MAN MAN
Man Man, perhaps, is for a particular kind of fan — namely one who likes skronky tunes that sound like they could have been written by a slightly less bizarre Frank Zappa after a trip to the circus with Dweezil and Moon Unit. The Philadelphia experimentalists are a punky, goofy hoot. Their latest release, On Oni Pond, probably isn’t the weird-meisters’ favorite in the band’s catalog, as it finds them mellowing and, yes, becoming somewhat more accessible to your average listener. But their performances in support of Oni Pond offer an opportunity for the ol’ rock fan to dip a toe into the avant garde without getting steamrolled by meshuggah antics. Perhaps one of Man Man’s best selling points is how much fun the members seem to be having onstage — check ’em out on YouTube playing “Black Mission Goggles” live at Amoeba Records in white skivvies, mouths stuffed with brightly colored toy horns — and the energy is infectious. Their shows are object lessons in how to make original art without taking yourself too seriously.
— Rachel Bailey