Frankly, I’m surprised we haven’t heard more around here about this "concept" CD by a duo called M.O.T. a.k.a. Members of the Tribe a.k.a. Dr. Dreidle and Ice Berg a.k.a Hillel Tigay and Andy Rosenthal. A post-modern epic, this CD, released last October, takes Jewish music to the stratosphere. Trust me, for those of you who’ve heard Jewish music, this is not Theodore Bikel or Zero Mostel, for that matter. With tunes called "Psychosemetic," "Double Dutch Lunch," "So Sue Me," "Oh God, Get a Job, and "Viva Oy Vegas" to name a few, you know this CD is going to sound more like Lenny Bruce than Bruce Springstein.
And in fact, like the two aforementioned artists, Dr. Dreidle and Ice Berg are not newcomers. Both have recorded previously and are connected to the Los Angeles arts and music scene. This CD actually touts the assistance of such actors as Bill Paxton, with whom Ice Berg recorded music in the late 1980’s in a band called Martini Ranch, and Judge Reinhold. Though it is not the first of its kind, "19.99" brings the Jewish hip hop to a new level. A high energy CD, it is filled with a variety of sounds. Though focused in the hip-hop/rap musical and lyrical genres, it also delves into a little pop, punk, funk, and metal rock. A little of this, a little of that.
The biggest virtue of this CD is it integration of music and lyric. These guys know their stuff. The lyrics are well-thought out in their ability to fit with the music. Though certainly bent toward the Jewish cultural slangs, I think you will see that the lyrics are really about life in the 1990’s. About incidents and scenes that we all experience....though certainly not interpreted quite the way M.O.T. sees it.
Overall, this CD is innovative and witty. One can just enjoy it for its high entertainment value or delve into the quirky, complex lyrics. It really needs to be heard—and seen—to understand, though. It is certainly a caricature, the artists making fun of themselves. Undoubtedly, it brings new meaning to breakfast at the deli, and a new chapter in the book of Jewish music.
- Dave Geller
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