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Camper Van Beethoven

Musical Group

American alternative rock band formed in Santa Cruz, California in the early 1980s, noted for an eclectic mix of folk, ska, punk and world-music influences and led by David Lowery.

Key members mentioned in reviews: David Lowery, Jonathan Segel, Victor Krummenacher, Greg Lisher, Christopher Molla. Reviews emphasize the band's eclecticism, violin work, ironic lyrics and a reunion/reformation noted in later coverage.

DeBaser reviews celebrate Camper Van Beethoven for their genre-hopping, playful take on folk, ska, punk and psychedelic rock. Critics praise David Lowery's voice, Jonathan Segel's violin and the band's ironic, world-music-inflected songwriting. Several albums are highlighted as essential listening.

For:Fans of 1980s alternative/indie rock, folk-rock, ska and genre-hybrid music

 It is like recognizing the essence of a soul.

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 The amalgam, the glue was the formula: “Surrealistic absurdist folk,” a kind of sparkling good energy, a quirk that guaranteed the unexpected.

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 Love at first listen.

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 A pleasant, entertaining, and intelligent record that draws from tradition without falling into the trap of mere revivalism.

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