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Just in time for Halloween comes a scarrrrrrrrrrryyy story to regale all of the kiddies courtesy of one of the most bizarre albums to come down the pike in a while:  The Death and Life of the Undead Boy. Hailing from the intensely frightening city of Philadelphia (hey I’ve been there, it’s true), the Mercury Radio Theater has followed up previous releases such The Manhattan Zombie Massacre with their newest mixing of music and the spoken word.  Ironically, the Mercury Radio Theater’s namesake was an actual radio program in the 1930s that ran the legendary “War of the Worlds” Halloween broadcast prank that scared half the east coast into thinking the Martians had landed. 

_The Death and Life of the Undead Boy_ can best be described in the following manner: Imagine if Dr. Seuss was kidnapped by a group of underground, punk-surfer musicians, transported to Transylvania, forced to write a creepy story about a boy vampire, and then told to narrate it a la story time hour at the library style to a group of English-speaking Hungarian children as the band provides accompaniment in the background.  This gives you a vague idea of what you are in for should you venture to listen to this album. 

The story is about a little boy named Victor.  Unfortunately, Victor has a problem.  He just happens to be a vampire.  This leads to all sorts of awkward situations for poor Victor as he is teased by his schoolmates, misunderstood by his parents, and generally lonely all the time.  His only solace is in his pet dog and his favorite television show “Monster Freak Twilight Hour.” Victor is also in love with his classmate Lydia.  But will Lydia requite his love?  Will Victor gain acceptance? 

This story, narrated by Joe Genaro, is cleverly written and entertaining.  Equally entertaining are the musical interludes between story verses provided by the MRT.  I can best describe their music as cool surfer punk that just for the heck of it gets an occasional polka influence thrown in for good measure.  Yes, you will hear an actual accordion on this record, although I don’t think it is Weird Al playing it. 

A delightful addition is the album packaging.  Victor’s story comes complete in storybook form with some great drawings by Joe Whiteford.  You will have pictures to show to the kiddies as the story is narrated to them.  What a bonus! 

Truly a stupendous blend of story telling and music, The Death and Life of the Undead Boy is as oddball a record as you will find.  

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I like these guys. Although I have to wonder, if Victor is a vampire, how does he go to school during the day?   Is he a daytime vampire?  And if the people are bothering him, why doesn’t he just get them at night, I mean after all, he IS a vampire?  These issues a side, kudos to the Mercury Radio Theater for creating an innovative and clever record. 

Noel Lloyd 10/22/03