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THE REVIEW
The Shaggs are a trio of chubby and plain sisters from the still untouched, innocent American countryside with vast rural landscapes. Raised in an environment always flooded with music due to their father Austin (among other things an excellent harp connoisseur), they develop a passion for music and take lessons for a year before deciding to join forces to form a band. The ShaGgS Trio!!
In their spare time, they engage in unambitious domestic jam sessions with guitars and drums. Their father, blinded by the idea of having his little daughters on covers and in the mainstream limelight, convinces them to record an album of their own songs. It's 1969. The Shaggs sisters doubt their abilities: they lack sufficient technique, experience, they probably don't even know how to tune the instruments together! The first time the recording technician heard such a lack of sound, he strongly recommended, "In my opinion, you're not quite ready to record yet, girls. Maybe you should come back later, it's good advice, trust me." But fortunately, this advice was ignored and they recorded anyway. The music of the Shaggs must have been shocking at the time and still partly retains its pristine charm today: off-key provincial girls, with a completely incompetent and distracted drummer, a guitar in turtle-like slumber, repetitive sounds adorned with go-go candor. Voice and lyrics? Melodic lines similar to nursery rhymes that talk about lost animals, kind-hearted parents, and other elementary school and little diary stuff with hearts. The most tangible thing about the album is the scent of simple people, devoid of hard-to-digest intellectualism. Philosophy Of The World presents itself as a trip into the pure imagination of non-urban girls. Imagination expressed with a unique technical decadence in the history of music, not even Half Japanese would reach such an extent of cluelessness.
An album to have. They say of them: "The Shaggs. Better than the Beatles--even today." - Frank Zappa "They bring my mind to a complete halt." - Carla Bley "Maybe the best worst rock album ever made." - New York Times
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Summary by Bot
The Shaggs, a trio of sisters from rural America, recorded their debut album 'Philosophy Of The World' in 1969 under their father's encouragement. Despite lacking traditional musical skills and polish, their innocent and raw sound creates a unique charm. The album is notable for its off-key, repetitive style and simple, heartfelt lyrics. Recognized by figures like Frank Zappa and Carla Bley, it remains a cult classic and a fascinating example of outsider music.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
The Shaggs
The Shaggs were a trio of sisters (Dot/Dorothy, Betty and Helen Wiggin) from Fremont, New Hampshire, best known for the 1969 album Philosophy of the World. Their father, Austin Wiggin Jr., organized the recording; the band later gained a cult following and praise from figures such as Frank Zappa and Lester Bangs.02 Reviews
Other reviews
By Almotasim
The Shaggs are incompleteness, inconsistency, incompleteness, and incapacity made into a system and elevated to art.
A naive, naked, simple, frail, emaciated, awkward beauty, but incredibly true and direct.
