With the addition of singer/guitarist
Dan Wilson
(brother of founding member
Matt Wilson
),
Trip Shakespeare
hit their stride on 1988's
Are You Shakespearienced?
An unusual mix of jangling power pop, '70s soft rock, and arty psychedelic flourishes all caped in an eccentric Northern mysticism, the Minneapolis-based group was completely unlike anything else at the time either locally or nationally. The ambitious harmonies and artful songwriting approach introduced on their 1986 debut
Applehead Man
became fully realized here, as they now boasted three strong lead singers whose rich vocal blend fell somewhere between barbershop and a vaudevillian
Crosby, Stills & Nash
. Between the sweet, high tenors of the two
Wilsons
and bassist
John Munson
's warm baritone, they cast a captivating spell weaving tales that melded weird fantasy elements with a staunchly romantic regionalism. They were also a beast of a live band, having spent the previous two years slaying Midwestern audiences with their strong musicianship, amusing rock theatrics, and innate charisma. Like those other
Wilson
brothers out in California,
's attention to intricate vocal harmonies led them to hold endless rehearsals in order to capture their ambitious arrangements live, an approach they also employed on the
Shakespearienced
sessions. Self-produced and recorded almost entirely live in the studio, the nine songs here represent the band's untarnished vision both creatively and aesthetically. It's no surprise, then, that the album yielded several of what came to be considered their signature songs, like the riffy, harmony-stacked "Reception" and the whimsical mini rock opera "Toolmaster of Brainerd," a centerpiece of their live show. However, the track that probably best encapsulates
's strange magic is "The Lake." With its spare, dark groove and punchy call-and-response chorus, it tells the tale of an adulterous communion as witnessed by the unblinking eye of a pike in a cold, Minnesota lake. Arguably too clever for the masses, the band still managed to score an eventual deal with
A&M
on the strength of both this album and their highly devoted fan base. [The generous bonus material on
Omnivore
's excellent 2014 reissue reveals just how refined a palette the group had developed, as many of these unreleased tracks would have made fine additions to the album's original playlist. The angular pop stunner "Earth, by Revolving" is the brightest of the bunch, but even at their goofiest on the
Munson
-led slow funk jam "Car," they still find a way to insert a dreamy vocal section worthy of
Odessey and Oracle
. Other bonus highlights include the warm-hearted crowd favorite "Look at the Lady," the
Beatlesque
"Stories End," and a delightful fledgling version of their future classic "Snow Days." Taken with or without the new additions,
is an outstanding document of a truly original band in their prime.] ~ Timothy Monger