"figure in desire, put me to work"
Ratigan is the musical incarnation of 27 year old Patrick Higgins of Providence, Rhode Island and I would bet one dozen of Danny's Donuts (in Gainesville, Georgia) that the man is an odd bird, a weirdo, a non compliant and a despot. Ok, the last descriptor was uncalled for and really doesn't make sense. But seriously, just take a listen to his latest album "Crime Alive" and note that all the songs were written, performed, recorded, produced and arranged by the aforementioned Patrick Higgins. That could be kind of despoty, no?? Or, in the least, it means he is a control freak (or has absolutely no musically inclined friends). Now take the track, Value that bristles on hyper lead guitar lines:
we put the value in the value on the value
we make the venue be the venue it’s a venue
we start the function at the function in the function
we turn the nothing into something back to nothing
Or the wanderlusty, swaying Dirty that is, well, pretty dreamy. Like most of the songs on "Crime Alive", words tumble out of Higgens mouth like dice rolling out of a cup. Dirty with it's bendy synth lines and Higgens' self harmonized tumbling words feels like Flaming Lips and Neil Young had a whimsical child.
You bring the guns I'll bring the
Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia
Wild, Wonderful, West Virginia
There is the ever shifting monotone The Rights To Christmas that somehow feels like the Pixies as a Sesame Street tune but I like it. It feels like a bit like Miracle Legion too and I love that:
Santa Clause is sponsored by Applebee’s and Lite Rock 105
Coca Cola bought the rights to Christmas
Coca Cola bought the rights to Christmas
Coca Cola bought the rights to Christmas
Coca Cola bought the rights to Christmas
Fall Apartment is a slow dying type of folk song that made me think of both Stephen Malkmus and Nick Cave at the same time- but more of Malkmus. This could of been a Pavement song and one of the most normal Ratigan songs (smiling).
Occasionally
I was viewed as a
Symbol for infinity
A shape I could become
Although what I am
Attempting I don’t know
It’s a strident note
And finally, Texas Instruments a bouncy sort of equation of words, dancable, hell you could even crowd surf to this slowly. This does have a couple of progs that made me think lovingly of early, early Flaming Lips, plus Lou Reed meets (again) Stephen Malkmus.
Oh you can't keep tabs on impression
Don't try to compute no you're too cute to compute no guessin'
Can't assess perception, measure intuition, or workout a turn on
Mess me up try to convert
Government income, take me to church
Oh don't talk too much, don't shy away from, whatever may come
Just gum up the works, and we'll gum up the works
Don't try to compute no you're too cute to compute no guessin'
Can't assess perception, measure intuition, or workout a turn on
Mess me up try to convert
Government income, take me to church
Oh don't talk too much, don't shy away from, whatever may come
Just gum up the works, and we'll gum up the works
Ok, I feel bad calling Ratigan aka Patrick Higgins a despot but realize that all the other things I called the man were compliments. Everyone who knows me knows that I hate normal. All throughout "Crime Alive" Higgins' writes interesting, odd but moving songs. You just have to get what he is saying or shove the discordant thoughts and brilliant imaginings in your brain (and heart) and feel something. I know I felt a lot of surprising emotions as I took this journey.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
Ratigan is 27 year old Patrick Higgins of Providence, R.I.
Singer Songwriter, Bedroom-Pop, Indie-Rock
Ratigan, Patrick Higgins, singer songwriter, producer, Providence Rhode Island, bedroom pop, indie rock, odd folk, alt folk, divergent songs, sardonic pop, anti-folk
Ratigan, Patrick Higgins, singer songwriter, producer, Providence Rhode Island, bedroom pop, indie rock, odd folk, alt folk, divergent songs, sardonic pop, anti-folk
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