| When thinking about the brainchild of Nightbeast, Nicholas Testa, I can't help but imagine the
eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla. The names are similar and while Tesla worked electromagnetism,
Nightbeast looks like it wishes to electrify audiences with its hilarious music. This is a one man
show (despite some buddies helping) and his new album, "Inside Jokes For Outside Folks," is the
result.
I knew this effort was going to be funny, but I don't think I was fully prepared for the loofy,
electronica, Monkey-Bone like, rhymefest that it turned out to be. It was almost like The Secret
Handshake recruited Max Bemis (Say Anything) and they sat in a recording studio recording anything
that hit their mind while shooting pixie stix'. A majority of the songs seem to have lyrics and
themes about the bestial side of things (pandas, monkeys, beasts, etc). Nic looks like a Panda bear
himself, which makes this even more funny.
Honestly I like music that has fun, but this seems so goofy that it comes off as a novelty and
doesn't seem like it can last. The electronica is upbeat and features a truck load of positive (and funny) atmospheres. I will say that one of my most favorite songs is "NightBOast" because it’s so ball bustingly dumb/silly.
So if you are in the mood for a truly entertaining record with solo electronica, strumming acoustics, and all of the creative brain farts that come from Mr. Testa's overflowing imagination, then this will make you smile. Don't expect a serious music effort because "Inside Jokes For Outside Folks" is anything but serious, but that doesn’t make it bad. It does however become a novelty after a short while and you might move on to something more fulfilling. But Nightbeast IS flyer than a 747.
~ Pernell
May 23 2008 |
