Tonetta Vol. 3 2XLP on Black Tent Press

Will there ever be a time in the future where Tonetta has exhausted every fetish subject... when he's completely run out of ways to describe his numerous sexual taboo's?

Three albums later wouldn't lead you to believe there's any end to Tonetta's confessions. In fact he's expanding his sphere of influence to include his similarly head shaking extreme political views in multiple tracks across this double album on "Obama's Prize", "Teach Me", "Saddam", and "This Old World". I guess you could say there always tends to always be a connection with sex and politics, or maybe for Tonetta it's the extreme reactions, the polarizing views in setting out to explore either of these areas. On "Obamas Prize" he points at the world laughing at America thanks to Obama's undeserved Nobel Peace Prize. Tonetta's never been afraid to alienate his audience and this is a loungy pop casio keyboard jingle where he expects better from the US president. Compared to some his cutting criticism, this is pretty tame, more of a subtle warning I guess...which is all relative for tonetta, he still sings "have the balls to step down". "Saddam", takes on 9/11 in a new (?) way, Tonetta wants proof (of weapons of mass destruction?) of Saddam's death? Maybe this was written before the cell phone video? Then there's something about cloning in here? This one is a mystery.

There's some interesting new glitch electronic directions showing up in tracks like, "Wild & Free" which is the clearest example for Tonetta's subtly evolving musicianship throughout these releases. Either that or it's the way Black Tent has chosen to present them, but given some of the contemporary subject matter, it seems to be mostly chronological. In addition to heavy panning of a lot of distorted guitar across channels, he's playing with a lot of layers of synth along with his vocal percussion, like Ariel Pink, is really inspiring to hear the result of living in a bubble, developing such a clear sense of rhythm and if it's impossible to program that drum machine...I get it, just beatbox the beat the best you can.

But as much as a whole his output is getting clearer and more produced sounding, 2 tracks in particular, "Apache Woman" and "Hell" take things back into his cassette world in only the unique way that Tonetta can, with legitimately great guitar lines, outsider rhythms and completely unique vocal melodies. This seemingly archival recording fades in and out on the left channel, just barely holding on with a flowy '70s psyche jam feel over this layer of hiss, reminding you just how mindblowing Tonetta can be when the pieces fit together like this especially when it's more understated. I love the in-your-face sex jams, but "Apache Woman" especially, would legitimately stand up in an R. Stevie Moore mix.

The there's "Yummy Yummy Pizza" where you're waiting for that hammer to drop, but this is pure bubblegum pop, at least in the world of Tonetta. He loves pizza, and doesn't love you anymore. Plain and simple. My grandma might even appreciate this before church..."Not so yummy you". The same puzzling sweetness is evident on "Knowing my limits" where he sounds like the attentive worrying partner. I guess he's covering all his bases and this is yet another version of extreme in Tonetta's mind. To be the center of attention is just as freaky as a four way.

The over the top sexy songs are still here in abundance, and all positions are explored: "Ride Me" (self explanatory), "Be My Concubine" (stick it to the one I love, without a glove), "Two Annas & a Bri Bri" (Two prostitutes and their friend, Tonetta's twelve year old humor in full effect, naming their hometown: penis manor), "81 in Prime Ass" (a weirdly sweet ass play song...), "Pressure Zone" (something to do with the prostate?), "No Lip" (he's tougher than a butch dike), "Glory Hole" (surprisingly about a 'small cock, big heart'), "Planet Lip Bush" (not political - life 'began here with lips' that he'll never see...there's an oedipal complex for you).

As if you could forget nothing is off limits to Tonetta, and he continues to make that very clear every album, and "On the Toilet" might be the point where you'd have a hard time getting through this. It's as medically accurate as The Human Centipede, a little too descriptive about the excretive process, what this particular movement consists of...literally. I have to admit I'm even feeling a little dirty, and you really have to wonder where he crossed that line from funny into sick? He further tests the waters with "This Nigger Don't Run" which I'm having a little trouble with what viewpoint this is from, let alone give this a serious listen without looking over my shoulder. I think it's his fictional black perspective towards skinheads, that kind of extreme hate and pitting those two factions against each other.

