After a handful of cassette-only releases and a 7-inch single, Tucson Area Music Awards honoree Monster Pussy has finally unleashed its debut album, and Tails of the City is chock-full of quirky odes to various U.S. cities, good friends and activities in the Old Pueblo.
The album kicks off with the punchy "Buffalo! Roam!," a track that has lead singer Mullarkey acting as a tour guide across America, akin to a punk-rock Dr. Seuss in an Oh, The Places You'll Go! vein. The bouncy boy/girl chorus is a fun treat and meshes well with guitar-player Steve Soloway's Captain Beefheart-influenced licks. "My Best Friend is a 4th Grader!" is a touching tune about an ex-girlfriend's daughter, and the power of fun and make-believe in a caring relationship.
"Armory Park!" and "University Bikeway" are both about the fun and hidden treasures to be found near downtown. In the case of the latter track, if there is a more-sugary track about riding your bicycle through the UA campus, I haven't heard it.
While Mullarkey's voice may be an acquired taste, his "sing-songy" delivery about all things cute and spectacular is a charming device that lends itself to the music, which is primal and herky-jerky, like a bastard offspring between Beat Happening and The Fall.
Tails of the City is a fine addition to the inimitable Bloat Records catalog.
