Music Review: Monty Python’s Total Rubbish: The Complete Collection

By Melissa Bratcher

Full disclosure: I have no idea how to review the new, incredibly comprehensive, fully-remastered, nine-disc Monty Python box set, Monty Python’s Total Rubbish: The Complete Collection. I, like any good misfit worth her salt, went through a rather serious Monty Python phase while in high school, and spent every weekend watching Monty Python’s Flying Circus with my best pal Lori (and arguing over who was cuter, Michael Palin or Eric Idle. The answer was yes), imitating the sketches, knotting handkerchiefs for our heads, and being fully immersed in Pythonalia. I have no objectivity when it comes to Monty Python. I love them. Full on. I learned more about world history from Monty Python than I did in high school (of course, if it had been taught in funny voices, I might’ve paid more attention).

Monty Python’s Total Rubbish: The Complete Collection consists of Monty Python’s UK albums: Monty Python’s Flying Circus, Another Monty Python Record, Monty Python’s Previous Record, Matching Tie And Handkerchief, Live At Drury Lane, Holy Grail, Life Of Brian, The Meaning Of Life, and Monty Python’s Contractual Obligation Album, complete with bonus tracks and a seven-inch single of their 1974 flexi-disc Monty Python’s Tiny Black Round Thing. Both editions, vinyl and CD, include a hard bound book with new liner notes, a foreword by Michael Palin, archive photos, and if that weren’t enough, the whole thing is in a case designed by Terry Gilliam.

They wrote brilliantly ridiculous songs (see almost all of Contractual Obligation, like “Traffic Lights,” “I Like Chinese,” or the probably genius “Eric The Half A Bee” from Previous Record). The Pythons perfected long form, absurd sketches that still hold up well despite missing their visual component, like “Ethel The Frog,” and tiny wee sketches that get called back to throughout the records (“A Massage From The Swedish Prime Minister,” “The Denis Moore Song”).

The movie soundtracks are soundtracks only just. They are, instead, sketches and bits from the movies, presented with no context. Presumably, you would have seen the film rather than just have heard the soundtrack; thus, it’s not so odd that the record still makes sense. Still, there are great songs and bits from the movies (“Constitutional Peasants,” “Brave Sir Robin,” the “Galaxy Song” from The Meaning Of Life). Quite clever are the commercials from the movies, as a bonus feature. The mastering of the Life Of Brian soundtrack isn’t great. Despite being remastered, it still sounds like it was recorded by someone holding a tape recorder in front of a television (like many of my Monty Python recordings growing up).

Monty Python is part of the social fabric. Their catchphrases are timeless (when was the last time someone said, “Nudge, nudge, wink, wink” to you? Has it really been that long? You might need new friends. Has anyone threatened to “sell you all for medical experiments?” No?) and their influence is incredibly widespread. Without Python, there would be no Mighty Boosh, no Mr. Show, no Kids In The Hall (add your favorite sketch troupe here. Of course you have one). The inspired lunacy and the timelessness of their writing, songs and sketches both, ages well.

Monty Python’s Total Rubbish: The Complete Collection was released on September 30 through Virgin/Universal and is available on Amazon.