There’s something irresistible about a man who suavely dedicates a song “for the ladies” before cheerfully belting out a cool, jazzy version of Nirvana’s “Rape Me” that would have made Old Blue Eyes sniffle with pride — just a little bit.
But what separates Richard Cheese from other lounge artists is that he does more than just rehash the classics; he takes the venom out of songs such as Radiohead’s “Creep” and smothers them with big band, Rat Pack charm. The result is a parody of raunchy, popular tracks like Slipknot’s “People = Shit” and Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” but it’s infused with such wicked, soulful delight that the contrast between the obscene lyrics and the upbeat lounge music makes the album absurdly hysterical.
Besides, with romantic, heartwarming songs such as these, it’s no wonder Cheese announces in his remake of Young MC’s “Bust a Move” — “Seriously, we do weddings.”
