Russ Stedman - "Fear Of A Podunk Planet" (CD, 2008)
RUSS STEDMAN - "FEAR OF A PODUNK PLANET" (The Arcata Eye) Russ Stedman is a very unusual South Dakotan – one of those compulsively creative multi-instrumental tinkerers who puts stuff out for the amusement of sympathizers but doesn’t aspire to rock-godhood. His homebrew albums will immediately win over anyone who has converted their garage or basement into a studio. On Fear of a Podunk Planet, Stedman just loves Republicans, lavishing attention on the Grand Old Party’s most prominent practitioners and fellow travelers, from Larry Craig to Ted Haggard. The lampoonery of their buffoonery makes for a modern-day Broadway the Hard Way, but maybe somewhat less indulgent to the powers that be. Stedman’s happy to deploy the cornball arrangements – some of them wonderfully elaborate – but also plays requisitely ripping guitar. “Jerry Falwell’s Dead,” for example, mixes what might be described as John Philip Sousa-metal with, literally, irreverence. There are lots of keyboard layerings, abundant percussion, caustic lyrics, samples, pastiches, catchy riffs and laughs, Bushco skewered... yep, works for me. Other highly Zappaesque bits include the Uncle Meat-y “Maynard’n’ Stan” and the “You Are What You Is”-like “Keep Your Religion Out Of My Government.” Here’s what else is cool– Stedman is an anti-gearhead. He doesn’t care about having a fancy guitar – his Flying V is from a pawn shop. He’s one of those guys everyone knows – big, loud, literal and immediately likeable, like, say, a Lewis Black or Joel Mielke. So, my recommendation is that you go to russtedman.com, download, listen and laugh your ass off. (Kevin L. Hoover)