I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: NATALIE PRASS-Tiny Desk Concert #827 (February 25, 2019).

I know Natalie Prass because “Short Court Style” was absolutely ubiquitous.  WXPN overplayed this song to death this summer.  At first I didn’t think much of it and then it clicked and I loved it.  The bassline is fantastic and the vocals are just amazing.  I was genuinely surprised to find out that Natalie Prass was white, because she sounded so soulful.

I genuinely had no idea who she was, so I was surprised that the accolades were so effusive and people spoke of her as if she were a legend.  Well, this is only her second album, but it really struck a nerve.

Full disclosure: We here at NPR Music have decreed Natalie Prass something of a patron saint for roséwave — our groove-laden, pink drink-soaked soundtrack for the summer. So, when the Richmond, Va. artist arrived at the Tiny Desk, it was a cause for celebration, especially amid the January blues that seemed to permeate the NPR Music office. Decked out in matching, cobalt blue outfits (with a matching keyboard stand to boot), Prass and her backing band, comprised of Eric Slick: drums; Alan Parker: guitar; Jacob Ungerleider: keys; and Brandon Lane: bass, seemed to bring a warm breeze in with them.

“Oh My” opens with a thumping bass.  When the picture appears, everyone is wearing electric blue.  The song is very funky and Natalie does a great job with her little interjections of “No,” “hey,” “oh ho ho ho” and the titular “Oh My.”  There’s a funky bass solo midsong.  And throughout, Natalie is just so cool.

I didn’t really get a sense of the lyrics so I was surprised to read this:

There’s a sly political bent to Prass’ 2018 album, The Future and the Past. Ahead of its release, she said she actually had a different album nearly finished, but scrapped a huge chunk of it after [trump’s] election, which in turn led her to make this album instead. She highlights this mission statement on the album opener — and first song she performed at the desk — “Oh My.” It’s a track that speaks pointedly about the abject feeling of horror and exhaustion that seeps in when you tune into the news cycle, with bleak lyrics set against bright, dance-y music.

For “Short Court Style” (I always assumed it was called “Round and Round”), she brings out her backing singers, Angelica Garcia and Kenneka Cook: vocals.  Everything sounds fantastic here live.  She seems so free and easy singing this song, it’s a delight to watch her.  And those funky bass lines are great.

Before closing with “Hot for the Mountain,” Prass tells the NPR office that “the song’s a little off the beaten path, but, I don’t know, it’s my favorite.” “We’ll take you on / We can take you on,” Prass, Garcia and Cook sing in unison, a refrain that resounds emphatically. Her vision was clear: If you want to overcome the times, find strength in numbers.

I don’t see what’s so odd about it.  It doesn’t have a big hook like the other two songs, but there is a sing along chorus.

[READ: January 31, 2019] Cucumber Quest 3

Book three opens as our heroes arrive at Trebleopolis which is celebrating its birthday (clowns are everywhere).  And no one celebrates louder than Queen Cymbal.  She reveals that Princess Piano is going to perform a concert.  All our heroes want is the Princess’ signature on their sword (she has signed weirder things), but they are told they have to wait until after the show.  (It’s 110 minutes long…that’s like MORE than an hour).

But as the curtain opens, it’s not Princess Piano, but Noisemaker who comes out.  Noisemaster is a hiphop DJ who is not only annoying but quite evil.  For he is one of Nightmare Knight’s Disaster Masters and our heroes’ next conquest.  Nightmare Knight makes an early appearance and is not playin’ with Noisemaster’s shtick: “I cannot believe you are still acting like this…  I am being exceedingly ‘real’ Noisematser.”   He ends, I will allow you this chance to prove yourself  Do not waste it.

Noisemaster’s plan is to destroy the whole city if the noise machine hits 100%.  And with Piano’s loud voice that should be no problem.

We learn that the Melody Kingdom was divided by two kings King Treble and King Bass. They fought and had to be separated by a wall which the Oracle created.   The two sides have not seen each other in decades.  The wall, named Mezzo is very chill and tells them exactly the kind of convoluted quest they need to go on to get the key to open the doors in the wall.  Of course Almond and Carrot are right on that quest and they take off.

But then the Nightmare Knight shows up and confronts Princess Nautilus.  She believes positive thinking will help them defeat the giant.  Then he creates a fireball and throws it right at…the wall.  It puts a huge hole in the wall allowing them to pass through with no trouble.  What gives, Mr Knight?

Meanwhile in other story lines, Lettuce and Tomato kick Bacon out of their troupe and the little Piggie is left on his own.  Awww.

Back on the other side of the wall they are told that curfew is in effect.  They ask why.  The mayor starts to tell them the story but then says she’ll make the story quick which upsets Princess Nautilus who needs an adventure legend.  The mayor tells a very poor poem (she’s not a storyteller by nature) but then Legato shows up.  His look is soft and smart and he is clearly an artiste.   And his evil plan is to make everyone take part in his play–which is all about how wonderful he is.

Everyone is drafted to play including Commander Caboodle, the over the top hero whose quest is still a mystery.  Even bacon himself becomes the inadvertent star of the play.

The play is interrupted when we find out that main guy isn’t even Legato–its’ all a magic trick by some twerp named Mandolin.

Meanwhile Noisemaster is still at it.  His noise machine is at 99%.  While he is gloating over his diabolical plan, his partner Mutemaster shows up.  Mutemaster hates noise, but they were created  at the same time and share a unique bond.  Things get bigger and louder and more colorful and then just kind of stop.  What?  The Oracle shows up and tells them it’s time to move on.  Oh Cucumber has some nasty words with her, but she is the all-powerful oracle after all–so frustrating.

Meanwhile back with lettuce and tomato–no longer a trio just A BLAND SALAD–the princess they are watching tricks Tomato into finding her necklace (he’ll do anything for her because he loves her even if he is guarding her for the Nightmare Knight.  The Knight arrives to mock the princess for her feeble attempt at escape but she is glad to see him.  She is all sweetness and nice to him and asks if he can deliver Carnot a love letter.  He is aghast and gets on her case, but she tells him that she considers him a friend whom she can trust.  And when the Night storms off, she notices that he did take the note.

Meanwhile, Cordelia is furious that Nightmare Knight doesn’t just kill all the heroes right now and be done with it,  She thinks something’s up.

And Princess Nautica gets a new “cell phone” to call Liquus–her family plan allows for an upgrade that she was long overdue for.

As the story comes to a close, Caboodle comes to shuttle them on to their next quest.  But it’s not Caboodle–dunh dunh–once again it is Cosmo in disguise.  He is back to torment them further.  He sets up the rocket to fly into the sun!  What will they do?

The extra stuff at the end includes more comics about Peridot (always a treat), and more reader questions including one for Splashmaster (which is hilariously dumb).

We learn some more details about the Melody Kingdom and some hilarious artwork of what everyone would look like if they had found the magic spell that turned Mandolin into Legato.  This might be my favorite add-on so far.

The very end bonus story brings us back to the original kingdom, Caketown, and the bake off between the B&B Bakery and the Baketertte.  Their special ingredient is Almonds!  It’s an Almond Battle.  The phrase Almond Battle means that Peridot is going to show up to accept the battle against Almond.  They have to explain to her what’s going on and then it takes the Nightmare Knight to drag her away, “Come on, Peridawt.  … Perideet…”  She is so mad: “you’re doing that on purpose.”

The Almond Battle is resolved in a surprisingly dark way.

This series is just so wonderfully twisted.  I love it.