Reviews

Reviews of Pig Tail World

Some more good reviews have come in for the Pig Tail World album. I have reproduced them below, for your convenience. And if you want, you can also check out the great reviews my last album, Pabz, got.

Mikey Dee, WMFO (Boston)

This just came out of nowhere…this record just blew me away, I just love the sounds of it…just such incredible, beautifully crafted pop songs…Easily one of the best records of 1999. I love this record!

Improvijazzation Nation (Seattle)

One amazing musician. One thoroughly musical CD. …music that speaks from th’ heart & demonstrates SKILL! It’s really refreshing to hear such an accomplished blend of lyrical style and musical talent, especially when it’s all done by th’ same player! …music that will reach out & TOUCH you with it’s sense of th’ creative spirit…MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! [see full text]

Pure Pop (webzine)

There are many DIYers on the scene today; Pseudonym is clearly among the best and most accessible. [see full text]

AUTOreverse (Columbus, OH)

This is my favorite pop rock based melodic disc since the APPLES IN STEREO. Honest to gosh great catchy songs...Like if the SUNDAYS were better, less produced, less obvious...Put a couple of these songs in a Chick/Date movie...He ought to write all of EVAN DANDO's singles. Pledge your undying love and support. [see full text]

Flow Online (Minneapolis)

It's so nice to get these self-produced/released recordings and have the artist come across so strongly as their own person and not as someone trying to sound like someone else, and have them sound this good as well. I just think that's really neat. [see full text]

Mommy And I Are One (Boston)

Wow! Beautifully constructed rave-ups, cruisers, and lullabyes, like some kind of Brian Wilson-Frank Black-Costelleo creature (but better than that stupid name morphing thing describes). The vocals are absolutely astounding and, you would never guess that this record was made in an attic and a basement. This is a big album with big sounds and songs that really give weight to the word "catchy." [see full text]

Flipside

The thing just screams talent....exceptional vocals....If you've been finding your XTC, Squeeze or Pixies albums being worn thin on your record player, you might want to check out Pseudonym. [see full text]

Underground Music Monthly (Webzine)

Unique and upbeat songs burst forth happily from your speakers with the same elation a young child leaps forth from bed on Christmas morning to open brightly wrapped gifts. The album is a friend, an optimist, a hopeless romantic here to save your day, and your music collection! [see full text]

Yeah Yeah Yeah (New Jersey)

Genre: Amerindie lo-fi pop. Brings to mind: Magnetic Fields. Quote: More hermit self-made pop from NewEngland. Not without its moments. Tracks like, "Live Wire Angel" and "Disappearing" are tops for the genre. For indie pop buffs yeah. Cool.

The Noise (Boston)

It's whimsey on a silver circle and damn good production...Paul's got a great voice, and makes some interesting and unconventional choices in instrumentation and transitions, which keeps the songs on track...I think it's a likeable effort and deserves a listen.

Full text of Pig Tail World reviews

Improvijazzation Nation

Pseudonym: PIG TAIL WORLD One amazing musician. One thoroughly musical CD! We reviewed an album (must have been over a couple years back) called "Pabz". Well that was th’ same artist one Paul Desjarlais. Don’t be expectin’ wild-arsed improv or death-metal-thrash. This is clear-cut & (most) expressive rock&roll, with a tinge of folk-ballad. Though he sounds nothing like him, I’m reminded of th’ first time I listened to Bruce Cockburn… completely dedicated to making music that speaks from th’ heart & demonstrates SKILL! It’s really refreshing to hear such an accomplished blend of lyrical style and musical talent, especially when it’s all done by th’ same player! For those who enjoy listening to music that will reach out & TOUCH you with it’s sense of th’ creative spirit, this comes MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Sweet, sweet! GET it! Contact at POB 782, Brookline, MA 02446, via e-mail to paul@pharlap.com or order th’ CD directly at http://www.world.std.com/~anu/pseudonym [top]

Pure Pop

Pig Tail World Pseudonym (Grasshopper). Pseudonym is, well, a pseudonym for one Paul Desjarlais from Brookline, Mass. Desjarlais does just about everything on this home recorded platter. Guided By Voices fans will love the thick, mod influenced indie sound on tracks like “Crashing,” “Pig Tail World,” and “Ray Gun.” “Throw Some Love My Way” is the aural equivalent of a Rube Goldberg contraption, with its liquid base line and all sorts of arcane, connecting sounds in the background. Desjarlais shows that he’s got even more bullets in his barrel on some of the softer songs; tracks like “Accident Prone” and “Disappearing” are slow and delicate. Others like “Live Wire Angel” and “Blow Up” will remind one of Shane Faubert’s warm, dark soundscapes. “Over My Head” boasts an ultra dreamy verse that explodes into a thick, intense, chorus. There are many DIYers on the scene today; Pseudonym is clearly among the best and most accessible. [top]

Flow Online

Light, poppy, and refreshingly optimistic to the point of near-naivete, singer/songwriter Paul Desjarlais's "Pig Tail World" is a sweet collection of songs about love, love lost, the weather, and life in general. It's so nice to get these self-produced/released recordings and have the artist come across so strongly as their own person and not as someone trying to sound like someone else, and have them sound this good as well. I just think that's really neat. -Holly Day [top]

