This rather "tongue-in-cheek" project focuses upon the invasion of Baltimore.
This rather "tongue-in-cheek" project focuses upon the invasion of Baltimore (probably incorporating some apocryphal and anecdotal material) and does so by fusing together historical narrative and somewhat over-the-top 1970s styled rock opera plus a soupçon of theatrics that bring to mind a Meatloaf performance. There is a quite sizeable cast of vocalists, most of whom represent particular characters within the story, some being members of the Baltimore Rock Opera Society.
The rock opera is the brainchild of David Dudley and Dave Israel (who lead the instrumentalists on this recording with guitars, keyboards and mandolin) and recounts the period following the burning of Washington when the British forces head north to attack Baltimore from land and sea.
Lyrically absurd at times ('I'm No Cupcake' sung by the character Dolley Madison as she rescues George Washington's portrait), highly amusing at others ('Big Ass Flag' sung by the characters Major Armistead and Mary Pickersgill about the former asking the latter to sew a huge Star-Spangled Banner) I have found the work to be weirdly captivating and certainly something that ought to be investigated by those of you who find this sort of parody entertaining in a Gilbert & Sullivan sort of way!
Perhaps it is musically that some more of you will be drawn into the fray, as the mash-up parody crosses into the tremendous variety of styles in use here, with a multitude of different genre references and nods in the direction of the music of umpteen bands whose music readers of this magazine may recognise (I'm not going to spoilt your fun by suggesting who they are...)
Not exactly a "must have" album by any means, it is nevertheless one that can be investigated on-line. Do bear in mind, however, that it is best heard in its entirety and from beginning to end, rather than by miscellaneous sampling.
Paul Jerome Smith
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