JONATHAN COULTON: Smoking Monkey

Jonathan Coulton

Smoking Monkey

© 2003 Jonathan Coulton (634479128523)

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Well-crafted geek pop - hilarious but heartbreaking songs about clowns, masons and exhibitionists.

tracks

1 I'm Having a Party
2 Bozo's Lament
3 Kenesaw Mountain Landis
4 Ikea
5 I Hate California
6 Christmas Is Interesting
7 Over There
8 Millionaire Girlfriend
9 First of May
10 De-Evolving
11 I'm a Mason Now
12 Overhead

notes

By turns hilarious and melancholy, rockin' and melodious, Jonathan Coulton's lovely ditties about vengeful nerds, ennui-afflicted clowns, partially-imagined historical figures, and devotees of a certain Swedish prefab furniture store are insanely clever without ever being too clever for their own good. They repeatedly lure you into laughing before suddenly breaking your heart. And the sick part is, you keep coming back. Coulton's is the voice of every spooky elementary school kid who could never quite keep his shirt tucked in or shoes tied; every lovelorn mason and mad scientist; every one of us who has ever sat despairingly on the floor, surrounded by parts of an Ikea endtable, weeping over our allen wrenches. (He also acquits himself beautifully in the ever-popular genre of odes to outdoor copulation.)

reviews

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  • Wonderful
    author: Joey Coleman

    Bought as a gift and thoroughly appreciated.

  • Squirrel and Chipmunk Friends
    author: Robert Vaughn

    JC does it again with another great selection of great lyrics put to a catchy beat. I continued to be impressed with how it's not just me but everybody I have listen to Jonathan Coulton that falls in love with his music.

  • PLEASE come play in Ventura County, CA!
    author: Altmed

    OMG! My son sent me a link to your your web site after I heard it playing when I called him & asked what he was listening to. GREAT, funny, awesome stuff! I've gotta look at your other albums as well, and either decide which ones I want, or simply get all of them... I have a new iPod-like thingy on the way, so this will be some of the first songs to be loaded on it when it gets here! VERY creative! (From someone who grew up with a radio in her ear 24/7.) From someone who grew up on Dr, Demento, and if he was still on the air in our area (or at all???), this would be on his top 10! For those who are too young to recall Dr. Demento, then just buy the albums - ALL of them! You'll love them! The music is great with overtones of Peter, Paul & Mary, as well as the Beatles, yet some kinda strange county twang on some of the songs as well, such as "Baby Got Back" (YEP! You younger people know what I'm talking about!) & Queen's "We Will Rock You" I don't think that song's on this album, but it's great! I also LOVE the original stuff, even more than the remixes. Some of the best music I've heard in a while! Thank God for new artists like Johnathan Coultan! :) From your web site, it looks like you are on the right (east) coast... Hope you'll come to the left coast (west) to do some concerts here! Libby Park, Ojai, Santa Barbara County Bowl, the Ventura Theatre, or one of the many other clubs in Ventura, Santa Barbara &/or LA County! The word's spreading around here & Santa Barbabra & LA aren't that far away, so hope you'll come on out to play near us sometime soon! Would love to see you and yer band! Altmed Ojai, CA

  • Good Music:
    author: Julia AnnGardner.com

    Amazing Lyrics,simple, yet catchy, very good story telling.

  • A collection of funny stories that are intriguing.
    author: jeff marvig

    Great stories. great beat of the music. off beat sense of humor. I love Ikea. I own a bookcase named Billy also and am a norseman. When Ikea comes on I get my labrador to dance with around the house.

  • author: Janet Goodsell

    I really like Jonathan Coulton's unexpected and clever lyrics, especially "Ikea". I've been a fan since hearing him interviewed on NPR. I hear that my grandson dances to "Thing a Week Four".

  • So glad NPR was right!!
    author: Nellie

    I heard a review of Jonathan and his "song a day" project on NPR recently and loved what I heard so much that I bought it for my husband (a stay at home Dad) for Christmas. He and my 3yr old daughter love it! Finally, an artist who can not only write and play really good music, but can also write amazing lyrics and change a poopie diaper! What a great investment! Bravo!

  • If a fan of Coulton, this should not be missed, if not, prepare to become one.
    author: Jason Cawelti

    While some of the production values are a little lacking, this CD has charm, wit, and humor. If you are a fan of Coulton you probably already have this CD. If not, then it is a great CD to get to know his style. Simplistic, at times, complex in others this music has heart. What I really like is the topics of each of his tunes. They are simply unlike anything I have heard before. It is observational humor set to music. GOOD music. Very catchy melodies make you want to sing the songs even after the humor has worn thin. When you get this you will be craving more... fortunately there is no shortage of Coulton's music. Just keep it coming Johnny!

  • Can't stop listening to it!!
    author: London Bunny

    Being European I should probably be offended by songs like Over There, but Jonathan's bang on the money - I've long known that there are some smelly people on this continent, but the difference is he can take his brilliant observations and put them into brilliant songs. I'll never get jiggy outside again without humming First of May to myself!! Excellent - not to be missed!!!

