Diskomo 2000
Diskomo
Disaster
Plants
Farmers
Twinkle
Twinkle 2000
Diskomo 1992
DISKOMO 2000
EP
| Diskomo 2000 |
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The combination of end-of-the-millennium hubbub and the Residents' tendency to re-record Diskomo at no specific interval made it nearly inevitable that they would record some form of "Diskomo 2000." Not only did they do so, however, but they also recorded an update of "Twinkle," from the Goosebump side of the original single, and recorded both 2000 recordings on an EP with the 1980 Diskomo/Goosebump single. The EP, to everyone's surprise, also contained a 1992 version of "Diskomo" that few outside the Residents' inner circle even knew existed.
RATING: 6
...Or did we? "Diskomo 1992" has an awful lot in common with the instrumental track of "Gone Again," from Our Finest Flowers. I wonder...
But that's beside the point. More on track, Diskomo 2000 is worth your money for the simple reason that it's the easiest way to get the original Diskomo/Goosebump on CD, and you need Diskomo/Goosebump whenever you can find it. But I've already reviewed and rated that EP (it was an 8), so the 6 here is for the new/previously-unreleased stuff. Let's proceed!
The "Diskomo 2000" track itself is a trifle, and the closest the Residents have ever come to the bandwagon. Frankly, it sounds like every techno club remix you've ever heard. But I like it, somehow. It has those washes of synth that are the reason I'm still buying New Order and Pet Shop Boys and, as trendy as it is, I still take odd comfort in hearing a contemporary take on that old familiar "Walrus Hunt" melody. It reminds me that they're still around. Besides, once you remember that the group is from San Francisco, the gay dance club capital of the universe, how surprised can you be?
"Twinkle 2000" also takes on techno, but with slightly more creative results. It's rather funny ("Twinkle, twinkle, little black hole...vacuum cleaner is the sky"), but, with a little girl doing the vocal, it's mostly just cute, and I can't imagine the Residents were shooting for more than funny and cute.
"Diskomo 1992" is probably the best of the new release. As I said, it's mainly just "Gone Again," but a little more "Diskomo"-specific ornamentation, like the female vocals and organ rhythm track. I like this one a whole lot and desperately wish it was longer than three scan minutes.
In conclusion, come for the brilliant original, story for the not-bad new stuff. It's not great, either, but has its moments. It's still the Residents, after all.