#jay ramer

Song Review: Electric Beethoven - “The Ninth”

Electric Beethoven likes it funky.

And funky is how the Reed Mathias-led quartet delivers its interpretation of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on “The Ninth.”

This a is dance-hall delight full of hip-hop beats, punchy organ fills and jazzy guitar licks that spirals outward for four dizzying minutes. It collapses only when the “Ode to Joy” theme kicks in and the final 60 seconds devolves into something resembling a Mannheim Steamroller Christmas recording.

And the track suffers for this deflating coda.

Weaker than “The Fifth” and much stronger than “For Elise,” “The Ninth” is the third recent single from the band - bassist Mathias, keyboardist Todd Stoops, drummer Jay Ramer and guitarist Clay Welch - and seems to indicate a full LP in the not-too-distant future.

Grade card: Electric Beethoven - “The Ninth” - B

Song Review: Electric Beethoven - “For Elise”

With an Americanized title and a synthy, dance-floor arrangement, Electric Beethoven’s “For Elise” is enough to make one hope Ludwig von B. is still deaf in the afterlife.

Bassist Reed Mathis doubles on keys, along with regular keyboardist Todd Stoops; a drum machine occupies Jay Ramer; and guitarist Clay Welch is left with little to do on this buzzy riff on what was a solo-piano piece called “Für Elise.”

While L. v. Beethoven’s timeless melody pops up among the din of the five-minute track, E. Beethoven’s take is more cruel joke than loving tribute.

At their best, Electric Beethoven make irresistible paeans like “The Fifth” and Maps We Found in the Ground. At their worst, well, this is it.

Grade card: Electric Beethoven - “For Elise” - D-