Shadowy Men From a shadowy Planet - Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham

Along with Man or Astroman?, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet released several outstanding indie instrumental albums in the 1990s. This is their second and probably best one, and still sounds great almost 15 years later. Borrowing as much from UK pre-Beatles instrumental legends the Shadows as the reverb-drenched American surfmeisters of the '60s, Toronto's Shadowy Men are a tough act to duct-tape to the chair. These '90s guys keep squirming loose to add unexpected elements to their brew. Benny Goodman's "Swing, Swing, Swing" pops up in "I Know a Guy Named Larry." And "Bang Bang," the Sonny Bono tune, tellingly combines gypsy swagger and 007 intrigue with a rockabilly bridge. Like San Francisco's Mermen, this is kinda surf and kinda not. When the Shadowy Men play Brian Wilson's "In My Room," you can bet they've got a pail of water balanced over the door, just waiting for some sap to walk in. Fans of this band should also check out 'Fresh Gasoline' by Phono-Comb.

1. Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham 2. Reids Situation 3. I Know A Guy Named Larry
4. Exit From Vince Lombardi High School 5. Aunts Invasion 6. Running Meredith
7. Bang Bang 8. Hot Box Car 9. In My Room 10. Dewy Drops Of Spring
11. 5 American 6 Canadian 12. Who Painted Whistler's Mother
13. Case Of The Missing Lady Fingers 14. Jackpot 15. D. Tour
16. Hunter S. Thompson's Younger Brother 17. Misogomy And The Object
18. Ben Hur Picked Off In A Gazebo 19. Who's Afriad Of Alyson Hymer/Wow Flutter Hiss 20. You Spin Me Round '86 21. Babakganoosh 22. Siesta Cinema
23. Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham (Reprise) 24. Bonus Track 25. Bonus Track

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