  • Brilliant!
    author: KR

    I have not been as excited about a cd since They Might Be Giants came out with Flood. Smoking Monkey has some true gems that will definietly make you smile and will often cause you to laugh out loud. If you appreciate off-beat, creative genius, this one is for you!

  • I feel Fantastic
    author: KatMac

    Every song on this CD lives up to my highest expectations of Jonathan Coulton's work. I have all of his pod casts that I listen to endlessly - and yet I STILL can't get enough! Listening to his music always makes me feel 'Fantastic'! PS ~ CD Baby is the BEST!

  • Friggin' Genius
    author: Adam Elman

    Jonathan Coulton is not only a stellar musician, but HILARIOUS as well. Anyone who can rhyme "Norsemen" and "Divorced Men" makes my favorite-artist list. Caution: the songs on this CD are horribly, horribly catchy -- I am now unable to think about my favorite furniture store without hearing "Ikea" in my head.

  • Not so much like Wierd Al
    author: Shane

    I see some prior reviewers drew comparisons of JC's songs to Weird Al and TMBG and I've heard others compare him to Stephen Lynch. I don't think any of those are fair comparisons. With all due (and great) respect to Weird Al, Stephen Lynch, and the like... they write and arrange songs whose purpose are simply to be vehicles for a punch-line. And, TMBG can often (but not always) be found writing brainy-weird songs for brainy-weirdness sake. I haven't found either of those qualities in JC's songs. He certainly has a wicked sense of humour, but the songs are not about 'being funny'. And while JC has some unusual topics, I don't think that he is necessarily trying to be 'strange'. If a comparson is necessary, here's my two cents: His sense of musical style, is akin to BNL, while his use of humour is closer to Frank Zappa (but, much less misogynistic).

  • Very funny, very catchy
    author: Josh Stolaroff

    There are some truly shining stars on this album -- extremely clever songs that charm you with humor and endear you with polished, pop-sensible arrangements.

  • Guitars, plywood, brushed steel and springtime celebration - what more could you
    author: Aaron

    As the other reviews say, They Might Be Giants and Weird Al Yankovic are similar to this CD, but this just has one up on them! Definetly one to sing along to really loud in a public place...

  • Unbalanced, but fun... like a musical rum and coke.
    author: Aramis Troche

    Not amazing, but not lame either. This is a solid mix of fun tunes you will enjoy if you like humor rockers like They Might Be Giants, Adam Sandler and Weird Al.

  • author: Donald J. Levine

    Just a fun CD to listen to and enjoy. Expect the unexpected and simply enjoy this intelligent array of songwriting. When you are having a bad day put on Smoking Monkey and let your cares just melt away.

  • author: Timm Course, Bravo-Charlie Productions

    Finally! Music (and lyrics, too) for those of us with IQs on the starboard side of the bell curve. Who woulda thought that you could take a complex mathematical formula and give it a groove? It's the first time a musician has spoken to ME in almost a quarter century. Come to think of it, with a few notable exceptions, it's the first time a musician has actually been able to convey a coherent thought in a quarter century. And it didn't require synthesized sub-bass to do it, either. Coulton not only conveys a thought, he consistently hits the "I wish I'd said that" button. Jonathan, you made me smile; and that ain't easy to do anymore. Thanks. Now if only I could get his stuff in Karaoke form.....what fun I would have! -TC

  • Clearly the most brilliant song writer of our time.
    author: Bonnie Morse

    This is beyond a doubt the best album I've ever heard. From start to finish it's just an incredible achievement.

  • Even my toddler loves these songs!
    author: Constance Adams

    Not only is Jonathan funnier and more tuneful than Spinal Tap, with the terrible and lighthearted wit of Tom Lehrer, he creates songs that stick in the head and become instant favorites with children (so be careful which songs you play loudly in the car!). My daughter is 2-1/2 and already rejects all offers of "Frere Jacques", "Old MacDonald" or "ABC" at sing-along time; instead she jumps up and shouts, "IKEA"!!!

  • Good Job
    author: The Unsaid

    Good job on the CD! I only listened to Weird Al... Then Popular Science mentioned this website so i decided to try it. Out with Wierd Al and in with Smoking Monkey!

  • Jonathan, who are these so-called reviewers?
    author: Josh Sadow

    Did you pay them? That's not 'reviewing', Jonathan? Are they related to you? Again, not really what I'd call a 'review'. Anyway, Happy Christmas and here is your $12. Josh

  • Touching and twisted
    author: Rose White

    Compulsively listenable. Not a send-up or a parody of folk rock, but a loving addition to the corpus from a riotously funny man.

  • This guy is a genius, no kidding.
    author: Mike Rosenzweig

    Look out for the curve ball. Songs start out low key and then often explode with the unexpected. Or explode our cliches. Or are simply hysterical. The lyrics do remind me of Tom Lehrer --- a lot --- because they are outrageously clever. But these ain't your grandpa's folk songs!

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