In this case I'm wondering what exactly compelled him to write this song, which features an acoustic guitar by the way. I have to think he's just drawn to these extreme's, in language and behavior down to his songwriting. If it isn't a little scary to him it isn't worth doing. Needless to say Tonetta is not an album to have in a random playlist, playing publicly. You could very literally get your ass kicked. Is that part of the draw? Sure, in the same way the blackest of Norwegian metal can defy expectation.

These 29 tracks are a lot to take in, and he still suffers occasionally from the same monotonous beat, but I think he can rely on it being such a unique, singular focus; the slightly distorted kick/snare, kick/snare back and forth with a double time tamborine, or shaker, and the layers of instrumentation are so uniquely his own, it's almost always forgiveable.

He's also continuing to explore a lot of new melodies and as much as that beat is recycled, there's as much thought in composition as there is in the subject matter. I would even go so far as to say there's more thought...mentioning his cock every song comes naturally, it's in the sitting down to layer in another melody where new things are cooked up. There's room across this release to go further into all facets of Tonetta, from the truly heartfelt love songs to new depths of troubling fetishes. Tonetta can ably work across extremes, and that makes those 'straight' tracks a little more tense, knowing the Tonetta could drop a 'cock' at any moment.

Go complete the series with Volume III, there's no turning back now with this double album on Black Tent Press...I expect there is a triple album in the works for Volume 4.

Not quite sure what happened to Tonetta but Black Tent had this to say to fans recently (posted at Grandma Knows Best - the definitive thinking man's Tonetta blog)

In light of recent events I think that TONETTA needs to hear your support and admiration of his music and art. He has been shut down, terminated, censored, lied to and robbed over the last month. Have you ever wanted to tell him what you think and feel about his music and art ? Have you ever wanted to share with him how important and special his work is ?

Now is the time to do so. This is a call for letters and gifts for TONY.
show some love.

BLACK TENT PRESS
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd NO. 245
STUDIO CITY, CA 91604

all packages will be forwarded to TONETTA.

Stay gold, you crazy sexy bastard.

Tonetta, Vol. II on Black Tent Press

I'm a little obsessed with Tonetta, and the awesome guys at Black Tent Press sent me his latest full length to review. I've been working on it forever, because I approach full length releases like 10 singles. There's some words over in the forum about this enigma.

Check it out and pick this up from Black Tent Press. It will be one of the most original things you hear all year.

Tonetta 777 - Get it Going on Black Tent Press Records

Tonetta, where do I begin?

In my small office, Tonetta has developed a massive fan base. All it took was a few seconds of any one of his videos to convince my co-workers this was something amazing and worth looking into, or away from in horror. Now the mere mention of his name turns another boring day at the cubicles into another screening of half naked, S&M masked, tutu performances from a true genius. A simple recitation of song titles from Volume II is enough to send people scattering to the exits. Tonetta is polarizing, it's not that you can claim you don't 'get it', what he creates makes perfect sense to everyone and you either hate his confrontational, primitive direction, or you don't.

The Tonetta story starts like any great idiosyncratic completely original artist: by recording at home with whatever devices are on hand and then handing out cassettes to anyone who'll listen. Don't get me wrong the video work is essential to truly understand the levels of performance included in the recorded tracks. I kind of wish I hadn't first seen the videos myself because now it's impossible to listen to his work without imagining what visual scenario Tonetta would dream up to accompany his mechanical pop.
But strip away the star wiped videos of a leather speedo wearing NSFW lip syncing 50 year old and what are you really left with?

