Voltaire was recommended by Ray Toro, who was a
guest on Voltaire's 2014 album Raised By Bats (despite a song plea from
2007's Ooky Spooky to "Bomb New Jersey"). In honor of Ray's birthday
today, I decided to check Voltaire out.
Some works are listed under just Voltaire, and
others under Aurelio Voltaire, an adjustment to finding other bands using the
Voltaire name. That seems like a strange issue, because Aurelio Voltaire is one
of a kind.
Pulling musical influences from cabaret and folk,
songs come out as tangos and drinking songs and sea shanties. Also as country
music, especially on Hate Lives in a Small Town. Then sometimes things
come out surprisingly - almost conventionally - beautiful. I really responded
to "Feathery Wings" and I can't compare it to anything.
His Youtube channel does not have much in the way of
conventional music videos, but there are videos with career and decorating
advice, as well as a pictorial narration of his book, Candy Claws, which
shows off another side of how rich and smooth his voice is.
Melodies are often infectious, with easy cadences
that seem to lend themselves to children's entertainment. This makes sense
given Voltaire's collaboration with Cartoon Network and "The Grim
Adventures of Billy and Mandy". At the same time, some parents may be
concerned about whether the artist's gleeful embrace of evil and the macabre is
a good fit for their children. My only advice is a warning that he seems to get
much dirtier when talking about both Star Trek and Star Wars. I don't know why;
it's just the impression that I get.
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