AUTOreverse (Columbus, OH)

OK, I'm not that big a pop person so there may be a whole fuckin' boatload of this post indie BRIAN WILSON/BEACH BOYS stuff floating ashore. That said, this is my favorite pop rock based melodic disc since the APPLES IN STEREO. Honest to gosh great catchy songs which have some of the lighter break of the 90's "shoe gazer" bands had and that the CARDIGANS touch upon now and then. Like if the SUNDAYS were better, less produced, less obvious and had a guy singer who could structure his melodies to tail off like the afore said MR B WILSON and they pulled their tunes thru a jar of syrup labeled STONE ROSES, especially the "Fools Gold" style. His voice isn't as magical as WILSON's but what the fuck is? Put a couple of these songs in a Chick/Date movie and these guys would be swimmin' in cooze, booze and cash. He ought to write all of EVAN DANDO's singles. Pledge your undying love and support. [top]

Mommy And I Are One

Feeling the need to get away and don’t have a vehicle? Well, there’s one waiting for you and you can get into it right now. It’s called Pseudonym and the captain of this ship is also the co-pilot and navigator. His years of flight experience in the 80’s Boston hardcore scene will surely put you at ease, even though the first song on the record is titled "crashing," a sort of caffienated liftoff. Prepare for a fun, multi-dimensional ride that that picks you up when you need picking up and lets you back down gently, leaving you with the clarity of an exercise high in outer space.

Wow! This record really is like some sort of shuttle. It takes off at pop speed and throws you into the orbit of the Pig Tail World, which is a heady-steady far-away world where the vocals wash over you and the overdriven bass massages you comfortably like one of those lazy-boy vibrating chairs. Yes, this do-it-yourselfer has created quite the sonic experience.

It’s as if this guy went back into his Boy Scout days and was instructed to make a dreamy pop album out of things he could find lying around the house. So there was a big snow storm, school was canceled, and he locked himself away in the attic, hammering out these beautifully constructed rave-ups, cruisers, and lullabyes, like some kind of Brian Wilson-Frank Black-Costelleo creature (but better than that stupid name morphing thing describes). The vocals are absolutely astounding and, you would never guess that this record was made in an attic and a basement. A real homemade record with superbly tasteful production. Handled with care.

This little pet record turns out to be not so little. This is a big album with big sounds and songs that really give weight to the word "catchy." Bring me a better one-man homemade record and I will do your hair up in little pig tails. [top]

Flipside

An inventive composition of eighties new wave, pop rock, top forty - Yo La Tango meets the Beach Boys kind of conglomeration. Pig Tail World is a solo project written, produced, and performed by Paul Desjarlais, whom some of you old school Bostonians might remember from a band The Uncalled Four, that played around town with the likes of The Freeze and Gang Green. This is Desjarlais' second solo release and the thing just screams talent (well, maybe in this case, whispers would be a better word). There is an array of sounds, including some pots, pans, and an old typewriter that blend well into the slow, melodious rhythms and is topped off with exceptional vocals. If you've been finding your XTC, Squeeze or Pixies albums being worn thin on your record player, you might want to check out Pseudonym. [top]

Underground Music Monthly

Pseudonym Has Produced Delight: The thrill-laced Friday afternoons, full of sun. The high school dance in the gymnasium, everything is alive, the music, the sweat, the smiles. Pseudonym's latest contribution to the world of sound is the Beach Boys having tea with U2 in a nut shell. Unique and upbeat songs burst forth happily from your speakers with the same elation a young child leaps forth from bed on Christmas morning to open brightly wrapped gifts. Pig Tail World is an album full of tunes with lyrics perfect for the afternoon ride home from class or school. These are the songs you'll be singing along with every time. The tunes are an uplifting break from the grim Goth trends and repetitive rap anthems. Music fans can revisit a forgotten emotion-joy.

The album is a bargain buy with thirteen stellar tracks sure to inspire a grin and a tapping foot. Listeners are prompted by the invisible force of a smooth, sassy bass line to lend their voices to every chorus. The lead singer is a blue collar angel with a voice destined to please the masses. Masterful composition lends to effortless and efficient bliss.

"Crashing", the first tune on the album, is abrupt and eye opening like the enthusiastic first chimes of your favorite alarm clock. You are awakened by an adrenaline pumped super groove destined to move you with urgency through your day and to the forbidden fun awaiting you on the other side.

"Pig Tail World", the title track, is worthy of applause. The lyrics are much like the spice of diversity, welcomed and needed by today's world. An anthem for the thrill-seeker, a brilliant song that is deserving of attention. summer nights mix with high paced beats and make a drink sure to knock you off your feet and into the music store begging for more!

Things slow down with, "Throw Some Love My Way". We're reminded there is a dark side to every moon, even the brightest ones in our skies. A swinging guitar cradles you through the darkest avenues of this sweet and somber ballad.

Pseudonym has produced delight. This is an album to play when you're needing a grin to get you through the longest days of the week. The album is a friend, an optimist, a hopeless romantic here to save your day, and your music collection! -Rachel Miller [top]