'Get it going' kicks off the A-Side with a weirdo layered beat, even for Tonetta, this one has whispering booms and way more vocal percussion then I've noticed before. He's delivering the verse in a primitive naive rap style informed by the first five years of hip-hop.
You can't help but read into the 'Get it going' part of the lyric and conclude that this is a buildup to getting intimate although Tonetta would never use those words. He is a completely unhinged male libido that's made the later in life journey into the far reaches of his buried and repressed libido and said, 'Fuck it, who do I have to impress? This is me, take it or leave it.' There's no compromise with Tonetta and it's immediately liberating for the listener while being somewhat shocking to hear the sort of intimate bedroom details of a 4-track retired Lou Barlow with one thing on his mind.
In the same way this recent business with Charlie Sheen is so fascinating to watch. Here is a persona, raw and completely exposed, making no apologies. It's not that the viewer wishes they could do that , but the idea of having 'tiger blood' or singing about a 'hot little fuck' comes from that primitive fight place in the mind that is more and more repressed thanks to our cushy, technology and bulk food filled lives. It's also a reminder that any good apocolypse movie is true, we're about 3 days, maybe a week away from total anarchy and chaos if you take away plumbing and refrigeration. Tonetta is a reminder of the evil, the subversive...the perversions that exist. You don't have to like it, but it's undeniably a part of humanity.
I hear a lot of Ariel Pink in these two tracks, at this point he's been perfecting his own necessity by invention lo-fi style that's unique by default. They've both arrived at the same place, they have the same will to create, Ariel as a reflection of a combination of decades of music genres and Tonetta as therapy, but the determination to write music is the same.

'MMM Mama' the B-Side has the typical frantic pop Tonetta copyright backbeat, all shakers and tambourine... a hell of a lot of tambourines, always. No fills. It has a sideshow, vaudeville sensibility, and he's taking the chorus to a primal place. On this track he focuses on the over-modulated, distorted vocals of 'Mmm Mama oh Mama' which essentially becomes a vocal bassline over lyric. There's always an incredible amount of sex in any given Tonetta song complete with not so subtle innuendo every other verse in case you're completely deaf. It's the stereotyped expression that sex is on the mind every 30 seconds manifested into song.
It's also the first time I've heard a higher pitch shifted backing vocal.

Combine this raw, self expression with the fact that he's not going to be playing anywhere, ever and it makes me appreciate that this single even exists let alone the two full lengths that BT has put out on vinyl. His genius is immediately evident and unrepeatable. And here's my measure of genius, when I try to imagine an artist of the future that could possibly cover this or even bring anything worthwhile to the table...it's impossible. Tonetta is timeless, in his own demented world and I want to spend time there for more than just novelty...sometimes maybe it's because I can leave.

Black Tent Press had the good sense to take the packaging over the top as well, a 3 color serigraph print and fleshy colored vinyl makes the physical record as special as Tonetta himself.
The fact that Black Tent Press is taking chances (well, really how could you not press this) like this, to recognize the genius makes me want to immediately be up for buying everything they put out in the future.

For further reading, see Grandma knows best, Tonetta under review. It's like 7Inches, if I talked about Tonetta everyday.

In fact if you've gotten this far, and want to hear the man for yourself, Black Tent has graciously supplied me with a copy to give away. Email me (jdean99 at gmail) singing the praises of Tonetta and I will pick a winner by March 16th.

Full length review coming of Vol II, to follow in the forum section shortly.

7Inches - Singles awards of 2010 extravaganza- PT 3 - hello 2011

Finally.... best singles of the year:

