· "The Spam Avenger takes phone numbers from unsolicited e-mails from the computer and phones people on the telephone and says funny things to them."
-Vail Halen from The Spam Avenger Remixed
A concept remix of a concept album is pretty high concept indeed, but let me try to put it in perspective. Imagine the computer synthesized voice from Radiohead’s OK Computer repeatedly calling Thom Yorke at home trying to sell him anti-depressants. Thom gets angry, but doesn’t hang up. Then Negativland gets a hold of the tape and – voila! Musical genius. You see what I mean.
Those who already shelled out their well-earned yak’s goiter to procure a copy of The Spam Avenger’s first album are probably right now drooling over the pending sequel. "I’m an Eel" is reworked into "I’m an Eel (tiki room mix)" which is reminicent of that era in John Hughes’s motion-picture career where samples from his movies were combined with some phat beats to create a humorous sonic collage. Admittedly, the Avenger is far more successful than ETA and Bomb the Bass ever were because the source material is so much better.
That, however, isn’t the entire story. On the remix, The Avenger enlists the help of some friends – Vail Halen, Aaron Booth, Scalpel and Mama – to create backing musical beds to the "hits" from the first record.
The Spam Avenger Remixed is more likely to get your belly shaking with laughter than your ass shaking on the dance floor, but that isn’t a bad thing. For those with friends who have not been introduced to The Spam Avenger, the remixes are almost a better starting point. Geared for more passive listening, the remixes don’t necessarily demand your full attention for enjoyment. Now, instead of endlessly trying to re-create the scenarios like bad, rehashed stand-up comedy, you can sneak the CD into regular rotation and, faster than you can say "Maynard," your friends will be quoting it back to you. Some tracks take on a hilarious and (funky) fresh new life while others become disturbingly heartfelt.
The only criticism is that at times the Avenger’s brilliant telephone baiting tactics get lost in the mix. I would gladly trade prodigious musicianship for comic genius any day of the week, but as far as sequels go, this one is better than Jerky Boys 2.
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