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Harry Nilsson - Pandemonium Shadow Show Audio CD

A fair review of the Harry Nilsson "Pandemonium Shadow Show" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Harry Nilsson reviews here, or go back to the Harry Nilsson tabs.

Harry Nilsson Band: Harry Nilsson
Title: Pandemonium Shadow Show
Rating:
Release Date: 1995-08-29
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ten Little Indians 2: 1941 3: Cuddly Toy 4: She Sang Hymns Out of Tune 5: You Can't Do That 6: Sleep Late, My Lady Friend 7: She's Leaving Home 8: There Will Never Be 9: Without Her 10: Freckles 11: It's Been So Long 12: River Deep, Mountain High

4 1/2 Stars: A Remarkable And Unique Debut Album
This is the only record of its time that feels akin to Sgt. Harry Nilsson's debut album Pandemonium Shadow Show was notoriously loved by the Beatles, and it's easy to see why. Pepper and, in some ways, it's every bit as impressive. Nilsson works on a much smaller scale, leaning heavily on whimsy yet cutting it with sardonic humor and embellishing it with remarkable song and studiocraft; it's as if McCartney and Lennon were fused into the same body. Pandemonium can't help but feel like a cheeky show of strength by a remarkably gifted imp, spinning out psychedelic fantasias and jokes and trumping his idols by turning out a cover of "She's Leaving Home" (recorded ten days after Sgt. Pepper's release) that rivals the original. Beneath all the light playful melodies ("There Will Never Be" is swinging London, L. A. style) or glorious laments (he rarely equaled "Sleep Late, My Lady Friend"), there are serious strains: the lyrics of "Cuddly Toy" are as unsettling as the melody catchy, the circus-stomp "Ten Little Indians" is a darkly addictive retelling of the Ten Commandments, and "1941" is quietly heartbreaking beneath its jaunty cabaret. Throughout it all, Nilsson impresses with his humor, cleverness and, above all, how his songwriting blossoms under his shockingly inventive studiocraft. Psychedelic-pop albums rarely came better than this, and it remains a thorough delight. - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG
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Individual Songs:

A combination of nursery rhymes and the ten commandments set to music, "Ten Little Indians" is one of the more dramatic songs on Nilsson's debut. Essentially a march, the song builds into crescendos with each verse (or commandment). A bit dated, but still effective. The Yardbirds did an interesting cover of this song on their 1967 album, Little Games.

Little did Harry Nilsson's audience know that the opening track on his debut album would give them an excellent overview of his gifts. "1941" is a lovely, Beatlesque song that is autobiographical in nature. A slow, lilting pop waltz, the song goes through the author's early decades, his father leaving home, and his own restless nature. Aside from the excellent sense of craft that embodies the song, Nilsson's incredible scat singing gets a whole verse devoted to just that. Pretty adventurous for an unknown artist.

A swirling melding of at least ten Beatles songs, "You Can't Do That" is one of the most clever tributes of all time. What makes it even more special is the fact that it came out during the group's heyday (1967). Built on a sweet and subtle bossa nova groove, Nilsson sings snatches of Beatles verses and somehow ties it all together, utilizing the title song and "She's a Woman" as the basis. The final line, "Strawberry Beatles forever" is an awesome and evocative capper. The Beatles apparently loved it, too.

One of Harry Nilsson's standards, "Without Her" is one of the most evocative songs of his early catalog. A simple set of pop chords are set against a gorgeous, ascending cello figure that breaks down into a countermelody, performed on a flute. Despite all of these complexities, the song is based on only about a half a dozen chords, and it's a stunning exercise in economy. The sadness of spending a day without a loved one goes straight for the heart; yet there is a glint in the eye when Nilsson sings the words, and it's ultimately a joyous song. Nilsson was always great at juggling insights -- this is the first example. Blood, Sweat & Tears did an excellent, jazzy cover on their debut album. - Matthew Greenwald, AMG

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You can see a complete list of all Harry Nilsson discography, or go back to the Harry Nilsson tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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