Salt And Sugar by The Gomers

The CD, which was recorded at Smart and Beeftone studios in Madison, opens with the shorts but sassy title track, "Salt and Sugar." It's punky and melodramatic, a mix of Cheap Trick and Meatloaf.

"I Am An Antenna" is a quirky, fast-paced fun house song. The possessed laughter is a little unsettling. "Love Letters to Rob Fetters" is pure pop-punk with a dash of "Hawaii Five-0" action and "Monster Mash" vocals thrown in.

"My Dad" slows the show with a Weezer geek style and sing-songy backup vocals. But if you look beyond the cheekiness you'll hear some fine violin tunings. The songs are just as silly as we've come to expect and appreciate from the Gomers, and the musicians remain first rate.

"Tanze, Herr Hure" is sung as a German-dirty English lyrical hybrid to waltz-paced music. Hoist your stein and cover your ears for a good time. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the "Capitol City Band," a 70's rock song with lyrics that pay homage to nightclubs like Club de Wash and O'Cayz - Gomers gigs until they burned down. There is a nod to "South Park" with cries of "Timmy!" If they make a television series about Madison, this is the theme song.

Add to that the surf guitar-jazz fusion commentary, "Everything's Dumb."

"Start Wreck" has a Frank Zappa vibe with all the insanity you'd expect from a Gomers live show. "Super New Deluxe Thrill Show" is a self-serving Gomers public service announcement for their CD release party on Friday at the Annex, 1206 Regent Street.

"When You're New" is a poppy feel good song and "Rustlin' Ushers" is the sole country western cowboy song on the CD - a hilarious tribute to the thankless job of being a concert usher. "YUK" is just that. One word repeated for emphasis with classic arena rock drama.

"Perpetually New" ("ashes to ashes/suds to suds") has a Pink Panther-meets Shaft vibe and the finale, "And When We Drive," is an epic for the Gomers, coming in at over six minutes. It has Zappa and David Bowie written all over it.

"Salt and Sugar" has been served. You've been warned. For more information, visit www.theGomers.net

- Natasha Kassulke, Wisconsin State Journal Rhythm, Thursday January 17, 2002

The Gomers

Salt and Sugar

Gomers central informs me that this very clever, Zappa-meets-punk reunion disc represents the band's first proper studio CD. That makes sense when you understand that the multitalented membership got their popular push from weekly gigs at Madison's late Club de Wash. These weren't ordinary, let's-play-all-the-old-and-new-stuff shows; they were staged, costumed and well-played theme shows, the most famous of which was a spot-on parody/appreciation of KISS. Steve Burke's and Biff Blumfumgagnge's guitars are hard as you can get one minute, measured and graceful the next. And speaking of hard, Burke's hilarious take on German cabaret, "Tanz, Herr Hure," takes cheeky digs at German decadence as well as a certain masculine preoccupation.

Horns, violin, a marimba, smooth vocal harmonies - if those weapons of war seem contrived for a rock band that plays both for laughs and for keeps, they're not. Fist-pumping action is de rigueur when the standout track, "Capital City Band," begins to vibrate the sub-woofer; hearty guffaws a must when the deceptively bouncy pop-rocker "When You're New" grabs the funnybone and gives it a rag-doll shake.

Why do these Madison-associated graybeards avoid producing the bloodless drek that overwhelms most reunion projects? Well, when you consider that keyboardist Dave Adler has done scads of industry-level writing and studio work on both coasts, that Blumfumgagnge has worked with Adrian Belew and Robert Fripp and animated Balkan-funkers the Reptile Palace Orchestra for years, and that Burke is the lead player/lap steel dude for NoahJohn & Cement Pond, it's little wonder that their hearts still throb for any project they approach, including more weird-ass Gomers action.

- Tom Laskin, the Isthmus

To be truly happy you need the Gomer's rockin' CD - "Salt & Sugar!"

You get 14 hot comedy-ish rockin' audio tunes, PLUS hidden goodies like 2 funny videos, 2 Perpetually New Remixes and 4 more hidden MP3 audio tracks...

Guest Stars on Salt & Sugar:

Geoff Brady (Madison Symphony Orch., Tomato Box, Yid Vicious, Theremones, Yammer): Marimba on cuts 1, 5, 7, 10 and 13

Ray Rideout (Ray Rideout Duo, Trio & Quartet): Soprano saxophone on "Everything's Dumb" and "Rustlin Ushers"

Al Falachi (Phat Phunction): Tenor & Baritone saxophones on "Capital City Band"

Al Jewer (Cedar Wind): Flute on "Tanze, Herr Hure"

Rick Murphy (Radio Free Madison, Rick's Cafe): Voices on "Love Letters to Rob Fetters"

Anna Purnell (Reptile Palace Orchestra): Trumpet on "My Dad"

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