SOUNDTRACK: UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA-“No Need for a Leader” (live at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C, May 23, 2013) (2013).
I have been hearing about the Unknown Mortal Orchestra for a little while now The name is intriguing and really could indicate so many different styles of music. With the internet, it’s very easy to hear a sample of a band, but I like to happen upon them a bit more organically. So, here was a track from a recent live show that NPR was sampling for us.
UMO is from New Zealand and they have a kind of psychedelic-meets-Black Sabbath feel. The song isn’t really heavy so much as just riff-based and speedy. The song has an appropriate Sabbathesque quick riff at the end of each verse and a boatload of flange and vibrato tossed on, too.
But I don’t really care for the vocalist, who seems kind of pinched and tight–almost exactly the opposite of what this expansive song is crying out for.
So this song is ultimately a mixed bag–I like the vibe of the band, but I don’t feel compelled to hear any more from them.
You can watch the video (and groove on the singer’s shirt) here.
[READ: July 5, 2013] Goliath
I enjoyed Gauld’s You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack enough to track down Goliath, his previous book.
Although Jetpack is a collection of strips, Goliath is a telling of the story of David and Goliath (which everyone knows is the great underdog story). The big difference here is that we see the story from Goliath’s point of view (which I believe we do not ever see in the Bible–it’s been years since I’ve actually read it).
In this version, Goliath is a simple man. Despite his size, he would rather do office work than fight. Indeed, when given the opportunity, he jumps at the chance to do administrative paper work rather than practice with weapons. But the Philistines are at war and everyone needs to help.
That’s when one of the soldiers gets an idea. Goliath is to go into the valley and proclaim to all who can hear: “I am Goliath of Gath, Champion of the Philistines. I Challenge you: Choose a Man. Let him come to me that we may fight. If he be able to kill me then we shall be your servants. But if I kill him then you shall be our servants.” (more…)
I Just Read About That... 