Oil Tasters

  • Oil Tasters
  • Oil Tasters (Thermidor) 1982 

Armed with an inspired ugly name, this avant-jazz-rock trio (sax/organ, drums, bass/vocals) from Milwaukee has abundant kitsch intelligence, which provides witty, dadaist lyrics for sharp songs like “What’s in Your Mouth” and “(I Don’t Want to Be an) Encyclopedia Salesman.” The music’s a bit grating and only slightly melodic, but exciting in its own abrasive way. Rather than assaulting music, the Oil Tasters kick at sounds with curiosity and enthusiasm, creating an unpleasant but listenable breed of weirdness.

[Ira Robbins]