Our own Little Flatulent Jokesters Share their Humor and Ingenuity

The Psycho Pastry Chefs, AKA Seth Romano (Berklee College of Music) and Ed Dugas (Plymouth State University), released their CD Feast Your Ears on This a little over a year ago. The second of two self produced albums, it lends itself to satirical perversion and exploitation of issues in modern society. The Psycho Pastry Chefs bang out amusingly witty and controversial songs that tap into a variety of musical styles such as rock, rap, opera, country, ska, experimental pop, and children’s songs. Since the album’s release, their tunes have been seeping into dorm rooms, apartments, and parties around the PSU campus. Usually when one of their songs pops up, the faces of unsuspecting victims range from expressions of complete shock to wild amusement. It’s a bell curve really (other affects have been listed, such as: rancor and disgust, the exhilaration of a cheap thrill, both pre and post vomit tight lipped-ness). Track one, borrowing it’s name from a familiar kindergarten tune “If You’re Happy and You know it”, utilizes a level of humor familiar to college students and middle school boys alike. There is toilet and masturbation humor abound amidst a layering of sound bites, perhaps from the sound effects compilation that could be purchased from television infomercials in the 90’s.The second little sarcastic ditty on this record is, admittedly, very catchy. Yah-Yah-Yah. The song, entitled “tits” is not so much a tribute to the female mammary gland as it is a show of childish glee at a one-night stand (or the dream of one), and the great rack that came with it. If the song were to end at two minutes, a grinning reaction would remain into the next track, but with a run time of nearly six minutes, the humor begins to get a bit strained. The third song, ” Stanco Morto Opera”, is a three part opera, and an impressive show of musical talent by both artists encompassing electronic, instrumental, and vocal ability. It echos a few classic opera compositions, but is composed entirely by Seth and Ed. In the tradition of improvisational comedy and mad-lib’s for the homosexual, the boys, in four parts, seem to profile both gay men and homophobic straight men at the same time. An orchestral, operatic work that tells the tragic tale of a well-dressed homosexual who’s heart is broken by the straight man he longs for. It’s possible that this is a love story, but with a cupid’s arrow that is blunt and the tip dipped in mockery.Enter “Beans”. Really, is there any end to the fascination of these little protein rich buds? This track is the only one that seems to follow one of the first rules of comedy, quit while you are head. At two minutes, “Beans” doesn’t get foul.Now, the country-folky tune, and every album, no matter what for, should have one. The Psycho Pastry Chefs take the route of “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”, employing the standard redneck drawl, and plenty of mention of booze, jail, racism and Cadillacs. “If you really loved me, you’d post bail” is a hillbilly tune about a man riding in his ‘Caddy’ when a strange turn of events lands him in jail. Once imprisoned, the flavor undergoes a drastic change, from the back woods to the inner city, with some goofball beats and scratches sampled mostly from Ed’s own voice box.The final track I will leave for you to discover. And for the Psycho Pastry Chefs, good job, but be careful. If you want to do this some more, listen to a lot of musical comedy and also the extra tracks on some albums from rockers and punkers alike (see: Ash). It’s easy to get laughs from what has been done before, but for those who enjoy witticism and shock value, these boys won’t disappoint. Even if they laugh at Tenacious D, your mom and your girlfriend probably won’t get it. Well, they’ll get it, but they’ll fight tooth and nail to repress any laughter. The best thing about this CD is that each song is a catalyst for endless one-liners. Support the humor that only students and those with a fear of adulthood could love, and visit www.PsychoPastryChefs.com, or contact Ed Dugas at e_dugas@mail.plymouth.edu Follow the links and buy Feast Your Ears on This, put it with the rest of your music, and you’ll be prepared for when your friends are bored with you, or your party pals have far different musical taste than yourself.