SOUNDTRACK: UI-Sidelong (1996).
I mentioned this band in my review of The New Yorker because Sasha Frere-Jones writes the music column for the magazine and he’s also the main guy here.
This disc is challenging to describe but certainly not to listen to. It is a gorgeous smooth/funky/instrumental set. The band plays with sound effects and time changes, but they are grounded by a fantastic double bass-guitar rhythm. In some ways they remind me of the bass style from Morphine (that fluid and ultra-cool sound).
There’s a couple of songs with words, although they’re not really anything special (mostly sort of chanting/free verse style). Stick with the instrumentals which don’t get bogged down with concepts.
This album came out the same year as Tortoise’s Millions Now Living Will Never Die. Tortoise seems to be a frame of reference for reviewers (like me), although they don’t sound anything alike. I guess its the whole instrumentals-can-be-cool aesthetic.
If you like your music funky and bass heavy without being dance music (although you can certain groove to Ui) or straight up funk, this is a disc worth seeking out.
[READ: August 24, 2009] Army of Darkness: Ash Saves Obama (Issue 1)
I had a couple of reasons for reviewing this comic before the series was finished. One, it’s Army of Darkness. Two, Ash saves President Obama. Three, It’s Army of Darkness!! And four it’s on a small press, so they can use the publicity.
You need to know some back story to understand just what the hell is going on here. And if you haven’t seen any of the Sam Raimi/Bruce Campbell films (Evil Dead/Army of Darkness) then this probably doesn’t mean much to you. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 