This is a style we haven't seen for a long time in the UK, so long in fact that I had forgotten there was anything to remember - in the seventies, bands were falling over themselves to be crazier than the next: these were the days when it was not unusual to find a group of fully grown men dressed up as the Wombles on Top of The Pops, or Chas and Dave trying to get to number 1. Ah, those were the days when music didn't take itself too seriously!
These days, certainly in England, comedy music tends to be something we don't hear too much of... and when you do come across it, it's usually in the theatre at the end of the pier (American visitors read: Boardwalk) at Blackpool!

The Earthlings were formed back in 1998 when Paul Burgess and Marcus Hill escaped the fallout from previous band "Nuclear Freakout". Having met at school in Sussex during the 80s, they had always shared a fascination with all things surreal and came to the conclusion early on that the best way to express themselves was through music. Their first album, "Earthlings calling Earthlings" set them on their way in their second incarnation, and before long they had invented a number of bizarre characters to sing about - three of which, "University Boy", "James Roberts" and "John the Baptist" appear on the promo I reviewed.
These lads can certainly play their instruments, though, so there is more to the Earthlings than first meets the eye. Take the lyrics away and you've got some impressive guitarwork there in the background, but then that would defeat the objective wouldn't it?

I should say that it is not easy to describe the Earthlings sound as it is unique and doesn't really compare to anything. However, if you like to laugh and can see yourself being entertained by the irreverent observations of a couple of self confessed free-thinkers, then why not drop by their just as irreverent website at http://www.toerag.com/earthlings.htm and check them out!

Not sure how crazy these lads can be? I'll leave you with a couple of sample lyrics from the track "James Roberts" to give you some idea:

"Won't you climb into an anorak,
He looks like a heart attack,
James Roberts is an Orang-Utan,
He's got a beard like mushy hairs,
James Roberts is an Orang-Utan, away-hay, a-way-hay, a-way-hey."

"Better make sure he doesn't climb in your tree,
Better watch out when he takes a wee,
James Roberts is an Orang-Utan,
His eyes look like boomerangs,
James Roberts is an Orang-Utan, away-away, a-way-hay, a-way-hey."

What can I say? Men in white coats on standby...