Burn Witch Burn - Burn Witch Burn (CD)

All Music Guide

Burn Witch Burn's debut release showcases the band's talent for adapting an upbeat folk style and telling such deranged tales in song. The title of the band is appropriate, as the bulk of the material involves joyous celebrations of some unfortunate soul's death. If nothing else, this is a rather singular way for frontman Rodney Linderman to follow up his Dead Milkmen legacy. The link to the Dead Milkmen reveals itself in the geeky vocal style, as well as the sneering, sarcastic tone adopted throughout the album. "Gothic folk" is a good description, with compositions of dark, acoustic music merged with an odd sense of humor. To set the mood for the album, the second track begins with an adaptation of the main theme from The Excorcist, as played on mandolin. Such topics are covered as a tale of a found corpse and its ill effects on the surrounding town, the final thoughts of a condemned man, and a fellow complaining how he hates his country life. The oddest selection is "Treetop Flotill...a," which consists of a collection of nonsensical non sequitur, until Linderman begins ranting about how his sister's boyfriend drives around listening to Led Zeppelin. Between that and a track about a sea monster, one takes in a lot from a spin of the record. - Jeremy Salmon, All Music Guide Read more Less