From Amazon.co.uk
You might not remember these
Greatest Hits by the so-called Legendary Marvin Pontiac. That's because Pontiac is the alter ego of alternative movie star and Lounge Lizards saxophonist John Lurie. We're told that Pontiac was an itinerant bluesman who spent his last years in the Esmereld, a State Mental Institution, and ended up being hit by a bus in 1977. However, his backing musicians are clearly planted in today's New York and include Marc Ribot, John Medeski, members of Sex Mob and Lurie's own Lizards. These concise cuts don't even attempt to evoke the sound of the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s: Luriac also blows contaminated mouth-harp, chops funky wah-wah guitar or noodles on cheap keyboards, rarely picking up the alto when he's got sitar or banjo to hand. He also concentrates on a new vocal expression, oozing like a deep-sleaze Frank Zappa on the opening "I'm a Doggy", his lyrics invariably profound via the route of absurd triviality. He's the urbane brother of Wild Man Fischer, his key phrases always snagged by an infectiously childlike backing chorus.
--Martin Longley