Dirty Beaches - on Italian Beach Babe Records - I just hope more people can get their hands on this one, or he does a stateside single soon on someone's label...cool, detached, minimal home recorded awesome, with completely unique world influences.
Tonetta - Get it Going on Black tent Press - Oh Tonetta, where do I begin? Completely inspiring weirdness from Toronto (!?). The videos almost ruin the music they are so freaking amazing. A thousand thanks to Black Tent for putting this and TWO full length albums out now.
Useless Eaters - Mr. Oscillations on Mastermind Records - Everything Seth does is punchy to the point punk pop with a great layer of crisp distortion across everything. I hope it never ends. Everything so far has been on cassette and 7"....I never thought I'd say it, but enough already. I want a full length.
Sore Eros - Blackburn Recordings - Incredible hazy, melodic weirdness in line with the genius of Ariel Pink and Gary War. Completely mindblowingly complex. I have to catch this live this year.
Ariel Pink (round and round) - 4AD - I don't care how many times I hear this, it gets better and better. He works across genres in the most authentic and sincere way, with tons of experimental pop strewn across every track. There's a sad nostalgia to all of Before Today, that title now makes sense.
Sediment Club - on Soft Spot records - I still can't get over the ragged, simple, new wave from these guys. They're playing Jan 2nd.
Bare Wires - on Southpaw Records - So glad they ended up putting out a single from the guys that did Artificial Clouds, a record I played at least once a week because I wanted to. Mathew Melton is a serious bad ass.


RIP: Blessure Grave, Jay Reatard




Greatest Book ever written award goes to Touchable sound from Soundscreen design : A clear winner, no contest really, everything I ever wanted from a book: that it's entirely about the greatest single design of the past 20 years, every page in full color. The closest I'll get to ever seeing a lot of these historic pieces of art.

See you monday, happy new year.

Tonetta on Black Tent Press

I don't know what I was planning on writing about today, but it doesn't matter since Black Tent posted this announcement on facebook (!?) for a Tonetta 7" over the weekend.

The full length...hell, the videos are amazing, and I admit I might have not even been listening to them that closely, not that it mattered...it was too good to be true. But when I actually put the record on the turntable it was like Leonard Cohen and Ariel Pink teamed up for this weird canned backup track instrumentation and completely carnal vocals. Actually listening to the music, it's pretty amazing, it has the feel of pressing that demo button on a casio, but it's a lot more complex...the chord changes, the drum fills...he's no Wesley Willis, there's some musicianship behind the tracks. They all have kind of the same feel....sort of '80's background elevator, or mall soundtrack, they're clearly second tier to the vocal, which is full frontal sexy baritone. I was shocked at how great they are even in melody. They're hard to break down and figure out what exactly is going on in the slightly dance-inspired hit like "drugs drugs drugs", but it really will kill anyone lyrically the first time around. It can hold up to more than just the gimmick factor...
I really get the feeling this guy gets off on creating this character with these ideas that he wouldn't admit to. 'I'm gonna marry a prostitute', and 'A Really big cock'. As much as the tracks are great by themselves, it's really impossible to divorce from his imagery. It's a Tim & Eric sketch brought to life. Here's this older gentleman out there in Toronto, shooting these completely outsider spicy videos for himself and then youtube came along ...(why did he want to share them with the world again?)... I guess Tonetta really wants an audience. Everyone does...but it feels like a compulsion of some kind to have people see him sort of humiliated? Subjecting himself to the comments alone...he's got to be kind of into it.The sad bastard acoustic solo dude in his bedroom is kidding himself if he thinks he doesn't want this kind of attention. It makes perfect sense to contact this guy to release an album, but at the same time I'm surprised it actually made it to vinyl.

He literally wouldn't exist for anyone else without youtube or the internet at all for that matter. I'm sure he needs to do this, he's compelled to communicate his fetishes mostly...and that makes sense. What do you care more about then fucking? Food? That's boring to sing about. Singing and music is sex, Tonetta's taking it back to the reason why we came up with melody in the first place, to get attention for some action. I just know he's the real deal, it oozes with sincerity and idiosyncrasy. The kind that shouldn't ever be duplicated, that's better than anyone trying could ever imagine.

This will be gone along with the full length LP from Black Tent Press, as I'm writing this. I wish he would play live, but then again, maybe not.

Get it Going b/w Mmm Mama! 45

140gm 45
2 color serigraph
remastered to vinyl by Butchy Fuego
#BTP005