The Walrus - Music With Big Fuckin' Teeth!

11/07/2007

Scott Walker: A Brilliant Weirdo

If you have never heard of Scott Walker, it's probably because you have never lived in England or never listened to completely bizarre, avant garde, recluse music. Nonetheless, Walker and his band The Walker Brothers are considered to be part of the 60s British Invasion (although they were Americans who invaded London.) The Brothers weren't actually related, yet at the height of their popularity, their fan club was bigger than the Beatles. Here is "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore," very Phil Spector/ Righteous Brothers, yes?

Sunglasses and scarves, never out of style

In 1967, Walker left the group to pursue a solo career and successfully released a slew of albums into the 70s. He covered a lot of Jacques Brel tunes and big band standards, while mixing in some of his own songs. The 1969 album, Scott 4, marked the beginning of Walker's departure from pop music and descent into the unknown. "The Seventh Seal" is Walker's bizarre Ingmar Berman shout-out, and "The Old Man's Back Again (Dedicated to the Neo-Stalinist Regime)" confronts communism with a funky bass and a Gothic mens chorus? Far out.

30 years later and these rooms are still too bright

Scott Walker is still making music, albeit totally abstract and somewhat alienating. His last release came out this past September. "And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball?" is a 24 minute instrumental work, never to be re-pressed. Get 'em while they are hot!