After releasing a handful of wonderfully warped pop records in over almost two decades, Lawrence might have changed the band's name from Go-Kart Mozart to Mozart Estate, but not much else has changed on the improbably titled Pop-up! Ker-ching! And the Possibilities of Modern Shopping. The former Felt and Denim mastermind is still making music that's heavily indebted to the novelty sounds of the '70s, the nihilism of punk, and the hookiness of bubblegum all filtered through Lawrence's unique perspective on life, love, and ...
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After releasing a handful of wonderfully warped pop records in over almost two decades, Lawrence might have changed the band's name from Go-Kart Mozart to Mozart Estate, but not much else has changed on the improbably titled Pop-up! Ker-ching! And the Possibilities of Modern Shopping. The former Felt and Denim mastermind is still making music that's heavily indebted to the novelty sounds of the '70s, the nihilism of punk, and the hookiness of bubblegum all filtered through Lawrence's unique perspective on life, love, and money. Familiar cohorts like keyboardist Terry Miles and bassist Rusty Stone are back to help out, so are newcomers like vocalist Piney Gir, who provides backing vocals. Songs touch on issues like lack of funds (the barstool romp "Relative Poverty"), sheer disgust with humanity ("I Wanna Murder You"), ridiculous holidays ("Record Store Day"), and the glory of fully stocked shop shelves ("Poundland") all featuring typically hilarious turns of phrase, insanely catchy hooks, and Lawrence's singular vocals. He veers from sneering snark to comical posh accents to disaffected drawl and -- on a faithful cover of the Adam Faith ballad "Honey" -- heart-tugging sincerity. Junk shop synths, popping fretless bass, tinny drum machine, and handclaps joust with chunky punky rock guitars, choirs of backing vocals, and barrelhouse piano in ways that previous albums by both Denim and Go-Kart Mozart do -- here it sounds a little weirder and little less slick. Maybe not by coincidence, Lawrence handles the production duties himself. Certainly songs like the sparse "Flanca for Mr Flowers" and the happily clunky "And Now the Darkest Times Are Here" have an intimate, home-cooked feel. The whole album exudes that kind of feeling at heart; despite all the people involved it's basically the obsessions, oddness, and brilliance of one guy somehow captured and released to the public at large. It's unclear how much of said public will be able to connect with music this endearingly crooked and far from any other kind of music being made concurrently, or ever. Even dedicated fans of Go-Kart Mozart might find songs like "I'm Gonna Wiggle" or "Vanilla Gorilla" -- two tracks silly enough to make even the Wombles blanch -- to be a little too far out. That being said, anyone who has a long-term affinity for Lawrence and is happily willing to follow him on his bonkers journey through life and music will find Pop-up! Ker-ching! another fascinating, curiously life-affirming step along the way. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi
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