Asbury Park Press
August 14, 1999
Cerebral Rock
by Ed Condran
Robyn Hitchcock, in record company parlance, is known as an "integrity artist". The bookish Britisher has never had a smash album and it's doubtful he'll ever grace the chart's upper echelon. Hitchcock received a bit of air and video play in 1991 after A&M Records gave his lightweight but catchy single, "So You Think You're in Love", a big push. Hitchcock tasted some success but found the flavor bitter, because the tune wasn't an accurate representation of his canon.
"It wasn't me," Hitchcock said while calling from Oklahoma City, "It's this little Beatlesque tune, which really doesn't match what I've done throughout my career."
Indeed. The number certainly captured Hitchcock's melodic side. However, it was hardly as surreal and idiosyncratic as much of his canon. Such song titles as "Sandra's Having Her Brain Out", "My Wife And My Dead Wife", and "The Man With The Lightbulb Head" are as twisted as the songs themselves.
The tags of the tunes may be offbeat, but don't toss Hitchcock's work into the novelty realm. "That's the last place I want to be," Hitchcock said. "My songs aren't parodies. I enjoy using language, but I'm not "Weird" Al Yankovic. I do walk a fine line but I try to stay on the proper side of that line. If a song I wrote could ever be construed as a novelty song then I wouldn't feature it on a record."
Apparently. Hitchcock penned a goofy ode to actor Gene Hackman, which was recorded at a show in Los Angeles in 1997. It's included on the brainy bard's latest album, the tuneful and clever Jewels For Sophia, however it closed the disc and is untitled. "I would never feature a song like that because radio stations would have me on to perform just that song," Hitchcock said. "Photo shoots with Gene Hackman might be set up, and other wacky stuff would follow. I don't want to be part of a farce. I think my songs are more substantial than that." Hitchcock's tunes are so meaty that, unlike much of what's gracing the charts and played in clubs, it's difficult to focus on anything but the material when it's emanating from a set of speakers. "That's such an important point, because I think what's wrong with Ambient music or much of what is called Pop today," Hitchcock said. "It's background music. You can do your work or talk on the phone or do a puzzle while listening to it. That's not what I want for my music. It's designed to be the focal point. Unfortunately using your brain and having fun are two different things for a lot of people these days."
Thinking and having a good time don't have to be mutually exclusive. Flaming Lips leader Wayne Coyne apparently believes that, since he set up the MABD (Music Against Brain Degeneration) tour, which features Hitchcock, The Lips and fellow cerebral rockers Sebadoh. The event, which stops Tuesday and Wednesday at Tramps in Manhattan, is a traveling variety show. The show also includes MCs and video skits. "Wayne is an idealist, fortunately," Hitchcock said. "He set up this tour with the idea of stretching people's brains and that's great. I'm just thankful when he was sitting thinking about this tour he said, 'Hey, we have to have Hitchcock out with us.' I'm more than happy to be a part of this tour."
It's comforting that even though Hitchcock's albums don't reach the gold standard, he remains on a major label. "I'm not the kind of recording artist that is going to make a record company a fortune," Hitchcock said. "Maybe my name looks good on the [Warner Bros.] roster. It doesn't matter why I'm there. The most important thing for me is that I am there and making music."
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