(www.gameshowteeth.com) Hands on buzzers . . . Question: What took three years to make, with the generous help of many a musical dignitary . . . not to mention real drums too? And the answer is . . . Mitch Friedman's GAME SHOW TEETH! His fourth album, but only the third one for adults (following 2005's successful kids' concept album PURPLE BURT.) Special guest stars include Andy Partridge of XTC, Dave Gregory (formerly of XTC), R. Stevie Moore, Joe McGinty (of NYC's Loser's Lounge fame), as well as some ridiculously talented but criminally unknown friends such as Anne D. Bernstein, Jim Smart, Andrea Perry, John Dunbar, Daryl Bean, and Todd Bernhardt. It's almost rock -- stand back to avoid the noise and the glare coming off his insincere smile. ------------------- BEATWIRE.COM "Singer-Songwriter Mitch Friedman teams with XTC, channels Ray Davies on new Quirk-Pop-tacular CD GAME SHOW TEETH" Brooklyn’s Mitch Friedman has just released his fourth album of idiosyncratic, funny, original quirky pop – Game Show Teeth. Featuring Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory of the legendary British new wave pop band XTC, Friedman has created a playful, mature and varied album of 13 eccentrically catchy songs, full of wit and impressive wordplay. Game Show Teeth is his most commercial and accessible effort to date, and shows an artist who has come to fully master his trade. Produced, performed and engineered almost entirely by Friedman, it is as accomplished and technically adept as it is musically vibrant. Even Ray Davies, song-writing legend and lead singer of The Kinks, has become a fan of Friedman’s unique skills as a wordsmith. Having attended a Davies song-writing course in England, Friedman took the advice of the sixties legend that every song must have a clear structure and composed “This Is a Song” – an amusing tribute to the simple formula that can be found in so many beautiful pieces of pop. He sent the song to Davies - who describes Friedman as a "funny and interesting little man" – and the Londoner then played it for his students as part of his lesson on song structure. You can't get much higher praise than that! Be on the lookout for the surprising and innovative music video for "This Is a Song," which Andy Partridge praised as “a piece of minimalist perfection, and perhaps the invention of a new genre – Obviousism.” The variety on the record comes from the wide range of influences that have all had an impact on Friedman’s sound. "I Have Never Lied" tips its surreal hat to fellow Brooklyn quirk-rockers They Might Be Giants (with whom Friedman also shares the acclaim of being the creator of an award winning children’s record – 2005’s concept album for kids, PURPLE BURT.) It is a testament to his abilities that some of his musical heroes have become repeat collaborators. The aforementioned Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory of XTC have added their expertise for the third time to a Friedman record – with Partridge providing his jaggedly jazzy guitar licks to “Little Masterpiece,” and Gregory contributing several guitars and bass to the hyperactively folky "The Man That Talked Too Much." Other special guest stars include the ‘godfather of DIY/home recording’ R. Stevie Moore, Joe McGinty (former keyboardist for The Psychedelic Furs, Amy Rigby, Martha Wainwright, and now musical director of New York City’s Loser’s Lounge tribute series,) and indie-pop songstress extraordinaire Andrea Perry. Add in to the mix, the hilariously irreverent artwork and photography and you have an album that should amuse, entertain and thoroughly enhance any discerning pop aficionado’s life. For more information, please visit www.gameshowteeth.com ----------------------------------------------- A famous clown recently said "Why so serious?" Singer-Songwriter Mitch Friedman teams with XTC to come up with a quirky and fun musical journey guaranteed to make you smile. Mitch is a long time follower/fan of XTC and the music will definitely appeal to you if you enjoy Andy Partridge. Andy and Dave Gregory contribute to this album as well. The opener "This is A Song" is a literal formula for how to make a great pop song (kids should pay attention here). The next song is even catchier, as "My Dumb Luck" is a brilliant track that will remind some of the "Oranges & Lemons" era with witty sing song wordplay. Mr. Partridge provides jazzy guitar licks to "Little Masterpiece," and Gregory contributes several guitars and bass to the hyper actively folky "The Man That Talked Too Much." Even though Colin Moulding doesn't play on this album, his spirit is channelled in "Make Yourself At Home." It's also pretty obvious that Mitch spent a lot of time doing kids records, as "Blackout" and "She's Dynamite!" use all sorts of frantic effects and goofy arrangements. Even "In The Know" uses a whiny vocal and songstress Anne D. Bernstein for sweet backing vocals to go all over the place a la "I Am The Walrus". A sure fire single "I Have Never Lied" has more than a touch of fellow Brooklyn quirk-rockers They Might Be Giants influence here. Additional support is also here from power pop princess Andrea Perry, R. Stevie Moore and Joe McGinty (Loser's Lounge). Like the kitchy CD cover, this CD is full of simple joys. Sing along and repeat. --Aaron Kupferberg - www.powerpopaholic.com ----------------------------------------------- "Game Show Teeth" is the fourth album of quirky pop from Brooklyn's Mitch Friedman. While the record was produced, performed and engineered almost entirely by Friedman, he once again brings in some very familiar names from XTC to join in the fun. Andy Partridge contributes some of his trademark guitar licks to "Little Masterpiece," while Dave Gregory jams on "The Man That Talked Too Much". Mitch Friedman's brand of pop is playfully "out there", ranging from clever and witty to downright goofy. The comical cover of the CD is a good representation of what you are about to hear. Vocally and musically, Mitch Friedman holds his own, although his vocal tone seems tailored for kids' music or novelty records. Truth be told, most people who prefer this subgenre of pop don't care about that and are just listening for a good laugh - and they should find plenty on "Game Show Teeth". If funny and eccentric pop music is your bag, Mitch Friedman will delight you like no other. --Bill's Music Forum ----------------------------------------------- You may not be able to judge a book by its cover but quite often you can with albums. No better example of that than Mitch Friedman's Game Show Teeth, which is as quirky and goofy as the cover art would indicate. No joke, though, is the fact that XTC's Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory help out with the proceedings, and Friedman is a fine songsmith even if his songwriting is in service of some silly numbers. "This is a Song" is a particular standout, as Friedman mocks, lays bare, and pays homage to the classic pop song structure. Obviously your QTF (quirk tolerance factor) may vary, and you'll know within one or two tracks whether you love it or hate it, but one thing you shouldn't do is ignore it. --Absolute Powerpop ----------------------------------------------- There's an old saying that no one leaves a Broadway theater humming the costumes. It's all about the songs. The same rule applies to Game Show Teeth, the new CD by Mitch Friedman. No one is going to be humming the teeth. But the songs! The album opens with a song entitled "This Is a Song." Although all of the songs on the album are, in fact, songs, none more so than the song called "This Is a Song." Years from now, this is the song singers will be singing when they want to cover a great song from 2008. Trust me on that. The rest of the collection is equally good with clever songs, funny songs and songs that are otherwise catchy, interesting and entertaining. Like the titular (heh-heh, I said "titular") game show teeth, each track is a shining, pearly-white example of whatever genre this is. Mitch Friedman's music fills that void between the Sun Ra Arkestra and the Smothers Brothers. He is the best at what he does. He's also the only one who does what he does, but that doesn't make the previous sentence any less of a compliment. With a voice that's a cross between Frank Zappa and Toni Tennille, and a songwriting sensibility reminiscent of Randy Newman by way of Norm Crosby, Mitch is like the great American farmer; he stands alone in his field. If I were stranded on a desert island I would want to have this CD. I'd also like to have a CD player, plenty of food, clothes, a house, lots of pretty island girls making me umbrella drinks, and a big car with a tank full of high-test. That would make the whole desert island thing bearable. If I were stranded on a dessert island it would be an entirely different story. I'd have a slice of key lime pie with whipped cream. Go buy Game Show Teeth right this minute. --David Burd - Burd Is The Wurd ----------------------------------------------- Mitch Friedman has one of my favorite children's CDs that's ever appeared on the Not Lame site called Purple Burt, which my son took to bed every night for 3 or 4 months straight. Let me be clear here, though: Game Show Teeth is NOT a children's album. Game Show Teeth is a wonderful mix of They Might Be Giants, Ween, Devo and R. Stevie Moore-styled quirk pop. It is a pure delight! --Bruce Brodeen - NotLame.com -----------------------------------------------