The Flexible Entertainer | Pit Er Pat

My review of Pit Er Pat’s The Flexible Entertainer ran today in the Boston Phoenix.

Butchy Fuego, we meet again. Just over six years ago, I reviewed Fuego’s self-titled album and was not very impressed. It was an album of filler mostly, a clattering garbage heap of poorly thought out pieces that was infuriating in its aimlessness. Interestingly, I find Fuego to be the best part of The Flexible Entertainer, and reserve most of my scorn for his partner, Fay Davis-Jeffers. Her flat, disinterested vocals make this album a chore to listen to, and the band’s miserably stiff guitar melodies are truly dreadful. Fuego’s percussion, however, is actually pretty interesting, particularly on the track “Emperor of Charms.” That said, it’s not enough to save The Flexible Entertainer from getting the lowest possible score I’m capable of assigning.