At times, Matmos’ compositions test our patience with minute after minute of difficult, noisy chatter. Other instances find the duo treading melodic ground and even hinting at conventional song structure. The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast is exactly this kind of mixed bag. While not a full-blown concept album like 2001’s A Chance to Cut is a Chance to Cure the album is tied together not by musical themes, but by a series of dedications. Each of these 10 tracks is dedicated to a notable intellectual, pop culture icon or historical figure. From the frenetic ‘Tract for Valerie Solanas’ to the more subdued and seductive ‘Semen Song for James Bidgood,’ the compositions match their dedications nicely. Ugly, humorous, melodic, and sarcastic, this is another challenging Matmos album that’s a surprising success for this bizarre and incredibly gifted duo.
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