Clint Maedgen describes his Bingo! debut as “carntry” music—a little country and a little carnival. As colorful as this description may be, it actually doesn’t do this innovative, and wholly refreshing recording justice.
It’s a lo-fi bounty of airy pump organ, melancholic violin, Dollar Store toy sounds, saxophone honks and carnival barker crescendos. As a songwriter, Maedgen owes much to the ultimate bohemian bard, Tom Waits, especially in the epic boozy ballad “In a Lounge With Broken Wings,” but Maedgen possesses enough of his own idiosyncratic muse not to let his influences overtake his music.
His themes mine the seedy, yet delicate world of the underground French Quarter, a behind the scenes view of historic New Orleans. Boasting a fine clear tenor, Maedgen lustily bellows odes to Bourbon Street strippers as in the delivery boy anthem “Women Named Kitten (“How I love to bring food to women named Kitten, Honey, or Cherry, or Jewel. Sliding off that pole to see what I brung ’em, while all of the other men drool.”).
Bingo’s instrumentals like “Stix Duh Clown” and “Lost and Found” are quirky forays into electro-funk that balance the earthy violin of Brinn Nelson with cheap toy sound effects of what sounds like a Playskool table saw. Carnival tunes, as in the pump organ-laced “Celebration” and the barker scat of “Bingo Theme,” attest to the group’s playful antics, but the real strength of Bingo! is Maedgen’s innate gift for crafting eccentric, yet enduring tunes. There’s a tenderness amidst the circus atmosphere that resonates stronger than all the electronic bleeps and lo-fidelity wizardry.
The album’s highlight, “Something In Her Shows,” is a simple acoustic tune that boasts a remarkably nostalgic melody and Maedgen’s heart-on-sleeve crooning. Not many artists could pull off the line “Honey you’re the star of my wet dream” and have it come off sounding romantic.
When you get your hands on this disc hold on to it, as it has a tendency to fall into envious people’s hands. I’ve had two copies stolen already.
