The Mighty Vitamins - Take-Out CD

The Mighty Vitamins - Take-Out CD

(The City Weekly 01-24-07) The Mighty Vitamins' new album, "Take-Out" is the latest release from Omaha-based under-the-radar label Public Eyesore Records, which has put out more than 100 releases in the last decade. And the experimental nature of "Take-Out" fits right in with much of the Public Eyesore catalog. The songs don't seem to rely much on predetermined structures, rather they unravel like a conversation between the four people sharing thoughts and ideas - here they are playing musical instruments - subtly influencing one another through their musical ebb and flow. On the first track, "Get a Job," a sporadic buzz spawned from percussion, trumpet and guitar initiate the tone of the album. As a sampled one-sided dialog repeatedly asks, "When are you goin' to get a good job?," the rest of the instruments chime in between the short pauses of the voice. The overall effect is playful and humorous. Next is "Kaw River Suite," four tracks that are curiously called a "dance." But there is no waltzing of side-stepping involved here, just spacious and sleepy droning swells providing a backdrop for a hazy trumpet line to explore. "What a Way to Go" begins with a straight-forward, steady drum beat as mellow frequencies, high and low, create spontaneous and sporadic melodies. "Marked" is along the same line, but with added horns. In both songs, the rhythms and tempos dissolve as the soundscapes progress. The final two tracks might be the only things somewhat "familiar" to many listeners. In "39 Steps" a drum kit pulses along with a walking bass line. This song could be generally labeled as free jazz. The finale, "April 21," Drives forward with a solid rock beat, adding a touch of sampled blues harmonica to the usual batch of chattering instruments. The track then dissolves into a stew of ambiance, and abruptly ends. The occasionally jazzy runs and clean tones suggest that all the musicians are well versed with their particular instruments - and music in general. They are just taking a different approach to organizing and creating sounds than most people. The aesthetic effect of the album is not always easy to chew on; rather than conforming to the boundaries of mainstream pop and traditional jazz, "Take-Out" is a direct reaction against them. Instead of trying to make sense of the chaos in the world, "Take-Out" dances with it, holds it carefully, ties it in a loose knot and then leaves it fending for itself. For someone searching for a musical experience that's out of the ordinary, "Take-Out" could be the ticket - as would most any other Public Eyesore release. Just don't expect the tried-and-true methods of musical expression we are all accustomed to. "Take-Out" and other Public Eyesore releases are available at various Homer's locations. More information available at PublicEyesore.com. - Will Simons

(Foxy Digitalis 3/13/2007) This is a chaotic record that proves not only that you c an hum to anything if you only try and also that the creativity that has overloaded Cleveland made its way to Omaha. Like an updated Devo or Ubu, The Mighty Vitamins splice together electronics, short-sharp guitar lines and Rashid Ali’ drumming, into the perfect backdrop for eavesdropped conversations and drunken manifestos. “Way To Go” and “Marked” are variations on percussion-driven totems made monumental on “39 Steps,” where the bass line trots alongside a big BEAT. “April 21,” the closer, is the most straight-ahead rock tune of the set, but even here the band takes extreme liberties with the format. Public Eyesore is a busy label that has not shied away from the experimental and confrontational. They hit on a goodie with The Mighty Vitamins, who mix humor and bile, chops and curiosity to “Talk The Big Talk,” as one of their songs is titled, and to walk it as well. - Mike Wood