The Great Tyrant

The Great Tyrant can always be counted on for some coffin-dark rock. Vocal effects alternately give Beck voice-of-God depth and the guttural roar of a B-movie demon, and his keys spit forth insane-asylum piano dissonance and horror-movie organ blasts. The synth-bass-drums trio needs no guitars, thanks to the ferociously noisy...

By Jesse Hughey

August 21, 2008

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The Great Tyrant can always be counted on for some coffin-dark rock. Vocal effects alternately give Beck voice-of-God depth and the guttural roar of a B-movie demon, and his keys spit forth insane-asylum piano dissonance and horror-movie organ blasts. The synth-bass-drums trio needs no guitars, thanks to the ferociously noisy rhythm section of former Yeti members Tommy Atkins and Jon Teague. Their interplay of complex, jazzy drums and bass is straight-faced even if Beck's performance often has a campy side.
Fri., Aug. 22, 2008

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