bethy's Full Review: Corky's Debt to His Father by Mayo Thompson
Of all the (primarily brief) reviews I've read of Red Krayola leader Mayo Thompson's 1970 lone solo effort, not one of them mentions the album's overt sexuality. "It's no surprise/ it just gives my heart a rise/ when you bend down to tie your shoelace" is, though characteristic of the album's playfulness, among the mildest of lyrics. There are mentions of breasts in hand and legs parting and 'dog tricks,' among other naughtinesses. I still blush sometimes when I hear certain tracks on 'Corky's Debt to His Father,' but Thompson's quirky charm and the happy, folk-bluesy sound overpowers my prudishness. I succumb to Mayo.
Thompson formed the Red Krayola (originally spelled Red Crayola) in 1966 in Houston. Its earliest releases ('Parable of Arable Land,' 'God Bless the Red Crayola...') were psychedelic cacophonies, albums whose truly unrestrained, stream-of-consciousness songs didn't exactly know when to end, but make for fascinating listens even now. The band still releases experimental, not terribly listenable albums occasionally. They're generally classified as "art rock" or "prog rock," but when I think of prog rock, I think of Rush or Dream Theater. Thompson and the Red Krayola definitely don't play that game.
In high school, I used to sit in my bedroom, hold my tiny Sony cassette player in the air, and adjust the dial and antenna until the signal for Drexel University's station (known for being harder, punkier, and more historically conscious than its dial rival and primary competition, the indie-pop haven of Swarthmore College's station) filtered in static-free. Then I'd have to reposition the antenna again when I realized I ought to put the thing down somewhere. After that, I'd tape stuff to listen to on the hour-long bus ride home during the school week.
I actually remember the spot during the bus ride when I first really heard the last track on 'Corky's Debt,' "Worried, Worried." This was my song, I thought. I wanted to jump up and down right there. I wanted to play it over and over and over. And once I got home, I did play it over and over, almost daily, for a few months. "Worried, Worried" is definitely the most rollicking song on Thompson's album, with Mayo attempting to squish as many words as he can into each line, his voice staying enjoyably monotone throughout most of his surreal, comically angst-ridden lyrics, but rising to a somewhat blasé squeal at the end of the refrain. The opening guitar lick draws you into the song quickly, but from there the guitar sticks to playing single, drawn-out, twangy notes. The song's discordant-yet-harmonious effect is piano-driven: keys clunk down emphatically; chords spill into each other. It's beautiful.
The album's other songs are generally low-key, witty and appealingly odd. Of all of Thompson's/Red Krayola's efforts, 'Corky's Debt to His Father' is probably the most listener friendly. But that says very little for its mainstream appeal: it has next to none. Thompson's work has been compared to that of Syd Barrett, and if you like Madcap Laughs, you will probably like this album, though they are quite different masterpieces.
While the horniness (which is the most appropriate word for it) of this recording still sort of makes me want to wag an admonishing finger at Mr. Thompson, I do admire his frankness. He isn't being provocative for the sake of provocation; he's just being honest, it seems. He wasn't trying to shock anybody (After all, who was there to shock? His audience was composed of his peers -- hipsters and hippies). His songs simply suggest a casual acceptance (and employment) of free speech during a much tamer era in pop. While these songs aren't as out of control musically as Thompson's earliest efforts with the Krayola, they still are unrestrained lyrically. And we're all better off for it.
This album was rereleased by Drag City records (Smog, Stereolab, Will Oldham) in 1994 in CD, LP and cassette form. I'm unsure of its current availability, and Drag City's web site (www.dragcity.com) is somewhat annoying and hard to navigate, but this, Ajax Records (www.ajaxrecords.com), and now Amazon.com are the best avenues for purchase.
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