There was a time when Dan Nakamura could to no wrong. As Dan the Automator, he was very much the touchstone of cool for me, for a while a few years back. And honestly, with Dr. Octagon, Deltron 3030, Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School and Head Automatica on his résumé, you’ll forgive me for jumping headfirst into Lovage.
Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By is an experience. It’s one of those albums that made me wish that I took drugs, so maybe I’d appreciate it more.
Not that I can’t appreciate some aspects of it. Any track that doesn’t have vocals rocks. “Everyone Has a Summer”, which features Kid Koala on the turntables, is a real treat. Hearing what Dan the Automator put together to make the quirky beat really makes you marvel at the craft of crate-digging. But the majority of the time, when it comes to the tracks with vocals, the album’s at least boring and at most annoying.
I dig the characters of Nathaniel Merriweather and Chest Rockwell—they work and they’re fun. And for the most part they stay behind the scenes. But Mike Patton drives me crazy (in a bad way). His vocals are all over the place. He uses funny voices and completely takes you out of the song. It might work with his other musical escapades, but here it’s just repugnant.
Jennifer Charles’ voice isn’t grating, but she doesn’t really demand attention. Still, her solo track is a pleasant reprieve from Mike Patton.
I will admit to loving “Book of the Month”—its nonsensical come-ons are genius.
The skits are good-natured and funny. The splicing of two different conversations on “Herbs, Good Hygiene & Socks” is utilized to pretty humorous results. And “Loveage (Love that Lovage, Baby)” features a frequent Automator collaborator.
In the end I’m left with an album that obviously didn’t connect with me initially and still doesn’t. I’ve tried to make it work, but to no avail. I guess you really can’t force some things.
