Camper Van Beethoven: Key Lime Pie

[Back cover] [Credits] [Fold-out booklet]

Even darker than the band's previous efforts, this is a band at the height of its powers, though some read it as the sound of a band falling apart on its final release. Classic, reigned-in production and David Lowery's songwriting are both in the A+ category, though at the time, the band was suffering from some kind of alterna-backlash. The album is well worth reassessing and might even serve as a nice introduction, as "Sweethearts," "When I Win the Lottery" and "I Was Born in a Laundromat" are all outstanding slices of alterna-folk-psych- rock.
-- Denise Sullivan, All-Music Guide

The California based group Camper Van Beethoven was one of the first "alternative" rock acts, using traditional instruments like violin and mandolin in their refreshing mix of punk, folk-rock, ska and "world music". Labelled as "surrealist absurdist folk", their debut album Telephone Free Landslide Victory made the Top Ten in 1986. The group split up after the release of the 1989 album Key Lime Pie, but the members have remained active in the music business as sidemen and in various other bands.

Garth Hudson is credited for "organ, talking and stuff" on Key Lime Pie. Not a collaboration one would have expected.

Tracks

1. Opening Theme
2. Jack Ruby
3. Sweethearts
4. When I Win the Lottery
5. (I Was Born in A) Laundromat
6. Borderline
7. Light from a Cake
8. June
9. All Her Favorite Fruit
10. Interlude
11. Flowers
12. Humid Press of Days
13. Pictures of Matchstick Men
14. Come On Darkness

Sidemen

• Garth Hudson, organ / talking

Camper Van Beethoven - Key Lime Pie - 50:05 - 1989 - Cema/Virgin 86127

AMG Rating: 6 (out of 9)