Mark Mallman
(Badman)
Mark Mallman's infatuation with music of arena sized proportion goes to its ultimate extreme with Invincible Criminal, an album that recalls such enduring ‘70s icons as David Bowie, Elton John, Freddie Mercury and, yes, even the mighty Meatloaf. Mallman makes no attempt to temper his artsy exuberance, and in fact, the entire album exudes a certain theatrical flair, a big, brassy sound chock full of effusive, emphatic intensity.
While such over-indulgence often leads to unpredictable results, somehow Mallman manages to keep the proceedings, however extravagant, from straying too far from focus. Still, songs like "Eternal Sunshine," "Mercy Calls," "Put Your Collar Up" and "You're Never Alone in New York" (a duet with longtime pal Craig Finn of Hold Steady) suggests a certain cocksure determination that borders on bravado. Fortunately Mallman doesn't neglect the need to sway his audiences, and the infectious refrains that grace "White Leather Days," the alluring piano pop of "In These Times of Harsh Economy," and the inherent drama that drives "Don't Spill the Bottle" show his ability to effectively temper the dynamics.
Then again, this is the same guy once credited with performing the longest rock song on record... not once, but twice - first with "Marathon," which came in at over 26 hours, and - natch -- "Marathon 2," which more than doubled the previous attempt. It's no wonder then that Mallman sometimes seems a bit over the top. Ten years and nine albums on, one gets the impression he's still asserting his ambitions.
Standout tracks: "You're Never Alone in New York," "Eternal Moonshine," "In These Times of Harsh Economy" LEE ZIMMERMAN
