Track Listings
| 1. Meet the Beatle | |||
| 2. Beached Boy | |||
| 3. Deodorant | |||
| 4. Michael Hillbilly | |||
| 5. Room to Breathe | |||
| 6. Right at Home | |||
| 7. Time to Wait | |||
| 8. Melancholy | |||
| 9. We Are the Chosen Few | |||
| 10. Baby It's Over | |||
| 11. Cascade | |||
| 12. Beautiful Invader | |||
| 13. Big Brain of the World | |||
| 14. You Want Me Shimmy | |||
| 15. How the West Was Won | |||
| 16. OK Forever | |||
| 17. Your Unmade Eye | |||
| 18. Seduced by Rock N Roll | |||
| 19. Amniotic Love | |||
| 20. Carsick | |||
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See all 25 tracks on this disc
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Sky Above the Mud Below,Tall Dwarfs,Carrot Top Records,Alternative Pop/Rock,College Rock,Lo-Fi,New Zealand Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop
Average customer rating: 
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Sky Above the Mud Below
Tall Dwarfs Manufacturer: Carrot Top Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Lo-Fi
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
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ASIN: B00008BLFX Release Date: 2003-02-11 |
Tracks:
Customer Reviews:
2 great songs amidst the fluff & dandruff.......2005-10-27
contemplative, all-star affair from ageing legends.......2003-03-27
The warmth of their previous recordings is still very evident, this time being far more reflective than their previous albums. Both Baithgate and Chris Knox (who has now reached the ripe old age of 50) seem at peace with themselves, and how they make music ' no longer concerned with the "lost opportunities" that their other recent albums such as 50 Flavors of Glue and Knox's solo release Beat portrayed.
The album starts with the chirpy, upbeat tribute to the late great George Harrison "Meet the Beatle" inspired by Chris' accidental run-in with Harrison a couple of years ago. "I know that guys like me are a drag, you must have had it up to here with fans" - a lyric typical of Knox's content throughout the album. He's playing for himself now, and songs like "Meet the Beatle" and the follow-up "Beached Boy" demonstrates he knows his place in the (music) world. Knox absolutely dominates the vocals on the first half of the disc, creating an introspective flow based around timid, tentative instrumentation ' it's hard to believe this is the same duo that raised so much hell as the Enemy back in the late 70s.
"Room to Breathe" again recalls long lost Beatles numbers, with Baithgate's first vocal outing sharing a great deal of character with long lost Lennon classics. As the understated (and undervalued) member of the duo ' Baithgate has a great deal of talent for playful melodies that goes unrecognized. "Melancholy" sees Knox bring out the Oven trays (for percussive effect) along with some gentle wilting mellotron from Baithgate ' a sickly sweet ditty that's already burnt its impression on my brain ' imminently hummable.
Baithgate's given the job of pulling off the album's one true radio hit, though, with the self-effacing sing-a-long "Baby, It's Over", featuring some of the best organ and synth the Tall Dwarfs have ever committed to tape. Similar to the catchy (and somewhat revolting) singles from last album 50 Flavors of Glue, it'd be a surefire hit if only pop songs were judged on merit rather than marketing ability!
"You Want Me Shimmy" is the prime moment of humor on the album, Knox trying his hardest to pull off an Allman brothers impression, but comes off somewhere between Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits! Definitely the result of many whiskey soaked nights behind the mixing board, it serves as a great foil to the more serious songs on the album.
The album concludes with an additional 8 tracks (described on the CD as a free EP) under the 'International Tall Dwarfs' moniker to coincide with material collected from international fans, called The Weidenha'sen Impediment. The EP features Graeme Downes guitar work, a loop from Jad Fair (of Yo La Tengo), vocals, clarinet and guitar from Jeff Magnum and Laura Carter of Neutral Milk Hotel (and Elf Power) and instrumentation from the entire Clean crew, along with a loop from unknown Dutch band 'Mongrell'. Following on from the International Tall Dwarfs stunning debut Stumpy -- considered by many as the Dwarfs best album.
It's quite evident that digital recording hasn't made too much of a difference to the way the boys make music, the album still showcases the Dwarf's disdain for flashy production ' and it takes until the trailing EP before their trademark tape manipulation comes into play. All in all though, the many guest stars (and occasional stolen sample byte) blend perfectly into the Dwarfs lo-fi madness ' with even the guests from Neutral Milk Hotel being relegated to merely impersonating possums on 'Possum Born'. One of the best albums of the year so far, filled to the brim with catchy sing-a-long choruses, strange lyrical bents and references.
91%
Junkmedia Review - Indie elder statesmen.......2003-03-08
The two opening songs illustrate the band's hit-and-miss approach with "Meet the Beatle" and "Beached Boy." The first of these is a jangle-fuzz letter to "Mister Harrison" from an overzealous fan (Bathgate himself). It's goofy fun that wraps itself up under three minutes. The Casiotone percussion, piano and backwards guitars make the point perfectly clear that sweet simplicity will never go out of style. However, "Beached Boy" is a strained affair. Whether it's supposed to be a joke or not, one can't be sure; either way, it's a tough listen. Chris Knox's parched voice is stretched thin over some uninspired bass, loops and piano. Unfortunately, this is one vessel that should have been scuttled long before it reached the shore. In the end, the idea of opening the record with two songs paying homage to their influences was much better than its execution.
Thankfully, this is the largest misstep on the album. Most everything else retains the adolescent charm and garage-fidelity that the Tall Dwarfs are known for. Highlights include the sarcastic crunch of "Deodorant," the pretty pop of "Room to Breathe" and the Beefheart inspired "You Want Me Shimmy."
In addition to this full-length, the guys tacked on an eight song EP, The Weidenhaüsen Impediment, by the International Tall Dwarfs. These are collaborations with musical admirers from around the world including Jad Fair, Laura Carter (Elf Power), and Jeff Magnum as well as members of The Clean. The results are what one might expect from a 4-track postbox relationship between musicians -- middling.
But, I imagine what you really want to know about is Mr. Neutral Milk's two contributions, right? Well, on the first of the two he is only credited with "possum noises," so no one would be the wiser were it not written in the liner notes. However, on the melancholy "Over the Waves," Magnum's trademarked acoustic strum and floating backing vocals are unmistakable. However, Knox sings lead vocals, so it is really just a tease. Still, completists will want it. And if that exposes a handful of them to the Tall Dwarfs, who am I to complain?
Barin McGrath
Junkmedia Review
From the label.......2003-02-15
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Average customer rating: 
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The Sky Above, The Mud Below
Tall Dwarfs Manufacturer: Flying Nun ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Lo-Fi
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Rock
| Imports
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ASIN: B000AHJ8XI Release Date: 2007-03-12 |
Tracks:
Album Details
With the Advent of Digital Technology, Our Duo have Reached Into that Realm to Investigate the Myriad of Possibilities of Time-stretching, Looping and Cut'n'paste Editing that the Tall Dwarfs Had Already Perfected Previously on Magnetic Tape. Which is Not to Say They have Forsaken that Wonderful Medium, 99% of the New Record Being Recorded to 1/2" 8-track Tape Before Dumping to Digital.Rock Music: