Pros: Fantastic, brave, and pointed political message--great pop songs too!
Cons: May be a bit lengthy for some people and will definitely polarize listeners...
The Bottom Line: Basically gone since the 1989 release of fifth album Key Lime Pie, political unrest has brought Camper van Beethoven back in their original form.
lambchops's Full Review: New Roman Times * by Camper Van Beethoven
Out of the spotlight for nearly fifteen years (outside of a cover album a few years ago), it took a sour political climate to bring Camper van Beethoven back from the dead. New Roman Times is a political album—the most political album of Camper van Beethoven’s career. It is also something of a rock opera which follows the story of a young man who joins the military following the events of 9/11. After becoming disillusioned with the war, he quits and dedicates himself to an anti-establishment militia.
Dark, intelligent, and oddly amusing New Roman Times (Vanguard, 2004) is a smashing return to music for Camper van Beethoven. Not just that…the band is back in their original form including vocalist/guitarist David Lowery (Cracker), guitarist Greg Lisher, bassist Victor Krummenacher, drummer, Chris Pederson, and violinist Jonathan Segel not to mention extra help from alums David Immerglück (guitars) and Chris Molla (synths). Despite the heavy political undertones, the album is grounded in pop. New Roman Times is at the same time dark and introspective as it is oddly catchy. From vaguely international styling to country, psychedelia and folk influences there is definitely something here for most every fan of the band and alt-pop.
Some of the lightest moments of New Roman Times come at some of the strangest times. In particular, I must point to Might Makes Right as an example. An upbeat, astute song that rightly parodies the apparent United States canon that might does indeed make right. It’s a ridiculous concept, but nonetheless a difficult truth. The words are hilarious at the same time they are honest and painful:
They want us from their villages
They want us from their towns
Who can really blame ‘em
Shit blows up when we’re around
We fly above their houses
With our huey double props
We scare the crap out of their kids
Their mothers and their flocks
What is remarkable though is that while making a major political statement Camper van Beethoven still creates a lush pop song. This, in part, is due to Lowery’s distinctively coy and boyish not to mention somewhat “British” sounding voice. Plenty of instrumental songs populate the album--Songs of the New Golden West (subtitled “A secretive cabal implements their plan”) in the beginning, The Poppies of Balmorhea (subtitled “At a West Texas oasis the ex-soldier is introduced to a narcotic flower”) toward the middle, and at the end Discotheque CVB (subtitled “At a party on the northern coast of California, the ex-soldier has a vision”). Indeed, based on the lyrics, the musical movements, and distinctly the subtitles New Roman Times does follow a soldier from a national disaster through enlistment through disillusionment to his eventual personal destruction which is in the end capped off by Hey Brother, a song detailing a suicide bomber.
The most poignant moments begin as our typical soldier (soon to be “ex-soldier”) becomes disillusioned with the whole war and killing machine he is a part of. That, of course, begins with the aforementioned blistering pop of Might Makes Right but even earlier with the guts n’ glory (and the first single from the album) 51 7. New Roman Times is also a fantastic song as are Hippy Chix and Civil Disobedience.
New Roman Times says so much about the state of America right now. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see parallels between today and what happened to soldiers following Vietnam. Camper van Beethoven may be restating the obvious, but OBVIOUSLY it needs to be said repeatedly. Indeed, this is a political album—the politics of which you may or may not agree with. At the same time it is angry and political, the music is pop-rock-alternative. The political theme will likely prove difficult for some fans (as will the “rock opera” set up) but that is the only real complaint I have about the opus. It’s a good album with a timely message. Bravo to the California-based band for not just reforming but also releasing an impressive album that could be considered to be one of the best of their career.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Prelude
02. Sons of the New Golden West
03. 51 7
04. White Fluffy Clouds
05. That Gum You Like Is Back in Style
06. Might Makes Right
07. Militia Song
08. R ‘n’ R Uzbekistan
09. Sons of the New Golden West Reprise
10. New Roman Times
11. The Poppies of Balmorhea
12. The Long Plastic Hallway
13. I Am Talking to This Flower
14. Come Out
15. Los Tigres Traficantes
16. I Hate this Part of Texas
17. Hippy Chix
18. Civil Disobedience
19. Discotheque CVB
20. Hey Brother
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