AMG Review of Live from First Avenue, Minneapolis

Eduardo Rivadavia
All Music Guide

Live From First Avenue, Minneapolis captures the oddball histrionics of songwriter Mark Mallman in all of their subarena rock grandeur. Like the work of a certified schizophrenic (or two, or three), humorous novelty numbers such as "Cannibalive" (a Ben Folds-styled pomp rock send-up), "Hook Hand" (a mock ballad infused with dramatically absurd lyrics), and "Goodnight Goodbye" (Billy Joel as sung by Carrot Top) are obviously meant to confuse, not clarify matters. Taken as a joke, or taken seriously (better yet, taken as a serious joke), it's abundantly clear that Mallman's only prerogative is to provide his fans with pure entertainment value. How else could he explain inviting his own mother on-stage to duet on the Sparks-derived "Mother Made Me Do It"? That's right, resistance is futile and, well, pointless in the face of these undoubtedly silly, but incredibly catchy tracks -- all of which are brought to a rousing climax with the honest-to-goodness pop music gold that is Mallman's best known composition, "We Only Have Each Other Tonight." In short, who said serious musicians can't laugh at themselves? Or is it the audience? Oh forget it!