Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The Mambo Surfers
The PTSD Songbook
The Mambo Surfers have about as sunny a name as
any Milwaukee band, but their song cycle about post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) takes a sharp turn from that fun impression. Recorded live at The Coffee
House, The PTSDSongbook telegraphs its somber intentions even before the laser
hits the CD. Cartoons of skulls, guns, fighter jets, bombs and soldiers in
helmets greet the eye from the packaging.
The ear gets 11 tracks of musically proficient jam band meanderings. The hit-and-miss lyrics intermittently hit upon insight amid a gamut of emotions, from sarcasm to tentative triumph, and bear out the admission by The Mambo Surfers' lead singer/songwriter Saji Villoth that he has no firsthand experience with the syndrome about which he sings. He says as much in his prelude to the concert captured on the DVD accompanying the album. However, the effort behind PTSD seems sincere and boasts the imprimatur of local charity Guitars for Vets.
The Mambo Surfers play the Sugar Maple on March 26.
The ear gets 11 tracks of musically proficient jam band meanderings. The hit-and-miss lyrics intermittently hit upon insight amid a gamut of emotions, from sarcasm to tentative triumph, and bear out the admission by The Mambo Surfers' lead singer/songwriter Saji Villoth that he has no firsthand experience with the syndrome about which he sings. He says as much in his prelude to the concert captured on the DVD accompanying the album. However, the effort behind PTSD seems sincere and boasts the imprimatur of local charity Guitars for Vets.
The Mambo Surfers play the Sugar Maple on March 26.
I get it that the reviewer didn't quite know what to do with this release, as it's outside the pop or rock norm. But being a person who has PTSD myself, I think the lyrics speak well to the issues. It's so accurate that’s it's hard for me to listen to as it takes me right back to the places I'm trying hard not to go back to. I think this would be a great listen for people who don't know anything about PTSD issues, as they won't have to grapple with those same problems listening to it that I do, and might get a sense of what we have to deal with on a daily basis. Thank you Mambo Surfers.