Telephone Free Landslide Victory (CD - 1985)

Camper Van Beethoven: David Lowery (vocals, guitar, drums); Chris Molla (guitar, drums, background vocals); Greg Lisher (guitar); Jonathan Segel (mandolin, violin, keyboards, background vocals); Victor H. Krummenacher (bass, background vocals); Anthony Guess (drums).

Camper Van Beethoven's 1985 debut was like nothing else going on around it. Opening like a Tex-Mex band, they head into country & western, Middle Eastern, psychedelia, inscrutable catchy pop, and more. The stylistic development of the band and its members can be heard right here--four more Camper Van Beethoven albums came out (not including posthumous releases and odds 'n' ends collections) before the group splintered into Cracker and the Monks Of Doom. David Lowery's deadpan delivery downplays some of the materials inherent humor. But the humor never obscures the strong musical basis for everything they do. This album is highly recommended, as is their final release, KEY LIME PIE. minimize