Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Them, Roaring Twenties - 2008 Future Sandwich


Band : Them, Roaring Twenties
Album : Future Sandwich
Release Year : 2010
Genre : Mathrock / Experimental

Tracklist :
 1. It's Time For A Dip In The Secretarial Pool
2. Harry Caray Frontier Guide Hawkeye
3. We Prefer A Little Hair Down There
4. Go To WWW.EE08.Net/Free Stuff
5. Labia Arabia
6. Fast Acting Nite-Nite Spray With Realistic Uncle Beard
7. One Always Looks Neat In A Hat Made Of Meat
8. 10 Million Scientologists Can't Be Wrong

Them Roaring Twenties are in fact the sole philosophers of the Future Sandwich. Come all ye "math" rockers, these Chicago natives have a penchant for tapping and angular melodies. 
The standard goofy song titles apply, but this isn't just an instrumental affair. From various shouts to dialogue about how they like their bush -- you'll get a fair amount of vocals you'll either love or hate (I happen to prefer them). The instrumentation is this album's main draw, however. The guitar work is truly something else as it seems almost more catchy than you'd find with similar artists. Stellar work with keys and percussion is to be found as well.
As much as this kind of music relies on out-of-the-box thinking, there are more and more bands conforming to this way of composition. It is not out of hand just yet, but how much finger-tapping can we stand to listen to before it all just bleeds together. The keys here provide a buffer between the listener and this realization (as do the various samples that remind me of the ones in Look Mexico's Animal Music) but I'm afraid Them Roaring Twenties will have to bump uglies with more than just that to come out on top next time.
You may find yourself at odds with the term "math rock", but regardless of what you see as reliable genre-titles under the "Experimental" umbrella -- just shut a minute and give it a listen. Or else, "the sandwich will come in, and eat you."




No comments:

Post a Comment