Description
Snakefinger – A Collection – Compact Disc
Snakefinger’s A Collection is a compilation album that showcases the unique and experimental body of work from Philip Charles Lithman, better known as Snakefinger. A frequent collaborator with the avant-garde collective The Residents, Snakefinger’s music is known for its quirky, unpredictable style that blends elements of art rock, experimental rock, and blues with his virtuosic guitar playing.
Snakefinger’s music is characterized by its adventurous approach, drawing from art rock and avant-garde traditions. His work is filled with unexpected shifts in tone, from eerie, dissonant passages to melodic, blues-influenced guitar solos. His compositions often challenge traditional song structures, embracing unpredictability and eccentricity.
Snakefinger’s guitar playing is central to his sound, blending blues and rock techniques with a highly experimental edge. He often used unusual scales and atonal melodies, creating an otherworldly sound. His ability to balance virtuosic technique with unconventional playing styles makes his guitar work a key feature of his music.
Snakefinger’s work is heavily influenced by his collaborations with The Residents, a pioneering avant-garde group known for their anonymous identities and bizarre, experimental sound. His music often shares the surreal, darkly humorous, and unsettling qualities found in The Residents’ output.
Key Tracks
‘The Spot’: One of Snakefinger’s most iconic tracks, ‘The Spot’ features his distinct blend of twangy guitar lines and art-rock sensibilities. It’s a quirky, offbeat song that exemplifies his ability to blend the absurd with accessible melodies.
‘Magic and Ecstasy’: A cover of a Bernard Herrmann piece from the Exorcist II soundtrack, Snakefinger transforms this cinematic composition into a wild, guitar-driven track. His version is infused with frenetic energy and eerie atmosphere.
‘Don’t Lie’: This track showcases Snakefinger’s more rock-oriented side, featuring a driving rhythm and bluesy guitar work but still maintaining the off-kilter edge typical of his style.
‘Smelly Tongues’: Another collaboration with The Residents, this song is filled with surreal lyrics and dissonant guitar lines. It’s a great example of the strange and compelling mix of avant-garde rock and experimental songwriting that Snakefinger often embraced.
Snakefinger’s lyrics, like his music, often venture into the surreal and absurd. The influence of The Residents is especially clear here, as his songs explore bizarre narratives, strange characters, and non-linear storytelling. His work defies conventional themes, leaning into eccentric, almost hallucinatory imagery. While there’s often an undercurrent of dark humor in Snakefinger’s music, it sometimes veers into dystopian territory, reflecting societal concerns and personal alienation. The absurdity in his lyrics often serves as a critique of the modern world, wrapped in a playful, often ironic package.
Snakefinger’s guitar playing is at the core of his music, with a style that ranges from fluid and melodic to jarring and angular. He often employed unusual tuning and effects to create dissonant, eerie sounds, but he could just as easily switch to playing soulful blues or hard-edged rock riffs. The instrumentation on Snakefinger’s tracks often blends traditional rock instruments with more avant-garde elements. Expect to hear everything from distorted guitars and synths to experimental sounds created by unconventional means. This eclecticism helps to create the sense of unpredictability that defines his music.
Snakefinger was a key figure in the avant-garde rock scene, particularly through his collaborations with The Residents and his solo work. His music pushed the boundaries of what rock could be, incorporating elements of theater, surrealism, and experimental music.
Snakefinger’s work has influenced a wide range of experimental musicians who explore the outer edges of rock and avant-garde music. His ability to blend technical prowess with bizarre, surrealist aesthetics opened the door for more unconventional approaches to guitar-based music.
Though never achieving mainstream success, Snakefinger maintains a devoted cult following, particularly among fans of experimental and avant-garde music. His contributions to The Residents and his own solo work remain influential in underground music circles.
Snakefinger’s A Collection serves as an excellent introduction to the distinctive, experimental music of one of the avant-garde rock scene’s most innovative guitarists. Combining virtuosic guitar playing with surrealist, often absurdist themes, Snakefinger’s music pushes the boundaries of rock, art rock, and experimental music. For fans of The Residents or anyone drawn to eccentric, unconventional approaches to music, A Collection offers a glimpse into the mind of a truly unique artist.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic seal
East Side Digital Records
Track Listing
1. Spot, The
2. Smelly Tongues
3. Model, The
4. Kill The Great Raven
5. Jesus Was A Leprechaun
6. Here Come The Bums
7. Magic And Ecstasy
8. Who Is The Culprit And Who Is The Victim?
9. What Wilbur
10. Picnic In The Jungle
11. I Love Mary
12. Vultures Of Bombay, The
13. Golden Goat, The
14. Don’t Lie
15. Man In The Dark Sedan, The
16. I Come From An Island
17. Trashing All The Loves Of History
18. Save Me From Dali
19. Living In Vain
20. Picture Makers Vs. Children Of The Sea, The
