When I first saw the cover of Robbie Rox’s Earl Owns The World, I tried to pass it on to someone else. Staring up from its plastic jewel case prison was yet another terrible Photoshop job. I shuddered, and tried to force it on to Staff Member #716, who sat to my immediate right. I attempted to nonchalantly hand it to him like it was the money I owed him, but he wouldn’t even touch it. At first, he reached out without thinking,.. until he saw the Gaussian blur filter. That sent his hand reeling back, as if it were burned horribly. He said the font wounded him-- nothing wounds an artist like bad design. I couldn’t pawn the damn thing off on anyone! So, it sat on my desk until today.

Imagine my surprise when Zappa-esque jazz and satire oozed out of my speakers! Backed by funky 1970’s porno wah-wah guitar and Tower of Power horns, Robbie Rox and the Monster Horn Band had me at the first track, "Bumper Sticker People". As the disc unfolded, flashes of Captain Beefheart, Zappa, Weird Al, Mike Keneally, Tenacious D, and old Steve Vai had me digging every morsel. These dudes can play!

After the disc ended, I was glad that #716 wasn’t brave enough to take the CD. I learned that maybe I shouldn’t be such an art snob-- willing to dismiss things just because they aren’t properly designed. And I also learned that only trained professionals should be allowed to operate Photoshop.

DIG IT HERE.