans laptop. But I think I'm safe in
saying that most of us expect a record to be more than a pleasant soundtrack
for doing something else, and Wicked Immigrant aren't quite there yet. Part
of it is a matter of production -- the rhythm guitar is so high in the mix
that it covers up the vocals and the more interesting keyboard and cello
parts -- and part of it is a matter of not taking enough chances. These
fellows sound too reserved, too nervous and too safe, when by all means
they shouldn't -- hell, it's a home recording! That fact alone gives the
band the liberty to be as quirky, as fragile, as off-key and as absolutely
in the moment as they can be... but instead, they slather this drab grey
shellac over some perfectly decent songs and wind up sounding like they're
being paid by a label to make a product rather than an album. But there
is no label, and this is no product, so where's The Spark? Could it be that
the mean's elimination of the symbiosis, the nonverbal communication, the
practice room quibbles and the going out for beers after calling it a day
-- in other words, the stuff that an actual band experiences -- led to a
flatter, more streamlined end? It very well could. Then again, bands get
together every day to record far less palatable albums than Reunion of Cynics,
so maybe the tape trading isn't to blame after all. All I know is that Reunion
sounds and feels like it's missing a pulse, regardless of how strong the
melodies are.
-Phillip Buchan