Mechanical Royalty Explained

Mechanical Royalty
Type:studio
Artist:Spookey Ruben
Cover:Mechanical Royalty.jpg
Released:2008, 2009
Recorded:Unknown
Genre:Indie rock
Label:Hi-hat Recordings, Sonic Unyon
Producer:Spookey Ruben
Prev Title:Ausfahrt Walsrode
Prev Year:2006

Mechanical Royalty is a limited edition EP released by the Canadian musician Spookey Ruben in 2008. A full length LP was released with the help of Sonic Unyon in 2009. Though the track-listing differs between the LP and the EP, all but one song from the EP remain ("Eyes Can See").[1] The album is described as a 'concept album about a kingdom of robots who are attacked by the humans who originally created them because they possess a magnetic force that keeps harmony in society that the humans want back for themselves.'[2]

Track listing (LP)

  1. "Cat & Mouse" – 1:52
  2. "Rachel" – 2:56
  3. "Just Another Way" – 3:08
  4. "If You Don't Wanna Know" – 3:25
  5. "U Don't Know What You're Missing" – 3:15
  6. "American Processed Cheese" – 2:21
  7. "Eyes of Man" – 4:18
  8. "Mechanical Royalty" – 15:21
    • Agent Steel
    • Attack at Krankshaft Castle
    • And Thus He Rusts (King's Lament)
    • The Quirks of Queen of Quartz and Quarks
    • Don Silicon
    • Secrets in the Motherboard
    • Triumph on Magnetic Hill
  9. "Superpoke" – 4:29
  10. "Testimony" – 4:25

Review

The music site sceneandheard.ca gave the Mechanical Royalty EP a favorable review, stating, "The overall feel of the album is, as always, techno (blips dot the album as do other computerized treatments), with a distinct retro feel that may be off-putting to some. But if you give it a chance (three or four solid spins) you start to appreciate the crafty tune-smithing and zany approach to music Spooky [sic] is known for during his decade-plus career"[3]

A review by Antimusic states, "Mechanical Royalty (a pun, alluding not only to the album cover and storyline of the title track, but also to a music business term) is an intense 70s/80s rollercoaster ride, but its Spookey's point of view that makes it feel inviting and brand new, consistently dishing up his excitement for music in his own special heartfelt way."[1]

Production

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Spookey Ruben Releases New Album, Announces Tour . antimusic.com.
  2. Web site: Spookey Ruben Goes Mechanical on New Album . blogto.com.
  3. Web site: Review of Mechanical Royalty . Antoine Tedesco. sceneandheard.ca.