Over the past few years, there have been few musical comedy duos as infectious and unique as Garfunkel and Oates. Featuring Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome, the two perform folk songs - usually in perfect harmony - detailing comical events from pregnant women to the vibrating nature of go karts. While the concept seems novelty, they're actually very good at making infectious little ditties, some of which have stood the test of time. With their latest album "Secretions," they return to doing what they do best with a mix of familiar songs, and a few more risque numbers about various anatomical parts. It may sound like more of the same, but it helps that the same is still very entertaining.
Among the achievements that have happened since the duo's previous album "Slippery When Moist" was the short lived and eponymous IFC series in which they starred as themselves. With their growing presence in pop culture, even appearing on The Big Bang Theory, it was a show that embraced a contemporary take on The Monkees with creative music videos used as interstitial to the main story. It added a dynamic to the show, even creating one of the most purely artistic shows on TV. After all, it remains one of the few to feature an equal rights song about gay puppets. Even if Micucci and Lindhome's strengths are more in music, they still brought an endearment to their roles and made the most of their short lived series.
The one downside is that if you watched Garfunkel and Oates, whether as it aired or in reruns, you're already familiar with a lot of their music. While some was cribbed from their last album for the show, it did feature an astounding amount of original content. In that regards, this album often plays more as a soundtrack to the series. You're likely to recognize "Sports Go Sports" or "You Go First." In some regards, the newer songs pale in comparison with tracks like "The BJ Song" and "The College Try" turning more towards the awkwardness of explicitly sexual behaviors. It's a shtick that makes these two occasionally enjoyable, but can often come across as a cheap gimmick. To hear two innocent-sounding women describe a vagina may be comical, but compared to the rich history of their sexual satire such as "Handjob Blandjob I Don't Understand Job," it does feel like lesser takes.
The idea of folk comedy records are a little bit of a novelty, so there was always going to be limited appeal to Garfunkel and Oates. While they have gone on to adapt more than the initial ukulele backing instrument, their style remains similar and their rich, perfect synchronicity is what is the essential draw. While their music is often comical, it does seem like they can't help but occasionally write a sincere and passionate song. There's the aforementioned "You Go First," which takes the subject of losing and creates a motivational argument to keep trying. The lyrics are as creative as their funniest music, but there's a sweetness to it that counterbalances the crass songs and the downright apathetic hostility of songs like "Happy Birthday to My Loose Acquaintance." These are songs that are goofy and earnest in ways that give them longevity.
These are the pros and cons of Garfunkel and Oates as artists. It is also why most of their albums can be considered hit and miss. While there are creative exercises such as the dueling vocals of "Self Esteem," you also get three minute sexual contemplation with "The BJ Song." Overall, the band has improved in style and this may be their richest album yet. It may be their least comical, but it reflects a growing craft and ability to write inspired songs that transcend their initial novelty innovations. Whereas they were a joke band in the past, they continually feel more like a serious, here to stay, band with actual songs. It's likely that some of these songs will be used for self-motivation somewhere down the line.
Don't let my criticisms towards the outwardly sexual nature be a downside. While these songs are relatively inferior, they still have some charm. Also, Lindhome and Micucci's vocal pairing is the gift that keeps on giving, making even their most mundane song at least sound beautiful. Even at their least funny, there's a cleverness to "Secretions" that has been rampant in all of their work. You may not always laugh, but you will likely nod and smile from small nuances. Garfunkel and Oates continue to prove why they're so integral to alternative comedy. They're unique and exciting and can turn little ditties into some of the catchiest music out there. Now if only they were popular enough to bring back their TV show...
Rating: 4 out of 5
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