Russ Stedman - "Onionz" (C-30, 1990)
RUSS STEDMAN - "ONIONZ" : (FACTSHEET FIVE, #39) - Opening with the line "You can do what you wanna do", S. Dakota Stedman proceeds to heed his own advice. Based on fuzzy guitar / rhythm box pop, Stedman writes songs with forced rhymes and lines on the edge of stupidity that consistently bring a chuckle from their absurdity, silliness, and strange accuracy. Early C. Van Beethoven is the most consistent reference, as in "The Pirate Song" desiring a radio station in his car, or "Underneath My Skin" where Alph-alpha and Buckwheat buy Kiss records to have them injected underneath their skin. But the blues also come in to show Stedman's able guitar roots, along side other pop forms. Though not polished, these songs are capable of drawing a smile. (Phil Zampino)