Prizzy Prizzy Please

The band is named Prizzy Prizzy Please. They have bright colors and octopus tentacles on their cover. Instruments included: keyboards, bass, drums, and sax.

The self-titled release from Prizzy Prizzy Please starts with a nice little buildup in the almost instrumental “Shorgasm." It features a hypnotic rhythm section accentuated with saxophone. The singer/saxophonist, Mark Pallman, takes breaks from the horn to deliver the song's only lyrics, a repetitive chant of "We're gonna get to the bottom of this!" before resting his pipes in favor of his wandering sax lines. Shortly thereafter, the song wraps up and Prizzy Prizzy Please begins a dance-punk-on-speed sound that continues for the rest of the record. I picture the band as a gimmick, dressed in costumes a la many mid-90s ska bands, pulling a clever yarn while their small group of dedicated fans dances crazily and loves being in on the joke. Limited Youtube searches haven't revealed any costumes, but that's still how I see Prizzy Prizzy Please when I listen to the album. Musically, it's an ironic, hyperfast New Age with a dash of 80s glam rock - sort of what I imagine Johnny Socko would be doing if they were still around.

The music itself isn't so bad. On first listen, I enjoyed the energy and there is enough variation and talent to overshadow the vacuous content. The CD is only nine tracks, totaling twenty-five minutes, which keeps the joke from getting old. However, on a second listen, Prizzy Prizzy Please lost much of their appeal. Yes, it is dancey and there's a certain desire start to pogo, or at least bounce my leg to the beat, but the lyrical shtick doesn't appeal to me whatsoever. I wouldn't mind seeing Prizzy Prizzy Please as a local opener at a show, but they don't capture my attention in any lasting way. The fact that the songs start out strong, only to lose my interest when the vocals start reinforces my feelings about the tragically ludicrous content.

The highlights are "Captain Bob," which develops a catchy melody and features a nice breakdown between the verses and chorus. "Campfire Girls" and "Dyno Police," both of which continue the keyboard-heavy dance beat but add a Jackson 5-style falsetto, are also enjoyable.

Overall, the record is short enough that the joke doesn't get old on first listen, but its campy music that seems to survive solely on its fun factor. There are a lot of bands that substitute irony for wit, and it takes a lot for this style of band to stick out to me. When Prizzy Prizzy Please craft their songs in manner that pushes the lyrics to the background, they show some potential. But, bluntly speaking, the songs are too stupid to make me want to listen.

5.0 / 10 — Loren