Jellypipe - Bag Of DIrt

Jellypipe

Bag Of Dirt
self-released; 2014

3.6 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Jellypipe is the musical project of twenty-three year old Vincent Wickow. He has been concocting his own songs at his home studio and recently released an album entitled Bag Of Dirt. Wickow is an artist who doesn’t take himself or his music too seriously and I mean that in the best way possible. The songs on Bag Of Dirt are often silly and fun but also well written. The most obvious comparison is Ween but the antics of someone like Ariel Pink are in there as well.

Bag Of Dirt may not be the best-produced album I’ve heard recently but Wickow makes it work. He embraces his lo-fi ethos and instead concentrates on the song itself, which often shines through. The most captivating element within his songs is the vocal. He layers, manipulates and contorts his voice throughout the album making for a versatile experience that doesn't leave you bored. 

The album opens with one of the highlights entitled “Emotive Love Song (Not About Robots),” which is has some of the most creative vocal parts. He layers his vocals during the verse, throws in some spoken word and falsetto, de-tunes and back again - basically, throwing in a copious amount of vocal variety within the first minute. Musically, the song is upbeat and festive but also at times feels as if it is falling apart. 

Wickow tackles the subject of death in the same way Ween approached spinal meningitis. It’s silly but irresistibly catchy at times. His vocal melodies are top notch here and are irresistibly catchy at points. I was already laughing when I read the title “Chop Your Limbs Off For Religious Purposes,” which features a so funky, 70’s falsetto singing while the closer “The Tallest Building” is a gritty pop song that contains distorted guitars, unique drum patterns and arguably the most engaging vocal melody.

Bag Of Dirt is unpretentious fun and although I think Ween might be too prevalent an influence at times. Wickow’s compositions are certainly not something that you would find on FM radio. It’s a treat to hear an artist who isn’t opposed to making you laugh. 

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