The Billy Nayer Show - The American Astronaut

Still available on BillyNeyer.com!

I'd just like to chime in and say that this is an incredible film and album, and both are still available on billynayer.com - don't pay the crazy scalper prices here! January 13, 2006

A great soundtrack to a great film

The American Astronaut is one of the most imaginative, hilarious, disturbing and beautiful films to come out of the independent cinema in a long time. Essentially a children's story/allegorical tale of sons and fathers disguised as a space noir musical, it has a truly surreal, absurd sense of humor, great production design and spectacular B&W cinematography that demonstrates how much can be done with an extremely small budget, plus great music and lyrics by The Billy Nayer Show that twist, torque and tear apart all kinds of musical genres: rock, punk, country, sci-fi movie cliches, ballads and show tunes. So far the movie has only received a limited release and it's so different I don't think you'll be seeing it at the cineplex anytime soon, so buy this soundtrack now and hear for yourself what a weirdly great or greatly weird movie this is. My one petty criticism of the soundtrack is that it doesn't include the Rio Yeti song or the Hertz Donut routine (how about a cd single?). Six out of five stars. December 20, 2001

Wacky soundtrack to a space western musical

This CD features the soundtrack to The American Astronaut - a low budget, yet excellently executed movie about space travel, kidnapping, murder, friendship, birthdays, and girls with glass vaginas. Some of the members of The Billy Nayer Show act in the movie and provide musical numbers, hence allowing for a totally wacky, if not disturbing, musical effect.

From country through bluegrass, from rock to slow sad songs, TBNS provides a huge spectrum of music able to satisfy any music lovers as long as they possess any good music taste at all.

I recommend this CD as well as the movie to only open-minded people, otherwise you might not appreciate it to the extent it deserves.

PS. I ranked the movie #1 for 2001 on my list of best movies. December 12, 2001

The Soundtrack to a Musical Space Western, & O So Much More!

There is a fine line between madness and genius. Cory McAbee not only toes this line, but becomes an inspired dervish upon it. His band, Billy Nayer Show provides not only an accompaniment, but also a driving force to his vocalized dance.

American Astronaut is the consummate Billy Nayer Show album, demonstrating both the maturity of a band over a decade in the making, and the consistantly unorthodox musical vision that has made them a growing cult favorite in Manhattan, San Francisco, and abroad.

Although their music defies conventional explanation (Often the simplest way to do so for my friends is to apply to the ears directly), perhaps this formula will suffice:

Imagine a pop-tune's sticks-to-the-grey-matter type ditty playing in the background, whilst a melodious could've-been-a-bluesman's deep voice (in the case of McAbee) belts out rhythmically rhyming lines, the lyrics of which would make Frank Zappa proud (or blush). This is a glimpse into "The Girl With the V...", only one of the spirited numbers on the album.

If you are searching for something new, something to shake you at your music-loving foundations, something to renew your faith in the music scene, you have found your album. If you enjoy the album, you might also be entertained by the Sundance award-winning film- find out where it is playing, and see it. Better yet, see Billy Nayer Show play in person. (...)

I write these words with much reverence and affection for this band, and I hope I have done their music justice. December 1, 2001

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