Sunday, October 4, 2009

The Unicorn

So who is Peter Grudzien, a prophet, a tortured genius, a sensitive man with Asperger Syndrome, gay pop mystic? Really, does it matter? What does matter is his 1974 album The Unicorn. It is a deliciously idiosyncratic piece of outsider pop music that will warm your heart as it breaks it, it will comfort as it unnerves you. The Unicorn possesses a placid honesty that is rare in music, it stands without pretensions or posturing of any sort, it just is. When I listen to Peter Grudzien I am reminded of the stark genius of Matty Luv's Yogurt home recordings and the arcane homosensual lyrical entendre of Antony & The Johnsons. This was waaaay ahead of its time on all fronts. So haunting, weird, and occasionally funny, I can't imagine this won't move you in some way.

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10 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 4, 2009 at 1:19 AM

    if it's like your last post, it could be a pop genius (if that does mean something)

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  2. TMMOctober 4, 2009 at 7:46 AM

    you throw a wicked curveball.=

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  3. AnonymousOctober 4, 2009 at 8:00 AM

    Will HAVE to check this out. Thanks for all the great music. I do think we are due the next fix of VH jems you have laying around...

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  4. AnonymousOctober 4, 2009 at 8:08 PM

    I knew I recognized that voice - He's on "Songs in the Key of Z"

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  5. AnonymousOctober 5, 2009 at 9:51 AM

    ill find something here and make a dirty oldschool homo dance beat out of it!

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  6. M.H.H.October 6, 2009 at 3:03 PM

    Totally legendary psychedelic
    homo trucker country.
    Garden of Love is whizz-bang too.
    Keep 'em comin.

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  7. mattOctober 6, 2009 at 3:11 PM

    this is incredible.. what a strange album. thanks so much!

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  8. Ambassador MAGMAOctober 7, 2009 at 4:59 PM

    This is so beautiful! It is what I always expect Jobriath to sound like (I'm disappointed every time). With lyrics like Exuma at the rapture or Benjamin Smoke in his least melancholy, Porter Wagoner in one of his weirdest moods, Jandek at his most haunting, but something totally unique.

    This is a really, truly a gift to the world.

    Do you know what label rereleased this?

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  9. UnknownOctober 9, 2009 at 6:40 PM

    Thanks for this. its weirdness is comforting in a way. other times, totally hilarious and makes me want to write strange songs. interesting how the recordings not being 'perfect' add a special something to it all. and its 'perfect' in its own way in its own world!!

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  10. mOctober 14, 2009 at 2:49 AM

    thank you for posting this. this is tremendous.

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