Search - Residents :: Freak Show

The Almost Complete Show

Solo Goodspeed | Granada Hills, CA United States | 10/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the better (if not best) examples of latter-period Residents, the original 1991 release contained great music, solid songs, and a story made up of stories of these very Human Beings, labeled Freaks by society. Rather than a unified culture of oddities like we've seen in movies, these freaks seem alienated even from each other, and the show they put on for us delves more deeply into their quirks and psyches than some of us would prefer to go, as alienation tends to breed and intensify obsessiveness. Are we "normals" any less asymmetrical underneath our supposedly acceptable exteriors? No wonder nobody laughs when they leave ...



This re-release includes a treasure of extra tracks and a booklet of artwork, as well as a DVD of digital animation created by the late Jim Ludtke, who collaborated with the Residents on video and interactive media work. The original release of Freak Show was created in tandem with a CD-ROM title that enabled users to explore and, to a limited degree, interact with Harry the Head, Herman the Human Mole, Mickey the Mumbling Midget, Benny the Bouncing Bump, Wanda the Worm Woman, Jelly Jack, Tex the Carnival Barker, et al. Hopefully DVD or PC technology will allow a future release of this title in a similarly interactive capacity; this was a work ahead of its time in many ways, and the technology of the time may not have been up to the task the Residents envisioned.



This is still a decent representation of the overall Freak Show experience. The music stands well on its own, and the included artwork conveys the mood and energy nicely. The Residents were to follow this up with another outstanding interactive title, Bad Day on the Midway, continuing the grotesque circus of life theme; these works represented a very high point in this most curious ensemble's historic output.



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