'I'm A Hobo', in name and in music, reminds me of the sort of burlesque, raucuous, Tim Burton-esque insanity that just needs some stop motion puppets to deliver it for the millions to start rolling in. A meandering, jazzy saxophone ambles in. The listener isn't sure what to expect. Is it jazz? Might be. Looking back on the track, you realise that there's too much going on to really decide. Rock, punk, blues, jazz, gypsy folk? No idea. But enough of this pointless musing. Let's get back to the song... An anarchic, big band, runaway train of a drum beat picks up, sounding for all the world as if it's ready to ditch the hangers on and just burst out of the door. It's the sort of beat that makes your feet itchy. Paul Napier's voice feels weathered, slightly worn, emotional (to the point of histrionics almost) and ever so slightly insane. It's a real party of a track; indeed it feels almost sacrilege to be listening to it seated, in a quiet room, on my own. This music needs to be heard live, in a sweaty speakeasy with smooth guys, sweet gals and plenty of feet-tapping.
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'Full of Beans' kicks off with one of the funkiest, syncopated drumbeats known to man: it's soon joined by a veritable cornucopia of saxophones, trumpets, pianos and guitars. Halfway through, the whole thing degenerates into about thirty seconds of freakish breakdown. Instruments squeak, cymbals crash, chords tinkle, voices shout like lunatics, and the drums sound like they're about fly off and hit someone in the face. The song never really comes back from this and the whole blasts away merrily without a care in the world. 'No more fuckin' around for me' comes the line. Quite so. This is certainly no fucking around. Highly recommended.
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