Swathed in sitar/guitar reverb, neon paisley light and garage-band energy, Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive picks up exactly where their 30-year old recordings collected a few years back on the wonderful Devolver left off, yet it sounds every bit as modern as it does of a time when they could have been opening for The Standells (or The Standells opening for them). By names they were and are Xerox Feinberg, Trip Thompson, Doc Michaud and Ned Egg; by sound they are groovy, psychedelic, lo-fi, wild and outtasite.
The new record takes you on a trip through Wormtown (Worcester, MA, for the unhip) with the Messiahs. They help you avoid the "Weirdoz Everywhere" as you speed through twisting streets in "Bobb's Psychedelic Car" (that's Bobb Trimble, again for the unhip), blaring "College Radio" through tinny speakers while "Booshwa Sally" throws her arms around you. It's akin to Siddhartha's journey of self-discovery (or should that be "Ssydarthurr?"); a stupid dream worth keeping alive, at least until you reach the "Orange Room."
What I'm trying to say is: this is good. This is damn good. Equal parts tribute and parody with more than a little bit of social commentary in the mix. It's Naz Nomad meets The Dukes Of Stratosphear, only The Prefab Messiahs were doing it long before and are still doing it now, long after.
So get yerself over to The Prefab Messiah's Bandcamp site and grab the music. Keep Your Stupid Dreams Alive, as well as previous releases, are there as name-your-price offers - do give the band some support. If you prefer a proper vinyl copy, the 10-inch disc can be had through KYLAM (Kids Like You And Me)/Burger Records for just a ten spot.
In the meantime, here are two clips from the record: "Weirdoz Everywhere" and "Bobb's Psychedelic Car." Enjoy!
