If you’re anything like us at Multiversity, then you’re already a fan of Robbi Rodriguez’s webcomic “Frankie Get Your Gun.” And really, how could you not be? An acid western starring the titular Frankie on a rampaging trip of destruction and violence, brought to life with kinetic and exciting artwork by writer/artist Rodriguez. And you know what the one thing is that could make the book even better than it already is?
A soundtrack.
Cue Married with Sea Monsters, who are set to release the “Destrudo” EP with Rodriguez. “Destrudo” is a concept album that acts as a companion piece to Rodriguez’s two “Frankie” books, and while its runtime is short (20 minutes) its replay value is high. The album begins with “Crow,” which is as big and bold as Adele’s Skyfall theme, kicking off the rest of the story as we follow Frankie’s audio journey in time with her visual one. The songs flow right into one another quite well with the exception of the single “Josephine,” which very much stands on its own, and the cohesive nature of the reecord helps it match the passion found in the pages of “Frankie.”
Suffice it to say, “Destrudo” is a nice addition to the comics for fans of the book. It’s a very solid record overall, with hints of the Black Keys, Murder by Death and the White Stripes all over, although it very much stands on its own in term of composition. While this is admittedly my first time listening to Married with Sea Monsters, it’s clear that the band’s on full form here, while the titular stoic Frankie is finally given a voice through lead singer Kat Dixon’s vocals. It’s also a very interestingly paced record while playing towards the conceptual notion of the record; the first half being much more fast-paced with the twinges of Ennio Morricone to match Rodriguez’s Sergio Leone visuals while the latter half is more of a funeral march up to the last second of “Destrudo.” It’s a compelling piece of audio storytelling, and the smart formatting of songs towards the concept really allows the record to stand both on its own and as a spin-off of the “Frankie” books.
But, hey, don’t take my word for it. Listen to “Josephine” right here:
The album will be released on vinyl and will go on sale next week. Pre-order here now, if you haven’t already.
