Village Gorilla Head

By Anthony Miccio [Stylus Magazine]
(August, 2004)

Before you get all upset that the opening track sounds distinctly post-Coldplay, ‘Mats fan, remember that most of you have never actually heard Tommy Stinson sing. Sure, he was the poster boy for ramshackle indie rock (specifically the kind that actually could get on the radio) back in the ‘80s, but that was because he was the only boy in a world of men. Of his grown-ass efforts, he’s probably most remembered for being That Punky Guy in a Puff Daddy video and That Duff Stand-in in a G’N’R tribute band rather than his bands Bash’n’Pop and Perfect.

So while I’m tempted to compare him to Corey Feldman or Kato Kaelin, I think it would be a little misleading. His solo debut doesn’t reek of dashed childhood dreams and caught-in-the-headlights ineptitude at all. His voice (which consists of Paul Westerberg, Dylan, David Lowery and Chris Martin-style slurring, depending on the weather or something) and lyrics aren’t exceptional enough to give him the distinct singer-songwriter identity he needs, but its confident eno

ugh that I’m not offended he’s trying. I wish Westerberg was as willing to experiment with britpop production (the title track is a Gorillaz homage!), though in part that’s because Westerberg could probably do something memorable with it. Both of them should give the bar band shit a rest (Stinson’s songwriting company is called “Done To Death Music”).
Oh yeah, my friend Tyler is one of the couple hundred people who have actively followed Tommy Stinson’s musical career and he’s pissed that I keep pointing out how Coldplay his ballads sound. Supposedly Tommy has ALWAYS sounded this way and if anything, I should be saying that Coldplay Live 2002 sounds like Bash’n’Pop’s Friday Night Is Killing Me. The one time he made me listen to B’n’P I remember thinking it sounded like decent but blatantly minor league pop-rock and this album does too, so he might be right.

If I had to listen to a song off of Village Gorilla Head after writing this review it would be “O.K.” which seems to be about how one’s feelings of being so unsatisfied change from adolescent drama to mild discomfort that you don’t feel right complaining about. “All my thoughts just make me itch” is probably the best line Stinson will ever write and the part where he says he’d understand if you killed yourself so go ahead is pretty damn affecting. This is also the only track where he plays all the instruments, which is cool. I’d suggest he push himself further in the direction of this open weariness but the closing track “Someday” implies he’s said everything he can about the subject already, which is pretty damn depressing.