Music is a truly magical thing when you pause to consider it, the way it creates a fusion of melody and poetry is like nothing else; melding both together to create something even greater than either. You do get to experience those rare moments of transcendent beauty every so often, something you play before waking as a better, wiser man, the morrow morn. You need proof, mortal? I call Lonely Kamel Shit City to the stand.
Do you want to get pissed?
Let’s go and get pissed.
At my favorite bar in town
I know you can’t resist.
Shit out of luck!
We’re shit out of luck!
The bars close way too soon!
Oh, man, we’re shit out of luck!
Shit city, shit city.
Shit city, shit city.
Who amongst who has lived, loved, laughed, laid and libated can fail to recognize those sentiments? although I am sure, like me, you have probably struggled to articulate your torment that well. Better still Lonely Kamel come on like Motörhead desperate for a piss. Then the song slows down and we get the noise of either
- Someone drinking a copious libation to the Gods
- The sound of a Norwegian stoner dude taking a lengthy slash against a wall
- A beautiful, tinkling mountain stream.
I’m going mostly 1 and 2 there for that one. The Kamel* shift gear into a slower chugging but still angry mood for the rest of the song. It rocks ass.
Do you wanna get high?
Now, do you wanna get high?
Everyone is high all the time
And no one will deny.
Do you wanna get stoned?
Come on and get stoned
We all know a place to go
Oh, God, I wanna get stoned
Shit City may actually be my favourite Norwegian stoner metal LP of 2014 and I caution you, that is not an accolade that I care to throw around lightly in these parts. The fact that I snagged one of a blue vinyl edition of 100 is, I admit, also a factor in my joy here. That I bought this because of the sweary title and the silly band name** and it turned out so well is just the icing on the Kamel cake for me.
You want groovy titles? they have groovy titles, my fave being ‘Seal The Perimeter’ and ‘I Feel Sick’.
You want photos of a bunch of stoned Norwegian dudes clowning around in a city square? of course you do, why wouldn’t you?! Check out the gatefold.
You want a great, galloping cover of a song from a terrifically obscure British rock band? they cover ‘Nightjar’ by Necromandus, it is incredibly good too – hard rocking and nimble, just the way I like my proto-metal cover tunes.
You want a 7-minute classic rock tune? check out ‘Falling Down’, which marries that dependable stoner chug with a good chorus and a very good vocal performance from Thomas Brenna.
Which is about all it offers^ and I mean that in a good way. If you like good stoner rock, with occasional flashes of aggro around the fringes then Lonely Kamel are your men, if not then there’s nothing here to persuade the floating voter. I have no doubt at all that Shit City would sound great being pumped out of a tricked-out van’s speaker system under a field of stars, which is the point of everything isn’t it?
Now let’s get pissed.
829 Down.
*as we die-hard Kameltoenians call them.
**are there many Kamels, socially unfulfilled or otherwise, sweeping majestically across the plains of Norway?
^I’m ignoring the track ‘BFD’, which stands for ‘Big Fat Dolly’ and is a bit odd, albeit in a funky ZZ Top kinda way; it just doesn’t really fit here for me.
“Lets go get pissed” was kinds CB’s mantra for a while. I could add all the good things that came along after he went and did that.
Oh man! Why don’t I have this!? Why haven’t I even heard of it!? This is the kinda stuff I need… and just 100 copies of this lovely vinyl? Oh Lordy!
I know!
On a different tip, I’m standing in front of an empty stage waiting for Moon Duo to start right now.
Apparently I am green with envy and without this blue vinyl.
Oh! That’s a pretty super trip, I reckon!
Well said Joe & Lonely Kamel – the early closing bar was a relateable scenario, I just never had the right words to express my feelings so succinctly!
Sometimes it takes a bunch of hairy Norwegian stoners with Tourette’s syndrome and dubious recreational habits to articulate what you’re feeling.
Can’t believe I have missed this one, Music for Pissing On being a major section in the VC library.
Love seeing the Clanger-Mouse again.
I know you do Bruce, it’s why I try to use her every so often.
Lonely Kamel have an earlier song called ‘Don’t Piss On The Lizard’. Which strikes me as a courtesy.
Such old-fashion niceties really endear a band to one, don’t they?
Is that a cover of the rare Sesame Street song?
Apparently Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch were slipped some hallucinogens and just started rapping.
‘Don’t be sentimental!’ 🙂
I’m a droid. Sort of.
Outstanding! You make me want to drink mead from a goat’s horn.
Brilliant! I am in fact a highly paid shill for the National Mead Association.
I expected nothing less.
You love sweary titles and the silly band names? You’ll love the new album ‘Fartopolis’ by Cyber Dromedary. A limited edition Black (!) vinyl. Limited to one copy. Just send me twelvetyfive pounds.
Sign me up! Sign me up!
I have to listen to this now after that write-up. Brilliant.
I firmly predict you’ll be getting some Lonely Kamel ink done before the week is through.
Yes, It will go well with all my other ink…wait…I don’t have any other ink…yet!!
I always pictured you looking like Richard Harris in A Man Named Horse.
That is a pretty accurate representation. My boss gets upset when I come in dressed like that.
I have been listening to Lonely Kamel and it is great. Thanks for the recommendation.
No problem, Horse.
I’ve been called worse!
Really pleased you like it.
I’m going mostly number 1 and 2.
That’s ok. I will just wait over here near this limited blue vinyl. I’ll be right out here when you finish up, and no that is not my waiting taxi out front. Must be a coincidence.
Dude, that’s why I took their advice and sealed the perimeter.
If you hear the Mission Impossible theme at 3am it won’t be me grappling down to your vinyl collection.
Also, on a side note. 1536 has a nice ring to it. Just sayin’
Blah-ha-ha!
(Unleashes the hounds)