Do you smoke grass out in space, Bowie?

Or do you smoke astro turf?

So I just got my hands on the new album by Flight of the Conchords, entitled "Flight of the Conchords".

I must say, considering I've heard every track on the album before, I am *very* impressed.

The first thing I noticed was the absolute gorgeous album artwork, pictured below. Colors etc are gorgeous, but after a moment of marveling you notice the two of them - Jemaine Clements and Bret (brit? like brittney?) McKenzie (No relation... unfortunately) are standing in the design, backs turned to us, staring off into the distance.The album starts of perfectly, with Foux de Fafa - one of my favorite tracks - in which the duo, and their two lovers speak mostly in broken, lazy french that everybody knows. I hardly have the most attentive ears, but I noticed a marked improvement over the version of the song from the television show, however, this could be because I watched the show on the internet.... I dunno.
The album definitely starts on a high note. But it doesn't really drop from there.

If you're like me, the jokes of these particular songs (all from the first season of the duo's HBO comedy series) are tired and possibly a little over-used by this point, but the thrill of hearing them remixed, and tightened up makes it all worth it.

Admittedly, though, some of the tracks suffer from the ultra-polish that this CD offers. I've heard their gangsta rap "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenocerous performed more energetically, and energy seems to be required in the song. The pacing feels awkward and intentionally slowed down, and part of the humor of hearing Jemaine say "They call me the / Hiphopopotamus / Flows that glow like phosphorous / Poppin' off the top of this esophagus / Rockin' this metropolis" is hearing him actually *rap* it, rather than just speak it to a gangsta beat.

Also, the live version of "Most Beautiful Girl in the Room" has a more jovial spirit and the both of them really stretch the notes and put their heart into making the higher ones. On the other hand, the sound in the new recording is obviously much tighter, so I'm conflicted.It's a special treat, in the middle of the album to hear Rys Darby's song, "Leggy Blonde". In the series, their band manager, Murray, is in love with his tech repair woman, and near the end of the episode, sings a song about her as she walks out the door, and out of his life. The song has an office supplies percussion solo two thirds in that pretty much makes the album singlehandedly, so check that out.

All in all, "Flight of the Conchords" is a tight sounding collection of the band's hits, and that's a great thing to have. They hold down the humour (though I *do* hope they continue their live act) and the music is undeniably catchy.

In all honesty, it kicks ass. So fuckin' check it out.

Also, if you get it off iTunes, they add in a track - "Bret, you've got it going on", which is one of my favorites as well... :)

Later.