Tonio K: Yugoslavia, Gadfly, 1999
Yugosalvia marks K’s first album of new material in over a decade. While the still born Ole saw belated release in ‘98, and Rodent Weekend ’76-’96 (Approximately) a compilation of outtakes and rarities, was released the same year, this marks the first collection of new material since Notes From the Lost Civilization in ’88.
Much of the material here was written with other artists in mind, and as such is a bit more palpable that K’s more esoteric numbers. But there’s plenty of vintage material. Opening with “Sixteen Tons Of Monkeys” it’s clear he’s lost little of his bit over the years. Described in the liner notes as an “abstract autobiography” it captures the frustration and confusion that comes with trying to make sense of the world we live in. Like a character out of the Old Testament, he asks the hard questions and ain’t satisfied with pat answers.
Like T-Bone Burnett, Tonio K assumes his listeners are intelligent, and his disgust is tempered with compassion. Life’s Just Hard makes it clear we all struggle, and life without love means : “We die trying/To invent a substitute/We’ll do anything/Say anything/Be anything/Believe anything.”
A fine addition to the K. canon.