The Fugs - The Fugs Final CD (Part 1)

If the burnished musicality of the Fugs at present belies their intermittent career tack ("Never paint yourself into a corner," co-founder Ed Sanders jokes about the album's titular loophole) since 1970, their anarchic good humor remains as politically pointed as ever, if tempered here by some warm, decidedly human-scaled wisdom: Try to be joyful in spite of it all; find yourself in small utopias. Sanders input here ranges from expected dissent ("Government Surveillance Yodel") to introspection that borders on melancholia ("Ultimate Things," the Summer of ‘70 reminiscence "Miriam") and the brilliant meditation on public humiliation, "Perpitude," whose opening lines about John Lennon contain what he claims is the first FBI surveillance memo set to music. Foil/co-founder Tuli Kupferberg splits his contributions between mysticism ("Where is My Wandering Jew?"), philosophical musing ("A Short History of the Human Race" and "Is," the latter inspired/anchored by Bill Clinton's infamous deposition sound bite), and hilarious parody, sending up Dion & the Belmonts and sexual dysfunction with "Septugenarian in Love" and setting "I've Been Working for the Landlord" to that old traditional railroad song. Junior member Steven Taylor also spoofs wisely, setting the contemporary political critique "Go Down, Congress" to "Go Down, Moses." Filled with passion and anger, yet seasoned with rare wisdom and humor, we can only hope Sanders, Kupferberg, and company exercise this collection's title clause sooner than later. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

The ultimate footnote to the 60's

Thelma-where are you? Your review says it all. I'll buy you a beer if I can find you.
Having said that, let me just say that I saw the Fugs live last week. I've listened to them for 35 years, I'd guess. I am still riding the crest of the infundibulum that these guys created.
I also give much credit to the three musicians who faithfully back up Tuli and Ed. What a labor of love! These musicians made it all possible. This latest amalgam of the Fugs defies description-but after 38 years they can still bring the audience to their feet-repeatedly. Kudos to Tuli-the most underappreciated 80 year old rock and roller in America. Induct this boy into the R & R H of F immediately!!! The Fugs are everything that commercial rock and roll isn't-an immense acccomplishment. The boys have come a long way since the ESP days, but remain true to their roots. Poetry and Rock? It lives with the Fugs, if nowhere else. Buy anything they have done and open your mind.
Ed and Tuli signed my vinyl LP of Tenderness Junction after the show-it's a shame their Reprise material isn't on CD. Somebody license it quickly!
Thanks to the band for an incredible evening in September 2003!!! September 24, 2003

Fugs Final, Fugs Finest?

Thirty five years ago if someone stopped by my "pad' on the Lower East side I would have whipped out my copy of "The Fugs First Album" and made sure they heard Tuli Kupferberg chant "Nothing." This week if those same beings stopped by my current NYC walk-up I would be sure to corner them into hearing Tuli chant "A Short History of the Human Race. " Only 6 lines but could be the greatest anti-war song ever, written in horror and dread of the world's final war.

The Fugs Final CD (Part 1) deals with Finality, general and personal. "It's time to think of Ultimate Things," Ed Sanders tells us. In their serio-comic Fugsian way we are advised not to burn the bridges we are standing on, try to be joyful (for we could go at anytime), and that Jesus may be tapping our phone calls. Tuli's "Septuagenarian in Love", an outrageous parasong based on "Teenager in Love ", leaves us all rolling on the floor but because of "language" and FCC regulations is likely to get minimal airplay even in these post martyrdom of Lenny Bruce days. It has to be heard to be believed. Likewise, "I've Been Working For The Landlord," an anti-capitalist lament to the tune of "I've Been Working On The Railroad."

"Sucker what a jerk/ Sucker won't you work/ Work you whole damn life away./ O you stupid jerk/ Don't you love to work?/ Making s--t for very little pay."

Ed's gentle ballad "Miriam" (for his wife) tells those of us who couldn't be there of Sandy Koufax's Rock 'n Roll Motel where stars long gone like Janis and Phil chs once stayed. "Omnia Mutantur" (Everything Changes) he reminds us. "Luke Was A Physician And A Saint" by Tuli and sung by Steve Taylor (Ginsberg's guitarist, former False Prophet, Naropa music prof) muses on the personal unknown hereafter while "I Will Be A Shadow" by Coby Batty, (drums, guitar, vocals)
contemplates racial extinction "when vengeance has taken us all." Steve Taylor tells us of Bush's connection with the Bin Ladens in "Go Down Congress" (to the tune of "Go Down Moses") a political song as powerful as Ginsberg's "CIA Dope Calypso."

This CD works in an amazing variety of musical styles from gentle folk ballad, to hard rock to doo wop, even to death metal with incredible chops. Where the hell else are we going to get decent music, poetry, philosophy, social critique, outrage and humor in one place these days?

A good reason to hope the world doesn't come to an end is so we can get to hear the Fugs Final CD Part 2. August 4, 2003

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