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The Bevis Frond
Vavona Burr
Release Date: 1999 05 11
Running Time: 77:49
Label: Flydaddy

Leading off with none other than Country Joe McDonald doing an updated version of his notorious Woodstock cheer -- here titled "The Frond Cheer" -- Vavona Burr is, at base, yet another Bevis Frond album. It's manna to the true believers, the same old thing to detractors, and to most other listeners, not something they'll normally come across. For all that, it's another collection of self-recorded, plays-every-instrument-pop/psych-rock from Saloman, though, there's at least something a little different about Burr in comparison to much of Frond's past work. Hard to describe, perhaps, but there's a slightly crisper feeling in the recording, just a touch more sweetness and energy in Saloman's slightly mournful singing. It's a combination of little things, like the weird noises in the fun sci-fi surge of "Let It Ride"; given a back catalog as generally monolithic as the Frond's, however, these little things mean a lot. So while Burr isn't Frond at his absolute best, dismissing it as out of hand for one reason or another isn't the right approach either. As with just about everything Frond has done, there are at least a few songs that stand out from the pack. "National Drag" is a fun semi-romp, with some twangy guitar work and a marvelous mid-song solo, not to mention a catchy Saloman chorus. "Don Lang" has an honestly moody, creepy feeling to it, not totally far off from "96 Teardrops" in feel if not in actual melody, with a snaky sense of menace and groovy keyboards. "Begging Bowl" ends the album with a quietly inspirational feel and some fine guitar blasts, giving a good enough sense that no matter what happens, there will always be more Bevis Frond just around the corner. Ned Raggett, All Music Guide

Tracks:

	Title	Composer	Time
1	Frond Cheer	Saloman	:31
2	Leave a Light On	Saloman	6:56
3	Virus	Saloman	2:52
4	Caught in the Headlights	Saloman	4:26
5	National Drag	Saloman	4:46
6	To the Lighthouse	Saloman	6:10
7	Couldn't Care Less	Saloman	3:14
8	Don Lang	Saloman	5:28
9	You Just Don't Feel That Way About Me	Saloman	5:34
10	Let It Ride	Saloman	3:15
11	One Leg Sand Dance	Saloman	5:31
12	Bulldozer	Saloman	1:47
13	Coming Down on You	Saloman	3:47
14	Temple Falls	Saloman	4:45
15	Almost Like Being Alive	Saloman	3:21
16	Looks Like Rain	Saloman	2:44
17	In Her Eyes	Saloman	4:42
18	Begging Bowl	Saloman	8:00