John Wilkes Boothe and the Black Tooth 

Upon initially hearing this, it made me think a mental hospital had acquired some recording equipment and in the place of group therapy, some of the patients had opted to express themselves with these new found toys.

This is a duo, although their FB page shows a picture of three gentlemen dressed in dapper attire. One page lists Myles Holt, Ben Melton, and Paul Blackwell as band members and the other very clearly refers to a “catchy two-headed lovechild birthed from an orgy between the Mountain Goats, Ween, The Avett Brothers and Morgan Freeman.”

Which is hard to argue with. Really, what do you say to this sort of gothic claim of a twisted car wreck of parentage?

“Let’s Pretend it’s Sunday” is one of the stand out tracks, and is positively Monty Python-esque. “We were both looking forward/To a day filled with Public Executions/But they were post-poned/Due to Inclement weather/What can you do?”

There are pretty melodies, and deft acoustic performances, and a lot of really odd lyrical musings. “In the Splendor of the court of the Rhinoceros King . . .” sings the singer on “Unicorn.” “I would give you everything I own/ For a Drop of Unicorn blood.” Most likely he’s not alone in this sentiment. “The Ballad of Charles Manson” is another memorable title and track.  “The Ostrich and the Octopus” sounds like it could have been culled from a mid-70’s George Harrison album.

This release is available as a free download and worth every damn penny. You want something different? Something to listen to while you woo that arty, witchy girl who sits across the room? Music to make out to while you’re on your 15 minute break at the slaughterhouse? Or maybe just some background music while you dine on the flesh of the Goatchilde?

This my friends is it.

More twisted than the pointy fonts of that would-be-evil, trying too hard to be creepy and strange metal band that lives down the street from you. Someone, or possibly everyone in this band is off of their meds, and there’s no point in trying to get them back on.

http://www.facebook.com/johnwilkesbootheandtheblacktoothe/app_204974879526524