The Daily Beacon
FROM THE FEBRUARY 22, 1995 ISSUE

Brotherhood's music good for happy days and mellow moods

HEATHER M. PERRY
Daily Beacon Staff Writer

The Brotherhood of Lizards has a new CD out called LizardLand, on Atlanta's Long Play label. This band is unique because of its happy, '60s-like sound that is reminiscent of the Beatles on Prozac.

The band and the members have a very interesting history that is very telling in the sound they produce on this CD. Martin Newell and the one-named bassist Nelson both came out of Colchester, England, a little Roman cow-town about 60 miles northeast of London. Both members have played in different bands for several years. Nelson played with Modern English in the '80s when they toured the US with their hit song, "I'll Melt With You." Newell had a major indie hit song in Germany with his band, The Cleaners From Venus.

After the band's third album, Newell left his band and he and Nelson decided to become buskers, or licensed street musicians. They took to the shopping centers of England with drums, belled ankles, a mandolin and a guitar to make their living as street musicians.

As fall rolled around that year they recorded a few songs for fun in a cottage inhabited by rabbits and singing cats. By late summer they had an LP and were asked to tour. Their response was, "Yes, but only by bicycle." The record company thought they were kidding, however they were very serious and with this "The Green Tour" was born.

At this point Britain was swept by a wave of eco-consciousness and the media seized on The Brotherhood of Lizards as a media ploy. The main question seemed to be, "Are you guys as green as you say you are?" In the end they washed up squeaky green.

After touring Europe on bicycle and playing in shopping centers, The Brotherhood of Lizards has developed a smooth, happy sound that is full of soothing, swirling mellow lyrics. This CD is worth checking out. It is perfect to listen to on a happy, sunny day when you are in a mellow mood.

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